This Week In Gardening & Nature

Photo of American Beautyberry in Fall/Winter splendor- hot pink berries on leafless stems waiting for birds and wildlife to enjoy.

Plant of the Week: American Beautyberry

Walk off your Thanksgiving dinner. Take a drive and hike at one of Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Prairies.

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

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

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

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

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

Good Reads & Views—

November Gardening Tips: Outdoor Flowing Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Indoor Plants, Turfgrass (University of Missouri Extension)

10 Fall Gardening Tips & Recipes video (P. Allen Smith)

Fall Leaves for the Garden (Seed St. Louis)

Pecans: A Whole Lot of Shakin’ Goin’ On (University of Missouri Extension)

Donation to Missouri AG riles plaintiffs in lead-poisoning suit against St. Louis company. The parent company for Doe Run cut at $50,000 check to a PAC supporting Andrew Bailey three months after he filed a brief in support of the lead smelter in federal court (Missouri Independent)

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 —

5:30 pm Monday, November 13th, St. Louis Public Library In Person Class at Central Library: DIY Worm Bins and Vermicomposting. Register

10 am Tuesday, November 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register.

6:30 pm Tuesday, November 14th, Sierra Club Piasa Speaker Series: Great Camps of the Adirondacks @ Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL. Register

10 am Wednesday, November 15th, Seed St. Louis & St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Edible Landscaping. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 10 am Thursday, November 16th, Missouri Conservation Department Conservation Kids event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: You and me under the Canopy: Talkin’ Turkeys. Learn about some common backyard birds, then create felt ornaments to take home. Must be at least age 16. Only 1 Seat remaining. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, November 16th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

4 pm Thursday, November 16th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Backyard Bird Feeding. Register

10 am Saturday, November 18th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register.

2 pm Saturday, November 18th, St. Louis Public Library In Person Class at Buder Library: Introduction to Chickens with Second-Hen’d. Learn the benefits of adopting “spent” hens.

Saturday, November 18th, thru January 6th Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden. Tickets

10 am Sunday, November 19th, Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: The Science & Art of Soapmaking. Class is full but Register for Waiting List

1:30 pm November 22nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

4 pm November 22nd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Ecology & Management of Missouri’s Woodland Communities. Register

November 24th to December 31st Sachs Butterfly House event: Winter Jewels- An Enchanted Celebration, Chesterfield, St. Louis County. Tickets

1 pm November 24th Missouri Conservation Department Walk off the Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Hike at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County. 9 Tickets remaining. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am November 25th Missouri Coalition for the Environment Honeysuckle Removal Day @ historic Greenwood Cemetery, Hillsdale, St. Louis County. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 am December 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Nature Art- Felt Bird Ornaments. Registration Opens November 1st. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Holiday/Christmas Cactus tips from P. Allen Smith

Want to attract birds to your yard but not invasive Starlings? Here are some ideas.

Thru Friday Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

Cabin Fever Cure in St. Louis. Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden is a tropical getaway during winter (or any time). MoBot admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Jan 15th Deadline for Ordering Online from Seed St. Louis Annual Seed Packet Sale: $0.25-$1.00 each for veggie, fruit, herb, flower seed packets- for Pick Up Jan 21st

Jan 15th Application Deadline. Hey, teachers and parents of school gardeners, community gardens, public park gardeners: Grow Native Missouri Native Plant Prairie Garden Grants

Register for 8 am to 3 pm Feb 11th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference, In Person and Virtual. $15 but scholarships available. Keynote Presentation: Soul Farmer, Tyrean “Heru” Lewis. Sessions: Growing Mushrooms at Home, Help Pollinators & Increase Your Harvest, Wild Edibles of Missouri, Growing Microgreens 101, Schoolyard Animal Husbandry, Free Plants in the Kitchen Garden, Lacto Ferment Your Garden Produce for Better Gut Health, What is Therapeutic Horticulture?, Land Trust Garden Update

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

9 am Tuesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

4 pm Saturday Missouri Conservation Dept special event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Walk to the Confluence. 11 Tickets remaining. Register

7 pm Jan 22nd Missouri Conservation Dept event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: An Evening with Raptors. Register

4 pm Jan 23rd Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Homemade Suet Bird Feeders. Register

6 pm Jan 26th Seed St. Louis Webinar: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

white Kalanchoe blooms with green leaves

Thru Dec 30th Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

Annual Seed St. Louis Seed Packet Sale: Order Online– $0.25-$1.00 each for veggie, fruit, herb, flower seed packets- for Pick Up Jan 21st

Reminder: Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden is a magical great getaway during winter (or any time) and MoBot admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Hey, teachers and parents of school gardeners, community gardens, public park gardeners: Jan 15th Application Deadline for Grow Native Missouri Native Plant Prairie Garden Grants

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

Looking for something to do outdoors over the holidays? Visit Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden

6:30 pm Tuesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Missouri’s Prairie Communities. Register

11 am Wednesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Feeding the Birds. Register

4 pm Wednesday Grow Native Missouri Webinar: Restoring Home: The Journey Back to Native. Register

9 am Dec 27th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

4 pm Dec 31st Missouri Conservation Dept special event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Walk to the Confluence. 11 Tickets remaining. Register

4 pm Jan 3rd Craft Project for K-3 Kids at Machacek Library, Lindenwood: Paper Plate Bird Feeder

Noon Jan 4th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Bloomers- Witch Hazel. Register

4 pm Jan 4th Grow Native Missouri Zoom Master Class: Landscaping with Native Wetland Plants. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

6:30 am Jan 7th Missouri Conservation Dept event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Sunrise Hike to Watch for Eagles at the Confluence. 12 Tickets remaining. Register

9 am Jan 7th Missouri Conservation Dept event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Dresser Island Hike. Register

6 pm Jan 12th Seed St. Louis Webinar Seed Starting. Register

6 pm Jan 13th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Wetland Birds. Register

10:30 am Jan 14th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Biodiversity in Your Backyard. Register

Noon Jan 18th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Wonderful Woodpeckers. Register

Noon Jan 19th Deep Roots Kansas City’s Virtual Event: Native Plants at Noon. Register

4 pm Jan 23rd Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Homemade Suet Bird Feeders. Register

6 pm Jan 26th Seed St. Louis Webinar: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

7 pm Jan 22nd Missouri Conservation Dept event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: An Evening with Raptors. Register

Register for 8 am to 3 pm Feb 11th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference, In Person and Virtual. $15 but scholarships available. Keynote Presentation: Soul Farmer, Tyrean “Heru” Lewis. Sessions: Growing Mushrooms at Home, Help Pollinators & Increase Your Harvest, Wild Edibles of Missouri, Growing Microgreens 101, Schoolyard Animal Husbandry, Free Plants in the Kitchen Garden, Lacto Ferment Your Garden Produce for Better Gut Health, What is Therapeutic Horticulture?, Land Trust Garden Update

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Photo of African Violets in tea cup and saucer planter. Flowers are purple and white purple accents

Annual Seed St. Louis Seed Packet Sale: Order Online– $0.25-$1.00 each for veggie, fruit, herb, flower seed packets- for Pick Up Dec 17th or Jan 21

Reminder: Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden is a magical great getaway during winter (or any time) and MoBot admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

Thru Dec 30th Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

1:30 pm Tuesday Leaf Walk at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Master Guide led walking tour. Register

10 am Wednesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Program: Attracting and ID Winter Birds. Register

Noon Thursday Deep Roots Kansas City virtual event: Native Plants at Noon on the Road with Missouri Conservation Dept. Register

4 pm Friday Missouri Conservation Dept events at Tower Grove Park
Discovering Night Walk. Might see owls. 18 Tickets remaining. Register
Family Craft Night @ Stupp Center. 21 Tickets remaining. Register

9:30 am Saturday Missouri Conservation Dept event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Breakfast with the Birds. Only 4 Tickets remaining. Register

6:30 pm Dec 20th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Missouri’s Prairie Communities. Register

11 am Dec 21st Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Feeding the Birds. Register

4 pm Dec 21st Grow Native Missouri Webinar: Restoring Home: The Journey Back to Native. Register

9 am Dec 27th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Event: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

4 pm Dec 31st Missouri Conservation Dept special event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Walk to the Confluence. 12 Tickets remaining. Register

4 pm Jan 3rd Craft Project for K-3 Kids at Machacek Library, Lindenwood: Paper Plate Bird Feeder

6 pm Jan 12th Seed St. Louis Webinar Seed Starting. Register

6 pm Jan 26th Seed St. Louis Webinar: Tree Saps & Syrups. Register

Register for 8 am to 3 pm Feb 11th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference, In Person and Virtual. $15 but scholarships available. Keynote Presentation: Soul Farmer, Tyrean “Heru” Lewis. Sessions: Growing Mushrooms at Home, Help Pollinators & Increase Your Harvest, Wild Edibles of Missouri, Growing Microgreens 101, Schoolyard Animal Husbandry, Free Plants in the Kitchen Garden, Lacto Ferment Your Garden Produce for Better Gut Health, What is Therapeutic Horticulture?, Land Trust Garden Update

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week In Gardening & Nature

Hey, teachers and parents of school gardeners, community gardens, public park gardeners: Jan 15th Application Deadline for Grow Native Missouri Native Plant Prairie Garden Grants

Register for 8 am to 3 pm Feb 11th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference, In Person and Virtual. $15 but scholarships available. Keynote Presentation: Soul Farmer, Tyrean “Heru” Lewis. Sessions: Growing Mushrooms at Home, Help Pollinators & Increase Your Harvest, Wild Edibles of Missouri, Growing Microgreens 101, Schoolyard Animal Husbandry, Free Plants in the Kitchen Garden, Lacto Ferment Your Garden Produce for Better Gut Health, What is Therapeutic Horticulture?, Land Trust Garden Update

Gardening by Month from Missouri Botanical Garden
December Tips & Tasks
December Pests & Problems

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

Thru Dec 30th Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

1:30 pm Monday Leaf Walk at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Master Guide led walking tour. Register

1 pm Wednesday Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Class: Holiday/Winter Swag From Your Own Backyard. Register

4 pm Wednesday Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar- Winter’s Feathered Friends: The Christmas Bird Count & Grassland Birds in Winter. Register

6 pm Thursday Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Enjoying Winter & Preparing for Spring. Register

6:30 pm Friday Missouri Conservation Dept Nature Board Game Night at Stupp Center, Tower Grove Park Ages 8 and up. Register

1:30 pm Dec 13th Leaf Walk at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Master Guide led walking tour. Register

10 am Dec 14th Missouri Conservation Dept Virtual Program: Attracting and ID Winter Birds. Register

Noon Dec 15th Deep Roots Kansas City virtual event: Native Plants at Noon on the Road with Missouri Conservation Dept. Register

4 pm Dec 16th Missouri Conservation Dept events at Tower Grove Park
Discovering Night Walk. Might see owls. 18 Tickets remaining. Register
Family Craft Night @ Stupp Center. 21 Tickets remaining. Register

9:30 am Dec 17th Missouri Conservation Dept event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Area, Kirkwood: Breakfast with the Birds. Only 3 Tickets remaining. Register

4 pm Dec 21st Grow Native Missouri Webinar: Restoring Home: The Journey Back to Native. Register

4 pm Jan 3rd Craft Project for K-3 Kids at Machacek Library, Lindenwood: Paper Plate Bird Feeder

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week In Gardening & Nature

Gardening by Month from Missouri Botanical Garden.
December Tips & Tasks
December Pests & Problems

Thru Dec 30th Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield: Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis’ Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

1:30 pm Wednesday Leaf Walk at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Master Guide led walking tour. Register

6 pm Wednesday at Carpenter Library, Tower Grove South. Forest Park Owls: Hiding in Plain Sight with award winning naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw

6:30 pm Friday Missouri Conservation Department in-person event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Owl Prowl. 6 Tickets remaining. Register

8 am Saturday St. Louis Audubon Society’s Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

12:30 pm Sunday Missouri Prairie Foundation Friends of Cuivre River State Park: Grasslands Work Day, Troy, Lincoln County. Volunteers Wanted. Register

6 pm Dec 8th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Enjoying Winter & Preparing for Spring. Register

6:30 pm Dec 9th Missouri Conservation Department’s Nature Board Game Night at Stupp Center, Tower Grove Park. Ages 8 and up. Register

4 pm Dec 7th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar- Winter’s Feathered Friends: The Christmas Bird Count & Grassland Birds in Winter. Register

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday with host @stl7thward to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week In Gardening & Nature

Start planning your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

9 am Wednesday Missouri Conservation Department’s Birdwatching Hike at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood. Register

6 pm Thursday Missouri Conservation Department’s Conservation Kids @ Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center. You and Me under the Canopy: Fall Fun for 3-6 year olds. Register

10 am Saturday Seed St. Louis In Person Workshop: Utilizing the School Garden in Winter. At Carriage House, Bell Community Garden, 3815 Bell. Register

5 pm Sunday Missouri Conservation Department’s Super Owl Prowl at Emmenegger Nature Park, Sunset Hills. 5 Tickets remaining. Register

9 am Nov 23rd Missouri Conservation Department’s 2.2 mile hike with MDC Naturalist. Discover Dogwood Ridge, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. 9 tickets remaining. Register

4 pm Nov 23rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Online Master Class Wasps: The Astonishing Diversity of a Misunderstood Insect Free to Mo Prairie Foundation members & Grow Native Missouri professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

2 pm Nov 20 Guided Forest Bathing & Nature Therapy Walk at Forest Park, Kennedy Forest. Tickets

Nov 25 to Dec 30th Sachs Butterfly House special event, Chesterfield Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. Tickets

8 am Dec 3rd St. Louis Audubon Society’s Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

6 pm Dec 8th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Enjoying Winter & Preparing for Spring. Register