Tag: Stargazing

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Purple Milkweed

Plant of the Week: Butterfly magnet Milkweed. 22 Species native to Missouri. 24 Species native to Illinois. WARNING: Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)  “grows readily from seed and spreads quickly by deep rhizomes. Because common milkweed can be weedy and difficult to remove, care should be used to establish the plant only in places where spread can be tolerated.”

Volunteer to help with St. Louis Tornado disaster relief and recovery. There is something for everyone to do. Personally recommend volunteering with Action St. Louis.

Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum is still closed to the public due to Tornado damage and June 7th Beer Baron event canceled

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Basil, Eggplant, Melons, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Summer Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Okra, Summer Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes

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

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

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

River City Outdoors St. Louis now offers a Gear Lending Library for outdoor recreation equipment rentals to St. Louis City residents and St. Louis regional organizations that take children, families, and groups on outdoor trips.

Illinois School Teachers- March 2025 Application for 2026 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Gardening by Month: June Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

What the Peony Tells Us About War and Biodiversity (Wild Ones)

Bug n’ Garden Videos (University of Missouri Extension)

How to Make Seed Balls (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflowercenter)

Exodus of USDA veterinarians and others drives fears that U.S. farms are at risk (NPR)

Mountain chickadee chatter: Scientists are decoding the songbird’s complex calls (The Conversation)

Scientists discover why some hot peppers are total wild cards. It’s yet another reason you can’t always trust the Scoville scale. (Popular Science)

Tracking the sediment carried by the muddy Mississippi. New research shows that typically, less than 10% of land-building alluvium reaches the Bird’s Foot Delta region, the southernmost reach of the river, where it meets the Gulf (The Lens NOLA)

A Kansas county and two cities move water fight to federal court as drought threatens their future (Kansas Reflector)

In 2025, Tornado Alley has become almost everything east of the Rockies − and it’s been a violent year (The Conversation)

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

Volunteers Wanted. STL Neighborhood Foresters Neighborhood Tree Care Blitzes
June 7th Hyde Park Neighborhood. Register
June 14th Tower Grove East. Register
june 14th Benton Park West. Register
June 15th Shaw Neighborhood. Register
June 21st Old North Neighborhood. Register
June 22nd St. Louis Place. Register
June 28th Bevo Neighborhoood. Register

Now thru June 20th at Soulard Art Gallery: Art of Nature Exhibit

Now thru June 30th St. Louis Public Library art exhibit at Schlafly Library: Luisa Otero-Prada’s Wand of Heaven filled with vibrant flora and people. You may know Otero-Prada from her art in work in North City.

June 30th Application Deadline. Carondelet neighborhood group seeks artist to paint mural in community garden. The selected artist will receive $2,000 to complete the project and will produce the mural on a large shipping container in the garden.

Now thu July 28th Art Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum, Washington University- Seeds: Containers of a World to Come

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

3 pm Sunday, June 1st, Plant Meet Up #6 at Art Bar, Angard Arts Hotel . Bring plants to trade or show off. Register

Monday, June 2nd, Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, June 7th, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market. This will be their Last Sale at Kirkwood Market for 2025.

2 pm Tuesday, June 3rd, St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Food Forests – Building a Food-Producing Ecosystem. Register

Noon Wednesday, June 4th, Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Foraging for Summer Chanterelles. Register

2 pm Wednesday, June 4th, St. Louis County Library class at Parkview Branch: Four Season Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

2 pm Wednesday, June 4th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Barr Library: Wild in the City- Animals That Call St. Louis Home presented by Missouri Conservation Department.

4 pm Wednesday, June 4th Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: Not Just for Ducks … Reframing Wetland Conservation. Register

For ages 12-18. 4:30 pm Wednesday, June 4th, St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Wildflower Seed Ball Making

9 am Thursday, June 5th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Cactus Blossom Walk at Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary. Register

1 pm Thursday, June 5th, Gratree Farm event in Wentzville, St. Charles County: U-Cut Lavender Grand Opening. Register

For ages 6-12 years. 10:30 am Thursday, June 5th, St. Louis City Public Library event at Baden Library: Serengeti Steve’s Reptile Experience

6 pm Thursday, June 5th, Seed St. Louis class at Bell Community Garden: Garden Tools 101. Register

11 am to 10 pm Friday-Saturday, June 6th-7th, International Horseradish Festival at Collinsville, Illinois

1 pm Friday, June 6th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature Printmaking Tree Rings. Register

2 pm Friday, June 6th, St. Louis County Library class at Lewis & Clark Branch: Four Season Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 6th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

8 am to Noon Saturday, June 7th, Highland Garden Club Plant Sale at Korte Rec Center, Highland, Illinois

Last Sale. 8 am to 4 pm Saturday, June 7th, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

10 am to 5 pm June 7th-8th Lafayette Square Spring House & Garden Tour. Tickets $40 + fee

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm June 7th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library: Teen Clean Up Day in Carondelet. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

5 Seats remaining. Noon Saturday, June 7th, St. Louis Public Library workshop at Central Library: The Art of Wedding Flowers- Design, Arrange, Impress. Register

8 pm Saturday, June 7th, St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

3 Tickets remaining. 5:45 pm Sunday, June 8th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Full Strawberry Moon at the Confluence. Register

Noon June 11th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Workshop: Planning the Perfect Float Trip. Register

For Kids ages 2-10 years. 4 pm June 11th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: The Chef Bananas Show.

2 Tickets remaining. Seven Days between June 14th-August 8th Missouri Conservation Department’s Camp Hellbender Summer Camp Series for Adults at Rockwoods Reservation, August A. Busch Memorial CA, Columbia Bottom CA, Powder Valley Conservation NC, Carondelet Park. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am June 12th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville, Illinois: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

6 pm June 12th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Nature’s Night Shift- Nocturnal Pollinators. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 13th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

June 13th-14th Lebanon (Illinois) Garden Club Secret Garden Tour. $10

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am June 14th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event in Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Work Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

For ages 13-17 years. 10 am to 2 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Teen Clean Up Day. Pick up trash in the neighborhood, clean garden beds, plant flowers. Tools, water, lunch provided. Register

10 am June 14th Urban Harvest STL class at Grandel Demonstration Farm: DIY Compost Tumbler. Free. Register

11 am June 14th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register

11 am June 14th Waste Connections Sustainability Campus class at Maryland Heights: Open Program Day- Bees, Pollinators, Native Plants

1 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War!

1 pm June 14th St. Louis County Library event at Thornhill Branch: Plant Swap. Register

2-4 pm June 14th Kemper Art Museum event in museum lobby: Collective Futures. Celebrate the exhibition Seeds- Containers of a World to Come. Music, dance, art-making. Planting Microgreens; Juan William Chávez: Imaynatataq Papawan Sumaq Ch’in Chisi (How to Spend a Nice Quiet Evening with a Potato); more. Free. Register

10 am June 16th St. Louis County Library event at Grant’s View Branch: Edible Landscaping presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

6 pm June 16th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Paddle Prep. Learn about the gear you’ll need, trip planning, and helpful tips to navigate the streams with confidence. Register

6 pm June 17th St. Louis County Library event at Jamestown Bluffs Branch, Florissant: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

4 pm June 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Return of the Wapato. Wapato (Sagittaria spp.), a starchy tuber, has been utilized by the Yakama People since time immemorial. Register

4 pm June 20th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Prairies of Missouri. Fun Fact- prairies make up 1/3 of Missouri. Register

8:30 am June 21st Seed St. Louis Tour de Plants (bike ride), Southwest City Edition. $15 suggested donation. Register

9 am to Noon June 21st Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm June 21st Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

10 am June 21st Grow Native! Native Garden of Excellence Tour: Native Plant Garden at Ladue City Hall. Register

11:30 am to 4:30 pm June 21st Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Sniff ‘n Learn- Fragrance in the Victorian Age with Mourning Society of St. Louis (dressed in period costume). Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

June 21-22 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-A-Rama tour. Tickets

2 pm June 23rd St. Louis County Library class at Cliff Cave Branch: Four Seasons Gardening presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

5:30 pm June 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Wildlife Identification. Register

For Kids ages 3-9 years. 2 pm June 24th St. Louis County Library event at Sachs Branch, Chesterfield: Super Seeds presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Explore how seeds travel and take home seeds for your next garden. Register

9 am to 5 pm June 25th Kimmswick Visitor Center 25th Annual Daylily Sale. 35 Minute drive from St. Louis. Go early for best selection.

4 pm June 25th Grow Native! webinar: Master Class- Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to Missouri Prairie Foundation members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

7 pm June 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Powder Valley at Dusk, a guided tour. Register

5:30 pm June 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, 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 June 27th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Gardening For Wildlife. Register

3-5 pm Friday, June 27th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

11 am June 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 1: Birding 101: Missouri’s KAKAWphony of Species presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

July 1st St. Louis Count Library Virtual Class: Container Gardening – Fruit, Vegetables and Microgreens presented by Seed St. Louis. Register

3-5 pm Friday, July 4th, A Red Circle event at North County Agricultural Education Center, North St. Louis County: Good Food Friday, North County residents are invited to stop by for a Free fresh bag of produce 

For Kids ages 6-12 years. 2 pm July 5th St. Louis County Library event at Daniel Boone Branch, Ellisville: Wild About Watermelon. Register

For Kids. 1 pm July 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Carondelet Library:  Swinging Through the Rainforest presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Discover which animals and plants live in the layers of the rainforest. Take home a rainforest plant to start your own jungle. Register

4:30 pm July 8th The Royale & Missouri Botanical Garden present Show Me Your Garden Cocktail Competition 2025. Purchase Tickets $54.70 (including fees & taxes).

For Kids ages 5-12 years. 3:30 pm July 9th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Bees and Butterflies Stories and Crafts. Register

6:30 pm July 9th St. Louis County Library Virtual program: Houseplant Hospital. Register

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

11 am to 2 pm July 12th A Red Circle event at North County Community Nexus: Ice Cream + Art in the Garden. Family Ticket $7.18 which includes $2.18 Card Fee. Register

2 pm July 12th Kemper Art Museum event: Curatorial Tour of Seeds (Containers of a World to Come). Learn about the work of 10 contemporary artists from a range of geographical and cultural contexts whose practices explore plant–human–land relations. Register

6 pm July 22nd St. Louis County Public Library Virtual program: Grant Opportunities for Your Garden – Rainscaping 101 presented by the Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

2 pm July 25th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Food Preservation 101- Canning presented by University of Missouri Extension

11 am July 26th St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 2: Habitat Helpers: Won’t You Be My NeighBIRD? presented by Missouri Conservation Department. Register

1 pm July 26th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs Around the Mediterranean

End of July: Ordering begins for Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon Tulip & Daffodil Bulb Sale. Pick Up in October.

9 am to 5 pm August 2nd-3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

1 pm August 2nd St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs

11 am August 9th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens July 12th

Noon to 5 pm August 10th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission Fee applies. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am August 16th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

9 am to Noon August 16 Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm August 16th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

1 pm August 16th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Gardens and Plants of Colonial America. Oddly does not mention labor and plants of enslaved persons.

11 am August 23rd St. Louis Public Library event at Tower Grove Park: Birds in Your Backyard, Birds in Your City: An Ornithological Summer Series- Session 3: Bird Walk with Missouri Conservation Department. Register

9 am to 5 pm September 6th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

8 am to Noon September 13th Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sale at St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot

1 pm September 13th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Mad About Mushrooms

2:30 pm September 13th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Fascinating Victorian Gardens

2 pm September 17th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Missouri Native Trees and Shrubs for Urban Landscapes. Register

10 am to 2 pm September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflower Nursery and other vendors will be selling but you can also order plants for pick up at the event.

9 am to Noon September 27th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

2 pm October 1st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: St. Louis Native Plants in a Changing Climate. Register

October 3rd-5th Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is usually a vendor and this is last opportunity to purchase native plants in St. Louis City for the year. Admission Fee applies.

1 pm October 4th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: How Indigenous People Used Native Plants for Their Health and Well-Being

October 5th-6th Baker Creek Fall Harvest Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

2 pm October 15th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Gardening Maintenance Tips, Tricks and Hacks. Register

9 am October 18th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

1 pm November 1st St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Decorating with Herbs

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

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Coral Honesuckle growing on trellis

Plant of the Week: Native Coral Honeysuckle, a hummingbird magnet. Native from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Virginia south to all states bordering the Gulf. Considered escaped in Missouri and Illinois.

Wednesday, April 30th Deadline for Powder Valley Urban Nature Photo Contest

Saturday, May 3rd, Deadline for submissions to Soulard Art Gallery juried Exhibit: The Art of Nature

Seed St. Louis Raised Bed Plant Spacing Chart

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis 2025 Planting Calendar.
-> Start Indoors This Week: Melons, Squash
-> Transplant This Week: Perennials, Trees, Basil, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale
-> Sow Outdoors This Week: Beans, Beets, Collards, Kale, Parsley, Peas, Spinach, Turnips

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Free Garden Planners, most require a computer, will not work on a cell phone

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here. Added this week: Gardners of Florissant Annual Spring Plant Sale & Garden Bazaar, O’Fallon Mo Garden Club Plant & Rummage Sale, Kress Farm Garden Preserve Plant Sale in Hillsboro, Earth Dance Farm Plant Sale, Montgomery County Master Gardeners Plant Sale, Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sales, Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale

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

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

River City Outdoors St. Louis now offers a Gear Lending Library for outdoor recreation equipment rentals to St. Louis City residents and St. Louis regional organizations that take children, families, and groups on outdoor trips.

Illinois School Teachers- March 2025 Application process begins for 2026 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program

Good Reads/Views/Listens —

Gardening This Week? Watch Out For Heavy Rain, Late Freezes And Flooded Soil (The Weather Channel)

Gardening by Month: May Gardening Tips, Tasks, & Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

April Native Plant News (Wild Ones)

Anyone can grow potatoes in a container. 11 year old Sam shows you how. (Gardening Well on YouTube)

Monarch butterfly super generation live up to 9 times longer than most monarchs, migrates thousands of miles (Anderson Cooper, CBS)

Regional Climate Centers shut down abruptly last week. Here’s why it matters (Harvest Public Media, KCUR)

Tips on Sustainable Gardening (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Rethink The Garden Icons: The Tragedy of the Hyacinth (Wild Ones)

Earthjustice President Describes a “Fundamentally Different” Era of Hostility Toward Environmentalists. Abigail Dillen sees the increase of lawsuits targeting green groups as just one of the growing threats to environmental advocacy organizations — and the people who staff them. (ProPublica)

The U.S. takes a step toward allowing mining on the ocean floor, a fragile ecosystem (NPR)

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

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis May Blitz events. Register your neighborhood clean up and/or beautification event and request bags/tools here.

Now thru Wednesday, April 30th, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Art Exhibit- Pressed, we flower, recent abstract works by Sean Duvahl Semones

Now thu July 28th Art Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum, Washington University- Seeds: Containers of a World to Come

Opens Friday. 11:30 am to 4:30 pm, May 2nd 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

Noon to 2 pm Sunday, April 27th, St. Charles County Master Gardener Plant Sale at Missouri University Extension, St. Peters

10 am Sunday, April 27th to 6 pm May 4th Missouri River Bird Observatory Fundraiser: Online Auction

1 pm Sunday, April 27th,  Madison County Extension Education Foundation fundraiser at Madison County Farm Bureau Building,  900 Hillsboro Ave, Edwardsville, Illinois: Plant Bingo. $20 donation suggested. Win Plants.

1:30 pm Tuesday, April 29th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Nature’s Uninvited Guests: The Impact of Invasive Plants. Properly dealing with invasive plants can lessen environmental impact. Register

6 pm Tuesday, April 29th, Willoughby Farm event in Collinsville, Illinois- Fence Picket Planter Workshop. $40 – all materials, tools, instruction included. Register

10 am Wednesday, April 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

2 pm Wednesday, April 30th, Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Oh, Deer – Dealing with Unwanted Guests in Your Landscape. Register

6 pm Thursday, May 1st, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Plant Predators- An Introduction to Carnivorous Plants with Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

9 am to 1 pm Friday, May 2nd, Montgomery County Master Gardeners Plant Sale at Hillsboro IL

10 am Friday, May 2nd, Missouri Botanical Garden virtual event: Landscape Therapy with Edwina von Gal. Free. Register

Noon-8 pm Friday and 9 am to 5 pm Sunday, May 2nd-3rd, Gardeners of Florissant Annual Spring Plant Sale & Garden Bazaar at Florissant Elks Lodge

2-7 pm Friday and 7 am to Noon Saturday, May 2nd-3rd, O’Fallon Mo Garden Club Plant & Rummage Sale

4-6 pm Friday, 9 am to 1 pm Saturday, 11 am to 3 pm Sunday, May 2nd-4th Earth Dance Farm Plant Sale at Ferguson MO

7 am to 3 pm Saturday and 9 am to 4 pm Sunday, May 3rd-4th, Kress Farm Garden Preserve Plant Sale in Hillsboro, Jefferson County MO. Native plants, shrubs, trees; nonnative plants, annuals, vegetable seedlings.

8 am to Noon Saturday, May 3rd, Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sale at St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot

8:30 am to Noon Saturday, May 3rd, Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale at the First Congregational Church of Webster Groves parking lot

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, May 3rd, Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market. $5 per person or $10 per vehicle.

9 am to 2 pm Saturday-Sunday, May 3rd-4th, Tower Grove East Community Garden Annual Plant Sale, 3301 Sidney: veggies, annuals, perennials, hostas, ground covers, herbs

9 am to 4 pm Saturday-Sunday, May 3rd-4th, Three Rivers Community Farm Plant Sale in Elsah, Illinois: native perennials, herbs, annual bedding plants, cutting flowers, veggie seedlings

10 am Saturday, May 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

8 am Saturday, May 3rd, St. Louis Audubon Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

11 am to 3 pm Saturday, May 3rd, Rustic Roots Sanctuary event at Spanish Lake: Spring Dandelion Festival

1 pm Saturday, May 3rd, St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack: Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center

1 pm Saturday, May 3rd, St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Growing Herbs in Containers.

1 pm Saturday, May 3rd, St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Meet the Pack- Animals of the Endangered Wolf Center. No live animals tho.

3 pm Saturday, May 3rd, St. Louis Public Library movie event at Central Library: Green City Life Film Showing & Project. More on the documentary

7-10 pm Saturday, May 3rd, weather permitting, St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

9 am to 4 pm Next Sunday, May 4th, Bring Conservation Home & Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter event: St. Louis Native Plant Tour in Webster Groves. $20. Register

Next Sunday-Monday, May 4th-5th Baker Creek Spring Planting Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

10 am May 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. Suggested $5 donation. Register

10 Seats remaining. 2 pm May 6th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: DIY Hummingbird Feeders. Register

9 am May 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Wildwood Valley Garden Walk with Horticulturist. Register

10 am May 7th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour with Master Guide. Register

4 pm May 7th Grow Native! Webinar: Native Plants & Neotropical Bird Migration. Register

May 8th-9th Jeanette Goldfarb Plant Growth Facility Spring Plant Sale at Washington University

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 8th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Stewardship Day. Register

3 pm May 8th St. Louis Public Library event at Baden Library: Mocktails and Garden Party. enjoy refreshing mocktails while crafting your own potted plant to take home.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 9th Sierra Club Eastern Missouri Castlewood State Park Service Project, Ballwin: maintaining and repairing trails, closing social trails, and picking up trash. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 9th Heartlands Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL: Exploration Garden Stewardship Day. Register

2 pm May 9th St. Louis County Library class at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Growing Herbs in Containers presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

4 pm May 9th Missouri Conservation Department virtual event: Avian IQ- Bird Trivia. Register

8 am to Noon May 10th Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale at Godfrey, Illinois

8 am to 1 pm May 10th Flora Conservancy Plant Sale @ Greenhouse, Forest Park

22 Tickets remaining. 8 am May 10th Missouri Conservation Department event at Weldon Spring Conservation Area, St. Charles MO: Lewis and Clark Trail Hike, 8.3 miles with spectacular views of the Missouri River. Register

9 am May 10th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling & Sweet Potato Slip Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell. Annuals: Basil, Eggplant, Sweet Peppers, Sweet Potato Slips, Tomatoes. Perennials: native Clustered Mountain Mint, Lavender, Red Veined Sorrel, Rhubarb, Sea Kale, Wild Arugula, Wild Korean Celery. Also see 10:30 am class.

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am May 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Alton, Illinois: Wadlow Restoration Volunteer Day. The former site of a municipal gold course is being restored to native plants. Register

9 am to Noon May 10th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm May 10th St. Louis Hosta Society Show & Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to Noon May 10th Illinois Native Plant Society’s Native Plant Sale at Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield. It’s only an hour and a half drive or train ride from St. Louis.

10 am May 10th Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum Spring Arboretum Trolley Tour with Horticulturist. Suggested $5 donation. Register

10 am May 10th St. Louis County Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Seed & Plant Swap. Register

10 am May 10th St. Louis Audubon The Birds and the Beers event at Tower Grove Park, then 2nd Shift Brewing on The Hill. $20. Register

10:30 am May 10th Seed St. Louis in-person class at Bell Community Garden: Seed Saving & Plant Breeding 101. Register

11 am May 10th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens April 12th

9 am to 5 pm May 11th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden Admission Fee.

For Kids 3-5 years of age. 7 Tickets remaining. May 13th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Kids- The Native Connection. Kids will help plant native milkweeds andf learn about native plants and insects. 9 am story time. 10 am milkweed activity & more. Register

2-6 pm May 14th Spring Plant Swap at LINC St. Charles County Community Center, 9 Love Park Lane, Wentzville MO

5 pm May 15th St. Louis Public Library event at Walnut Park Library: Wild Hearts- Understanding Animal Behavior in the Wild with St. Louis Zoo

6:30 pm May 15th Heartland Conservancy event: Third Thursday Cycling Series, Illinois.  16 miles on St. Clair County Transit District trails. Register

7 pm May 15th St. Louis County Library Virtual Class: Houseplant Propagation 101. Register

3:30 pm May 16th Missouri Conservation Department virtual class: Outdoor Hazards- snakes, ticks, heat, and more. Learn how to prevent and reduce run-ins with outdoor hazards. Register

9 am to 5 pm May 17th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

1:30 pm May 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests. Register

10 am May 21st St. Louis County Library class at Weber Road Branch: Growing Herbs in Containers presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

2 pm May 21st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Cultivating Native Seeds in the Landscape. Register

4 pm May 21st Grow Native! Zoom Master Class: Native Perennials for Planting on Slopes. Free to all Missouri Prairie Foundation dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members, or $15 for non-members. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, May 23rd-24th, 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.

3 pm May 23rd St. Louis County event at Clark Branch: Seed & Plant Swap. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 24th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am to 5 pm May 24th-25th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

4 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am May 25th St. Louis Audubon Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

May 26th Deadline to order native plants online from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery for pick up Saturday, May 31st, at Kirkwood Farmer’s Market

6 pm May 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: How To Find An Owl In Your Neighborhood, presented by naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw, aka “The Owl Man.” Register

May 31st Urban Gardening Symposium at Brightside St. Louis Demonstration Garden. $10. Register

8 am to 4 pm May 31st Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

9 am to Noon May 31st Northside Workshop event in Old North: Decolonize the Garden- From Seeds to Bees. Register

For ages 12-18. 4:30 pm June 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Kingshighway Library: Wildflower Seed Ball Making

10 am June 5th Gratree Farm event in Wentzville, St. Charles County: U-Cut Lavender Grand Opening. Register

8 am to 4 pm June 7th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery selling at Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order online by previous Monday for pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring that day.

11 am June 14th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens May 17th

1 pm June 14th St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: Herbs in the Civil War!

9 am to Noon June 21st Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm June 21st Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

10 am June 21st Grow Native! Native Garden of Excellence Tour: Native Plant Garden at Ladue City Hall. Register

June 21-22 St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-A-Rama tour. Tickets

9 am to 5 pm June 25th Kimmswick Visitor Center 25th Annual Daylily Sale. 35 Minute drive from St. Louis. Go early for best selection.

5:30 pm June 26th Missouri Coalition for the Environment St. Louis Chats for Change at Modern Brewing

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 27th-28th, 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.

11 am July 12th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens June 14th

9 am to 5 pm August 2nd-3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

11 am August 9th St. Charles City-County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Spencer Road Branch. Register, registration opens July 12th

Noon to 5 pm August 10th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Admission Fee applies. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am August 16th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

9 am to Noon August 16 Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm August 16th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

9 am to 5 pm September 6th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

8 am to Noon September 13th Edwardsville IL Garden Club Plant Sale at St. Mary’s Church Parking Lot

2 pm September 17th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Missouri Native Trees and Shrubs for Urban Landscapes. Register

10 am to 2 pm September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Expo at Tower Grove Park. Missouri Wildflower Nursery and other vendors will be selling but you can also order plants for pick up at the event.

9 am to Noon September 27th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Saturday and Wednesday morning, otherwise Admission Fee applies.

2 pm October 1st Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: St. Louis Native Plants in a Changing Climate. Register

October 3rd-5th Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is usually a vendor and this is last opportunity to purchase native plants in St. Louis City for the year. Admission Fee applies.

October 5th-6th Baker Creek Fall Harvest Festival in Mansfield, Wright County, MO, about a 3 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis or Kansas City

2 pm October 15th Partners for Native Landscaping and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Native Gardening Maintenance Tips, Tricks and Hacks. Register

9 am October 18th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale at Carriage House, 3815 Bell

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Sweet Potato flower, white petals and raspberry center

Plant of the Week: Sweet Potatoes, nutritious, beautiful flowers, easy to grow in a garden bed, pot, or grow bag

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

Free Trees for University City residents via Forest Releaf Missouri’s Community Canopy program. Order now for October 19th pick up at The Green Center, 8025 Blackberry. Available Trees: Bald Cypress, Buttonbush, Redbud, River Birch, Swamp White Oak, Vernal Witchhazel, Washington Hawthorn   

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

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads & Views —

How to protect plants from frost (University of Missouri Extension)

Gardening by Month: October Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

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

Missouri Prairie Foundation weighs in on Artificial Intelligence

Farming among the trees: How perennial crops can help breathe life into depleted soil (Columbia Missourian)

Midwest states are spending millions to manage invasive carp in rivers and lakes. If left unchecked, conservation experts say the fish could wreak havoc on local ecosystems and fishing industries. (KCUR)

Tribes celebrate end of Klamath dam removal, largest in US history. “the structures halted the natural flow of the waterway that was once known as the third-largest salmon-producing river on the West Coast” (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Have black plastic in your home? It could expose you to toxic chemicals. Study raises concerns recycled plastic containing flame retardants are being reused in manufacturing of consumer products (Gift article at Washington Post)

The Hidden Harm in Feeding Your Local Wildlife. Why feeding wild animals is harmful for them and us. Tidy bird feeders are the exception (US Fish & Wildlife Service)

Seed Saving Class available on YouTube (Seed St. Louis)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

Now thru October 26th, St. Louis Public Library daily event at Schlafly Library: River Life: Landscape Photography exhibit by Rita Chu

Going on Now- On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. Don’t delay. Items are selling out fast, such as Beautyberry, Blackberry, Concordia Oak, Flowering Dogwood, Hazelnut, PawPaw, Spicebush.

October 23rd Deadline to Order Fruit Trees from Stark Brothers for pick up November 2nd at Seed St. Louis Carriage House. $20 each: Apple, Asian Pear, Elderberry, Nectarine, Peach, Pecan, Persimmon

Volunteers wanted. Tower Grove Park Plant It Forward: Help dig cannas, elephant ears, other plants; clearing display beds of debris; aid in planting 10,000+ bulbs for Spring season. 9 am Thursday, October 10th Register; 9 am Tuesday, October 15th Register; 9 am Thursday, October 17th Register

Noon Tuesday, October 8th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar, Thriving Communities series: Current Funding Opportunities for Energy and the Environment Explore grants available for community environmental projects. Presenters will explore funding opportunities for three different needs: stormwater management, clean energy projects for rural areas, and the revitalization of polluted brownfields. Register

10 am Tuesday, October 8th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, October 8th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Missouri Stream Team program. Register

9 am Wednesday, October 9th, Bellefontaine Cemetery tour with Horticulturist: Fall Tree Walk. Register

1:30 pm Wednesday, October 9th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

4 pm Wednesday, October 9th, Grow Native Zoom Class: Native Ferns in Missouri and their Potential as Specialty Crops. Register

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, October 10th-12th University of Missouri @ St. Louis Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability Event Series, The Buffalo Treaty

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Thursday, October 10th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Belleville IL: Volunteer Training- Native Seed Collection. Register

For School Gardeners. 4:30 pm Thursday, October 10th, Seed St. Louis Fall School Gardener Meet-Up & Perennial Plant Swap at Pershing Elementary School Garden, University City. Register

6 pm Thursday, October 10th, Seed St. Louis event at DIG Annuals and Perennials, Benton Park West: Food for Years- Best Perennial Vegetables for a Fall & Winter Harvest. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, October 11th, Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, October 11th, Missouri Sierra Club Volunteer Day at Don Robinson State Park, Cedar Hill, Jefferson County MO. Register

12 Tickets remaining. 6 pm Friday. October 11th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Powder Valley at Dusk Hike with Naturalist. Register

9 am to 1 pm Saturday, October 12th, Seed St. Louis, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Tree Sale & Fall Festival– vegan harvest soup, fresh apple cider, music by Hillary Fitz. Order trees. Apple (5 gallon Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious; Chinese Chestnut (3 gallon Grafted Peach, Grafted Qing, Grafted Sleeping Giant); Chokeberry (3 gallon Viking Black); Elderberry (3 gallon Bob Gordon, Pocahontas, Ranch); Hazelnut (3 gallon The Beast, Grand Traverse); Pawpaw (3 gallon Grafted Allegheny, Grafted Mango, Grafted Rappahannock, Grafted Susquehanna); Pecan (3 gallon Grafted Kanza, Grafted Pawnee); Plum (3 gallon American Plum); Persimmon (3 gallon Grafted Meader, Grafted Nikita’s Gift); Serviceberry (3 gallon Grafted Downy)

10 am Saturday, October 12th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

11 am to 1 pm Saturday, October 12th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

2 pm Saturday, October 12th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability, The Buffalo Treaty collaborative event series, two presentations. 1) Keystone Species & Sovereignty = Rejuvenation, Innovation and Wonder, presented by Jonny BearCub Stiffarm, JD (Assinaboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana). 2) The Ecological Buffalo: On the Trail of a Keystone Species, a talk and book-signing with author Wes Olson and photographer Johane Janelle. Garden Admission fee required. Event is free with Garden Admission but Registration required by October 10th.

3 pm Saturday, October 12th, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Gallery Talk- Rita Chu and River Life: Deconstructing the Images. More on photographer Rita Chu.

6 pm Saturday, October 12th, St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

Volunteers wanted. 9 am Sunday, October 13th, STL Neighborhood Foresters Tower Grove East Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

9 Tickets remaining. Must be at least 6 years of age. Noon Sunday, October 13th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Cane Pole Fishing. Pole provided and you get to take one home. Register

9 am October 15th Missouri Sierra Club Hikes at Dogwood and Mustang Trails, Greensfelder Park, St. Louis County. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 9 am October 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood: Fall Colors Hike. Register

2 pm October 15th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Little Brown Birds- Sparrow ID. Register

6:30 pm October 15th St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Houseplants 101. Register

For 3rd-5th Graders. 4:45 pm October 16th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Nature Explorers After School Club- Fall Leaves. Register

6 pm October 17th St. Louis County Public Library event at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Succulent Swap. Register

6:30 pm October 17th Missouri Sierra Club event at Thomas Dunn Learning Center: Energy Justice Team Meeting. Register

8 am October 18th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Workday. Register

8 am October 19th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Fee Fee Greenway, Maryland Heights. Register

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 16 Seats remaining. October 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Nature Art- Carve a Snack-o-Lantern for wildlife. 11 Seats remaining for 9 am- Register.16 Seats remaining for 1 pm- Register.

10 am October 19th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Houseplant Swap. Register

Noon to 4 pm October 19th Benton Park Neighborhood Association’s Benton Park Tunes on Tap – A Musical Garden Tour. Tickets $35-$65

14 Tickets remaining. 8 am October 20th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

Noon October 20th Missouri Prairie Foundation event in Lincoln County MO: Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day. Register

1-5 pm October 20th Tower Grove Park Fall Frolic

6 pm October 21st St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: Carnivorous Plants presented by Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society. Register

4 pm October 23rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Exploring Moss Diversity. Register

6 pm October 25th Urban Harvest Raise the Roof Fundraiser at .ZACK, Kranzburg Arts, Grand. Tickets $50.

Volunteers Wanted. October 26th River de Peres Trash Bash

Volunteers wanted. 10 am October 26th STL Neighborhood Foresters event: Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

28 Seats remaining. 5:30 pm October 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Cacti & Succulents- A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving Plants. Register

4 pm November 6th Missouri Invasive Plant Council Webinar: Common General Use Herbicides & How They Relate to Aquatic Use Sites. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am November 8th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

9 am November 9th Heartlands Conservancy event, location to be announced: Woods Walk – Winter Tree ID. Register

9 am November 14th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Swansea IL: Exploration Garden Volunteer Workday. Register

9 am November 15th Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day in Belleville IL: Signal Hill Outdoor Classroom Volunteer Workday. Register

8:30 am November 17th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6:30 pm November 21st Missouri Sierra Club event at Thomas Dunn Learning Center: Energy Justice Team Meeting. Register

9 am November 23rd Heartlands Conservancy Volunteer Day near Granite City IL: Arlington Wetlands Volunteer Workday. Register

November 28th, 2024 to January 1st, 2025 Heartlands Conservancy event in Southern Illinois: 2024 Jingle Hike Challenge. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 29th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Stonecrop 'Autumn Joy'

Plant of the Week: Stonecrop ‘Autumn Joy’

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales (plant sales & swaps- plants, native plants, tree & shrub seedings + seed swaps) here’s a page for them. Additions this week: School Gardeners Plant Swap, Stark Brothers Fruit Tree Sale with pick up at Seed St. Louis, Garlic Sale also Shallot Sale, 2025 Herb Society Sale

Fall Color Reports. Missouri andIllinois

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads & Views —

Gardening by Month: October Tips, Tasks, Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Like some of you, I have Powdery Mildew on my zinnia. Here’s some advice on this problem (Missouri Botanical Garden)

What to do when wildlife treats your garden like a buffet. (University of Missouri Extension)

I am told this is a great winter project for kids. How to start an indoor garden with scraps from your dinner plate (Gift article at Washington Post)

Prairie home companions: Why more farmers are planting native landscapes in their crop fields (KCUR)

Mum Madness. North America has had flowers that bloom in the fall far before anyone brought over the mum from Asia. The case for native Fall color from New England Asters, Ox-Eye Daisies, American Starthistle instead of mums. (Wild Ones)

Mizzou researchers design filter to remove microplastics from tap water (KBIA)

California accuses ExxonMobil of lying about plastics being recyclable. State alleges that the oil company deceived “the public to convince us that plastic recycling could solve the plastic waste and pollution crisis.” (Gift article at Washington Post)

Walden Pond: An endangered treasure. National Trust for Historic Preservation has listed Walden Pond and Walden Woods, where Henry David Thoreau wrote his 1854 classic “Walden,” one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.” (CBS)

Had never heard of this until the article. Fridgescaping is everywhere. But is it safe? The social media trend is taking refrigerator organization to a whole new level. Here are pros and cons. (Gift article at Washington Post)

Listen to lessons from the Kansas ground, advises Haskell author in recent book. “Western hierarchy places humans at the top, plants at the bottom. With Indigenuity, humans are seen as the younger brothers of creation. A cure for what’s ailing us is to spend more time outdoors learning our place in nature…” (Kansas Reflector)

Seed Saving Class available on YouTube (Seed St. Louis)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

Deadline to order has passed but often they extend the ordering, so check because as of this posting day there was no such notice. Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. 30 bulbs for $17. Carlton Daffodils; Midwest Mix Daffodils, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada; Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips; Pink Impression Tulips. Pick up 11 am to 4 pm October 11th and 9 am to Noon October 12th at Forest Park Greenhouse. Orders to be shipped will be sent the week of October 7th.

October 5th-26th, St. Louis Public Library daily event at Schlafly Library: River Life: Landscape Photography exhibit by Rita Chu

Going on Now- On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. Don’t delay. Items are selling out fast, such as Beautyberry, Blackberry, Concordia Oak, Flowering Dogwood, Hazelnut, PawPaw, Spicebush.

October 23rd Deadline to Order Fruit Trees from Stark Brothers for pick up November 2nd at Seed St. Louis Carriage House. $20 each: Apple, Asian Pear, Elderberry, Nectarine, Peach, Pecan, Persimmon

Volunteers wanted. Tower Grove Park Plant It Forward: Help dig cannas, elephant ears, other plants; clearing display beds of debris; aid in planting 10,000+ bulbs for Spring season. 9 am Tuesday, October 1st Register. 9 am Thursday, October 3rd Register. 9 am Thursday, October 10th Register

1:30 pm Tuesday, October 1st, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

6 pm Wednesday, October 2nd, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- Mark Glenshaw of Forest Park Owls. Register

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

6 pm Friday, October 4th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: WildHeart Concert and Scout/Family Event

8 am Saturday, October 5th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, October 5th, St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Opening Day for River Life: Landscape Photography exhibit by Rita Chu

9 am Saturday, October 5th, Seed St. Louis Garlic & Shallot Sale. $0.60 per clove. Hardneck Garlic ‘Music,’ Softneck ‘Inchelium Red,’ Shallots ‘Red French’

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Saturday, October 5th, Open Space Council workday at St. Vincent Park, Normandy: Honeysuckle Hack & Native Planting. Register 

For our crafty gardeners & nature lovers. 10 Seats remaining. 10 am Saturday, October 5th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden: Nature Crocheters Fall Fun! Register

6:30-9 pm Saturday, October 5th, The Garden Shop’s Sip & Soil, Fall Edition. Tickets $45 includes houseplant of your choosing, 6″ planter, supplies to paint, and at least two Fall themed cocktails

Noon October 8th University of Illinois Extension Webinar, Thriving Communities series: Current Funding Opportunities for Energy and the Environment Explore grants available for community environmental projects. Register

10 am October 8th Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

6:30 pm October 8th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Missouri Stream Team program. Register

9 am October 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery tour with Horticulturist: Fall Tree Walk. Register

1:30 pm October 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

4 pm October 9th Grow Native Zoom Class: Native Ferns in Missouri and their Potential as Specialty Crops. Register

5 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: Native Yards, Getting Started. Register

October 10th-12th University of Missouri @ St. Louis Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability Event Series, The Buffalo Treaty

For School Gardeners. 4:30 pm October 10th Seed St. Louis Fall School Gardener Meet-Up & Perennial Plant Swap at Pershing Elementary School Garden, University City. Register

6 pm October 10th Seed St. Louis event at DIG Annuals and Perennials, Benton Park West: Food for Years- Best Perennial Vegetables for a Fall & Winter Harvest. Register

9 am October 10th Heartlands Conservancy event in Belleville IL: Volunteer Training- Native Seed Collection. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 11th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

9 am to 1 pm October 12th Seed St. Louis, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Tree Sale & Fall Festival

10 am October 12th Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

11 am to 1 pm October 12th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

2 pm October 12th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability, The Buffalo Treaty collaborative event series, two presentations. 1) Keystone Species & Sovereignty = Rejuvenation, Innovation and Wonder, presented by Jonny BearCub Stiffarm, JD (Assinaboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana). 2) The Ecological Buffalo: On the Trail of a Keystone Species, a talk and book-signing with author Wes Olson and photographer Johane Janelle. Garden Admission fee required. Event is free with Garden Admission but Registration required by October 10th.

3 pm October 12th St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Gallery Talk- Rita Chu and River Life: Deconstructing the Images. More on photographer Rita Chu.

6 pm October 12th St. Louis Astronomical Society event at Tower Grove Park: Stargazing

Volunteers wanted. 9 am October 13th STL Neighborhood Foresters Tower Grove East Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

6:30 pm October 15th St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Houseplants 101. Register

6 pm October 17th St. Louis County Public Library event at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Succulent Swap. Register

8 am October 19th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Fee Fee Greenway, Maryland Heights. Register

10 am October 19th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Houseplant Swap. Register

Noon to 4 pm October 19th Benton Park Neighborhood Association’s Benton Park Tunes on Tap – A Musical Garden Tour. Tickets $35-$65

8 am October 20th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

Noon October 20th Missouri Prairie Foundation event in Lincoln County MO: Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day. Register

1-5 pm October 20th Tower Grove Park Fall Frolic

6 pm October 21st St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: Carnivorous Plants presented by Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society. Register

6 pm October 25th Urban Harvest Raise the Roof Fundraiser at .ZACK, Kranzburg Arts, Grand. Tickets $50.

Volunteers Wanted. October 26th River de Peres Trash Bash

Volunteers wanted. 10 am October 26th STL Neighborhood Foresters event: Bevo Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

28 Seats remaining. 5:30 pm October 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Cacti & Succulents- A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving Plants. Register

4 pm November 6th Missouri Invasive Plant Council Webinar: Common General Use Herbicides & How They Relate to Aquatic Use Sites. Register

9 am to 4 pm April 29th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: native Rough Blazing Star

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales (plant sales & swaps- plants, native plants, tree & shrub seedings + seed swaps) here’s a page for them. Added this week: STL County Library Succulent & Houseplant Swaps + St. Louis Community College Native Plant Sale

Wild Ones Reading List: Back-to-School Reads on Botanical Pioneers

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads & Views —

Seed Saving Class available on YouTube (Seed St. Louis)

Five Fall Veggie Garden Basics (P Allen Smith)

Gardening by Month: September Gardening Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

How to Divide & Transplant Perennials Now (P Allen Smith)

Colorado Rattlecam. Livestream of a Prairie Rattlesnake rookery (MegaDen) at an undisclosed location in Colorado (Project RattleCam)

As crews chainsaw Joshua trees, Mojave Desert community protests solar energy project (use https://12ft.io/ to get past paywall) (Los Angeles Times)

Mr Greedy, the penguin progenitor of more than 200 chicks, dies aged 33 – 141 years old in human years per the penguin to human age calculator (The Guardian)

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

Volunteers Wanted for Brightside St. Louis September Blitz events, opportunites in Dutchtown, Hodiamont Tracks, North Grand, St. Louis Place near New Roots Urban Farm

Order Online Now thru September 26th: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. 30 bulbs for $17. Carlton Daffodils; Midwest Mix Daffodils, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada; Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips; Pink Impression Tulips. Pick up 11 am to 4 pm October 11th and 9 am to Noon October 12th at Forest Park Greenhouse. Orders to be shipped will be sent the week of October 7th.

Going on Now- On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale

5-7 pm Tuesday, September 10th Mallinckrodt School Garden Party

9 am Wednesday, September 11th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Wildwood Valley Gardens Walk with Horticulturist. Register

4 pm Wednesday, September 11th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Take a (Virtual) Hike on the Prairie (Friendly Prairie, Pettis County)– Fall Edition. Register

Volunteers wanted. 8 am Thursday, September 12th, Heartland Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL: Monarch Tagging & Stewardship at the Exploration Garden. Register

5:30 pm Thursday, September 12th, Seed St. Louis Fair on the Farm at International Farm and Botanical Heights Community Garden, 4060 Folsom. Music by Beth Bombara. State Fair theme Games. Free but food (Grace Meats & Three food truck) and drink available for purchase. Order you Seed St. Louis pint glass for $10 and get two beers at event.

Volunteers wanted. 8 am Friday, September 13th Heartland Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

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

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

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

10 am Saturday, September 14th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

11 am to 1 pm Saturday, September 14th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

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

6:30 pm Saturday, September 14th, Stargazing at Tower Grove Park with St. Louis Astronomical Society

3:30 pm September 17th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Native Plants- Be the Host with the Most. Register 

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

For ages 0-7. 11 Seats remaining. 10:30 am September 19th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy: Almost Fall Y’all! Register

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

6 pm September 19th Wild Ones Webinar: The Beauty and Benefits of Hedgerows with Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project (Wabanaki territory now called Maine). Register

For ages 7-17, parents also welcome. 4 pm September 20th St. Louis Public Library event at Tower Grove Park: Bird Nerds Birding Club. Register

9 am to Noon September 21st St. Louis Community College Horticulture Program Native Plant Sale @ Meramac Campus

9:30 am September 21st Forest ReLeaf Treesilience (free trees, maybe free tree removal) Orientation at O’Fallon Park for homeowners in O’Fallon Park, Fairgrounds, Kingsway East, Ville, Greater Ville neighborhoods.  Register

Ages 4th Grade to Adult. 11 am September 21st St. Louis Public Library arts & craft event at Schlafly Library: Plant A Plant, make and take decorate a pot and plant in it.

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

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

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

4 pm September 25th Grow Native Webinar: Prairie Reconstruction at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 26th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale, Crestwood.

6 pm September 26th St. Louis Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series with Jessica Ely, St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

September 28th-29th Tower Grove Pride at Tower Grove Park

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

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

4-7 pm September 28th Forest ReLeaf Fundraiser at their Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park, St. Louis County: 10th Annual ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival. Tickets start at $40.

9 am to 1 pm September Metropolitan Parks & Rec Tax District (dba Great Rivers Greenway) Bridge Boogie at Chain of Rocks Park

6 pm October 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- Mark Glenshaw of Forest Park Owls. Register

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

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

9 am to 1 pm October 12th Seed St. Louis, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Tree Sale & Fall Festival

11 am to 1 pm October 12th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

6:30 pm October 15th St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Houseplants 101. Register

6 pm October 17th St. Louis County Public Library event at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Succulent Swap. Register

10 am October 19th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Houseplant Swap. Register

4 pm November 7th Missouri Invasive Plant Council Webinar: Common General Use Herbicides & How They Relate to Aquatic Use Sites. Register

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

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

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

17 Plants to Control Pests (P. Allen Smith)

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

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

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

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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 —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plan your garden with  Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

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

Good Reads/Views —

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

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

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

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

Container Gardening Tips
Native Plants: Grow Native!
Veggies: Missouri Botanical Garden
5 Tips For Successfully Growing Plants In Containers: P. Allen Smith

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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 —

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Snapdragons. White with purple edges and yellow centers.

Plant of the Week: Snapdragons

Seed St. Louis Shallot Sale. Order Online by Thursday for Saturday, October 14th Pick Up at Carriage House, 3815 Bell Ave. Shallot Grow Guide

Fall Tree Color Reports: Missouri and Illinois

Good Reads —

Gardening by Month: October Tips & Tasks, Pests & Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

October Garden To Do List (P. Allen Smith)

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)

Order Tree Seedlings now for shipping in February from Missouri Conservation Department

Gardening and Nature Events —

Volunteers Wanted. Plant It Forward @ Tower Grove Park 9 am to Noon Tuesday, October 10th and 9 am to Noon Thursday, October 12th

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

10 am Wednesday, October 11th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Arboretum Walking Tour. 2 Hour Horticulture guided tour. Register

4 pm Wednesday, October 11th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar- Dicamba and 2,4-D; Old Herbicides Causing New Problems. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, October 12th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

2 pm Thursday, October 12th, Seed St. Louis & St. Louis County Public Library Zoom Class: Container Gardening. Register

6 pm Thursday, October 12th, Seed St. Louis Great Fall Wrap Up Zoom Event. How best to clean up and prep your garden, what to compost, what to throw away. How to clean up the area around your garden in order to look tidy while still supporting our local bees and other insects. How to prep your soil for next spring. Register

10 am October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Beginner Watercolor Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Watercolor Painting: Fall Leaves and Trees. 6 Seats remaining. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am Saturday, October 14th, Forest ReLeaf Beckett Park Memorial Tree Stewardship Day, Lewis Place Neighborhood. Help honor 25 families and their loved ones lost to gun violence by caring for trees planted in their memory. Register

8:30 am Sunday, October 15th, St. Louis Audubon Society Youth & Family Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

5-7:30 pm October 16th Missouri Conservation Department Fishing Lessons 1 & 2 (gear, casting, fish handling, knot tying, baiting) at Forest Park Fish Hatchery. Gear provided. 13 Seats remaining. Register

2 pm October 17th information session at Bellefontaine Cemetery, Hotchkiss Chapel: What is Green Burial? Register

Volunteers Wanted. Plant It Forward @ Tower Grove Park 9 am to Noon October 17th, 9 am to Noon October 18th, and 9 am to Noon October 19th

3:30 pm October 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Trees- Fall Color. Find out what causes leaves to change color, which plants have the showiest color, and some great places to visit this fall. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 4 pm October 19th Missouri Conservation Conservation Kids event at Tower Grove Park: You and me under the Canopy- Sly Critters. Register

1:30 pm October 20th Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

3 pm October 20th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birds of Missouri. Find out great places in Missouri to view Fall migration and for winter birdwatching season. Register

9 am October 21st Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Where Can I? — Birdwatch. Register

10 am October 21st Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register

1 pm October 21st Missouri Prairie Foundation Members Field Trip: Bellefontaine Cemetery Fall Tree Walk

6-8 pm October 21st Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

2-5 pm October 22nd Fall Frolic at Tower Grove Park with Missouri Conservation Department. Discover all the flora and fauna that live in St. Louis region through autumn-centric activity stations and wildlife encounters.

10 am October 24th Bellefontaine Cemetery Trolley Tour: 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. $5. Register

6 pm October 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Bats of Missouri. Register

4 pm October 25th Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Class: Show Me Tarantulas! The Ecology of Aphonopelma hentzi in Missouri Glades. Register

9 am October 26th information session at Bellefontaine Cemetery, Hotchkiss Chapel: What is Green Burial? Register

3-6 pm October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Dutch Oven Cooking Class at Tower Grove Park. Bring law chairs. Must be at least 7 years of age. 12 Seats remaining. Register

1:30 pm October 31st Bellefontaine Cemetery Leaf Walk. 2 Hour Horticulture & History guided tour. Register

9 am November 1st Missouri Conservation Department Project FeederWatch Virtual Kickoff. Help Cornell Lab track birds. Register

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

7:45 am to Noon November 4th Bellefontaine Cemetery Coyote Crawl 5K and Head for the Hills 10K Run/Walk. Register

8 am November 4th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am November 4th Forest ReLeaf North Riverfront Fall Tree Planting, North Entrance @ North Riverfront Park. Register

3:30 pm November 7th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Backyard Birds, Project FeederWatch. Register

9 am to 3:30 pm November 8th Grow Native! Professionals Conference @ University of Missouri- Columbia. $20 per person for Grow Native! professional members (and their staff). Zoom option: $30 for non-members. Register

Noon to 3 pm November 12th Missouri Prairie Foundation Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day, Lincoln County Mo. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 10 am 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. 12 Seats remaining. Register

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

10 am November 19th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: The Science & Art of Soapmaking. Registration Opens November 1st: Register

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

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

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


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

Joe Pye Weed- a tall plant with clusters of tiny pink flowers

Plant of the Week: Joe Pye Weed

Download the Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Hey, St. Louisans: Need seeds for planting now and Fall/Winter harvesting? Check out the 50 Cent to $1 deals at Seed St. Louis

Tips on Drying Flowers

What an hour of gardening does to your body

City of St. Louis would like your help watering trees

The massive fire which destroyed Skate Liborious also destroyed New Roots Urban Farm. All donations to help rebuild the farm are appreciated: GoFund for New Roots Urban Farm

It’s Sunflower Season at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area

Thru August 1st at Buder Library, St. Louis Hills: The Art of Science and Nature by Dr. Robert Bolla: Art Exhibit an exhibit of photography of animals and botanicals

Current Exhibits thru August 6th at Pulitzer Arts Foundation, Grand Center- Faye HeavyShield’s Confluences and The Nature of Things: Medieval Art and Ecology, 1100-1550

Know a great tree steward? August 7th Deadline to submit Nominations for Arbor Award of Excellence

Sept 1st Deadline to enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources 2023 Photo Contest Categories: Natural Resources, Unique Places: state parks and historic sites; People Enjoying Missouri’s Outdoors.

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11 am Wednesday, July 26th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Hummingbirds. Register

11 am Thursday, July 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Snakes of Missouri. Register. Also, download MDC’s A Guide to Missouri Snakes

6 pm Thursday, July 27th, Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: The Forgotten Season- Fall Gardening at Home and School. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, July 29th and 8 am to 4 pm Sunday, July 30th Shaw Cactus and Succulent Society Annual Show & Sale at Jost Event Center, Overland, St. Louis County

8 pm Saturday, July 29th Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm July 31st Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: Hummers of Summer. Register

2 pm August 1st Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

4 pm August 2nd Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Master Class: Native Grasses and Sedges-Smart Choices for Native Landscape Design. Free for MPF dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

6:30 pm August 3rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Making Friends with Fritillaries Register

For Children ages 0-7. 10 am August 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park- You and Me Under the Canopy- Hike. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 5th & 6th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

August 5th Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

13 Seats remaining. 10 am August 5th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Watercolor Painting and Fun with Butterflies! Register

For Children Ages 3-6. 10 am August 8th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Conservation Kids- Nature Scavenger Hunt. Register

7 pm August 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Introduction to Missouri’s Caves and Caving. This class is a requirement for August 9th field trip to Cliff Cave, Cliff Cave County Park, St. Louis County. Registration for that is closed but I thought the Zoom Class on its own might be of interest to some. Register

10 am August 11th Missouri Conservation Department Nature Art In Person Class at Tower Grove Park: Nature Crocheters, Session 1. Prior experience not necessary, but bring a size 5 mm, 5.5 mm, or 6 mm crochet hook. Future Sessions: October 14th & November 18th. Register

9 am August 12th Seed St. Louis Fall Plant Sale. $3.50 4-pak Vegetable Seedlings (bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, heat tolerant lettuce) + seed packets. Please bring your own tray or box for your plants.

6:30 pm August 12th Nature Night Film Series at Tower Grove Park: Over the Hedge. + Raptor Basics Show with live birds from World Bird Sanctuary. + Educational activities and crafts sponsored by U.S. Forest Service, Missouri Conservation Department, St. Louis Zoo, Tower Grove Park, St. Louis Public Library, Wild Bird Rehab, more

10 am August 19th Seed St. Louis Tasting the Rainbow Class: Garden Recipes for Kids at Bell Garden. Register

11:30 am August 19th Seed St. Louis Tomato Tasting & Potluck at Bell Garden. Register

August 19th Missouri Prairie Foundation Annual Dinner & Auction, Stoney Creek Hotel, Columbia. Tickets

9 am to Noon August 26th Webster Groves Herb Society Display at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Noon to 5 pm August 27th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to 5 om September 9th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

10 am to 2 pm September 9th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Wild Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm September 16th & 17th Greater St. Louis Daylily Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

10 am to 5 pm September 16th Old North St. Louis House & Garden Tour + Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets

5:30 pm September 18th Missouri Prairie Foundation Guided Hike of Deer Lake Savanna in Forest Park. Register

9 am to 3:30 pm November 8th Grow Native! Professionals Conference @ University of Missouri- Columbia. $20 per person for Grow Native! professional members (and their staff). Zoom option: $30 for non-members. Register


Join us Sundays on Spoutible 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

This week in the garden: Outdoors- sow radishes. Indoors- start tomatoes. Plan your 2023 Garden with Seed St. Louis Seed Starting/Planting Calendar

Seed St. Louis Planting Guides
Asparagus Leeks Onions Potatoes Strawberries

The Big List of St. Louis Area Plant Sales: African Violets, Carnivorous, Daylilies, Gesneriads, Herbs, Hostas, Iris, Native Plants, Perennials, Roses, Veggies, Wildflowers

Missed attending one of Seed St. Louis Online gardening classes? Check out the recorded classes on Seed St. Louis YouTube channel

4 pm Wednesday St. Louis Public Library craft event for Kids Ages 7-12: Let’s Make A Garden! @ Machacek Library, Lindenwood

5 pm Wednesday Arboretum Walking Tour @ Wildwood Valley Gardens, Bellefontaine Cemetery. Horticulturist led walk. Register

6 pm Thursday Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: Composting 101. Register

Volunteers Wanted: 9 am Friday Arbor Day Tree Planting @ Tower Grove Park. Register

Noon Saturday St. Louis Public Library event: Forest Park Owls:-Hiding in Plain Sight with naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw @ Carpenter Library,  Tower Grove South

Volunteers Wanted: 1 pm Saturday 8th Forest ReLeaf’s Open Nursery Potting Day @ CommuniTree Gardens, Maryland Hts. Register

6 pm April 10th University of Missouri Extension Online Class: Produce Safety in Community Gardens. Register

10 am April 11th Trolley Tour @ Bellefontaine Cemetery Two-hour trolley tour led by a Master Guide sharing horticulture and arboretum highlights Tickets $5. Register

2 pm April 11th Arboretum Walking Tour at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Horticulturist led walk. Register

10 am April 12th Thursday Bellefontaine in Bloom at Bellefontaine Cemetery. 2 Hour walking tour with master guide. Register

4 pm April 12th Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Class: The Tallgrass Prairie of Missouri Above and Below the Soil Surface. Register

7 am to 7:30 pm April 15th Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring State Park, Lebanon MO

8 am to 2 pm April 15th Native Plant Workshop and Plant Sale at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood. Hosted by Partners for Native Landscaping.

9 am to Noon April 15th Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Bellefontaine Cemetery

3:30 pm April 15th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Naturalist Note- Wild Warblers.  Improve your warbler identification. Register

Volunteers Wanted for 9 am April 18th Plant It Forward at Tower Grove Park. Helping the Horticulture Team maintain the beautiful flower beds. Register

Noon April 18th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Spring Wildflowers of Southeast Missouri. The swamps and bottomlands of the Bootheel offer a variety of plants found nowhere else in the state. Register

2 pm April 18th Arboretum Walking Tour at Bellefontaine Cemetery. Horticulturist led walk. Register

4 pm April 18th St. Louis Public Library event for K-6 Kids: Make A Rain Gauge @ Machacek Library, Lindenwood

6 pm April 18th Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Barn Owl Biology. Register

Volunteers Wanted for 9 am April 20th Plant It Forward at Tower Grove Park. Helping the Horticulture Team maintain the beautiful flower beds. Register

10 am April 20th Thursday Bellefontaine in Bloom at Bellefontaine Cemetery. 2 Hour walking tour with master guide. Register

6 pm April 20th Seed St. Louis Online Class: Gardening for the Environment. Register

8:30 am April 23rd St. Louis Audubon Society’s Youth & Families Beginner Bird Walk @ Tower Grove Park. 16 Tickets remaining. Register

Volunteers Wanted for 9 am April 25th Plant It Forward at Tower Grove Park. Helping the Horticulture Team maintain the beautiful flower beds. Register

4:30 pm April 25th St. Louis Public Library event for K-6 Kids: Hands-on STEM- Earth Day Wildflower Seed Balls and Launcher! @ Julia Davis Library, Penrose

4 pm April 26th Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Class: Spring Into Action for Declining Birds. Register

Volunteers Wanted for 9 am April 27th Plant It Forward at Tower Grove Park. Helping the Horticulture Team maintain the beautiful flower beds. Register

April 28th-29th St. Louis Herb Society Plant Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden

For Teachers.10 am April 29th Seed St. Louis In-Person Class at Carriage House: Summer Strategies for the School Garden. Register

8 pm April 29th Stargazing at Tower Grove Park with St. Louis Astronomical Society

U-City in Bloom Plant Sale is usually last week of April but there’s no 2023 info yet

9 am April 30th Seed St. Louis & Trailnet Tour de Plants Community Ride. $15, $20. Register

9 am April 30th Partners for Native Landscaping Native Plant Sale & Native Plant Swap @ Beyond Housing. Preorder from vendors for pick up or shop from what is available that day.

9 am to 1 pm May 6th Wildflower Market @ Shaw Nature Reserve. $5

9 am to 5 pm May 6th West County Daylily Club Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to Noon May 13th Seed St. Louis Summer Plant Sale @ Carriage House, 3815 Bell. Arrive early for best selection. Bring a box lid to carry your plants. $4 seedling 6-packs. Available at this Sale: Basil, Eggplant, Sweet & Hot Peppers, Tomatoes, Mint, Lavender, Rhubarb, Sorrel, more

9 am to 5 pm May 13th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

10 am May 13th World Bird Sanctuary Native Plant Sale. Preorder from vendors for pick up or shop from what is available that day.

8:30 am May 20th Brightside St. Louis Downtown Planting Day. Volunteers wanted. Register

9 am to 5 pm May 20th & 21st St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to 5 pm May27th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show and Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

10 am to 5 pm June 3rd Lafayette Square Garden Tour & Antique Fair

9 am to 5 pm June 10th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

11 am to 4 pm June 11th St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour. Free. Register

9 am to 5 pm June 24th Kimmswick Daylily Sale to benefit Kimmswick Visitor Center, Jefferson County.

9 am to 5 pm August 5th & 6th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Plant Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to 5 om September 9th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

9 am to 5 pm September 16th & 17th Greater St. Louis Daylily Society Sale @ Missouri Botanical Garden. Entrance included with Garden Admission. Garden Admission is FREE to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents 7 am to Noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.


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