Plant of the Week: native Blue Sage (Salvia azurea). Plant now for great color and pollinators next Fall. These can grow up to 6-7 feet tall in full sun. I cut them back early summer to make them more manageable. But tall they look great paired with native perennial Sunflowers and Goldenrod.

Plan your garden with 2026 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar, good for Zones 6a, 6b, 7a, maybe more.

If you are just looking for St. Louis Area Plant and Seed Swaps and Sales, they are here.

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

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

Good Reads, Views, Listens —

September Gardening Tips for Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits & Nuts, Lawns, Indoor Plants  (University of Missouri Extension)

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

Garlic Planting Video (University of Missouri Extension)

Illinois study reveals another reason to save the world’s trees (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Rare plant is documented on Newton County native prairie remnant, SW Missouri. Pinnate Dogshade (KSMU Ozark Public Radio)

The feds no longer protect endangered species habitat. States say they can’t pick up the slack. Few wildlife agencies have the authority to regulate habitat under state laws. (Stateline)

Who says a vegetable garden needs full sun? Some plants do well in shadier spots (Associated Press)

Missouri River Bird Observatory Past Webinars and Virtual Nature School for Kids

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.

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
September 19th Old North. Register
September 19th St. Louis Place. Register
October 4th Forest Park Southeast. Register
October 17th Old North. Register
October 18th Shaw. Register

Friday, September 18th Deadline to complete Missouri Invasive Plant Council Survey

Volunteers Wanted. Volunteer for Tower Grove Park’s Plant It Forward Maintenance Program and take home a few thank you plants. Register

Apply for Forest ReLeaf Project CommuniTree: 3-gallon saplings are offered free of charge to public and nonprofit partners who plant and maintain the trees. Pick Ups in Cape Girardeau, Columbia, Hannibal, Kansas City, Republic, St. Louis County

6:45 am Walk Before You Work Club at Tower Grove Park with naturalist: September 23rd
October 14th
October 28th
November 5th
November 18th

September 25th Deadline to order from Brightside St. Louis Blooming Soon! Bulb Sale. 30 high quality bulbs for $18. Daffodils: Carlton, Midwest Mix. Tulips: Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin, Pink Impression. Pick Up October 9-10 at Forest Park Greenhouse. There’s a shipping option but it’s USPS.

Now thru September 26th Art Exhibit at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Landscape and Nature Photography by Elizabeth White

Now thru September 26th Missouri Botanical Gardens sculpture exhibit- Patterns in Nature: The Art of HYBYCOZO. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

October 1st Registration Opens for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

November 15th Deadline to Enter Missouri State Parks & Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives Missouri Snapshots Photo Contest. 2026 Categories: Adventure & Recreation, On The Trail, Parks Less Traveled, Making Memories, Capture the Beauty 

October Applications Open for Missouri Prairie Foundation’s 2027 Prairie Garden Grant Program for gardening and conservation groups, parks, school

November 1st Registration Closes for Heartlands Conservancy 2026 Jingle Hike Challenge. $25

Thru December 31st Missouri Botanical Gardens photography exhibit- Gardenscapes: Patterns in Bloom. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

Now thru January 4, 2027, Exhibit at Kemper Art Museum: Carolina Caycedo- Growing Deep Roots

Thru March 31, 2027, Missouri Botanical Garden exhibit at Sachs Museum– The Literary Garden: The Cultivation of Plants and Gardens in Narratives. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

—– GENERAL CALENDAR —–

9 am Monday, September 14th, Heartlands Conservancy Clean Water, Bright Future Tour at Highland Silver Lake Watershed, Madison County IL. Register

8 Seats remaining. For ages 55+. 9 am Tuesday, September 15th, Missouri Conservation Department Senior Picnic at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County. Register

1:30 pm Tuesday, September 15th, University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Bringing the Outside In- Overwintering Tender Perennial Plants. Register

7 pm Tuesday, September 15th, Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers and Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Backyard Winter Bird Photography with Richard Day. Register

6 pm Wednesday, September 16th, Wild Ones Webinar: From Lawn to Meadow. Gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, weed management, plant competition, and long-term maintenance.  Register

Noon Thursday, September 17th, Deep Roots Kansas City Zoom Class: Growing Plants Sustainably. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, September 18th, Heartlands Conservancy Knoll Family Wildlife Sanctuary Stewardship Day, Edwardsville IL. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am Friday, September 18th, Trail Maintenance at O’Fallon Park. Register

5-10 pm Friday, 9 am to 7 pm Saturday, 10 am to 5, pm Sunday, September 18th-20th, Greater St Louis Daffodil Society Fall Bulb Sale at Greentree Festival, Kirkwood

11 am Friday, September 18th, St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch: African Violets 101 presented by Amethyst African Violet Club. Register

8 am to 12:30 pm Saturday, September 19th, River City Natives Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Farmer’s Market

10 am Saturday, September 19th, St. Louis County Library Plant, Cuttings, Seed Swap at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton. Register

10 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 19th, Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Go Deeper: A Community Land and Healing Retreat. Register

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 19th, Missouri Pollinator Network Pollinator Palooza at Weldon Spring Site, St. Charles. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery will be selling native plants.

11:30 to 4:30 pm Saturday, September 19th, Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: A Creative Field Study and Natural Gesture Community Day with North St. Louis residents sharing their work with plant material, foods, herbs, and built environment of their neighborhoods and its relationship to the Mississippi River. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm Saturday, September 19th, St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Lore & Legend of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

Noon to 10 pm Saturday, September 19th, Piasa Palisades Sierra Club 20th Annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival in Alton, Illinois

11 Seat remaining. 9 am September 21st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Gardening Like a Nature Center. Register

13 Tickets remaining. 9 am September 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Autumnal Equinox Walk at Carondelet Park with naturalist. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 6:45 am September 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

For Ages 5+. 12 Tickets remaining. 5 pm September 23rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Hatchery: Community Fishing- St. Louis Species School. Register

3:30-6:30 pm September 24th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Roeslein & Associates, St. Louis County

For Ages 7+. 13 Tickets remaining. 6 pm September 24th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

6 pm September 24th Missouri Botanical Garden event at Sachs Museum: Vampire Scent Culture with perfumer Rubia Homa. Guests are encouraged to dress in vampire/goth attire. Garden Admission Fee applies

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 25th-26th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

44 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 5:30-7:30 pm September 25th Missouri Conservation Department event at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Friday Night Fishing. All equipment provided. Register

Volunteers Wanted. September 26th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Great Mississippi River Clean Up at Alton, Illinois. Register

8 am to 4 pm September 26th Missouri Wildflowers Nursery Native Plant Sale at Five Oaks on Warson, Olivette. Order by prior Monday for pick up or purchase from what they bring.

10 am September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Seed Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Register

10 am September 26th Kemper Art Museum event: Botanical Printing. Register

3 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 11 am September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. Register

8 Tickets remaining. For Ages 9+. 1:30 pm September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery. Register

2 pm September 26th St. Louis County Library Plant & Cuttings Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester. Register

18 Tickets remaining. For Ages 18+. 3:30 pm September 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Introduction to Archery for Adults. Register

4-7 pm September 26th Forest ReLeaf fundraiser: Arbormeisters 2026, ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival at Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park

7 pm September 26th Stargazing with St. Louis Astronomical Society at Tower Grove Park, weather permitting

18 Tickets remaining. 8:30 am September 27th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm September 28th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

6 pm September 29th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Make Your Own Bird Suet. Register

5:30 pm October 1st Panel Discussion on Plant–Human–Land Relations at
Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

For Ages 7+. 20 Tickets remaining. 6 pm October 1st Missouri Conservation Department Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting, & Proper Fish Handling. Register

10 am to 3 pm October 3rd Willoughby Farm Fall Farm Day in Collinsville IL. Lots of kid activities and baby highland cows to pet. $5

10 am to 4 pm October 3rd Old North St. Louis Restoration Group’s House, Garden, Business Tour and Arts Festival at Crown Square. Tickets $17.85-$33.85

10 Seats remaining. 1 pm October 3rd St. Louis Public Library class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Planting. Register

1:30 pm October 3rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Birding from a Distance. Register

2 pm October 5th St. Louis County Public Library class at Thornhill Branch:
Garden on your Windowsill, presented by Missouri Botanical Garden. Register

23 Tickets remaining. 10:30 am October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood: Wild Edibles- Roots & Tubers. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 5:30 pm October 7th Missouri Conservation Department class at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Fall Birding. Binoculars provided. Register

Noon October 8th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Less Lawn, More Life with Living Landscapes. Register

9 am to 5 pm Friday-Sunday, October 9th-11th, Missouri Botanical Garden Best of Missouri Market. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, native plant sales, will be on East Lot. Vendor List. Garden Admission Fee applies.

7 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Conservation Lessons from a Life in Photography with Noppadol Paothong. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 10th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club Wadlow Creek Bird and Plant Survey in Alton, Illinois. Register

14 Tickets remaining. 10 am October 10th Missouri Conservation Department Hike: Calvary Cemetery Prairie Exploration with conservation educator Mary Fuller Register

11 am October 10th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register.

6:45 am October 14th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm October 15th University of Illinois Extension Class at Vintage Wine Bar in Waterloo, Illinois: From Hive to Honey- Taste, Learn, Enjoy. Register

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

10:30 am October 17th Forest ReLeaf event at historic Scott Joplin House: Persimmon Festival. Register for free trees

11 am and 1 pm October 17th Missouri Botanical Garden lecture-recital at Sachs Museum: Frets and Flora, Botanical Themes in Guitar Literature with classical guitarist Patrick Rafferty. Garden Admission Free until Noon on Saturdays and Wednesdays to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents, except during MoBot special events, otherwise Garden Fee applies.

1 pm October 17th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Harvesting and Preserving Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

10 am to 2 pm October 18th Bring Conservation Home Expo & Native Plant Sale at Tower Grove Park. Native plants for sale, local artists, bird & bat houses, activities for all ages, exhibits.

1:30 pm October 20th University of Illinois Extension Webinar: Speak for the Trees- Community Advocacy for Urban Forests. Register

6 pm October 21st Wild Ones Webinar: Bats in the Backyard. Register

6-8 pm October 22nd Sierra Club Eastern Missouri event at Alpine Shop, Kirkwood: Happy Hour, Pint Night. $10. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, October 23rd-24th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

6:45 am October 28th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

6 pm November 4th St. Louis City Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Tea Talk with Amber Fouche- A Lesson in Tea Blending, Tea Benefits, and History

6:45 am November 5th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

5:15 pm Networking Reception and 6 pm lecture November 5th Missouri Botanical Garden: Lecture on Global Plant Conservation with Dr. Lucy Sutherland, Director, National Botanic Garden of Wales. Free

11 am November 14th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm November 14th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: History and Use of Herbs, presented by St. Louis Herb Society

2 pm November 15th Public Tour- Plants as Medicine at Kemper Art Museum at Washington University. Register

6:45 am November 18th Missouri Conservation Department Hike in St. Louis City: Walk Before Work at Tower Grove Park with naturalist. Register

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, November 27th-28th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

9 am to 2 pm Friday and 8 am to 2 pm Saturday, December 11th-12th, Flyleaf Market monthly pop up on 1st floor of Watson Terrace Christian Church, Watson @ Winnebago: Succulent & Tropical Plant Sale.

11 am December 12th St. Charles County Library Seed & Plant Swap at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peters. Register. Registration opens October 17th

1 pm December 12th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: We Love Lavender! presented by St. Louis Herb Society

11 am to 4 pm January 30th, 2027, 16th Annual STL Seeding Frenzy Seed Swap at Sunset Hills Community Center, 3915 S Lindbergh. Prepackage your seeds and identify the seeds on package. Seed Swap 11 am to 12:30 pm for those who bring seeds to swap and who will receive an arm band to the Seed Room. After 12:30 pm people without an arm band may enter and select seeds from Seed Room. If you do not contribute seeds, bring a donation of either non-perishable food items, hygiene products or new kids socks and underwear. These items will be given to a local charity.

19 Seats remaining. 1 pm April 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Spring Clinic. Register

18 Seats remaining. 1 pm May 22nd St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Garlic Scape Pesto. Register

17 Seats remaining. 1 pm July 17th St. Louis City Public Library Class at Central Library: From Garden to Table- Harvesting Garlic for Garlic Aioli. Register