This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: native False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

If you missed the Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale, The Garden Shop on Hampton has got you covered. They are selling seedlings: arugula, cabbage, lettuce, peas, Swiss chard, more. Friday, August 16th through August 31st at The Garden Shop, Deep Discounts on select annuals and perennials: $2 for 4-inch pot, $4 for a quart-sized pot, $6 for 1/2-gallon pots. Say hi to new shop cat- Ms. Astilbe, aka Bebe

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Updated this week with Plant & Seed Swaps @ St. Charles County Library and new Tree & Shrub Sales category

Native Plant Gardeners: Have you joined Wild Ones? Three St. Louis Area, MO & IL Area chapters. A chapter in Southeast Missouri. A Midwest Missouri chapter in Columbia.

I wonder if St. Louis City’s Forest Park Golf Course knows there’s a program called Monarchs in the Rough, for golf courses west of Mississippi, to help restore pollinator habitat in out-of-play areas.

A good resource for starting and maintaining a Seed Library (Seed Library Network) Some Seed Libraries in Missouri

August 30th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Native Flora & Fauna Photography Contest: categories- Living Things, Landscapes, Winter, Events

August 31st Deadline to 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.

September 1st Deadline to Enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photography Contest. Submit photos of Natural Resources, Unique Places (state parks, historic sites), People Enjoying Outdoors

November 15th Deadline for Grade Schools to High Schools, Youth Groups, Community Groups with youth programs, to apply for Wild Ones’ Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program Grants: native plant use in pollinator gardens, rain gardens to improve water quality, tallgrass prairies, Monarch waystations featuring community science activities, and sensory and natural playgrounds.

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads —

Fertilizer from human waste faces scrutiny but remains a profitable industry. Oklahoma lawmakers and environmental officials attempted to take steps this year to protect cities & corps from liability if new health problems are found (Investigate Midwest via Missouri Independent)

EPA takes emergency action to stop use of dangerous pesticide used on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onion. DCPA is known to harm fetuses and “needs to be removed from the market immediately” Gift article (Washington Post)

For our crafty gardeners- Make a basket with iris leaves (Fairegarden blog)

Gardening By Month: August Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

August Gardening Tips on Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Lawns (University of Missouri Extension)

Winter Cover Crops for St. Louis Area. Cover crops are any plant that you grow not to harvest but for some other benefit like weed suppression, mulch production, soil improvement, beneficial insect support, etc. (Seed St. Louis)

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 —

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis August Blitz events in Fountain Park, Grand Center, Penrose Neighborhoods

Go see the Sunflowers Fields at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Going on now: August Artists at the Gallery, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Photographer Steve Springmeyer’s Portraits of the Southwest and watercolor artist Wylie Longmire‘s scenes of forests and rivers of St. Louis and rural eastern Missouri.

Going on now. Online Ordering for 3 am to 7 pm Friday, September 6th, Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market in Gray Summit, Franklin County.

Going on now. Online Ordering: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulip- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. Pick up 11 am to 4 pm October 11th and 9 am to Noon October 12th at Forest Park Greenhouse. Orders to be shipped will be sent the week of October 7th.

Shakespeare in the Park this Week, The Tempest: Free performances 6:30 pm Thursday at Ivory Perry Park, Visitation Park Neighborhood; 6:30 pm Friday at City Park, 101 S Buchanan
Edwardsville IL; 6:30 pm Saturday at January-Wabash Park, Ferguson; 6:30 pm Sunday at Bellevue Park, Belleville IL

1:30 pm Tuesday, August 13th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

2 pm Tuesday, August 13th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Zoom Class: Winter Gardening and Overwintering Crops. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, August 13th Piasa Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: “Back to the Basics: Madison County’s Approach to Waste Management.” Register

4 pm Wednesday, August 14th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Monarch Conservation: Opportunities and Challenges. Register

5 pm Wednesday, August 14th Metro-East Green Cities Gathering at The Mill, Granite City IL. Register

9 am Thursday, August 15th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi. $12. Register

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Missouri Botanical Garden event: Nature Speaks…Through History—The Influencers with Abra Lee, storyteller and author of the forthcoming book, Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers. Garden admission fee required.

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Piasa Sierra Club event: Bike Outing, 10-mile ride thru the woods on the Madison County IL Transit bike trail system. Register

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Piasa Sierra Club Bike Outing, 10-mile ride thru the woods on the Madison County IL Transit bike trail system. Register

9 am to 1 pm Friday, August 16th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Pollinator Workshop. Register

23 Tickets remaining. For Kids Ages 7-16, parents also welcome. 4 pm Friday, August 16th, St. Louis Public Library and Tower Grove Park event at Tower Grove Park: Bird Nerds Birding Club. Register

5:30 pm Friday, August 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture tour with Master Guide: Sunset Stroll. Register

8 am Friday, August 16th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event at Greensfelder Park, St. Louis County: Phenology Walk with Adam Rembert. Litzsinger Road Ecology Center. $1 cash event day appreciated. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

9 am to 4 pm Sunday, August 18th, Sachs Butterfly House event: Bee Jubilee. Fee required. Sachs Butterfly House provides Free Admission to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents only 9-11 am Tuesdays.

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

10 am August 20th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

13 Tickets available. 5 pm August 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Register

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. Register

6 pm August 22nd Missouri Botanical Garden event: Nature Speaks…Through Art History. Learn about Robert Duncanson and Edward Bannister, two 19th-century Black artists known for their nature landscapes. Garden admission fee required.

6 pm August 23rd Urban Harvest fundraiser: Harvest Dinner featuring Chef David Kirkland. Tickets $125

2-5 pm August 24th Soulard Art and Floral Auction at Soulard Station, fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group.

5:30 pm August 24th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture tour with Master Guide: Sunset Stroll. Register

8 am August 25th Southwest Garden Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

8:30 am August 31st Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event in Hillsboro, Jefferson County: Kress Farm Garden Preserve Talk, Tour, Hike. Register

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market, Gray Summit, Franklin County. Online Ordering Begins August 9th for Pick Up event day.

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 1 pm September 7th Fox Park Neighborhood Garden Tour. Register

10 am September 7th Body N Soul Urban Farm event, Old North Neighborhood: Pot Party- Paint Your Own Containers. Register

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

10 am to 3 pm September 14th Monarch Madness Pollinator Festival at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

2 pm August 19th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Plants, Pollen and Allergies. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 24th Heartland Conservancy event at Pontoon Beach, IL: Arlington Wetlands Work Day. Register

8 am to 4 pm Saturdays. September 7th & 14th. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order your native plants online by Monday prior to Saturday pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

8 am September 7th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

5 pm September 7th Heartlands Conservancy Fundraiser at Rock Springs Park, O’Fallon, IL: Farm to Fork. Tickets $100.

8 am September 14th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Meramec River Greenway, Greentree Park, Kirkwood. Register

2 pm September 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Winter Damage. Learn how to prevent winter garden damage. Register

6 pm September 18th St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- What’s the Buzz About Natives presented by Susan Leahy, Wild Ones. Register

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

10 an to 2 pm September 20thUrban Harvest STL and Perennial Class at Grandel Square Center for Urban Agriculture demonstration farm: Building a Garden Bed-Mini Greenhouse Edition. Free. Register

8:30 am September 22nd St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Order native plants from them online by Monday prior for pick up at event.

6 pm September 23rd St. Louis County Public Library craft event at Bridgeton Trails Branch: Paint Night- DIY “Welcome” Garden Flag. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 26th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County. Entry Fee $12 per car.

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.

10 am September 28th St. Louis County Public Library Autumn Plants & More Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, tools, books, gardening supplies to swap with fellow gardeners. Plants should be divided, brought in containers, and labeled.

1 pm September 28th St. Louis County Public Library Plant Swap at Grand Graize Branch, Manchester.

4 pm September 28th Forest ReLeaf Fundraiser at their Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park, St. Louis County: 10th Annual ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival. Tickets start at $40.

October 4-6 Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden: Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Buy from what the bring or order online for pick up at event. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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: Texas Green Eyes, Berlandiera texana

Volunteers Wanted. St. Louis City Forestry Dept needs help watering trees

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis August Blitz events in Fountain Park and Penrose Neighborhoods

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them.

A good resource for starting and maintaining a Seed Library (Seed Library Network) Some Seed Libraries in Missouri

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

August 30th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Native Flora & Fauna Photography Contest: categories- Living Things, Landscapes, Winter, Events

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

Pollinator gardens – going beyond the plant lists to create a robust habitat. (Wild Ones)

Having Japanese Beetle problems? A good article on To Trap or Not to Trap- The Ever Controversial Japanese Beetle Trap (Seed St. Louis and Giving Grove)

Refrigerating produce in jars looks great, but it can breed bacteria. Fresh produce has various needs, including air circulation, that a sealed jar won’t provide. Gift article (Washington Post)

The Great Salt Lake isn’t just drying out. It’s warming the planet. The lake released 4.1M tons of carbon dioxide & other greenhouse gases in 2020… more evidence that dried-out lakes are a significant source of emissions. Gift article (Washington Post)

Hilarious. ‘Mystic Veg’ psychic who uses asparagus to predict the future reveals who she thinks will win the US Presidential Election in November (Daily Mail, UK)

Raising & Harvesting Okra (University of Illinois Extension)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

Go see the Sunflowers Fields at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Going on now. Order Online: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulip- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. Pick up 11 am to 4 pm October 11th and 9 am to Noon October 12th at Forest Park Greenhouse. Orders to be shipped will be sent the week of October 7th.

6 pm Monday, July 29th, St. Louis County Library & Left Banks Book author event at Clark Family Branch: Nature Writer Amy Stewart, Author of “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” More Info on event

10 am Tuesday, July 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

1 pm Tuesday, July 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Snakes of Missouri. Register

6 pm Tuesday, July 30th, St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Carnivorous Plants 101

4 pm Wednesday, July 31st, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Dark Sky as a Natural Resource presented by Dr. Vayujeet Gokhale. Learn about the problem and solutions to light pollution. Register

5:30 pm Wednesday, July 31st, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 9 am Thursday, August 1st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

3 pm Thursday, August 1st, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Bees. Register

7:30-10:30 am Friday, August 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo

8 am Saturday, August 3rd, St. Louis Audubon Society event at Forest Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

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

10 am Saturday, August 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

For K-3rd Grade Kids. 10:30 am Saturday, August 3rd, St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Creatures of the Night with Missouri State Parks.

10 am Sunday, August 4th Heartlands Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois: Bee Walk @ Exploration Garden.

6 pm August 6th St. Louis Public Library and Seed St. Louis class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Winter Gardening and Overwintering Crops.

2 Seats remaining. For Kids ages 0-7. 10:30 am August 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Splish, Splash. Register

9 am August 9th Online Ordering Begins for Pick Up at September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

9:30 am August 9th St. Louis County Public Library event at Sachs Branch: Bird Walk. Register

1 pm August 9th St. Louis City Public Library class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Best Gardening Practices

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

2 pm August 9th St. Louis City Public Library class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Canning and Preservation 101

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale: 4-packs for $3.50 each- Bok Choy, Broccoli (purple & green), Cabbage (red & green), Cauliflower, Collards, Edible Hosta, Lettuce (red & green), Misome (Tatsoi Hybrid)

11 am and 1 pm August 10th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Sachs Museum Performance Series- “A Corn-Fed Musical Comedy Performance” by Opera Bell Band. Seating first come, first served. Garden Admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

2 pm August 10th St. Louis City Public Library class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading: Intro & Advanced Chicken Tending

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

2 pm August 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Zoom Class: Winter Gardening and Overwintering Crops. Register

9 am August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi. $12. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 6 pm August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

9 am to 1 pm August 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Pollinator Workshop. Register

For Kids Ages 7-16, parents also welcome. 4 pm August 16th St. Louis Public Library and Tower Grove Park event at Tower Grove Park: Bird Nerds Birding Club. Register

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.

9 am to 4 pm August 18th Sachs Butterfly House event: Bee Jubilee. Fee required. Sachs Butterfly House provides Free Admission to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents only 9-11 am Tuesdays.

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

21 Tickets available. 5 pm August 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Register

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. Register

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

2 pm August 19th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Plants, Pollen and Allergies. Register

2 pm September 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Winter Damage. Learn how to prevent winter garden damage. Register

6 pm September 18th St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- What’s the Buzz About Natives presented by Susan Leahy, Wild Ones. Register

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

6 pm September 23rd St. Louis County Public Library craft event at Bridgeton Trails Branch: Paint Night- DIY “Welcome” Garden Flag. Register

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: native Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa

Go see the Sunflowers Fields at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Highly recommend visiting Prairie State Park, Missouri’s tall grass prairie home to a bison herd. It’s 4 1/2 Hours drive from St. Louis, 2 Hours from KC. There’s campground w/ vault toilet. Also, primitive camping at nearby Shawnee Trail Conservation. For hotel, Joplin is 30 minutes away.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Updated this week with Aug 9th Online Ordering Begins for Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market and Missouri Wildflowers Nursery will be selling at Oct 4-6 Best of Missouri Market at MoBot

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

August 30th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Native Flora & Fauna Photography Contest: categories- Living Things, Landscapes, Winter, Events

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

A good resource for starting and maintaining a Seed Library (Seed Library Network) Some Seed Libraries in Missouri

Raising & Harvesting Okra (University of Illinois Extension)

This Long-Dead Scientist’s Collection of Rare Seeds Could Help Keep Us Alive. “Essentially we have uncovered a goldmine.” (Mother Jones)

This butterfly went extinct. That’s not the end of the story. The Xerces blue butterfly vanished from San Francisco in the 1940s. Scientists just released dozens of butterflies from a related species to take its place. Gift article (Washington Post)

A House Cat Was Brought to A Remote Island In 1894—A Year Later a Species Was Extinct (Forbes)

(Paywall) First Place Winner of St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest is Soulardian Steve Kotsines on S 12th. Well done!

Missouri Governor Mike Parson vetoed the near $500,000 that would reimburse the Missouri Ag Department’s meat inspection program for unexpected costs and Missouri’s ag director says the agency will go back to the drawing board. (Brownfield Ag News)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off by Noon Mondays-Tuesdays at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

1:30 pm Tuesday, July 23rd, University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Companion Planting- Bountiful and Beautiful Together. Register

6 pm Tuesday, July 23rd, St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading: ABC’s of Honey Bees

5:30 pm Wednesday, July 24th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

5 Tickets remaining. For Kids 0-7 years. 10:30 am Thursday, July 25th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids- You and Me under the Canopy, Tales and Tails. Register

Volunteers Wanted in Madison County IL. 8 am Saturday, July 27th, Heartlands Conservancy event: Arlington Wetlands Volunteer Workday. Register. More on Arlington Wetlands

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, July 27th: clean-ups and beautification in Penrose Neighborhood and at Peace Park, College Hill Neighborhood

1 pm Saturday, July 27th, St. Louis Public Library event with River City Natives at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Using Native Plants in Your Urban Yard.

6 pm July 29th St. Louis County Library & Left Banks Book author event at Clark Family Branch: Nature Writer Amy Stewart, Author of “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” Register

10 am July 30th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

1 pm July 30th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Snakes of Missouri. Register

6 pm July 30th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Carnivorous Plants 101

4 pm July 31st Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Dark Sky as a Natural Resource presented by Dr. Vayujeet Gokhale. Learn about the problem and solutions to light pollution. Register

5:30 pm July 31st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

9 am August 1st Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

3 pm August 1st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Bees. Register

7:30-10:30 am August 2nd Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo

8 am August 3rd St. Louis Audubon Society event at Forest Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

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

10 am August 3rd Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

2 Seats remaining. For Kids ages 0-7. 10:30 am August 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Splish, Splash. Register

9 am August 9th Online Ordering Begins for Pick Up at September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

8 Seats remaining. 10 am August 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Art, Watercolor Painting: Summer Meadows. No experience necessary, all supplies provided. Register

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

9 am August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi. $12. Register

19 Tickets remaining. 6 pm August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

9 am to 1 pm August 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Pollinator Workshop. Register

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.

21 Tickets available. 5 pm August 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Register

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. Register

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Mexican Sunflowers, Tithonia rotundifolia. These will grow to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide with many flowers that attract pollinators.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Updated this week with Brightside Daffodil & Tulip Sale and more info on next weekend’s Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society

Missouri Conservation Department invites public in St. Louis region to collect seed this summer for native tree propagation

Monday, July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

August 30th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Native Flora & Fauna Photography Contest: categories- Living Things, Landscapes, Winter, Events

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

Watering on the Garden (Seed St. Louis)

Forest ReLeaf developing City Tree Farm on the lot adjacent to the Scott Joplin House, Midtown

Can You Compost Bread? The Great Debate, Solved! Yes, you can compost bread, BUT there are some general rules of thumb to follow for best results. (Bob Vila)

Spongy moth caterpillars are very hungry and very invasive and may be on their way to Missouri (KSDK)

From burn scar to wetland. After wildfires destroyed Lahaina (Maui County, Hawaii), the battle to restore an ancient ecosystem will shape the town’s future. Gifted article (Washington Post)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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 —

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off by Noon Mondays-Tuesdays at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

5:30 pm Tuesday, July 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

4 pm Wednesday, July 17th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Online Master Class: The Magic of Swallowtails. Free to MPF members & Grow Native professional members. $15 nonmembers. Register

6 pm Thursday, July 18th, Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

6 pm Thursday, July 18th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Common Caterpillars of Missouri. Register

7:30-10:30 am Friday, July 19th, Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo. Also see Banding Together for Birds.

38 Seats remaining. 6 pm Friday, July 19th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Night. Register

9 am-4 pm Saturday-Sunday, July 20th-21st, Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale at Jost Event Center, St. Louis County

10 am Saturday, July 20th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

1:30 pm July 23rd University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Companion Planting- Bountiful and Beautiful Together. Register

6 pm July 23rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading: ABC’s of Honey Bees

5:30 pm July 24th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

1 pm July 27th St. Louis Public Library event with River City Natives at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Using Native Plants in Your Urban Yard.

6 pm July 30th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Carnivorous Plants 101

3 pm August 1st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Bees. Register

7:30-10:30 am August 2nd Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo

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

For Kids ages 0-7. 10:30 am August 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Splish, Splash. Register

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

22 Tickets remaining. 6 pm August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

9 am to 1 pm August 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Pollinator Workshop. Register

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.

21 Tickets available. 5 pm August 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Register

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. Register

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Native, very tall Compass Plant. Native Americans used it for chewing gum, tea, and ceremonies.

Missouri Conservation Department says planting was a little later, so wait until mid-July to come out to Columbia Bottom to see the Sunflower fields (yes, plural this year).

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Updated this week with local and online plant/seed discounts.

If you’re going to can food, do it properly, don’t endanger your health and the health of others. Educate yourself, take the Food Preservation Online Course by University of Missouri Extension. This self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. $30

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

August 30th Deadline to Enter Wild Ones Native Flora & Fauna Photography Contest: categories- Living Things, Landscapes, Winter, Events

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

July Gardening Tips: Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Lawns (University of Missouri Extension)

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

17 Plants to Control Pests (P. Allen Smith)

Inside America’s billion-dollar quest to squeeze more trees into cities. Gift article (Washington Post)

Bark beetle attack prompts Louisiana lawmakers to convene emergency panel. Beetles ravaging pine trees across state, putting residents at risk of falling limbs. (Lousiana Illuminator)

Plans to fix Oklahoma state parks scaled back. The legislature appropriated 10% of the $350 million ask. When brought to the legislature, examples of a water treatment plant failing and an unfixed cave-in were presented. (Oklahoma Voice)

Potatoes Are the Perfect Vegetable—but You’re Eating Them Wrong. The humble potato is a miraculous vegetable, but Americans are eating less of them than ever before and have ditched fresh potatoes for frozen. (Wired)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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 —

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off by Noon Mondays-Tuesdays at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

10 am Tuesday, July 9th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, July 9th, Learning About the Great River Sturgeon at Old Bakery Bear, Alton IL. Presented by Travis Moore, Fisheries Management Biologist, Missouri Conservation Department.

8:30 am Wednesday, July10th, Heartlands Conservancy event at Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, St. Clair County IL: Morning Meadow Walk with Land Conservation Team member. Register

8 am Thursday, July 11th, Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day at Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, St. Clair County IL. Register

2 pm Thursday, July 11th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

8 am Friday, July 12th, Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day at Poag Sand Prairie Restoration, Edwardsville, Madison County IL. Register

11 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am to 1:30 pm Friday, July 12th, Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County: fish on the big river, help with the Bumblebee Survey in the iconic Sunflower field, then cool off indoors in the afternoon with lunch in the classroom and then an Owl Pellet Dissection activity. Register

7 Tickets remaining. 6 pm Friday, July 12th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 1. Learn about native vs. invasive crayfish and trap setting. Register

8 Tickets remaining. 9 am Saturday, July 13th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 2. Learn about trap recovery and some citizen science. Register

For Kids ages 5-12. 10:30 am Saturday, July 13th, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Creatures of Myth and Legend with World Bird Sanctuary

2 pm Saturday, July 13th, St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: A Dark Side to Your Garden- Plants that Prickle or Poison. Register

5:30 pm Saturday, July 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

7:30 pm Saturday, July 13th, St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

5:30 pm July 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

4 pm July 17th Missouri Prairie Foundation Online Master Class: The Magic of Swallowtails. Free to MPF members & Grow Native professional members. $15 nonmembers. Register

5 pm July 17th Seed St. Louis event at Bell Garden: Summer School Gardener Meet-Up and Natural Art Class. Register

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

6 pm July 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Common Caterpillars of Missouri. Register

7:30-10:30 am July 19th Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo

6 pm July 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Night. Register

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

10 am July 20th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

1:30 pm July 23rd University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Companion Planting- Bountiful and Beautiful Together. Register

14 Seats available. 2 pm July 23rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Missouri’s Signature Root Beer Floats (sassafras root beer and chanterelle ice cream). Register

6 pm July 23rd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading: ABC’s of Honey Bees

5:30 pm July 24th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

3 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am to 1:30 pm Friday, July 27th, Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County: fish on the big river, help with the Bumblebee Survey in the iconic Sunflower field, then cool off indoors in the afternoon with lunch in the classroom and then an Owl Pellet Dissection activity. Register

1 pm July 27th St. Louis Public Library event with River City Natives at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Using Native Plants in Your Urban Yard.

6 pm July 30th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Carnivorous Plants 101

3 pm August 1st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Bees. Register

7:30-10:30 am August 2nd Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo

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

For Kids ages 0-7. 10:30 am August 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Splish, Splash. Register

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

22 Tickets remaining. 6 pm August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

9 am to 1 pm August 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Lincoln University’s Carver Farm, Jefferson City: Pollinator Workshop. Register

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.

21 Tickets available. 5 pm August 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Register

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Monarda, Bee Balm, 2021 Perennial of the Year steeped in patriotism. Left Photo- Native Wild Bergamot. Right Photo: Monarda Raspberry Wine.

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off weekly by Noon Monday-Tuesday at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales & Swaps, here’s a page for them

Recently saw Malabar Spinach vining on an arbor. Might add to garden next year. More info on growing Malabar Spinach.

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

Good Reads/Views —

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

Is this front-yard forest too tall? How a project to bring back Toronto’s oaks fell afoul of city bylaws. An urban ecosystem in Little Italy was threatened when the city delivered a citation for having vegetation over 0.85 metres. (Toronto Star)

A US Court Found Chiquita Guilty of Murder in Colombia. What Does the Ruling Mean for Other U.S. Food Corporations Abroad? (Civil Eats)

A European wild cat was nearly extinct. Now, it’s making a comeback. The Iberian lynx is no longer classified as endangered, a group calling it the “greatest recovery of a cat species ever achieved through conservation.” Gift article (Washington Post)

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

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 pm Tuesday, July 2nd, St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

4 pm Wednesday, July 3rd, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Bees of Missouri’s Ozark Woodlands and Glades. Register

5:30 pm Friday, July 5th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

2 pm Saturday, July 6th, St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register

10 am July 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

6:30 pm July 9th Learning About the Great River Sturgeon at Old Bakery Bear, Alton IL. Presented by Travis Moore, Fisheries Management Biologist, Missouri Conservation Department.

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

11 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am to 1:30 pm July 12th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County: fish on the big river, help with the Bumblebee Survey in the iconic Sunflower field, then cool off indoors in the afternoon with lunch in the classroom and then an Owl Pellet Dissection activity. Register

6 pm July 12th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 1. Learn about native vs. invasive crayfish and trap setting. Register

9 am July 13th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 2. Learn about trap recovery and some citizen science. Register

5:30 pm July 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

5 pm July 17th Seed St. Louis event at Bell Garden: Summer School Gardener Meet-Up and Natural Art Class. Register

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

6 pm July 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Common Caterpillars of Missouri. Register

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

1:30 pm July 23rd University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Companion Planting- Bountiful and Beautiful Together. Register

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

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

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.

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: St. John’s Wort

June 30th Deadline to enter St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest

Plan your garden with 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

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

Food Preservation Online Course by University of Missouri Extension. This self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. $30

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

August 11th to December 23rd University of Missouri Extension Online Master Gardener Core Training. $200

Good Reads/Views —

This 101-year-old scientist may have created your new favorite tomato. Plant pathologist Mannon Gallegly developed the first blight-resistant tomato in 1963. Waiting list for his new variety is already in the thousands. Gift article (Washington Post)

Lingering effects of recent cicada emergence AND environmental benefits (University of Missouri Extension)

10 species of Heron call Missouri home (Missouri Conservationist)

Taking Plant Cuttings. You can grow new plants from cuttings off existing ones. (University of Missouri Extension)

(YouTube)Tomato Trellising: 4 Methods (Seed St. Louis)

Dealing with Squash Bugs in a No Spray Garden and Advice on Squash Bugs from Missouri Botanical Garden

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

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 —

Volunteers Wanted. June neighborhood clean up and beautification opportunities via Brightside St. Louis

2 pm Tuesday, June 25th, St. Louis County Library class at Eureka Hills Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register.

9 am Wednesday, June 26th, Tower Grove Park event at Lily Pond Shelter: Water Plants of Tower Grove Park. Presented by Horticulture Supervisor, Steve Hogenmiller, and Community Engagement Manager, Tara Morton. Register

2 pm Wednesday, June 26th, Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, June 27th, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Sunset Stroll. Register

6 pm Thursday, June 27th, St. Louis County Library class at Grand Glaize Branch: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

3 pm Friday, June 28th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Bats of Missouri. Register

6:30 pm Friday, June 28th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Planting Native, presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury + tour of the native plant gardens at the nature center. Register

11 am and 1 pm Saturday, June 29th, Missouri Botanical Garden event: Sachs Museum Performance Series- “The Sacred Crop” featuring poet Waleska Font and guitarist Patrick Rafferty. Seating first come, first served. Garden Admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

1 pm Saturday, June 29th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Advanced Chicken Tending

10 am to 3 pm June 30th Piasa Sierra Club Urban Farm Tour in Madison County IL, a self guided tour of 6 urban gardens, farms, and community gardens. Register

11 am to 4 pm June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

6 pm July 2nd St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

4 pm July 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Bees of Missouri’s Ozark Woodlands and Glades. Register

2 pm July 6th St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register

6:30 pm July 9th Learning About the Great River Sturgeon at Old Bakery Berr, Alton IL. Presented by Travis Moore, Fisheries Management Biologist, Missouri Conservation Department.

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am to 1:30 pm July 12th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County: fish on the big river, help with the Bumblebee Survey in the iconic Sunflower field, then cool off indoors in the afternoon with lunch in the classroom and then an Owl Pellet Dissection activity. Register

6 pm July 12th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 1. Learn about native vs. invasive crayfish and trap setting. Register

9 am July 13th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Crayfish Craze! Session 2. Learn about trap recovery and some citizen science. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

5 pm July 17th Seed St. Louis event at Bell Garden: Summer School Gardener Meet-Up and Natural Art Class. Register

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

6 pm July 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Common Caterpillars of Missouri. Register

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

1:30 pm July 23rd University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Companion Planting- Bountiful and Beautiful Together. Register

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

2 pm August 9th St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Homesteading- Windowsill Herbs. Register

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

1:30 pm August 13th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Foodscaping- Creating Snacks Among the Flower Beds. Register

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

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.

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems. $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Liatris, Gayfeathers

Plan your garden with 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

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

Thursday, June 20th, Deadline for your community organization to apply for Brightside St. Louis Neighbors Naturescaping Program to beautify a public or not-for-profit space, restore Missouri native plant communities, attract beneficial wildlife (butterflies, bees, birds), reduce stormwater runoff and protect drinking water

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

Good Reads/Views —

Oral History Project Preserves Black and Indigenous Food Traditions. The Heirloom Gardens Project records the stories of elders and honors both long-held expertise and culturally meaningful foods. (Civil Eats)

This word was rejected by geologists. But it’s already taken over the world. Yet for many activists, artists, and academics outside of geology, the Anthropocene, or “Age of Humans,” is here to stay. Gift article (Washington Post)

(YouTube)Tomato Trellising: 4 Methods (Seed St. Louis)

Dealing with Squash Bugs in a No Spray Garden and Advice on Squash Bugs from Missouri Botanical Garden

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

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 —

Noon Monday, June 17th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds. Register

9 am to 5 pm Wednesday, June 19th, Missouri Botanical Garden Juneteenth at the Garden: Ethiopian Book Binding presentation, Pot-A-Plant, “In the Garden with Dr. Carver,” more. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am Thursday, June 20th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Water for the Garden. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 7 Seats remaining. 10:30 am Thursday, June 20th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Twinkle Firefly. Register

For Kids 7-14 years. 2 pm Thursday, June 20th, St. Louis County Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Summer Science- Explore the science of plants with guided, hands-on activities and experiments. Register

5:30-7:30 Thursday, June 20th, Feed the People Garden Project event at 3964 Walsh, Bevo Neghborhood: Queers in the Garden.. No gardening experience necessary. Stop by for community building, learning garden skills, harvesting food, have fun.

6 pm Thursday, June 20th, Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Vermicomposting, aka Worm Composting. $12. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, June 20th, St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Harvesting & Preserving Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

7 pm Thursday, June 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds Part 2. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Friday, June 21st, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Beer Barons 2024: Barons of Beer and Distilling Chapter III. $30. Register

3 Ticckets remaining. 7:30 pm Friday, Junes 21st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area, St. Louiis County: Summer Solstice Walk to the Confluence. Register

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

9 am to to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23, St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-O-Rama Tour

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, June 22nd, University of Missouri Extension Butterfly Festival at Jefferson Farm & Garden, Columbia MO

1 pm Saturday, June 22nd, St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading– Chicken Tending 101

5 Seats remaining. 8 pm Saturday, June 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Owl Prowl. Register

11 am to 1 pm June 23rd Piasa Sierra Club event at La Vista Park, Godfrey, IL: Pollinator Party. Register

2 pm June 25th St. Louis County Library class at Eureka Hills Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register.

9 am June 26th Tower Grove Park event at Lily Pond Shelter: Water Plants of Tower Grove Park. Presented by Horticulture Supervisor, Steve Hogenmiller, and Community Engagement Manager, Tara Morton. Register

2 pm June 26th Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

5:30 pm June 27th Belleftonaine Cemetery event: Sunset Stroll. Register

6:30 June 28th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Planting Native, presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury + tour of the native plant gardens at the nature center. Register

June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

6 pm July 2nd St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

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

1 pm June 29th St. Louis City Publiuc Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Advanced Chicken Tending

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

7 Tickets remaining. 10 am to 2 pm July 20th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Tower Grove Park: learn tree ID and put new skills to the test on a tree ID geocaching adventure. After lunch, learn about native plants and insects and do a flower pounding craft. Register

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.

August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

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.

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems . $12. Register

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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: Common Milkweed. These spread fast, so give them plenty of room. Ours are five feet tall.

Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Corn, Cucumbers, Edamame, Tomatillo, Melon, Okra, Summer Squash, Tomato, Winter Squash
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Basil, Beans, Eggplant, Tomatillo, Melon, Peppers, Summer Squash, Sweet Potato Slips, Tomato
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 & Swaps, here’s a page for them.

Want to buy food in St. Louis Area grown with environmentally responsible and ethical practices? Check out Missouri Coalition for the Environment Known & Grown Farm Directory

Grow Native Professional Certification Program

Good Reads/Listens —

A St. Louis farmer wants more north city residents to grow their own food (St. Louis Public Radio)

Fire is a lost tradition in Missouri. Meet the council reigniting the practice. For generations, Missouri’s Native American tribes used fire to maintain grasslands and push back forests. A council is trying to reignite the practice. (KSDK)

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

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 —

11:30 am to 4:30 pm thru March 31st, 2025 Missouri Botanical Garden multimedia exhibit at Sachs Museum- Kernels of Culture: Maize Around the World. Garden Admission is Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am every Monday St. Louis Public Library Outdoor Storytime in Forest Park, Albrecht Nature Playscape.

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

6:30 pm Tuesday, May 21st, KC Area Mid Continent Public Library Zoom Class: Hummingbirds 101. Register

10 am Wednesday, May 22nd, Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide. Register

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

6 pm Wednesday, May 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Naturalist Notes- Hummingbirds. Register

2 Seats remaining. Ages 0-7 years. 10:30 am Thursday, May 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids- You and Me under the Canopy: Get a Life Cycle! Register

4 Tickets remaining. 3 pm Thursday, May 23rd, Tower Grove Park Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

6 pm Thursday, May 23rd, Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Building a Healthy Garden & Orchard Ecosystem. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Friday, May 24th, support beautiful Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum at Beer Barons Tour: Beer Barons Chapter II – Suppliers to Brewers. Tickets $30. Register

18 Tickets remaining. 7:30 pm Friday, May 24th, Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Off the Beaten Trail Evening Nature Walk. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 7:30 pm, Friday, May 24th Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area: Dusk Hike. Register

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

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

10 am Saturday, May 25th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

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

11 am May 28th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Snakes of Missouri. Register

6 Tickets remaining. 3 pm May 29th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Class at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Beginning Archery. Register

1 pm May 30th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Landscaping with Native Plants. Register

17 Tickets remaining. 1 pm May 31st Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Powder Valley Conservation Area: Wildflower Walk . Register

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

10 am June 1st St. Louis County Library Plant Swap @ Samuel C. Sachs Branch- Register

27 Seats remaining. 2 pm June 1st Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History. 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.

4 pm June 3rd St. Louis County Library Plant Swap @ Thornhill Branch- Register

3 pm June 5th St. Louis County Library Plant Swap @ Prairie Commons Branch- Register

4 pm June 5th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Documenting Multiple Types of Pollinators Through Photography. Register

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

5:30-7:30 June 11th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Chat for Change at MCE office, University City. Sounds like a happy hour for environmentalists and conservationists. Register

6:30 pm June 11th Piasa Sierra Club June Speaker at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Our Wetlands Cooperative in Metroeast presented by Dr. Jenny Mullikin, National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. Register

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.

10 am June 20th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Water for the Garden. Register

6 pm June 20th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Vermicomposting, aka Worm Composting. $12. Register

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

9 am to to 5 pm June 22-23 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-O-Rama Tour

11 am to 1 pm June 23rd Piasa Sierra Club event at La Vista Park, Godfrey, IL: Pollinator Party. Register

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

June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

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.

August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

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

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

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.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Tulips. Pictured are seven year old Brightside Reds from Brightside St. Louis annual sale.

Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Peppers, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
Sow Outdoors This Week: Arugula, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Collards, Kale, 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: April 6 Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale, May 5 Feed the People Community Garden Plant Sale in Bevo

April 15th Registration Deadline for Missouri Callery Pear (Bradford Pear) Buy Back Program. Help get ride of this invasive tree!

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

Good Reads —

Extreme Weather. These lakes are usually still frozen over. See how they look now. From Minnesota to Maine, ice is already gone from many lakes, earlier than ever witnessed (Free Read- Washington Post)

Birdwatchers flock to Nebraska for the ancient migration of Sandhill Cranes (Iowa Public Radio)

How to get a more eco-friendly yard, one season at a time. Small changes can turn your garden into a haven for flora and fauna. (Free Read- Washington Post)

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

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 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

10 am Tuesday, March 26th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

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

4 pm Wednesday, March 27th, Grow Native Webinar: Gardens of Excellence- Urban Native Landscape Design. Register

Hey, Parents of Elementary School Kids. 4-6 pm Wednesday, March 27th, Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event: National Archery in the Schools Program Open House At Shenandoah School, Tower Grove East. Register

6 pm Thursday, March 28th, Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health & Why It Matters. $12. Register

3:30 pm Friday, March 29th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Specialty Gardens – Edible Garden, Tea Garden, Dyeing Garden, Rain Garden, Pollinator Garden. Register. Also see Native Plant Dyes (U.S. Forest Service)

10 am Saturday, March 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

1:30 pm Saturday, March 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Rock Gardens. Register. Also see Rock Garden (Grow Native)

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

9 am April 6th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale: Bok Choy‘Chun Mei, Broccoli Burgundy, Broccoli Castle Dome, Cabbage Caraflex, Cabbage Omero, Cauliflower Minuteman, Collards Georgia Southern, Kale Lacinato (Dino Kale), Kohlrabi Azur Star, Lettuce Heat Tolerant Variety Pack, Lettuce Salanova Red Butter, Misome Choho (Tatsoi Hybrid). 4-packs for $3.50 each

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

3 pm April 6th Missouri Prairie Foundation In Person event: Brews and Blooms at Civil Life Brewing. Free native plant giveaway (one per household, while supplies last), container garden demonstration, and gardening advice from Missouri native plant and landscaping experts.

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: Pick Your System. $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

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.

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.

10 am t0 2 pm May 5th Feed the People Garden Project Plant Sale in Bevo Neighborhood.: Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers

9 am May 11th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale

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.

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 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.