Tag: Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Two photos of Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis).

Plant of the Week: Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis). Time to get out the hummingbird feeders.

Start Indoors This Week: Peppers, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
Sow Outdoors This Week: Arugala, Beans, Beets, Chard, Collards, Kale, Parsley, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Add this week: lots of Master Gardener Plant Sales in nearby counties, Seed St. Louis Summer Veggie Seedlings Sale, Tower Grove East Community Garden Sale, more

May 1st to August 31st Enter Missouri Conservation Department’s Busch Conservation Area (St. Charles Mo) Wildlife Photography Contest. Submit photos of native Mo wildlife, trees, plants at Busch Conservation Area or Weldon Spring Conservation Area.

For the Kids. Download Free Bobber, The Water Safety Dog #EarthDay Coloring Sheet & Poster from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Hey, grades 6th thru 12th Teachers. Missouri Environmental Education Association has great resources for an Invasive Species Mock Trial Unit that combines Ecology and Civic Engagement. Also see Trial of Bush Honeysuckle

Brightside St. Louis Blitz Project Registration Open (neighborhood clean up and beautification). Free Blitz Blooms available this year for your public spaces project: gomphrena, dianthus, marigolds, celosia and vinca

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Good Reads —

‘The water wars are coming’: Missouri looks to limit exports from rivers, lakes. (Missouri Independent)

Death Valley is alive this year. A super bloom is the latest sign. “This is climate chaos… A lake forming in Death Valley after the wettest six months on record, followed by this bizarre bloom that is unlike anything we’ve observed before. If you want the picture of climate change, this is it.” Gifted article at Washington Post

Corals are bleaching in every corner of the ocean, threatening its web of life. It’s possible the overall percentage of reefs experiencing heat stress may soon pass a record. Gifted article at Washington Post

Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden pdf (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Container Gardening Tips
Native Plants: Grow Native!
Veggies: Missouri Botanical Garden
5 Tips For Successfully Growing Plants In Containers: P. Allen Smith

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees,  Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant,  Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is at Kirkwood Farmers Market 8 am to 4 pm Saturdays, April 20th & 27th, May 25th, June 1st. Order by Monday before Saturday for pick up or shop from what they bring.

Volunteers Wanted. Check out upcoming Brightside St. Louis Neighborhood Clean Up & Beatification events. Some Blitz events offer Cardinals tickets to volunteers.

6 pm Thursday, April 18th, Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

7 pm Thursday, April 18th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Where Can I Mushroom Hunt? Register

11 am to 1 pm Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20, Southwestern Illinois College @ Belleville Horticulture Club Plant Sale, Belleville campus Greenhouse, southeast corner of campus behind the baseball fields. . Cash only. The only info I could find is here 

10 am Thursday, April 19th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

1 Ticket remaining. 9 am Friday, April 19th, Missouri Stream Team Volunteer Level 1 Water Quality Monitoring Part 2 Field Certification at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Requires Part 1 virtual learning completion. Register

2 pm Friday, April 19th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Earth Week- Effects of Artificial Light on Wildlife. Register

7 am to 3 pm Saturday, April 20th, Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring State Park, west of Lebanon, about a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis

9 am to Noon Saturday, April 20th, Green Center Plant Sale, University City

3 Tickets remaining. 9 am Saturday, April 20th, Missouri Stream Team Volunteer Level 1 Water Quality Monitoring Part 2 Field Certification at Babler State Park, Wildwood. Requires Part 1 virtual learning completion. Register

9 am to Noon, Saturday, April 20th, Native Plant & Native Plant Seed Swap in St. Charles MO at 10 Number One Green Dr

2 pm Saturday, April 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Earth Week- Helper Plants. Learn about Bioremediation- how plants, fungi, and even animals clean up the environment. Register

8 Tickets remaining. 1 pm April 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Earth Day Hike & Nature Immersion at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood. Register

10 am April 23rd Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

1 pm April 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Hummingbird Season. Register

4 pm April 24th Grow Native! Zoom Master Class: Restoring Remnant Woodlands in a Sea of Bush Honeysuckle. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members, $15 nonmembers. Register

5 Seats remaining. For Kids Age 7 and under. 10:30 am April 25th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy: Rain, Rain Go Away. Register

6 pm April 25th Seed St. Louis In-Person Class: Food for Years- Best Perennial Vegetables for an Early Spring Harvest at DIG Annuals and Perennials. Learn about edible greens, shoots, flowers, and stems that are ready to harvest before annual vegetables. Some plants discussed will be available for purchase. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 26th St. Louis Community College’s Meramec Botanical Society Plant Sale. Herbs, natives, annuals, perennials and vegetables. $3 to $12. Cash or check. Parking Lot K @ 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood.

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

10 am April 26th Bellefontaine Cemetery Arbor Day Trolley Tour with cemetery’s Horticulture Director. $5. Register

12 Tickets remaining. 2 pm April 26th Tower Grove Park Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

April 27th-28th  U-City in Bloom Plant Sale. 9 am to 1 pm Saturday & 11 am to 1 pm Sunday. Heman Park Community Center, University City

8 am April 27th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at St. Vincent Greenway. Register

8 am to 1 pm April 27th Lincoln County Mo Master Gardeners Plant Sale, University of Missouri Extension, 880 W College, Troy. Annuals, Perennials, Natives, Vegetables, Herbs, Bulbs, Garden Accessories. Cash only.

8:30 am April 27th Webster Groves Herb Society Herb Sale at Congregational Church of Webster Groves

9 am April 27th Olivette In Bloom Native Plant Sale

Noon April 27th Heartland Conservancy Spring Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL

1-4 pm April 27th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Waste Prevention (Intercepting Compost Materials from the Landfill), St. Louis Place. Register

Noon to 2 pm April 28th St. Charles County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale at University of Missouri Extension St. Charles County. Vegetables, perennials, natives, herbs and annuals.

11 am April 30th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Wonderful Wildflower ID. Register

May 1st to August 31st Missouri Conservation Department Busch Conservation Area (St. Charles Mo) Wildlife Photography Contest. Submit photos of native Missouri wildlife, trees, or plants at Busch Conservation Area or neighboring Weldom Spring Conservation Area.

10 am May 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

6 pm May 2nd Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: School Garden Maintenance Strategies for Summer & Beyond. Register

Ages 3+. 18 Seats remaining. Children must be accompanied by adult. 6 pm May 2nd Missouri Conservation Department in-Person Class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. This class is required before Lesson 2. Register

9 am to 1 pm May 3rd Montgomery County IL Master Gardener Plant Sale @ Mt. Moriah Lodge 51, Hillsboro IL

May 4th Missouri Conservation Department Spring Bird Walk at Forest Park. 8 am Session 1 (4 Tickets remaining) Register. 10 am Session 2 (6 Tickets remaining) Register.

May 3rd, 4th, 5th Earth Dance Organic Farm Plant Sale, Ferguson

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 2 pm May 4th-5th Tower Grove East Community Garden Plant Sale at 3303 Sidney

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm May 4th West County Daylily Club Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10:30 am May 4th EcoTones Concert at Nee Kee Nee Stream, Tower Grove Park

10 am to 2 pm May 5th Feed the People Garden Project Plant Sale in Bevo Neighborhood.: Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers

2 pm May 7th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Summer Crops & Cover Crops. Register

4 pm May 8th Missouri Prairie Foundation Virtual Walk on the Prairie, Spring Edition @ Pettis County. Register

8 am to Noon May 11th Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale at Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club, 3109 Godfrey, Godfrey IL

9 am May 11th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale: Veggies, Herbs, Annuals $3.50 each: Basil, Egglplant, Helenium Amarum, Jalapenos, Parsley, Sweet Pepper, Tomatillo, Tomatoes. Perennials $6 each: Lavender Munstead, Mountain Mint, Rhubarb, Sea Kale, Sorrel, Wild Arugula.

9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 3 pm May 11th Franklin County Mo Master Gardeners Plant Sale at JC Penny Parking Lot, Washington MO

10 am to 2 pm May 11th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park. $8-$12 entrance fee.

10 am May 11th Companion Planting 101 Class at Heru Urban Farming, Florissant. Register

9 am to 5 pm May 12th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

7:30 pm May 18th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

Ages 8+. 8:30 am May 19th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

4 pm May 22nd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: EDDMapS Training- Learning How to Document Invasive Plants. Register

8:30 am to 1 pm May 25th Macoupin County IL Master Gardener Plant Sale @ Macoupin County Historical Society, Carlinville IL

9 am to 5 pm May 25th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

1-2 pm May 25th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Planting Sunflowers 101 with Farmer Twan, St. Louis Place. Register

9 am to Noon June 1st Brightside St. Louis Urban Gardening Symposium. Native Plant & Design Experts, Workshops, Plant Sale. $10. Register

June 1st Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am June 8th How to Trellis Tomatoes Class at Heru Farms, Florissant. Register

June 9th Missouri Botanical Garden sponsored Private Garden Tour. Tickets: $50 MoBot Member, $65 Nonmember

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 22nd Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

Noon to 5 pm August 18th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission fee required.

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm September 7th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Meadow Sage. These bloomed from May to December in Zone 6b, died back, new growth popped up after the snow. Drought tolerant once established and a pollinator magnet.

Have you seen Witch Hazel? Participate in the ForestKeeper’s Witch Hazel Hunt

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Seed Swaps and Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Added this week: Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market and Seed St. Louis Seeds for Sale

Start Indoors This Week: Eggplant, Lettuce, Bok Choy, Mustard.
Sow Outdoors This Week: Larkspur, Poppies, Snapdragons
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Good Reads —

Urban Farmers, Food City seek to drain ‘food swamps’ (St. Louis American)

Study: Nonnative earthworms are all over North America, and it’s a problem (gifted article, Washington Post)

University of Arkansas Agriculture’s fruit breeding program produces two new fruits: a new late-season blackberry, Sweet-Ark Immaculate and a new nectarine, Ozark Mango. (Channel 5 KFSM, Fayetteville, Arkansas)

How to Germinate Native Seeds (Prairire Moon Nursery)
Native Seed Propagation Methods (Shaw Nature Reserve)

How to Build a Pollinator Garden (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees,  Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant,  Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

Now thru Next Sunday at Missouri Botanical Garden: Orchid Show. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

7 pm Tuesday, February 20th, Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plants for Native Pollinators with Dr. Ed Spevak, St. Louis Zoo. Register

9 am Wednesday, February 21st, Black History Month at Missouri Botanical Garden. Tyrean “Heru” Lewis of Heru Urban Farming will share his latest endeavors to further his mission of transforming the community’s access to quality wholesome food. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

11 am Wednesday, February 21st Black History Month at Missouri Botanical Garden. Screening of High on the Hog, How African American Cuisine Transformed America, a documentary on the history of foods native to Africa and foods that came to the U.S. through the Transatlantic Slave Trade and are still part of our current food selections.  Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

2 pm Wednesday, February 21st, Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plant Gardening 101 with Erin Goss, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

7 pm Wednesday, February 21st, Left Bank Books and Forest ReLeaf present Dr. Christine Carmichael, author of Racist Roots: How Racism Has Affected Trees and People in Our Cities – and What We Can Do About It. Tickets

6 pm Thursday, February 22nd, Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 1 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Eat Your Compost, Reducing Food Waste. $12. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 1-4 pm Friday and 10 am to 1 pm Saturday help create four pollinator garden berms in the Vandeventer Neighborhood Community Healing & Meditation Garden, 4261 West Cook. Tools & Lunch provided. Register

3:30 pm Friday, February 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register.

Ages 12+. 10 am Saturday, February 24th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. 14 seats remaining. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am to Noon Saturday, February 24th, Southwest Garden Neighborhood Tree Blitz. New volunteers are equipped with tools, safety gear, and hands-on training from a certified arborist.

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, February 24th, Seed Swap at 314 Garden Supply, Florissant

7 pm February 27th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: The Social Benefits of Trees with Rebecca Hankins, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Register

2 pm February 28th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native? Invasive? Exotic? Choose Eco-Logically with Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

6 pm February 29th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: So You Want to Start a Garden: Our Favorite Things, & What You Don’t Need. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

3:30 pm March 1st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Patio Plants. Find out which native plants do well around the house and in containers. Register

8 am March 2nd St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am to Noon March 2nd Bevo Neighhborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

2 pm March 5th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Webinar: Dormant Fruit Tree Pruning. Register

7 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Using iNaturalist in Your Garden with Dr. Nina Fogel, ShutterBee & Washington University. Register

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Libraryt: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel– Dr. Nadia Navarrete Tindall, Lincoln University; Matt Lebon, Custom Foodscaping; Dean Gunderson , Seed STL; Moderator Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6 pm March 7th 6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 2 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Composting 101. $12. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 9th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Milton Schoolhouse, Alton IL. Register

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

7 pm March 12th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds with Emily Connor, Audubon Riverlands and Dan Pearson, St. Louis Audubon. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm March 13th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Container Gardening with Native Plants with Joan Klingensmith, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

2 pm March 15th St. Louis County Public Library In-Person Class @ Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Houseplants for Beginners- The Science of Plant Care. 22 Seats remaining. Register

6 pm March 18th St. Louis County Public Library In-Person Class @ Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Houseplants for Beginners- The Science of Plant Care. Register

7 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Planning for Future Drought with Native Plants with Shannon Callahan – St. Louis Audubon. Register

2 pm March 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Landscaping for Butterflies & Moths with Chris Hartley, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Register

10 am March 22nd St. Louis County Public Library In-Person Class @ Thornhill Branch, St. Louis County: Houseplants for Beginners- The Science of Plant Care. Register

March 23rd Partners for Native Landscaping In-Person Workshop & Plant Sale, Maryland Heights Community Center

8:30 am March 24th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. 8 years and older. Register

Noon March 24th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6:30-8 pm March 26th The Watershed Nature Center, Edwardsville IL In Person Workshop: Knowing and Growing the Native Garden. Free. Register

6 pm March 28th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

Volunteers Wanted. 9-11 am and 1-3 pm April 6th Forest ReLeaf April Open Nursery Potting Day at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights. Register

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

April 9-11 Missouri Native Grasslands Summit, Jefferson City. $75. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 13th Riverlands Native Plant Festival, West Alton MO

7 pm April 13th Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health. $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

Noon April 27th Heartland Conservancy Spring Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL

1-4 pm April 27th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Waste Prevention (Intercepting Compost Materials from the Landfill), St. Louis Place. Register

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm May 4th West County Daylily Club Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am to 2 pm May 11th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park. $8-$12 entrance fee.

10 am May 11th Companion Planting 101 Class at Heru Urban Farming, Florissant. Register

9 am to 5 pm May 12th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

9 am to 5 pm May 25th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

1-2 pm May 25th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Planting Sunflowers 101 with Farmer Twan, St. Louis Place. Register

June 1st Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am June 8th How to Trellis Tomatoes Class at Heru Farms, Florissant. Register

June 9th Missouri Botanical Garden sponsored Private Garden Tour. Tickets: $50 MoBot Member, $65 Nonmember

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 22nd Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

Noon to 5 pm August 18th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission fee required.

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm September 7th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Rue, a nonnative that serves as a Black Swallowtail nursery plant and provides winter interest. Heads up. Wear gloves when planting or cutting Rue back. Some, but not all of us, have got nasty rashes working with them without gloves on. Lesson learned.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Seed Swaps and Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Plant Sales Added this week: African Violets, Carnivorous, Daylilies, Hosta

Start Indoors This Week: Cauliflower, Collards, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Parsley
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Want a tropical getaway this week? How about the 85°, lush, green tropical rainforest environment at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron? Free admission to City and County residents Wednesday and Saturday mornings

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Keep Up To Date on Missouri Environmental Legislation at Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Bill Tracker

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

January 31st Deadline to apply for Missouri Native Plant Society Stan Hudson Research Grant for college student researching Missouri native plants (plant biology, including conservation, ecology, physiology, systematics and evolution, etc)

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Good Reads —

Gardening by Month: February from Missouri Botanical Garden: Gardening Tips, Tasks, & Problems. In February, sow seeds of larkspur, sweet peas, poppies, and snapdragons outdoors.

February Garden To Do List from P. Allen Smith

Billions of cicadas will emerge in the U.S. this year in a rare double-brood event This year’s dual emergence is a rare, synchronized event that last occurred in 1803. (NBC News)

Native Plants for Renters: Container Gardening with Native Plants (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees,  Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant,  Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

Now thru February 25th at Missouri Botanical Garden: Orchid Show. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

6:30 pm Monday, January 29th, Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Problems with Plastic, Worse Than You Think with Rebekah Creshkoff, Beyond Plastics. Register

4 pm Wednesday, January 31st, Grow Native! Webinar In Bloom- Successional Native Plantings for Continuous Blooms with Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, Native Landscape Specialists at Gorman Conservation Center, Kansas City. Register

For Ages 5+. 10:30 am Friday, February 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Missouri’s Furbearers and the Fur Trade. 7 Seats remaining. Register.

9 am Saturday, February 3rd, Missouri Conservation event: Hiking- The Sights and Sounds of Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood. 4 Tickets remaining. Register

10 am Saturday, February 3rd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Brightside Building, Southwest Gardens: Eagle Power. 5 Seats available. Register

7 pm Saturday, February 3rd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birds- Hootin’ Hunters. Register

Noon Sunday, February 4th, Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Alton YMCA, Alton IL. Register

1-4:30 pm Sunday, February 4th, Missouri Coalition for the Environment Wild and Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO. MCE members 20% Discount. $50 VIP, $20 General Admission, $10 16 and under. Register.

6:30 pm February 5th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Rare Insects of Missouri and Their Conservation with Steve Buback, Missouri Department of Conservation. Register

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am to 1 pm February 10th Friends of Belleview Farm Park: Honeysuckle Removal Workday, St. Louis County. Also see

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 34 Seats remaining. Register.

11 am February 11th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event: Winter Bird Walk at Laumeier Sculpture Park. 8 Tickets available. Register

6 pm February 12th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Light Pollution and Birds presented by Travis Longcore, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Register

2 pm February 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Starting Seedlings. Register

5 pm February 13th Missouri Department of Conservation Zoom event: Introduction to Great Backyard Bird Count. Register. Also see Cornell Lab of Ornithology video on GBBC (YouTube)

4 pm February 14th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Grassland Birds: Population Trends and Conservation. Register

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference at Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, KC. $225. Register

9 am February 16th Missouri Department of Conservation In-Person event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Great Backyard Bird Count. 23 Seats remaining. Register. Also see Cornell Lab of Ornithology video on GBBC (YouTube)

9 am February 17th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Dresser Island Conservation Area, West Alton Mo: Dresser Island Hike – Great Backyard Bird Count. 1 Ticket remaining. Register. Also see Cornell Lab of Ornithology video on GBBC (YouTube)

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. In-Person or Virtual. $10. Register

9:30 am February 19th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Forest Park: Great Backyard Bird Count. 26 Tickets remaining. Register

7 pm February 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plants for Native Pollinators with Dr. Ed Spevak, St. Louis Zoo. Register

2 pm February 21st Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plant Gardening 101 with Erin Goss, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 1 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Eat Your Compost. $12. Register

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

3:30 pm February 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register. Also see Cornell Lab of Ornithology video on GBBC (YouTube)

Ages 12+. 10 am February 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

7 pm February 27th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: The Social Benefits of Trees with Rebecca Hankins, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Register

2 pm February 28th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native? Invasive? Exotic? Choose Eco-Logically with Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

7 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Using iNaturalist in Your Garden with Dr. Nina Fogel, ShutterBee & Washington University. Register

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Libraryt: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel– Dr. Nadia Navarrete Tindall, Lincoln University; Matt Lebon, Custom Foodscaping; Dean Gunderson , Seed STL; Moderator Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6 pm March 7th 6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 2 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Composting 101. $12. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 9th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Milton Schoolhouse, Alton IL. Register

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

7 pm March 12th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds with Emily Connor, Audubon Riverlands and Dan Pearson, St. Louis Audubon. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm March 13th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Container Gardening with Native Plants with Joan Klingensmith, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

7 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Planning for Future Drought with Native Plants with Shannon Callahan – St. Louis Audubon. Register

2 pm March 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Landscaping for Butterflies & Moths with Chris Hartley, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Register

March 23rd Partners for Native Landscaping In-Person Workshop & Plant Sale, Maryland Heights Community Center

Noon March 24th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm March 28th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

April 9-11 Missouri Native Grasslands Summit, Jefferson City. $75. Register

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health. $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm May 4th West County Daylily Club Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm May 12th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

9 am to 5 pm May 25th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Two photos of chamomile. Top photo is green foliage in raised wood garden bed in winter with snow. Bottom photo is chamomile in May with many white with yellow center daisy-like flowers.

Plant of the Week: Chamomile. Beautiful and tasty flowers in summer. Winter interest from self-sowing.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Seed Swaps and Plant Sales, here’s a page for them

Start Indoors This Week: Broccoli, Cabbage, Leeks, Onions (if not already)
Start Indoors First Week February: Cauliflower, Collards, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Parsley
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Want a tropical getaway this week? How about the 85°, lush, green tropical rainforest environment at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron? Free admission to City and County residents Wednesday and Saturday mornings

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Keep Up To Date on Missouri Environmental Legislation at Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Bill Tracker

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

January 31st Deadline to apply for Missouri Native Plant Society Stan Hudson Research Grant for college student researching Missouri native plants (plant biology, including conservation, ecology, physiology, systematics and evolution, etc)

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Good Reads —

The Bird That Lives in St. Louis — and Pretty Much Only St. Louis. Germans brought the Eurasian Tree Sparrow to Lafayette Park and it never left (Riverfront Times)

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees,  Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant,  Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

6:30 pm Monday, January 22nd, Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Nearby nature- Trends in Urban Biodiversity From the Global to Local Scale with Trends in Urban Biodiversity Pittsburg State University. Register

Noon Wednesday, January 24th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

1 pm Wednesday, January 24th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register

6 pm Thursday, January 25th, St. Charles Chapter Wild Ones Webinar: Cultivating Change with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Register

7 pm Friday, January 26th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, January 27th-28th, Orchid Society of St. Louis Orchid Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm Saturday thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am Saturday, January 27th St. Louis County Library, Daniel Boone Branch Library, Ellisville: Seed Swap

10 am Saturday, January 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. 29 Tickets remaining. Register

6:30 pm January 29th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Problems with Plastic, Worse Than You Think with Rebekah Creshkoff, Beyond Plastics. Register

4 pm January 31st Grow Native! Webinar In Bloom- Successional Native Plantings for Continuous Blooms with Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, Native Landscape Specialists at Gorman Conservation Center, Kansas City. Register

10 am Saturday, January 27th, St. Louis County Public Library Seed Swap at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville

Noon to 5 pm Sunday, January 28th, gardening event at Steampunk Brew Works, Town & Country: STL Seeding Frenzy. Lots of companies have donated seeds. Bring seeds to share and/or donate non-perishable food, hygiene products. Mushroom growing class. Raffles.

6:30 pm January 29th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Problems with Plastic, Worse Than You Think. Register

4 pm January 31st Grow Native! Webinar: In Bloom- Successional Native Plantings for Continuous Blooms with Alix Daniel and Cydney Ross, Native Landscape Specialists at Gorman Conservation Discovery Center in Kansas City. Register

For Ages 5+. 10:30 am February 2nd Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Missouri’s Furbearers and the Fur Trade. 19 Seats remaining. Register.

10 am February 3rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Brightside Building, Southwest Gardens: Eagle Power. 9 Seats available. Register

Noon February 4th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Alton YMCA, Alton IL. Register

1-4:30 pm February 4th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Wild and Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO. MCE members 20% Discount. $50 VIP, $20 General Admission, $10 16 and under. Register.

6:30 pm February 5th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Rare Insects of Missouri and Their Conservation with Steve Buback, Missouri Department of Conservation. Register

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am to 1 pm February 10th Friends of Belleview Farm Park: Honeysuckle Removal Workday, St. Louis County. Also see

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm February 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Starting Seedlings. Register

7 am to Noon February 14th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout, Lesson #1 and #2. 4 Seats remaining. Register

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference at Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, KC. $225. Register

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. In-Person or Virtual. $10. Register

7 pm February 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plants for Native Pollinators with Dr. Ed Spevak, St. Louis Zoo. Register

2 pm February 21st Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plant Gardening 101 with Erin Goss, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 1 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Eat Your Compost. $12. Register

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

3:30 pm February 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register

Ages 12+. 10 am February 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

7 pm February 27th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: The Social Benefits of Trees with Rebecca Hankins, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Register

2 pm February 28th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native? Invasive? Exotic? Choose Eco-Logically with Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

7 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Using iNaturalist in Your Garden with Dr. Nina Fogel, ShutterBee & Washington University. Register

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Libraryt: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel– Dr. Nadia Navarrete Tindall, Lincoln University; Matt Lebon, Custom Foodscaping; Dean Gunderson , Seed STL; Moderator Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6 pm March 7th 6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 2 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Composting 101. $12. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 9th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Milton Schoolhouse, Alton IL. Register

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

7 pm March 12th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds with Emily Connor, Audubon Riverlands and Dan Pearson, St. Louis Audubon. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm March 13th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Container Gardening with Native Plants with Joan Klingensmith, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

7 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Planning for Future Drought with Native Plants with Shannon Callahan – St. Louis Audubon. Register

2 pm March 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Landscaping for Butterflies & Moths with Chris Hartley, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Register

March 23rd Partners for Native Landscaping In-Person Workshop & Plant Sale, Maryland Heights Community Center

Noon March 24th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm March 28th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health. $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Photo of green onions growing in raised wood garden been, January 2024, Missouri

Plant of the Week: Onions. You can start seeds indoor now or buy sets from Seed St. Louis Sale on March 9th and plant

Start Indoors This Week: Broccoli, Cabbage, Leeks, Onions (if not already)
Start Indoors First Week February: Cauliflower, Collards, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Parsley
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Garden Tasks to do indoors this week (paywall, St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Want a tropical getaway this week? How about the 85°, lush, green tropical rainforest environment at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron? Free admission to City and County residents Wednesday and Saturday mornings

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Keep Up To Date on Missouri Environmental Legislation at Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Bill Tracker

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

January 31st Deadline to apply for Missouri Native Plant Society Stan Hudson Research Grant for college student researching Missouri native plants (plant biology, including conservation, ecology, physiology, systematics and evolution, etc)

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Good Reads & Views —

The Bird That Lives in St. Louis — and Pretty Much Only St. Louis. Germans brought the Eurasian Tree Sparrow to Lafayette Park and it never left (Riverfront Times)

Controlled Burning in Forest Park, St. Louis City. Enjoy a front seat to see the park deploy this natural land management tool. (Channel 9 PBS YouTube channel)

Seed St. Louis YouTube Channel, lots of helpful videos on gardening

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees,  Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant,  Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

4 pm Wednesday, January 17th, Grow Native! Webinar: Native Plants & Public Art, A Conversation with Kansas City Artist Julie Farstad. Register

Noon Thursday, January 18th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Winter Wonderland. Learn about some beautiful showy winter native plants, how to plant them effectively, and winter garden care. Register

9 am Friday, January 19th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Volunteer Day at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Register

1 pm Sunday, January 21st, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Forest Park Park Hike #2. Register

Noon January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

1 pm January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register

6 pm January 25th St. Charles Chapter Wild Ones Webinar: Cultivating Change with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Register

7 pm January 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

10 am January 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. Register

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Noon to 5 pm January 28th gardening event at Steampunk Brew Works, Town & Country: STL Seeding Frenzy. Lots of companies have donated seeds. Bring seeds to share and/or donate non-perishable food, hygiene products. Mushroom growing class. Raffles.

February-March Partners for Native Landscaping 2024 Spring Series Workshops

For Ages 5+. 10:30 am February 2nd Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Missouri’s Furbearers and the Fur Trade. 19 Seats remaining. Register.

10 am February 3rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Brightside Building, Southwest Gardens: Eagle Power. 19 Seats available. Register

1-4:30 pm February 4th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Wild and Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO. MCE members 20% Discount. $50 VIP, $20 General Admission, $10 16 and under. Register.

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm February 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Starting Seedlings. Register

7 am to Noon February 14th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: All About Trout, Lesson #1 and #2. 4 Seats remaining. Register

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. In-Person or Virtual. $10. Register

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

3:30 pm February 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register

Ages 12+. 10 am February 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library- Virtual Event: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Kalanchoe, a lovely, long-blooming houseplant

Gardening by Month: January. Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

January Garden To Do List (P. Allen Smith)

Don’t throw those holiday plants away.
Poinsettia Care Advice from University of Missouri Extension
Amaryllis Care Advice from University of Illinois Extension

Monarch Watch Free Milkweeds for Schools and Nonprofits Program

This week we start Leeks & Onions indoors by seed. Plan your 2024 garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Now thru January 6th Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden

January 15th Deadline for Missouri community gardens, conservation groups, parks, schools to apply for Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants

January 31st Deadline to apply for Missouri Native Plant Society Stan Hudson Research Grant for college student researching Missouri native plants (plant biology, including conservation, ecology, physiology, systematics and evolution, etc)

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Top 10 Veggies to grow in Containers (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Good Reads —

Have you ever seen a Missouri native Orchid? (Missouri Native Plant Society)

(gifted article) Is climate change speeding up? Here’s what the science says. This year’s record temperatures have some scientists concerned that the pace of warming may be accelerating. But not everyone agrees. (Washington Post)

November-December Issue of Petal Pusher (Missouri Native Plant Society)

Wild Ones Native Garden Designs

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees,  Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant,  Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

10:30 am Wednesday, January 3rd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Scavenger Hunt Hike

4 pm Wednesday, January 3rd, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Braided Streams of Thought: Meandering Through Groundwater Discharge, Wetland Plants, and Beaver Complexes. Register

9 am to 5 pm Thursday, January 4th, Missouri Conservation Department Craft Event at  Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Make & Take Pine Cone Bird Feeder. Registration not required. Just drop anytime during the day.

3 pm Friday, January 5th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Mammals of MO- Extirpated and Naturalized. Register

9 am Saturday, January 6th, Missouri Conservation Department Dresser Island Hike, West Alton, Missouri. 14 Tickets available. Register

9 am to Noon Saturday, January 6th, Audubon Center at Riverlands First Saturday Fun Day: Nature Art at Little Creek Nature Area, Florissant.

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, January 6th, Alton Audubon Eagle Ice Fest at Audubon Center at Riverlands, West Alton, Missouri

10 am to 2:30 pm Sunday, January 7th, Audubon Center at Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri): Eagle Sunday. Register

6:30 pm January 9th Piasa Sierra Club Program  at Old Bakery Beer, Alton: Hike to the US Eastern Mountains. Register

10 am January 11th Missouri Conservation Department Winter Tree ID for the Amateur Naturalist at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood. 6 Seats remaining. Register

6 pm January 11th First Seed St. Louis Zoom Class of 2024: Seed Starting. Register

How well do you know Missouri wildlife? 6 pm January 12th Missouri Conservation Department Trivia Night at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center. 40 Seats remaining. Register

9 am January 13th Missouri Conservation Department Hiking event at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area: Looking for Treasures in the Winter Woods. 6 Tickets remaining. Register

2 pm January 13th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Carpenter Library: Intro to Plant-spotting- Common St. Louis Flowers & Weeds.

11 am January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: Attracting Winter Birds. Register

6 pm January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: Bald Eagles in Missouri. Register

4 pm January 17th Grow Native! Webinar: Native Plants & Public Art, A Conversation with Kansas City Artist Julie Farstad. Register

Noon January 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Winter Wonderland. Learn about some beautiful showy winter native plants, how to plant them effectively, and winter garden care. Register

Noon January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

6 pm January 25th St. Charles Chapter Wild Ones Webinar: Cultivating Change with author and activist Lorraine Johnson. Register

7 pm January 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

10 am January 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. Register

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

February-March Partners for Native Landscaping 2024 Spring Series Workshops

1-4:30 pm February 4th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Wild and Scenic Film Festival at The Blue Note, Columbia MO. MCE members 20% Discount. $50 VIP, $20 General Admission, $10 16 and under. Register.

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Goldenrod

Helpful Houseplant Gifting Guide from Missouri Botanical Garden

Poinsettia Care Advice from University of Missouri Extension

Registration Open for January 14th thru June 1st University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener Online Core Training. $200. Register

Upcoming Illinois Educator Nature Workshops offered by Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Missouri Master Naturalist Program

Only 3 more weeks until we start Leeks & Onions indoors by seed. It’s never too early to start planning your 2024 Garden: Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Want a front yard native landscape makeover? Enter Grow Native! and Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter 2024 Landscape Challenge

Good Reads & Views—

Never too soon to start planning your container gardening: Top 10 Veggies to grow in Containers (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Biden Administration Supports Removal of Four Dams on the Snake River. Decommissioning the dams is the first step toward restoring salmon runs and respecting Native treaties. (Sierra Club)

Winter Gardening using Cold Frames and Hotbeds (University of Missouri Extension)

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees, Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

If you’re in 6a-7a zones, there is a ton of useful gardening information available on Seed St. Louis YouTube channel

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

9 am Tuesday, December 19th, Missouri Conservation Department Guided Walk: The Sights & Sounds of Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood

2 pm Tuesday, December 19th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Creature Feature- River Otter. Register

For Kids Age 5+. 10 am Wednesday, December 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park: Beginning Birding for Kids. Register

1 pm Wednesday, December 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Owls of Missouri. Register

4 pm Wednesday, December 20th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Challenges and Opportunities forConserving Rare Grassland Plants. Register.

10 am December 29th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: The Snakes of Powder Valley. 24 Seats remaining. Register

9 am December 30th Missouri Conservation Department family event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Ask a Naturalist

4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department New Year’s Eve Stroll to the Confluence, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. 10 Tickets remaining. Register.

8 am January 1st Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

8:30 am January 1st Piasa Sierra Club event: New Years Day Hike @ Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register.

10:30 am January 3rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Scavenger Hunt Hike

4 pm January 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Braided Streams of Thought: Meandering Through Groundwater Discharge, Wetland Plants, and Beaver Complexes. Register

3 pm January 5th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Mammals of MO- Extirpated and Naturalized. Register

8 am January 7th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

10 am to 2:30 pm January 7th Audubon Center at Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri): Eagle Sunday. Register

6 pm January 11th First Seed St. Louis Zoom Class of 2024: Seed Starting. Register

How well do you know Missouri wildlife? 6 pm January 12th Missouri Conservation Department Trivia Night at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center. Register

8 am January 13th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

9 am January 13th Missouri Conservation Department Hiking event at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area: Looking for Treasures in the Winter Woods. 14 Tickets remaining. Register

2 pm January 13th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Carpenter Library: Intro to Plant-spotting- Common St. Louis Flowers & Weeds.

8 am January 14th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

January 15th Deadline for Missouri community gardens, conservation groups, parks, schools to apply for Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants

11 am January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: Attracting Winter Birds. Register

Noon January 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Winter Wonderland. Learn about some beautiful showy winter native plants, how to plant them effectively, and winter garden care. Register

Noon January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

7 pm January 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

10 am January 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. Register

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.


Join us Sundays on Bluesky or Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Amaryllis Minerva. December 2023 photo of two orange red with white throats trumpet-like flowers on stems on windowsill

Plant of the Week: Brighten up your home or office this winter with Amaryllis and learn to care for it year round.

Upcoming Illinois Educator Nature Workshops offered by Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Missouri Master Naturalist Program

The perfect holiday or birthday gift for the person who has everything: Adopt a Regal Fritillary Butterfly via Missouri Prairie Foundation

Only 5 weeks until time to start leeks and onions by seed indoors. It’s never too early to start planning your 2024 Garden: Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Want a front yard native landscape makeover? Enter Grow Native! and Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter 2024 Landscape Challenge

Gardening by Month- Tips, Tasks, Problems: December (Missouri Botanical Garden)

December Garden To Do List (P. Allen Smith)

Small Meat processors say USDA measures don’t address consolidated industry’s root problems (Missouri Independent)

Good Reads & Views—

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees, Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

If you’re in 6a-7a zones, there is a ton of useful gardening information available on Seed St. Louis YouTube channel

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

Thru December 31st Sachs Butterfly House: Winter Jewels- An Enchanted Celebration, Chesterfield, St. Louis County. Tickets

Thru January 6th Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden. Tickets

Thru January 31st at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Agents of Discovery: Migration or Hibernation. Show off your nature knowledge to win prizes!

4 pm Wednesday, December 6th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Honduras- A Natural Haven for Migratory Birds. Register.

10 am Thursday, December 7th, Seed, St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

6-8:30 pm Thursday, December 7th, Missouri Coalition for the Environment Holiday Party, University City, St. Louis County. Register

8 am Saturday, December 9th, Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 3 Seats remaining. Register

1 pm Saturday, December 9th, St. Louis Public Library In Person Event @ Carpenter Library: All About Eagles with World Bird Sanctuary. Register.

8 am Sunday, December 10th, Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

8:30 am December 13th Piasa Sierra Club event @ La Vista Trail, Godfrey, Illinois: Invasive Species Management Training & Work Day. Register.

Noon December 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Woodpeckers. Register

6 pm December 14th Seed St. Louis In Person Class: Growing Fruit from Winter Cuttings. Registration Not Required.

9 am December 15th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Backyard Bird Watching. Register.

8 am December 16th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 5 Seats remaining. Register

10 am December 16th Piasa Sierra Club event: Treehouse Wildlife Center Tour, Jersey County, Illinois. $5. Register.

8 am December 17th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 3 Seats remaining. Register

9 am December 19th Missouri Conservation Department Guided Walk: The Sights & Sounds of Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood

2 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Creature Feature- River Otter. Register

4 pm December 20th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Challenges and Opportunities for Conserving Rare Grassland Plants. Register.

8 am December 24th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lessons 1 & 2. 7 Seats remaining. Register

10 am December 29th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: The Snakes of Powder Valley. Register

9 am December 30th Missouri Conservation Department family event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Ask a Naturalist

4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department New Year’s Eve Stroll to the Confluence, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. 15 Tickets remaining. Register.

8 am January 1st Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

8:30 am January 1st Piasa Sierra Club event: New Years Day Hike @ Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register.

3 pm January 5th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Mammals of MO- Extirpated and Naturalized. Register

8 am January 7th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

How well do you know Missouri wildlife? 6 pm January 12th Missouri Conservation Department Trivia Night at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center. Register

8 am January 13th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

2 pm January 13th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Carpenter Library: Intro to Plant-spotting- Common St. Louis Flowers & Weeds.

8 am January 14th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

January 15th Deadline for Missouri community gardens, conservation groups, parks, schools to apply for Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. Register.

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. Register.

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. Register.


Join us Sundays on Bluesky or Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Photo of two weeks growth on Swiss Chard plant. Leaves are maroon and green with red veins and stem.

Plant of the Week: Swiss Chard. This beautiful, nutritious, easy to grow, vegetable is still producing in Zone 6b after a “last” harvest cutting two weeks ago and hard freezes. Cover these plants to extend the season thru winter.

The perfect holiday or birthday gift for the person who has everything: Adopt a Regal Fritillary Butterfly via Missouri Prairie Foundation

It’s never too early to start planning your 2024 Garden: Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Thru December 31st Sachs Butterfly House event: Winter Jewels- An Enchanted Celebration, Chesterfield, St. Louis County. Tickets

Thru January 6th Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden. Tickets

Want a front yard native landscape makeover? Enter Grow Native! and Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter 2024 Landscape Challenge

January 15th Deadline for Missouri community gardens, conservation groups, parks, schools to apply for Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Good Reads & Views—

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees, Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

If you’re in 6a-7a zones, there is a ton of useful gardening information available on Seed St. Louis YouTube channel

A lovers’ tale of romance, fidelity and aviary netting keeping them apart. Julieta, a wild bird, has been coming to see Romeo, who lives in a Rio de Janeiro zoo aviary, every day for 20 years. (Free read via my Washington Post subscription)

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

10 am Tuesday, November 28th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register.

6 pm Wednesday, November 29th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Whacky Woodpeckers. Register

1 pm Thursday, November 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Black Bears of Missouri. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, November 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

6 pm Thursday, November 30th, Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, November 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Attracting Backyard Birds. Register

8 am Saturday, December 2nd, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

8 am Saturday, December 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 4 Seats remaining. Register

9 am Saturday, December 2nd, Forest ReLeaf Christy Greenway Tree Planting, Old St. Marcus Cemetery Park. Register

8 am Sunday, December 3rd, Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

4 pm December 6th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Honduras- A Natural Haven for Migratory Birds. Register.

10 am December 7th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

6-8:30 pm December 7th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Holiday Party, University City, St. Louis County. Register

8 am Saturday, December 9th, Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

1 pm December 9th St. Louis Public Library In Person Event @ Carpenter Library: All About Eagles with World Bird Sanctuary. Register.

8 am December 10th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

8:30 am December 13th Piasa Sierra Club event @ La Vista Trail, Godfrey, Illinois: Invasive Species Management Training & Work Day. Register.

Noon December 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Woodpeckers. Register

6 pm December 14th Seed St. Louis In Person Class: Growing Fruit from Winter Cuttings. Registration Not Required.

9 am December 15th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Backyard Bird Watching. Register.

8 am December 16th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 7 Seats remaining. Register

10 am December 16th Piasa Sierra Club event: Treehouse Wildlife Center Tour, Jersey County, Illinois. $5. Register.

8 am December 17th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 3 Seats remaining. Register

2 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Creature Feature- River Otter. Register

10 am December 20-29th Missouri Botanical Garden holiday break fun for kids: Budding Scientist- Celebrate Urban Birds.  $3 each child. Register

1 pm December 20-29th Missouri Botanical Garden holiday break fun for kids: Budding Scientist- Celebrate Urban Birds.  $3 each child. Register

4 pm December 20th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Challenges and Opportunities for Conserving Rare Grassland Plants. Register.

8 am December 24th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lessons 1 & 2. 7 Seats remaining. Register

4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department New Year’s Eve Stroll to the Confluence, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. 16 Tickets remaining. Register.

8:30 am January 1st Piasa Sierra Club event: New Years Day Hike @ Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register.

2 pm January 13th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Carpenter Library: Intro to Plant-spotting- Common St. Louis Flowers & Weeds.

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. Register.

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. Register.

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)


Join us Sundays on Bluesky or Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.