This Week in Gardening & Nature

Photo collage: Blue Dwarf Iris and Purple Dawrf Iris

Plant of the Week: Dwarf Iris

Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Peppers
Sow Outdoors This Week: Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas
Transplant This Week: Bok Choy, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kohlrabi, 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. Added this week: 2 St Charles County Master Gardeners Sales, Arbor Day Tree Giveaway, 2 Horticulture Student Clubs Sales, U-City in Bloom Sale

Gardening by Month: March – Tips, Tasks, Problems from Missouri Botanical Garden

March Garden To Do List from P. Allen Smith

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

Good Reads & Views —

Confused Moths, Distracted Crabs, and Celibate Birds: How Pollution Is Screwing With Animals’ Senses. A new study shows that car emissions make it hard for pollinators to find flowers. (MotherJones)

New to Seed St. Louis YouTube Channel: three streamed breakout sessions from Community Agriculture Conference
+The Whole Okra: A Deep Dive Into All Things Okra!
+Design with Native Plants for Stormwater Retention
+Growing Lost Crops: Practical Insights into Ancient Indigenous Agriculture in the St. Louis Region

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

6:30 pm Monday, March 11th, Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Trees- Dicamba & 2,4-D Old Chemicals New Problem with Robbie Doerhoff, Forest Entomologist, Missouri Conservation Department. Register

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

6 pm Tuesday, March 12th, St. Louis Public Library In-Person event at Central Library: Carnivorous Plants with Carnivorous Plant Society 26 Seats remaining. Register

7 pm Tuesday, 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 Wednesday, March 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

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

2 pm Wednesday, 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

4 pm Wednesday, March 13th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: How Plants Work- Plant Physiology in 50 Minutes. Register

1 pm Thursday, March 14th, Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Herstory Hike- Honoring Women in Conservation. 16 Tickets remaining. Register. Also see: Eight Women Who Have Shaped Conservation (Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership)

2 pm Friday, March 15th, St. Louis County Public Library In-Person Class @ Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Houseplants for Beginners- The Science of Plant Care. 5 Seats remaining. Register

3:30 pm Friday, March 15th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Rare Beauties. Register 

9 am to Noon Saturday, March 16th and Noon to 2 pm Sunday, March 17th St. Charles County Master Gardeners Cool Season Vegetables and Pansies Sale at University of Missouri Extension St. Charles County

9 am Saturday, March 16th, Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Dresser Island Conservation Area, West Alton Mo: Discover Dresser Island Hike. 5 Tickets remaining. Register

1 pm Saturday, March 16th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Mushroom Hunting 101. 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. 32 Seats remaining. Register

6:30 pm March 18th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series:  Creating Safe Passages for Migrating Birds with Krystal Anton, Johnson County Community College. Register

10 am March 18th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Flowering Trees Hike. 15 Tickets available. Register

1 pm March 18th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Vernal Equinox or Equilux Hike. 12 Tickets remaining. Register

4 pm March 19th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Spring Mushrooms with Malissa Briggler, MDC State Botanist and Missouri Mycological Society’s Mid-Missouri president. Register

5 pm March 19th St. Louis Public Library In-Person event at Central Library: Vermicomposting and DIY Wormbins. 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

6 pm March 21st Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Four Season Gardening. 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. 4 Tickets remaining. Register

Ages 5+. 10 am March 22nd Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Tower Grove Park: Beginning Birding for Kids. 1 Ticket remaining. Register

8 am to 1 pm March 23rd Partners for Native Landscaping In-Person Workshop & Plant Sale, Maryland Heights Community Center

9 am March 23rd Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Fort Belle Fontaine County Park, St. Louis County: Fort Belle Fontaine Ephemeral Walk with naturalist guide. 8 Tickets remaining. Register

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 pm March 25th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: The Swine Republic- Struggles with the Truth About Agriculture & Water Quality with Chris Jones, author. Register

2 pm March 26th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Creature Feature- Eastern Bluebird. Register

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

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

9 am to 3 pm April 5th & 6th Missouri Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

8 am April 6th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 25 and 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

11 am to 3 pm April 6th St. Louis Public Library In-Person event: Earth Day at Cerntral Library

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

April 18-20 Southwestern Illinois College @ Belleville Horticulture Club Plant Sale

9 am tyo 4 pm April 26th St. Louis Community College @ Meramec Horticulture Students Plant Sale.

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

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

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

Many Brown-Eyed Susan flowers, gold petals with brown centers

Plant of the Week: Brown-Eyed Susans

July Gardening Tips from University of Missouri Extension – Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Cool-season Lawns, Warm-season Lawns

What an hour of gardening does to your body

City of St. Louis would like your help watering trees

Hey, St. Louisans: Need seeds for planting now and Fall/Winter harvesting? Check out the 50 Cent to $1 deals at Seed St. Louis

Download the Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Kindergarten children dropped seeds in the crack of the sidewalk to see what would happen – I have a ton of harvested marigold seeds if you are interested in doing this at your public school

Gardening By Month- July- from Missouri Botanical Garden: Tips & Tasks, Pests & Problems

The massive fire which destroyed Skate Liborious also destroyed New Roots Urban Farm. All donations to help rebuild the farm are appreciated: GoFund for New Roots Urban Farm
It’s Sunflower Season at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area

All sorts of good advice on what to do in your garden after a flood

Thru August 1st at Buder Library, St. Louis Hills: The Art of Science and Nature by Dr. Robert Bolla: Art Exhibit an exhibit of photography of animals and botanicals

Current Exhibits thru August 6th at Pulitzer Arts Foundation, Grand Center- Faye HeavyShield’s Confluences and The Nature of Things: Medieval Art and Ecology, 1100-1550

Know a great tree steward? August 7th Deadline to submit Nominations for Arbor Award of Excellence

Sept 1st Deadline to enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources 2023 Photo Contest Categories: Natural Resources, Unique Places: state parks and historic sites; People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors.

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2 pm Tuesday, July 18th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Getting the Most From Your Harvest. Learn how to decrease food waste & increase usable harvest. Register

4 pm Wednesday, July 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Master Class: Moths in and Around Grasslands. Free for MPF dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, July 20th Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: Invasive Species Series- Bush Honeysuckle. Register

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, July 22nd Green Living Festival at Missouri History Museum. Workshops: Plastics, Green Burial, Solar. + Forest Park Environmental History Walking Tour + Storytime & Crafts for Kids

July 29th & 30th Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show & Sale. This year at I-70 Business Center, 8195 Lackland Road

4 pm August 2nd Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Master Class: Native Grasses and Sedges-Smart Choices for Native Landscape Design. Free for MPF dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 5th & 6th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

August 5th Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

August 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation Annual Dinner & Auction, Stoney Creek Hotel, Columbia. Tickets

9 am to Noon August 26th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Noon to 5 pm August 27th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to 5 om September 9th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to 5 pm September 16th & 17th Greater St. Louis Daylily Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

10 am to 5 pm September 16th Old North St. Louis House & Garden Tour + Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets

9 am to 3:30 pm November 8th Grow Native! Professionals Conference @ University of Missouri- Columbia. $20 per person for Grow Native! professional members (and their staff). Zoom option: $30 for non-members. Register


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