Plant of the Week: Broccoli. We grow both big head green broccoli and purple sprouting broccoli. For Fall planting, start seeds indoors now. If in St. Louis area, buy seedlings at August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedlings Sale

Mosquito Bucket Challenge. Join thousands reducing mosquitoes without fogging—in your own yard using a bucket and Bti (Homegrown National Park)

Plan your garden with 2026 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more. This week: Start Seeds Indoors for Fall Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Collards, Kale

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree Fall Applications, Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden

St. Louis Master Gardeners Horticulture Answer Service: Monday-Thursday from 9 am to 2:30 pm

Find a Native Plant/Seed vendor in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Kansas… (Grow Native)

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

July Gardening Tips, Tasks, & Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

June Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

What you needle to know about the Asian needle ant (University of Missouri Extension) Also see Painful stings, forest risks tied to ant now confirmed in Missouri (Columbia Daily Tribune via Wayback Machine)

Real estate deal gives a boost to New Hampshire’s imperiled state butterfly. A portion of Concord’s pine barrens, the only known home in all of New England for the iridescent, endangered Karner blue butterfly, is changing hands. (New Hampshire Bulletin)

Listen to Britain’s dawn chorus of 1976: the dramatic loss of birdsong in 50 years. Guardian recreates audio landscape of past filled by loud morning symphony before 73m wild birds were lost (The Guardian)

Missouri River Bird Observatory Past Webinars and Virtual Nature School for Kids

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

Seed St. Louis Videos: Variety Trials, Virtual Classes, Starting Seeds Indoors, Orchard Tips, Gardening Tips & How To, In the Community Garden, Youth Garden Activities & Tips, Teachers in the Garden Tutorials.

Growing Vegetables Advice: Begin with a Plan, Seed Starting, Soil Management, Weed Management, Hardening Off Indoor Seedlings, Season Extension, Supporting Plants, Pest Management, Fertilizing Your Garden, Irrigation, Garden Tool Care, Container Gardens, more (University of Illinois Extension)

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

Free Native Garden Designs @ Wild Ones. There’s one specific to St. Louis, one for Chicago, one for Denver, …

Native plant gardening in a pot. Missouri Botanical Garden has container designs for sun and shade.

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 —

—– ONGOING —–

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
July 11th Tower Grove East. Register
July 12th Forest Park Southeast. Register
July 19th Shaw. Register

Apply for Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree: 3-gallon saplings are offered free of charge to public and nonprofit partners who plant and maintain the trees. Pick Ups in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, Republic, St. Louis County

July 15th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Connecting People & Native Plants, Native & Community Landscapes, Native Plants Year-Round, Fauna, Flora. Also see Through the Lens of Native Landscapes: A Q&A with Photographer David Silsbee

July 24th Deadline to Register for 1-3 pm July 28th-30th University of Illinois Extension Online Workshops: Which Grass is Which? Learn about Illinois’ common woodland grasses, common prairie grasses, common nuisance grasses. Register

August 23rd Deadline to Register for Fall University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener Online Course. $200

August 31st Deadline to Enter Missouri River Bird Observatory Photo Contest

September 1st Deadline to Enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Natural Resources, Unique Places, People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors

November 15th Deadline to Enter Missouri State Parks & Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Adventure & Recreation, On The Trail, Parks Less Traveled, Making Memories, Capture the Beauty 

Now thru September 26th Missouri Botanical Gardens sculpture exhibit- Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

October Applications Open for Missouri Prairie Foundation’s 2027 Prairie Garden Grant Program for gardening and conservation groups, parks, school, 

Now thru December 31st Missouri Botanical Gardens photography exhibit- Gardenscapes: Patterns in Bloom. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Thru March 31, 2027, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum– The Literary Garden: The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

—– DAILY —–

Noon Monday, July 6th, Missouri Department of Conservation Virtual Class: Fireflies. Register

2 pm Monday, July 6th, Seed St. Louis class at Mid-County Branch, St. Louis County Library: Grapes and Kiwis- Trellises, Pruning and Care. Register

For Kids and their caregivers. 6-8 pm Tuesday, July 7th, Missouri Botanical Garden Sustainable STEM Night. Free bus transportation available from Central and Julia Davis Libraries. Register

Vounteers Wanted. 8 am Wednesday, July 8th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois: Exploration Garden Stewardship Day. Register

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis North St. Louis Blitz Clean-up & Beautification, 4500 Block of St. Louis Ave.

8:15 pm Thursday, July 9th, Heartlands Conservancy Firefly Walk at Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, Illinois. Register

6 pm Thursday, July 9th, Seed St. Louis Zoom class: Vegetable Pest & Disease Management. Register

6 pm Friday, July 10th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Invasive Crayfish Class, Session 1. Learn about native and invasive crayfish to Missouri and practice trapping for science Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, July 11th, Heartlands Conservancy Arlington Wetlands Stewardship Day, Pontoon Beach, Illinois. Register

9 am Saturday, July 11th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Invasive Crayfish Class, Session 2. Trap recovery and some citizen science. Register

11 am Saturday, July 11th, St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register

Noon to 2 pm Saturday, July 11th, St. Louis Horticultural Society Plant MD at Kirkwood Public Library

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm Saturday, July 11th, St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Tomato & Basil Health Clinic. Register

2 pm July 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Forest Park Owls- Hunting and Feeding, presented by award winning naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw. Register 

14 Tickets remaining. 7 am July 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Summer Morning Birding Hike on Broken Ridge, a 2/3 mile paved loop trail with multiple steep inclines. Binoculars provided. Register

4 pm July 15th Grow Native! Webinar: Greetings from the Prairie Garden Trust, a Grow Native! Garden of Excellence. Learn how this 240-acre old farm blossomed into a diverse native plant “nature garden” over the course of 30 years.  Register

9 am to 4 pm July 18th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Funga Fair- A Mushroom Event Hosted by the Missouri Mycological Society. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am July 18th Forest ReLeaf O’Fallon Park Tree Watering Day. Help water 120 trees. Requires walking across uneven surfaces carrying 5-10 lbs of water.

6 pm July 20th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Phenomenal Phenology, the study of seasonal changes such as when wildflowers bloom, insects emerge, tree’s leaf out and birds migrate. Register

Noon July 21st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Phenomenal Phenology, the study of seasonal changes such as when wildflowers bloom, insects emerge, tree’s leaf out and birds migrate. Register

7 pm July 21st Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers 2025 Show set to music. Register

10 am to 5 pm July 22nd-26th Missouri Botanical Garden’s Little Shop Around the Corner Clearance Sale, Southwest Garden

6 pm July 22 Wild Ones Webinar: How to Talk to Your Neighbors (and Your HOA) About Your Garden. You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, July 24th-25th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

8 Tickets remaining. 9 am July 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Hike Lime Kiln Trail Loop Trail, 3-mile guided hike. Register

9 am to 4 pm Saturday-Sunday, July 25th-26th, Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society Plant Sale at Jost Event Center, Overland

1:30 July 25th Grow Native! Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Reconstructed Meadow Walking Tour with James Faupel, Director of Horticulture and Curator of Living Collections. Register

6 pm July 16th Dogtown Community Garden Open House. Register

6 Seats remaining. 10 am July 29th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: DIY Hummingbird Feeders. Register

6 pm July 29th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Butterflies of Missouri. Register

17 Tickets remaining. 9 am July 30th Missouri Conservation Department’s Summer Morning Walk in Tower Grove Park. Register

16 Seats remaining. For Kids 7 year and younger. 10:30 am July 30th Missouri Conservation Department Conservation Kids program at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Life in the Water! Register

6:30 pm July 30th St. Louis County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood. Register

9 Seats remaining. 9 am July 31st Missouri Conservation Department Training at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden: Discover Nature Fishing Educator Volunteer Instructor Training. Register

13 Tickets remaining. For Ages 9+. Ages 9-15 must be accompanied by an adult. 9 am July 31st Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Beginner Archery for Families. Do not bring your own equipment. Register

10:30 am July 31st Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Missouri Black Bears. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 11:30 am July 31st Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Beginner Archery for Adults. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 1st-2nd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

6:30 pm August 4th Shakespeare in the Park at Franz Park, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 5th Shakespeare at Missouri Botanical Garden: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

9 Tickets remaining. For ages 7+. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. 6 pm August 6th Missouri Conservation Department class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, Proper Fish Handling. Register

6 pm August 6th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Black Bears in Missouri. Register

6:30 pm August 6th Shakespeare in the Park at Heman Park, University City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am August 8th Forest ReLeaf O’Fallon Park Tree Watering Day. Help water 120 trees. Requires walking across uneven surfaces carrying 5-10 lbs of water.

11 am August 8th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens July 11th

Noon to 2 pm August 8th St. Louis Horticultural Society Plant MD at Kirkwood Public Library

12 Seats remaining. 1 pm August 8th St. Louis Public Library Garden to Table Series at Central Library: Garden Party Caprese Salad. Bring tomatoes & basil from your garden. Register

6 pm August 8th Urban Harvest Plant Bingo at Urban Chestnut Grove Brewery. Tickets $23.18 – $50

6:30 pm August 8th Shakespeare in the Park at Blackburn Park, Webster Groves: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

Noon to 5 pm August 9th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

6:30 pm August 9th Shakespeare in the Park at Love Bank Park, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

5 pm August 10th St. Heck X Royale Non-alchololic Garden Inspiried Cocktail Competition at The Royale. Tickets $19.58

6:30 pm August 12th Shakespeare in the Park at Chesterfield Amphitheater: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6 pm August 13th Seed St. Louis Zoom class: Fall Gardening Tips. Register

6:30 pm August 13th Shakespeare in the Park at Bellevue Park, Belleville IL: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 14th Shakespeare in the Park at Old North St. Louis City, next to Crown Candy: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

8 am to 12:30 pm August 15th River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

9 am August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House: Bok Choy Chun Mei, Broccoli Burgundy, Broccoli Castle Dome, Cabbage Caraflex, Cabbage (Napa) Minuet, Cabbage Red Almero, Cauliflower Minuteman, Collards Southern Georgia, Kale Black Jack, Kohlrabi Azur Star, Lettuce Heat Tolerant Variety Pack, Lettuce Sierra, Misome Choho (Tatsoi Hybrid). Get in line early for best selection, bring your own box for plants.

9 am to 5 pm August 15th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

5 pm August 15th Missouri Prairie Foundation Annual Dinner & Silent Auction in Columbia MO. August 4th Deadline for online Ticket sales. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ian Thompson, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer with the Choctaw Nation. His presentation- Connecting with Prairie Past and Present: The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

6:30 pm August 15th Shakespeare in the Park at Carondelet Park, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 16th Shakespeare in the Park at South Grand Parking Lot, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 20th Shakespeare in the Park at Washington University: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, August 21st-22nd, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

6:30 pm August 20th Shakespeare in the Park at City Park, Edwardsville IL: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

8 am to 12:30 pm August 22nd River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

6:30 pm August 23rd Shakespeare in the Park at January-Wabash Park, Ferguson: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 25th Shakespeare in the Park at Brentwood Park: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 27th Shakespeare in the Park at Lion’s Amphitheatre, Kirkwood Park: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm August 28th Shakespeare in the Park at Dutchtown Commons, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

11 am and 1 pm August 29th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: The Opera Bell Band presents A Musical Romp Through the Marvelous World of Botanical Poetry

8 am to 12:30 pm August 29th River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

6:30 pm August 30th Shakespeare in the Park at Fairground Park, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm September 1st Shakespeare in the Park at Saint Louis University, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm September 4th Shakespeare in the Park at St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis University, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

September 5th Garden Club of Edwardsville, Illinois Plant Sale.

6:30 pm September 5th Shakespeare in the Park at Maplewood Pocket Park: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6:30 pm September 6th Shakespeare in the Park at Lafayette Park, St. Louis City: Two Gentlemen of Verona. Free

6 pm September 10th Seed St. Louis class at Bell Community Garden: Introduction to Growing Herbs. Register

9 am to 5 pm September 12th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

September 12th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

11 am September 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens August 15th

Noon to 2 pm September 12th St. Louis Horticultural Society Plant MD at Kirkwood Public Library

8 am to 12:30 pm September 19th River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

September 24th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

2 pm September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Cuttings Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester. Register

4-7 pm September 26th Forest ReLeaf fundraiser: Arbormeisters 2026, ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival at Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park

9 am to 5 pm Friday-Sunday, October 9th-11th, Missouri Botanical Garden Best of Missouri Market includes Native Plant Vendors. Garden Admission Fee applies.

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens September 12th

9 am October 17th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am December 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

11 am to 4 pm January 30th, 2027, 16th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Prepackage your seeds and identify the seeds on package. Seed Swap 11 am to 12:30 pm for those who bring seeds to swap and who will receive an arm band to the Seed Room. After 12:30 pm people without an arm band may enter and select seeds from Seed Room. If you do not contribute seeds, bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear. These items will be given to a local charity.