St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales

Going on Now: Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Orders ship out in Spring. Rose Mallow, a native hibiscus with large flowers , one of Missouri’s tallest perrenials (up to 8 feet) is still available

April 21, 2026, Missouri Invasive Plant Council Callery Pear, Bradford Pear Buyback. Info on 2025 event. No link yet for 2026. Confirmed locations: Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Doniphan, Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Kirksville, Lebanon, Liberty, Moberly, Park Hills, Parkville, Riverside, Rolla, Sikeston, Springfield, St. Charles, St. Joseph, St. Louis, Warrensburg, and West Plains.

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Noon to 4 pm January 10th Happy Trails Farm (501c3 horse rescue) Garden Vendor Fair & Seed Swap at Moose Lodge, 2521 Maryville Rd, Granite City, Illinois. Donations accepted and a lucky donor will win a pick up truck of manure.

11 am to 4 pm January 24th 15th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 South Lindbergh Blvd. Seed Swap, Vendors, Raffle. Label seeds. If you do not have seeds to swap, donate non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear for charity.

9 am to 5 pm January 31st-February 1st Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

2 pm January 31st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

11 am to 2 pm Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Alton, Illinois: Seed Swap. Register

March 14th Seed St. Louis March Sale at Carriage House: Potatoes, Onions, Strawberries, Asparagus

9 am March 28th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House.

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

9 am May 9th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling & Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Carriage House

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

9 am to 5 pm May 16th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

9 am to 5 pm June 20th Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

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

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

9 am August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House

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

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

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

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

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

How Much Does A St. Louis City Alder Seat Cost?

I have no idea how much candidates for St. Louis City Alder and Board President raised and spent in 2023 or 2025. I could go thru campaign finance reports filed at Missouri Ethics Commission. But those figures would be highly problematic because of independent spending by political action committees (PACs), legal money laundries in Missouri.

What I can tell you about is the St. Louis City-based PAC, that now has an agenda before the Board of Alders and City economic development boards, that spent a lot of money electing the Board of Alders in recent years. A LOT.

Civic Progress Action Committee, the PAC for Civic Progress, and its successor 21st Century St. Louis PAC, the PAC for Greater St. Louis, have a 24 year history online at MEC. It’s a history showing dramatic changes in purpose and how they operate– two different eras, different goals.

Civic Progress Action Committee was run for many years by Walter L. Metcalfe, Jr. and Alfred E. Kerth, III. Civic Progress was a rich white man’s club, the captains of industry. Their PAC was noblesse oblige politics.

Civic Progress Action Committee paid for lunch meetings at private clubs including St. Louis Club and The Bogey Club. It paid for administrative services from FleishmanHillard, Bryan Cave, PricewaterhouseCoopers, RubinBrown, and Civic Progress Inc. It invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in Euro Dollar Bonds. Nothing like that shows up in 21st Century St. Louis PAC’s reports.

Civic Progress Action Committee hired lobbyists to monitor and testify at hearings: 35 checks, $5,000 each to Nexus Group from February 2018 to December 2020; 33 checks, $5,000 to $10,000 each to Dentons, previous employers of Nexus Group, from January 2015 to February 2018. Lobbyist Dick Wiles, a Jefferson City fixture for decades, once represented Civic Progress as well.

Greater St. Louis has 15 lobbyists, both at the State Capitol and at City Hall. They are not paid by 21st Century St. Louis PAC. At City Hall and at economic development board meetings (corporate welfare) the organization is served by attorney David Sweeney, former Clerk of the Board of Alders and considered a “friend” by most Alders and other elected officials at City Hall. Sweeney also lobbies for many developers. Generally, Alders rubberstamp projects that Sweeney represents.

One thing that Civic Progress Action Committee did not do was consort with City Alders, donate to candidates, or make Independent Expenditures to elect candidates. That all changed when Civic Progress merged with several organizations to become Greater St. Louis and Jason Hall, its CEO, took over Civic Progress Action on August 3, 2022. Good luck finding a news article on this merger that is objective, not mostly propaganda.

In 2023, 21st Century St. Louis PAC helped elect two Alders representing the City’s central corridor and lesser amounts on eight other successful candidates, 12 of 15 votes on the Board including Board President Megan Green. In 2025, the PAC helped elect 8 of 8 Alder seats on regular and special election ballots, a majority of votes on the Board.

In 2023, 21st Century St. Louis PAC’s $42,936.02 in direct expenditures and contributions were pivotable to helping nine-year Washington University employee Michael Browning defeat two incumbent Alders- Tina “Sweet-T” Pihl and Michael Gras- to become Alder of the City’s Central West End’s new 9th Ward, a product of consolidating wards from 28 to 14 and subsequent redistricting. Another $40,936.03 went to the re-election of 14th Ward Alder Rasheen Aldridge, one of two Downtown Alders.

In 2025, 21st Century St. Louis PAC spent $13,936.68 on Alder Browning, who had neither a primary nor general election opponent, and $26,379.91 electing banker Jami Cox Antwi as Downtown’s second Alder, the 8th Ward seat vacated by the election of Alder Cara Spencer to Mayor.

Another $16,183.60 went to the re-election of 1st Ward Alder Anne Schweitzer; $16,533.44 to help re-elect 7th Ward Alder Alisha Sonnier; and $13,978.68 to re-elect 11th Ward Alder Laura Keys; plus, smaller amounts for another four Alders.

Browning and Aldridge have sponsored millions and millions of dollars in corporate welfare for developers in the City’s central corridor (Central West End to Downtown)- property tax abatements (which reduce revenue to public schools), sales tax exemotions, developer-controlled special taxes, and more. Antwi is the Board’s newest member but will predictably follow in the footsteps of Spencer and, before that, Alder Phyllis Young, in sponsoring millions in corporate welfar for Downtown developers. That’s why Greater St. Louis invests money in Alder elections. And the sky’s the limit on how much.

Most of the money spent by 21st Century St. Louis PAC was by Direct Expenditure. In Missouri, these are funds to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure without giving directly to a candidate or committee, money for mailings, robo calls, digital advertising, etc.

Direct Expenditures are a way around campaign finance contribution limits. A PAC can donate the legal limit, for Alders that’s $2,600, then spend as much as it wants in Direct Expenditures. 21st Century St. Louis PAC did exactly that.

Direct Expenditures are also only reported by the PAC making them. They do not show up on beneficiary candidate or ballot committee reports. You have to know who the players are in an election and track their reports available online at Missouri Ethics Commission. The spending may attract news media attention for statewide candidates and ballot issues but rarely local elections.

January 2023 to October 2025
21st Century St. Louis PAC
Direct Expenditures Benefiting St. Louis City Candidates
06/30/2025 $11,627.82 Alder Jami Cox Antwi
06/13/2025 $12,152.03 Alder Jami Cox Antwi
03/24/2025 $14,183.60 Alder Anne Schweitzer
03/24/2025 $13,933.44 Alder Alisha Sonnier
03/24/2025 $13,836.68 Alder Michael Browning
03/24/2025 $13,718.68 Alder Laura Keys
03/29/2023 $6,686.28 former Alder Joe Vollmer
03/29/2023 $6,686.27 former Alder Joe Vaccaro
03/27/2023 $11,140.06 Alder Michael Browning
03/27/2023 $11,140.07 Alder Rasheen Aldridge
03/22/2023 $11,235.48 Alder Michael Browning
03/22/2023 $11,235.48 Alder Rasheen Aldridge
03/20/2023 $15,960.48 Alder Michael Browning
03/20/2023 $15,960.48 Alder Rasheen Aldridge

January 2023 to October 2025
21st Century St. Louis PAC
Contributions to St. Louis City Electeds and Failed Candidates
05/28/2025 $2,600 Alder Jami Cox Antwi
03/26/2025 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
02/13/2025 $2,600 Alder Anne Schweitzer
02/13/2025 $2,600 Alder Matt DeVoti
02/13/2025 $2,600 Alder Alisha Sonnier
12/17/2024 $2,600 Alder Pam Boyd
12/17/2024 $2,600 Alder Shane Cohn
12/17/2024 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
10/09/2024 $2,600 Alder Michael Browning
12/14/2023 $2,600 Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore
03/10/2023 $2,600 failed Alder candidate J.P. Mitchom
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Rasheen Aldridge
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Michael Browning
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Tom Oldenburg
03/10/2023 $2,600 Board President Megan Green
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Shane Cohn
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Daniela Velazquez
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Pam Boyd
03/10/2023 $2,600 former Alder Joe Vollmer
03/10/2023 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
03/10/2023 $2,600 former Alder, now Mayor Cara Spencer
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Shane Cohn
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Daniela Velazquez
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder, now Mayor Cara Spencer
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder Joe Vollmer
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Michael Browning
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder Mike Gras
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Laura Keys
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Pam Boyd
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Mayor Tishaura Jones
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Comptroller Darlene Green
02/21/2023 $2,600 Board President Megan Green
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Tom Oldenburg
02/21/2023 $2,600 former Alder James Page
02/21/2023 $2,600 Alder Rasheen Aldridge

Who funded the 21st Century St. Louis PAC’s efforts in St. Louis City Alder campaigns in 2023 and 2025?

January 2023 to October 2025
21st Century St. Louis PAC Funders

07/29/2025 $7,372.44 STL Regional Chamber PAC*
02/27/2025 $5,000 Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner (law firm)
02/23/2025 $5,000 David Peacock (Advantage Solutions)
02/03/2025 $5,000 David Peacock (Advantage Solutions)
12/2/2024 $10,000 John Tracy (Dot Family Holdings)
11/12/2024 $25,000 Andrew Taylor (Enterprise Mobility)
10/23/2024 $5,000 Commerce Bancshares
10/10/2024 $10,000 Ameren (utility, strong interest in data centers)
10/07/2024 $20,000 Lodging Hospitality Management (developer, hotelier)
08/23/2024 $4,500 Jerome Schlichter (attorney)
08/23/2024 $4,500 Susan Schlichter (retired)
08/20/2024 $5,000 Michael Konzen (PGAV)
08/14/2024 $10,000 John Tracy (Dot Family Holdings)
08/13/2024 $10,000 Thompson Coburn (law firm)
08/12/2024 $20,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center)
08/16/2024 $5,000 Schnuck Markets
09/05/2023 $10,000 John Tracy (Dot Family Holdings)
03/29/2023 $4,000 Lodging Hospitality Management (developer, hotelier)
03/29/2023 $4,000 Susan Schlichter (retired)
03/27/2023 $10,000 Thompson Coburn (law firm)
03/27/2023 $5,000 Spire PAC (utility)
03/24/2023 $2,500 Commerce Bancshares
03/21/2023 $5,000 900 N Tucker LLC (developer,Old Post-Dispatch Bldg, data center, Interco Plaza)
03/20/2023 $10,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint and Cequel 3, data center)
03/20/2023 $3,000 Edward L. Dowd Jr. Living Trust (attorney)
03/17/2023 $20,000 First Bank
03/16/2023 $10,000 Post Holdings (consumer packaged foods)
03/14/2023 $5,000 Bryan Cave Missouri PAC (law firm)
02/24/2023 $5,000 900 N Tucker LLC (developer, Old Post-Dispatch Bldg, data center, Interco Plaza)
02/17/2023 $5,000 Schnuck Markets
02/14/2023 $5,000 Commerce Bancshares PAC
02/09/2023 $5,000 Jerome Schlichter (attorney)
02/07/2023 $25,000 Andrew Taylor (Enterprise Holdings)
02/08/2023 $10,000 Jerald Kent (Tierpoint, data center)
02/06/2023 $5,000 Lodging Hospitality Management (developer, hotelier)
02/02/2023 $5,000 Robert Hermann Jr (Busch Family, Hermann Companies)
02/01/2023 $5,000 Thompson Coburn (law firm)

Notice how much the source of funds changed after the merger.

January 2015 to December 2020
Civic Progress Action Committee Funders
12/21/2020 $12,000 SSM Health St. Louis
11/17/2020 $4,500 Caleres Inc
10/13/2020 $7,500 Nestle Purina PetCare
10/13/2020 $7,500 BJC Healthcare
09/30/2020 $4,500 Stifel Financial
09/26/2020 $7,500 Edward Jones
09/23/2020 $4,500 Maritz
08/27/2020 $7,500 Ameren Missouri
06/25/2020 $4,500 Coin Acceptors Inc
06/22/2020 $4,500 Schnucks Markets
06/10/2020 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
06/05/2020 $13,000 RGA Reinsurance
05/29/2020 $4,500 Cequel III
05/18/2020 $4,500 Graybar Electric
05/11/2020 $4,500 Spire Missouri
03/31/2020 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
02/11/2020 $13,000 Centene Management
02/10/2020 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
02/06/2020 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/31/2020 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
01/29/2020 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc PAC
12/13/2019 $75,000 Civic Progress Inc
03/20/2019 $4,500 Caleres
02/26/2019 $4,500 Maritz
02/08/2019 $7,500 Mercy
01/25/2019 $13,000 Centene Management
01/25/2019 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc PAC
01/16/2019 $4,500 Schnucks Markets
01/02/2019 $7,500 Ameren Missouri
12/14/2028 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
11/05/2018 $25,000 Civic Progress
11/02/2018 $4,500 Cequel III
10/23/2018 $4,500 Maritz
05/31/2018 $4,500 Graybar Electric
05/21/2018 $4,500 BJC HealthCare
05/16/2018 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
05/07/2018 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
05/03/2018 $4,500 Coin Acceptors
05/03/2018 Southwestern Bell Telephone dba AT&T
05/01/2018 $7,500 RGA Reinsurance
05/01/2018 $13,000 Express Scripts
03/29/2018 $4,500 Caleres Inc
02/08/2028 $7,500 Edward Jones
01/26/2018 $4,500 Mercy St. Louis
01/24/2018 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
01/24/2018 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc. PAC
01/24/2018 $7,500 Centene Management
01/09/2018 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/17/2018 $4,500 Spire Missouri
01/05/2018 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
09/13/2017 $4,500 Southwestern Bell Telephone dba AT&T
07/01/2017 $4,500 Commerce Bank
06/20/2017 $13,000 Monsanto
06/12/2017 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
05/22/2017 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings Inc. PAC
05/17/2017 $7,500 RGA Reinsurance
05/02/2017 $4,500 Mercy
04/28/2017 $4,500 Maritz
04/11/2017 $4,500 Caleres Inc
04/06/2017 $4,500 Coin Acceptors Inc
03/30/2017 $4,500 Stifel Financial
02/02/2017 $7,500 World Wide Technology Holding Co
01/30/2017 $4,500 Schnuck Markets
01/25/2017 $7,500 Centene Management
01/25/2017 $7,500 Edward Jones
12/22/2016 $13,000 Emerson Electric
12/22/2016 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
12/20/2016 $4,500 BJC Healthcare
12/20/2016 $175,000 Civic Progress
12/19/2016 $4,500 The Laclede Group
11/07/2016 $2,000 Committee for Bond Initiatives
09/07/2016 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
08/16/2016 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
06/30/2016 $4,500 Graybar Electric
06/20/2016 $4,500 BJC Healthcare
06/20/2016 $4,500 Mercy
06/10/2016 $7,500 RGA Reinsurance
05/31/2016 $13,000 Express Scripts
05/31/2016 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
05/31/2016 $4,500 Coin Acceptors
04/27/2016 $4,500 Cequel III
03/31/2016 $4,500 Stifel Financial
03/14/2016 $13,000 Enterprise Holdings PAC
02/29/2016 $4,500 The Laclede Group
02/09/2016 $4,500 Caleres
02/09/2016 $4,500 Schnuck Markets
02/02/2016 $7,500 Centenne Management
02/02/2016 $7,500 US Bank
02/02/2016 $13,000 Monsanto
01/26/2016 $4,500 Civic Progress
01/22/2016 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/20/2916 $7,500 Ameren
01/12/2016 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
01/11/2016 $7,500 Edward Jones
12/22/2016 $13,000 Anheuser-Busch
05/28/2015 $4,500 Harbour Group Industries
05/28/2015 $4,500 Coin Acceptors
05/28/2015 $4,500 Maritz
05/15/2015 $4,500 Commerce Bancshares
05/15/2015 $4,500 Mercy
05/08/2015 $7,500 Nestle Purina PetCare
04/02/2015 $7,500 Energizer Holdings
03/12/2015 $7,500 Edward Jones
03/12/2015 $4,500 TKG Management
03/02/2015 $7,500 Peabody Investments
02/25/2015 $4,500 Schnuck Markets
02/25/2015 $4,500 Southwestern Bell Telephone dba AT&T Missouri
02/06/2015 $4,500 Brown Shoe
01/23/2015 $4,500 Graybar Electric
01/23/2015 $4,500 World Wide Technology Holding Co
01/23/2015 $7,500 Centene Management
01/19/2015 $4,500 UniGroup
01/15/2015 $7,500 US Bank
01/08/2015 $4,500 PF Services, Inc., 670 Mason Ridge Center
01/08/2015 $4,500 Hunter Engineering
01/08/2015 $13,000 Emerson Electric
01/08/2015 $7,500 Ameren

Civic Progress Action Committee paid for ballot issue campaigns affecting City of St. Louis- school bonds, Charter reform, Metropolitan Sewer District, sales tax for police, as well as statewide ballot issues. In 2012, as example, $68,600 was spent on Citizens for a Healthy Missouri’s ballot issue for a cigarette tax increase, defeated 51% to 49%. It will be interesting to see if Greater St. Louis continues that legacy.

January 2015 to December 2022
Civic Progress Action Committee & Civic Progress Inc
Contributions & Direct Expenditures to Ballot Issues
03/14/2022 $25,000 Local Jobs for STL
08/13/2021 $20,000 Invest in St. Louis Community College
03/19/2021 $25,000 Yes on Prop E – Earnings Tax STL
10/06/2017 $125,000 Citizens For A Safer St. Louis
03/29/2017 $10,000 Reduce & Reform STL
04/05/2017 $10,000 direct expenditure for Proposition S
02/24/2016 $100,000 Friends of St. Louis Public Schools
04/05/2016 $100,000 direct expenditure for Proposition 1
11/23/2015 $20,000 Campaign for Clean Water STL

In 2024, 21st Century St. Louis PAC endorsed MAGA candidate Mike Kehoe for Missouri Governor. In June 2025, the PAC donated $5,000 to the Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee. In May, 2025 Governor Kehoe and Missouri General Assembly took away local control of St. Louis City’s Police Department, overturned the will of Missouri voters who had approved local control.

*STL Regional Chamber PAC was part of the merger that created 21st Century St. Louis PAC. It was short lived on its own. Other than ordering checks, it spent no funds. The money transferred came from $7,500 in contributions in 2021 from Missouri American Water Employees PAC and Anheuser Busch, the only contributions the PAC had received.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Amaryllis. Photo is Lady Jane.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Additions this week: Meramec Horticulture Club Poinsettia Sale @ Greenhouse; Seed St. Louis 2026 Veggie Seedling Sales @ Carriage House

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

10 gifts for the gardener without spending a lot of green (University of Missouri Extension)

Fun project for kids. Want to grow an avocado tree from seed? Here’s how (Associated Press)

December Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Terrestrial biodiversity grows with tree cover in agricultural landscapes (University of Illinois Extension)

New Kansas-based American Honey Institute to advocate for industry standards (Kansas Reflector)

November Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

Seed St. Louis Videos: Variety Trials, Virtual Classes, Starting Seeds Indoors, Orchard Tips, Gardening Tips & How To, In the Community Garden, Youth Garden Activities & Tips, Teachers in the Garden Tutorials. I will continue promoting the online resources and activities of Seed St. Louis where appropriate. I will not, however, knowingly promote events at Maxine Clark’s school privatization campus named Delmar Divine. It is unfortunate that Seed St. Louis is now a tenant there.

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

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

—– ONGOING —–

9 am to 1 pm Monday-Friday St. Louis Community College @ Meramec Horticulture Club Annual Poinsettia Sale. Red, White varieties. $10 each, Cash or Check Only. Located in the Greenhouse on campus, 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood (see GH at bottom of map)

Going on Now: Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Orders ship out in Spring. 29 Tree/Shrub Varieties (American Beautyberry, Buttonbush, Deciduous Holly/Possumhaw, Dogwoods- Gray, Roughleaf, Silky and Bundles (Edible, Nut, Pollinator, Wildlife), as examples, still available.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
December 13th Tower Grove East. Register
December 13th Benton Park West. Register
December 20th Old North. Register
December 20th Benton Park. Register
December 21st Shaw. Register
December 27th Bevo. Register
January 3rd Hyde Park. Register
January 4th Forest Park Southeast. Register

January 1st-15th Entry period for Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (Blue Springs MO) Amazing Arthropods Photography Contest

5:30 to 9:30 pm or 10 pm Now thru January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Fees apply.

Now thru January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Emerson Conservatory: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

January 2nd Deadline to Register for University of Missouri Extension’s January 2nd to April 27th Master Gardener Online Course. $200 fee includes Missouri Master Gardener Core Manual ($40 when sold separately).

January 15th Entry Begins for Audubon 2025 Photography & Videography Awards (photos from 2025). 2024 entry information. Some of the winners.

Now thru March 31st, 2026, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden: Smelling the Bouquet- Plants & Scents in the Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

—– DAILY —–

5 pm Tuesday, December 9th, Wild Ones Webinar: Turn That Patch Into a Plan. Design workshop for transforming your lawn into a native plant garden. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 12th-13th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale. This involves a very cool Citizen Growers program.

Noon Friday, December 12th, University of Illinois Extension virtual class: Bats- Why we need to conserve them and how you can help presented by Dr. Joy O’Keefe, a leading researcher in bat ecology. Register

6 Tickets remaining. 6:30 pm Friday, December 12th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Owl Prowl. Register

11 am Saturday, December 13th, St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

1:30 pm Saturday, December 13th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club’s Creve Coeur Lake Hike, 3.25 mile hike, all flat. Register

2 pm Saturday, December 13th, St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

10:30-Noon Saturday, December 13th, Tower Grove Park 9th Annual Frosted 5k & 1k Fun Run

6:30 pm December 15th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Farm Bill 101- Sowing the Seeds for Conservation with Bill White, Grassland Coordinator with Missouri Native Grasslands Collaborative and Conservation Federation of Missouri. Register

4 pm December 17th Grow Native! Webinar: Native Cover Crops for Stormwater Management Practices. Register

8:30 am December 18th Missouri Conservation Department online class: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

Noon December 18th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Visitors from the Arctic: Snow Geese. Registration opens December 4th. Register

16 Seats remaining. 6 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Sustainable Holidays- Wrapping and Recipes. Learn creative, eco-friendly ways to wrap gifts. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Departmentclass at Tower Grove Park: CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

2 pm December 20th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

Noon December 22nd Missouri Conservation Department online class: Backyard Birds in Winter and a Warm Cup of Cheer. Learn Bird Identification, Birding Essentials, Bird Sounds, Distinguishing Features. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Hike at Columbia Bottom. Register

10 am January 1st Piasa Palisades Sierra Club’s New Years Day Hike at Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register

11 am January 1st Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: First Day Hike. 1.3 miles, hilly, Hickory Ridge Trail. Register

5:15 pm January 3rd The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

7 pm January 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Zoom class: Natural Landscape Design. Register

6 pm January 8th St. Louis County Library event at Florissant Valley Branch: Houseplant Care. Register (registration opens December 1st)

6:30 pm January 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Owl Prowl. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 9 am January 10th Missouri Conservation Department event along Mississippi River, West Alton: Dresser Island Hike. 5 mile or optional 2 mile. Register

35 Seats remaining. 6 pm January 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Night. Register

1 pm January 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum horticulture class: Pruning Trees and Shrubs. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am January 17th Heartlands Conservancy event in Waterloo, Illinois: Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Stewardship Day. Register

6:30 pm January 19th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Box-nesting Birds. Register

2 pm January 21st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

11 am to 4 pm January 24th 15th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 South Lindbergh Blvd. Seed Swap, Vendors, Raffle. Lable seeds. If you do not have seeds to swap, donate non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear for charity. This is a FB event that someone sent me information on but I don’t share FB links.

4 pm January 28th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Wiski/Oski (River Cane), A Keystone Species in the Floodplain and in Chickasaw Culture presented by Kent H. Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, The College of the Muscogee Nation. Register

6:30 pm February 2nd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Aquatic Invertebrates . Register

6:30 pm February 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Amphibians, presented by Waylon Hiler, Missouri Valley College . Register

5 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Connecting the Dots Between You and Local Climate Action

6 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bird Talk! with the Missouri Department of Conservation

6:30 pm March 2nd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Missouri Turtles. Register

6 pm March 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Introduction into Sustainability

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

Noon March 7th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- A Chick Chat with Second-Hen’d

6 pm March 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bees, Pollinators and Native Plants

6:30 pm March 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Missouri Fish. Register

6 pm March 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- PFAS the Forever Chemical

9 am March 28th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House

6:30 pm March 30th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Grassland Birds. Register

9 am April 11th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles, presented by Bo Brown, foraging author and nature educator. Register

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

9 am May 9th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale at Carriage House

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

9 am August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House

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

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

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

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

St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales

Nearly Free Milkweed Seeds are available from Live Monarch.

Shop Local, Shop Small for plants and gardening supplies. In St. Louis City: The Garden Shop on Hampton, Bowood Farms in CWE, Flowers & Weeds on Cherokee. A Gift Card from any of these would be welcome by any gardener on your gift giving list. Also, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery in Jefferson City is a great vendor for high quality native plants. A gift card for them can be used to purchase plants and pick up at Kirkwood Farmers Market and other St. Louis area locations next Spring.

—–

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

2 pm January 31st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

9 am March 28th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale at Carriage House

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

9 am May 9th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale at Carriage House

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

9 am August 15th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House

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

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Shelled Fastigiata Pin Striped Peanuts, purple and beige

Peanut plants with missing leaves and damaged stems from rabbits

baby peanut plant emerging from peanut in shell

Plant of the Week: Peanuts. These are Fastigiata Pin Striped Peanuts, native to Ecuador. Small harvest due to rabbits eating the tops and voles eating the roots. But each of the peanuts in package- with sell by of 12/2019 germinated in 05/2025 and thrived in Zone 6b until varmints showed up.

If you ever get a chance, visit George Washington Carver National Monument, in Newton County, Southwestern Missouri, to learn about this African American agricultural scientist’s important work on peanuts, soybeans, more.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. 2026 Updates: Resource for nearly free Milkweed seeds; my suggestions for St. Louis City Small Business, Shop Local garden-related gift shopping; St. Louis County Library events- January Seed & Houseplant Swap, April Plant Swap

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

December Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

The USDA defunded a program aimed at helping small farmers. What’s next for the Missouri farmers who relied on it? Leaders of the Heartland Regional Food Business Coalition are figuring out how to move forward after the USDA cut funding for regional food business centers. (The Beacon, Kansas City) Note: we know and buy food from the people interviewed for this story)

St. Louis aims to replant thousands of trees after tornado. That may revamp its landscape (St. Louis Post-Dispatch article via Internet Archive, Wayback Machine) Note: I hope they stick with native trees and do not use vacant lots from tornado damage to increase canopy as an excuse for not rebuilding in North City

Snowy owls’ unusually early visit to Chicago lakefront could signal migratory boom (gift article, Chicago Tribune)

Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection (Internet Archive, Wayback Machine)

The mysterious black fungus from Chernobyl that may eat radiation (BBC)

‘The Precedent Is Flint’: How Oregon’s Data Center Boom Is Supercharging a Water Crisis. Amazon has come to the state’s eastern farmland, worsening a water pollution problem that’s been linked to cancer and miscarriages (Rolling Stone via Wayback Machine)

Meanwhile Norfolk County, England… Rights for River Wensum gains Norwich council support (Eastern Daily Press)

Maple brown butternut squash anyone? The Evolved Network meets Chicago students where they are with food kits. (gift article, Chicago Tribune)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

—– ONGOING —–

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
December 6th Hyde Park. Register
December 7th Forest Park Southeast. Register
December 13th Tower Grove East. Register
December 13th Benton Park West. Register
December 20th Old North. Register
December 20th Benton Park. Register
December 21st Shaw. Register
December 27th Bevo. Register

January 1st-15th Entry period for Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center (Blue Springs MO) Amazing Arthropods Photography Contest

5:30 to 9:30 pm or 10 pm Now thru January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Fees apply.

January 15th Entry Begins for Audubon 2025 Photography & Videography Awards (photos from 2025). 2024 entry information. Some of the winners.

—– DAILY —–

19 Seats remaining. 6:30 am Tuesday, December 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Birds & Brews- Bird Watching with (bird friendly) Coffee. Register

4 pm Wednesday, December 3rd, Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Lichens in the Tallgrass Biome, presented by Douglas Ladd, conservation biologist, plant ecologist, conservation director for The Nature Conservancy’s Missouri program. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am Thursday, December 4th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, December 4th, The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

Noon Friday, December 5th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: What Makes a Fish? Learn why bass are terrible parents, how fish outlived the dinosaurs, which fish breathe air, and much more. Register

Volunteers Wanted: 9 am Saturday, December 6th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club volunteer day: Castlewood Service Project, Ballwin. Register

10 am Saturday, December 6th, The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Grow Your Own Mushrooms Workshop. $20 includes take home oyster mushroom growing kit. Register

1 pm Saturday, December 6th, St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Preventing Winter Plant Damage

21 Tickets remaining. 2 pm Saturday, December 6th, Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Tower Grove Park: A Winter Walk in Tower Grove Park. Register

3:30-5:30 pm Saturday, December 6th, Fairground Park for All event: Chestnut Roast and Tree Lighting

6 pm Saturday, December 6th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Holiday Party & Potluck at Ethical Society. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 9 am Sunday, December 7th, Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Photography with a Phone. Includes 1/3 mile loop walk, Tanglevine Trail. Register

5 pm December 9th Wild Ones Webinar: Turn That Patch Into a Plan. Design workshop for transforming your lawn into a native plant garden. Register

Noon December 12th University of Illinois Extension virtual class: Bats- Why we need to conserve them and how you can help presented by Dr. Joy O’Keefe, a leading researcher in bat ecology. Register

8 Tickets remaining. 6:30 pm December 12th Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Owl Prowl. Register

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

2 Seats remaining. 1 pm December 13th Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Sustainable Holidays, Gifts and Games. Register

1:30 pm December 13th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club’s Creve Coeur Lake Hike, 3.25 mile hike, all flat. Register

2 pm December 13th St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

8:30 am December 18th Missouri Conservation Department online class: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

Noon December 18th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Visitors from the Arctic: Snow Geese. Registration opens December 4th. Register

6 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Sustainable Holidays- Wrapping and Recipes. Learn creative, eco-friendly ways to wrap gifts. Register

17 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Departmentclass at Tower Grove Park: CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

2 pm December 20th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch:
The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

18 Tickets remaining. 4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Hike at Columbia Bottom. Register

10 am January 1st Piasa Palisades Sierra Club’s New Years Day Hike at Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register

11 am January 1st Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: First Day Hike. 1.3 miles, hilly, Hickory Ridge Trail. Register

5:15 pm January 3rd The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

7 pm January 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Zoom class: Natural Landscape Design. Register

6 pm January 8th St. Louis County Library event at Florissant Valley Branch: Houseplant Care. Register (registration opens December 1st)

6:30 pm January 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Owl Prowl. Register

21 Tickets remaining. 9 am January 10th Missouri Conservation Department event along Mississippi River, West Alton: Dresser Island Hike. 5 mile or optional 2 mile. Register

40 Seats remaining. 6 pm January 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Night. Register

1 pm January 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum horticulture class: Pruning Trees and Shrubs. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am January 17th Heartlands Conservancy event in Waterloo, Illinois: Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Stewardship Day. Register

6:30 pm January 19th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Box-nesting Birds. Register

2 pm January 21st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

4 pm January 28th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Wiski/Oski (River Cane), A Keystone Species in the Floodplain and in Chickasaw Culture presented by Kent H. Sanmann, Natural Resources Instructor, The College of the Muscogee Nation. Register

6:30 pm February 2nd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Aquatic Invertebrates . Register

6:30 pm February 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Amphibians, presented by Waylon Hiler, Missouri Valley College . Register

5 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Connecting the Dots Between You and Local Climate Action

6 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bird Talk! with the Missouri Department of Conservation

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

6:30 pm March 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Missouri Fish. Register

6 pm March 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- PFAS the Forever Chemical

6:30 pm March 30th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Grassland Birds. Register

9 am April 11th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles, presented by Bo Brown, foraging author and nature educator. Register

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

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

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

St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales

Nearly Free Milkweed Seeds are available from Live Monarch.

—–

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

2 pm January 21st St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch: Seed & Houseplant Swap. Register

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

2 pm April 25th St. Louis County Library event at Grand Glaize Branch: Plant Swap. Register

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

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

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

Nexus PAC Update

Sinquefields Donate to Nexus PAC. Again has been updated with additional information from Missouri Ethics Commission:

+ More Contributions TO Progress PAC, St. Louis City Board President Megan Green and St. Louis City Comptroller Donna Baringer

+ Contributions made TO dozens of elected officials outside of St. Louis City as well as other PACs

+ More Contributions received FROM developer McCormack Baron Salazar and airport concessionaire OHM KCI JA LLC

Also added a note about Nexus PAC Treasurer Matt McBride’s failure to recuse himeself from economic development board votes benefiting Nexus PAC donors.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Yellow and pink peach snapdragons growing in garden

Plant of the Week: Snapdragons, great garden color in cooler months.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. 2026 Updates: Added Missouri Invasive Plant Council Callery Pear, Bradford Pear Buyback; Spring & Fall Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sales

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Gorgeous- 1850-1925 Nursery and Seed Trade Catalogs (National Agricultural Library, USDA)

Paperwhites provide instant spring — just add water (Fulton Sun)

Should You Cut Back Asters Before Winter? Here’s What Gardening Pros Actually Do. Deciding whether to cut back the flower depends on your specific goals. (Martha Stewart)

How urban farms can make cities more livable and help feed America. Metropolitan gardens and farms are extraordinarily powerful tools that can improve food security, lower temperatures, and create invaluable gathering spaces. (Grist)

Should You Cut Back Lilacs Before Winter? Gardeners Often Get This Step Wrong. Fall pruning can cut off next season’s blooms. (Martha Stewart)

2025 Wild Ones Photo Contest Results. Lots of native pretties and pollinators (Wild Ones)

Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air. Ridership jumped, people cut back on driving and, over the summer, the city extended the program another year. (New York Times via Wayback Machine so no paywall)

Australia to offer three hours free solar per day to millions (Reuters)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

—– ONGOING —–

5:30 to 9:30 pm or 10 pm Now thru January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Fees apply.

—– DAILY —–

6 pm Tuesday, November 25th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Wild Turkeys. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Friday, November 28th, Missouri Conservation event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Walk off the Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Hike. Register

Volunteers Wanted: 9 am Saturday, November 29th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club VolunteerDay at Babler State Park, Wildwood. Register

10 am Saturday, November 29th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Salt Lick Point Land & Water Reserve, Valmeyer, Illinois: Salt Lick Trail Hike, moderate to strenuous hike with elevation rise of over 400 feet to the Mississippi overlook. Register

6:30 am December 2nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Birds & Brews- Bird Watching with Coffee. Register

4 pm December 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Lichens in the Tallgrass Biome, presented by Douglas Ladd, conservation biologist, plant ecologist, conservation director for The Nature Conservancy’s Missouri program. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am December 4th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

5:30 pm December 4th The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

Volunteers Wanted: 9 am December 6th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club volunteer day: Castlewood Service Project, Ballwin. Register

10 am December 6th The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Grow Your Own Mushrooms Workshop. $20 includes take home oyster mushroom growing kit. Register

6 pm December 6th Eastern Missouri Sierra Club Holiday Party & Potluck at Ethical Society. Register

1 pm December 6th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Preventing Winter Plant Damage

2 pm December 6th Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Tower Grove Park: A Winter Walk in Tower Grove Park. Register

17 Tickets remaining. 9 am December 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Photography with a Phone. Includes 1/3 mile loop walk, Tanglevine Trail. Register

5 pm December 9th Wild Ones Webinar: Turn That Patch Into a Plan. Design workshop for transforming your lawn into a native plant garden. Register

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens November 15th

1:30 pm December 13th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club’s Creve Coeur Lake Hike, 3.25 mile hike, all flat. Register

2 pm December 13th St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

8:30 am December 18th Missouri Conservation Department online class: Winter Backyard Bird Watching. Register

Noon December 18th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Visitors from the Arctic: Snow Geese. Registration opens December 4th. Register

6 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Sustainable Holidays- Wrapping and Recipes. Learn creative, eco-friendly ways to wrap gifts. Register

20 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Department class at Tower Grove Park: CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

2 pm December 20th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch:
The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

29 Tickets remaining. 4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department hiking event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: New Year’s Eve Hike at Columbia Bottom. Register

10 am January 1st Piasa Palisades Sierra Club’s New Years Day Hike at Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register

5:15 pm January 3rd The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

7 pm January 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Zoom class: Natural Landscape Design. Register

6 pm January 8th St. Louis County Library event at Florissant Valley Branch: Houseplant Care. Register (registration opens December 1st)

6 pm January 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Trivia Night at Powder Valley. Register

1 pm January 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum horticulture class: Pruning Trees and Shrubs. Register

Volunteers wanted. 9 am January 17th Heartlands Conservancy event in Waterloo, Illinois: Trout Hollow Hill Prairie Stewardship Day. Register

6:30 pm January 19th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Box-nesting Birds. Register

6:30 pm February 2nd Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Aquatic Invertebrates . Register

6:30 pm February 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Amphibians, presented by Waylon Hiler, Missouri Valley College . Register

5 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Connecting the Dots Between You and Local Climate Action

6 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bird Talk! with the Missouri Department of Conservation

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

6:30 pm March 16th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Missouri Fish. Register

6 pm March 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- PFAS the Forever Chemical

6:30 pm March 30th Missouri River Bird Observatory webinar: Naturalist Series- Grassland Birds. Register

9 am April 11th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles, presented by Bo Brown, foraging author and nature educator. Register

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

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

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

St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales

—–

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

April 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.

May 16th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at The Nature Institute, Godfrey, Illinois

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

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

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

This Week in Gardening and Nature

Plant of the Week: Sprouting Broccoli, an easy Fall-Winter crop. You can separate the mini broccoli heads from leaves, sautee the leaves for quiche or add to you wok stir fry. Purple broccoli turns to green after cooking.

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

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. No changes this week.

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

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

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

How to Create Compost without a Compost Pile. Learn the pros and cons of 6 composting methods that do not require a compost pile (Horticulture magazine)

MU research looks at urban bird habitats in areas with abandoned homes, vacant lots (University of Missouri Extension) Also see A Beautiful Bird in the Neighborhood: Canopy Cover and Vegetation Structure Predict Avian Presence in High-Vacancy City by S. Moreno, A.J. Mallinak, C.H. Nilon, R.A. Pierce

Give caterpillars a ‘soft landing’ under your trees. The ecosystem will thank you (Associated Press)

Wetlands efficiently remove nitrogen pollution from surface water, leading to cost savings for municipalities (University of Illinois)

Vandals Left Graffiti Near an Iconic Landmark in Arches National Park (Outside magazine via Wayback Machine)

Deep Roots Kansas City Native Plant Gardening Videos

Shaw Nature Reserve Propagation Guide

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

—– ONGOING —–

Going on Now: Missouri Conservation Annual Tree Seedling Sale. Orders ship out in Spring. 29 Tree/Shrub Varieties (American Beautyberry, Buttonbush, Deciduous Holly/Possumhaw, Dogwoods, Rose Mallow/Hibiscus, Wild Plum) and Bundles (Edible, Nut, Pollinator, Wildlife) as examples, still available.

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
November 15th Old North. Register
November 15th Benton Park. Register
November 16th Shaw. Register
November 22nd Bevo. Register
December 6th Hyde Park. Register
December 7th Forest Park Southeast. Register
December 13th Tower Grove East. Register
December 13th Benton Park West. Register
December 20th Benton Park. Register
December 27th Bevo. Register

November 15th Deadline for Wild Ones’ Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program. Open to schools, nature center, after-school care programs, community centers or youth groups in need of funding for a native garden or habitat, projects such as pollinator gardens, rain gardens to improve water quality, tallgrass prairies, native plant monarch waystations featuring community science activities, and sensory and natural playgrounds.

November 15th Deadline to enter Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest sponsored by Missouri State Parks and Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ Rural Missouri magazine. Categories: Parks Less Traveled, Adventure & Recreation, Park Heroes & Volunteers at Work, Learning Something New, On the Trail

5:30 to 9:30 pm or 10 pm November 15th to January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Fees apply.

November 15th to January 3rd Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Emerson Conservatory: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

—– DAILY —–

6 Seats remaining. 12:30 pm Tuesday, November 11th, Missouri Conservation Department class at Tower Grove Park: Habitat Helpers- Won’t You Be My NeighBIRD? Make & Take wooden bird feeder, apartment-friendly and perfect for all spaces. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, November 11th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club speaker series at Old Bakery Beer, Alton, Illinois: What’s in our DIRT! presented by Dr. John L. Ferry, environmental chemist, University of Illinois. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Thursday, November 13th, Heartlands Conservancy work day in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

10 am Thursday, November 13th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fall Arboretum Trolley Tour. $5 suggested donation. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, November 14th, Heartlands Conservancy work day in Swansea, Illinois: Exploration Garden, Clinton Hills Conservation Park. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9:30 am Friday, November 14th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club work day in Godfrey, Illinois: LaVista Park Invasive Species Removal. Register

10 am Friday, November 14th, University of Illinois Extension event in East St. Louis, Illinois: Fall Urban Gardening Tour at Jackie Joyner Kersee FAN Center. Register

3 pm Friday, November 14thn Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Winter Waterfowl ID. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, November 15th, Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at Ruth Port Mall, West End

Volunteers Wanted. 9:30 am Saturday, November 15th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club work day in Alton, Illinois: Fall River Road Litter Clean Up. Register

10 am to Noon Saturday, November 15th, Tower Grove Park Bike Rodeo. Register

10 am Saturday, November 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5 suggested donation. Register

10 am Saturday, November 15th, Seed St. Louis event at Bell Community Garden: Community Gardener Meet-Up. Warning: By registering for this event, you grant permission for your image to appear in a public media production and in print and digital materials. Register

9 am November 19th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Fall Tree Walk. $5 suggested donation. Register

3 pm November 19th Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

4 pm November 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Photos of Prairie Splendor with Bruce Schuette. Register

4 pm November 20th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Introduction to Winter Sparrow ID. Register

6 pm November 20th Wild Ones Webinar: Living in the Liberated Landscape, My Yard presented by landscape designer Larry Weaner. Register

6 pm November 20th Seed St. Louis virtual class: How to Start a Community Food Project. Warning: By registering for this event, you grant permission for your image to appear in a public media production and in print and digital materials. Register

For kids 2-7 years ogf age. 7 Seats remaining. 5:30 pm November 20th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids, You and Me under the Canopy- Critter Comparisons. Register

1 pm November 21st Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Birds- Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register.

7 pm November 21st Missouri Conservation Department event at Das Bevo: Conservation Adults- Nature Trivia Night. Register. Free but food/beverages available for purchase.

12 Tickets remaining. 1 pm November 22nd Missouri Conservation Department event in Sullivan, Franklin County: Cool Weather Forest Hike @ Meramec Conservation Area. 1.3-mile naturalist-guided hike with great view of Meramec River. Register

6:30 pm November 22nd Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Hootin’ Hunters – All About Missouri’s Owls. Register

5:30 pm December 4th The Nature Institute event in Godfrey, Illinois: Moonlight Hike. Register

1 pm December 6th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Preventing Winter Plant Damage

5 pm December 9th Wild Ones Webinar: Turn That Patch Into a Plan. Design workshop for transforming your lawn into a native plant garden. Register

11 am December 13th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens November 15th

2 pm December 13th St. Louis County Library event at Lewis & Clark Branch: The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

Noon December 18th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Visitors from the Arctic: Snow Geese. Registration opens December 4th. Register

20 Tickets remaining. 12:30 pm December 19th Missouri Conservation Department class at Tower Grove Park: CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. Register

2 pm December 20th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch:
The Art of Caring for Carnivorous Plants presented by St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

5 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Connecting the Dots Between You and Local Climate Action

6 pm March 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Bird Talk! with the Missouri Department of Conservation

6 pm March 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- Introduction into Sustainability

March 6th-7th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois

6 pm March 25th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Step into Sustainability- PFAS the Forever Chemical

9 am to 5 pm April 24th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Fee applies.