Plant of the Week: Iris, the official flower of the City of St. Louis

Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Tomatillo, Winter Squash
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Basil, Melons, Parsley, Peppers, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
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.

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

Good Reads —

Tyson Foods released millions of pounds of pollution into U.S. waterways, including in Missouri (St. Louis Public Radio)

Bennett Spring Park turns 100 years old this year, one of three Missouri parks built by Civilian Conservation Corps. Also see The New Deal, the CCC, and Missouri State Parks

Gardening by Month: May Tips, Tasks, Problems 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

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. Check out upcoming Brightside St. Louis Neighborhood Clean Up & Beatification 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.

13 Tickets remaining. 1 pm Tuesday, May 7th, Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Birding 101. Register

2 pm Tuesday, May 7th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Summer Crops & Cover Crops. Register

Noon Every Wednesday University of Missouri Extension Online Garden Hour. Extension specialists address lawn, garden, disease and insect questions during the free hourlong virtual sessions. Register or submit a gardening question

4 pm Wednesday, May 8th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Virtual Walk on the Prairie, Spring Edition @ Pettis County. Register

6 pm Thursday, May 9th, Willoughby Farms, Seed St. Louis, Table to Garden In-Person Class in Collinsville IL: Composting Series- Bin Systems. $12. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 11:30 am Friday, May 10th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Folklore of Birds. Register

8 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 11th, Flora Conservancy of Forest Park Plant Sale at St. Louis City Greenhouse. Card, Cash, Check accepted.

8 am to Noon Saturday, May 11th Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale at Alton-Wood River Sportsmen’s Club, 3109 Godfrey, Godfrey IL

8 am to Noon Saturday, May 11th, O’Fallon Garden Club Plant & Rummage Sale at 2606 Riley Paul Ct, O’Fallon, MO

9 am to Noon Saturday, May 11th, Kirkwood Garden Club Plant Sale at Kirkwood Train Station, 110 W Argonne. Native Plants, Perennials, Annuals, Potted Plants

9 am to Noon Saturday, May 11th Mason Ridge Garden Cub Plant Sale at Longview Farm Park, 13525 Clayton, Town & Country. Perennials & Native Plants

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 11th. Missouri Conservation Department event at O’Fallon Park: Clean Up & Nature in Your Neighborhood Family Fun Day

9 am Saturday, May 11th, Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling & Sweet Potato Slip Sale: Veggies, Herbs, Annuals $3.50 each: Basil, Egglplant, Helenium Amarum, Jalapenos, Parsley, Sweet Pepper, Tomatillo, Tomatoes. Perennials $6 each: Lavender Munstead, Mountain Mint, Rhubarb, Sea Kale, Sorrel, Wild Arugula.

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

9 am to 3 pm Saturday, May 11th, Franklin County Mo Master Gardeners Plant Sale at JC Penny Parking Lot, Washington MO

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 11th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park. $8-$12 entrance fee.

10 am Saturday, May 11th Companion Planting 101 Class at Heru Urban Farming, Florissant. Register

9 am to 5 pm Sunday, May 12th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden

Sunday-Monday, May 12th-13th Baker Creek’s Spring Planting Festival Mansfield, Wright County Mo is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis with one potty stop.

8 Tickets remaining. 9 am May 14th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Class at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area: Endangered Species- Preserving Missouri’s Treasured Species. Register

9 am to 4 pm May 14th St. Louis Audubon and St. Louis Wild Ones Native Plant Garden Tour. $20

10 am May 14th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

6:30 pm May 14th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club May Speaker: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL. Register

10 am May 15th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticultutre Tour with Master Guide. Register

Ages 3+. 5 Tickets remaining. 6 pm May 16th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, Proper Fish Handling. Register

8 am to 1 pm May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

10 am to 3 pm May 18th Plant America Garden Expo at Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center, St Charles MO.

Noon May 18th Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: Blooming Wildflowers. Register

7:30 pm May 18th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

Ages 8+. 8:30 am May 19th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6:30 pm May 21st Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: Hummingbirds 101. Register

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

June 1st (not confirmed) Lafayette Square Neighborhood Garden Tour & Antique Fair

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 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

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

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

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

9 am to 5 pm September 7th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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.

October 5th Seed Sty. 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.