This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: African Lion’s Tail, African Lion’s Ear (Leonotis leonurus). Outdoor annual in Missouri & Illinois. Mine have never grown under six feet tall. Great Summer to Fall color, currently blooming.

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 —

Free Native Garden Designs @ Wild Ones

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 January 1st at Missouri Botanical Garden: Holiday Flower and Train Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Now thru January 4th Missouri Botanical Garden’s Garden Glow. Purchase Tickets.

Now thru April 15th On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale.

6 pm November 19th St. Louis Public Library event at Buder Library: Paper Craft Circle- Paper Wisteria.

1 pm Wednesday, November 20th, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Cavity Nesters and Nesting Boxes. Register

4 pm Wednesday, November 20th, Missouri Prairie Foundation online Master Class: Advanced Green Infrastructure and Stormwater Management. Free to MPF members and Grow Native professional members, $15 nonmembers. Register

1:30 pm Thursday, November 21st, Bellefontaine Cemetery history & horticulture tour with master guide: Fall Tour. Register

4 pm Thursday, November 21st, Missouri Conservation Department online class: Backyard Bird Feeding. Register

6 pm November 21st Wild Ones & Native Plant Society of Texas webinar: Landscaping for Resilience. Register

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

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

15 Seats remaining. 2 pm Saturday, November 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden: Urban Nature Readers Book Club. Tree themed craft and discussion of “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben. Register

2 pm November 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: American Beaver. Register

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

16 Tickets remaining. 1 pm November 29th Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: Walk off the Turkey and Pumpkin Pie Hike. Register

2 pm November 29th Missouri Conservation event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird Feeders- Seed to Suet. Register

10 am to 4 pm November 30th Green Gift Bazaar in Alton IL

1:30 pm November 30th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Pinecone Bird Feeders. Registration not required.

7 pm December 5th Missouri Prairie Foundation webinar: An Evening with Owls of Both Prairies and Parks with naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am December 7th Forest ReLeaf Tree Planting at North Riverfront Park. Register

10 am December 7th Deep Roots Kansas City webinar: Planning Your Garden for Winter Interest. Register

3 pm December 7th Forest ReLeaf Chestnut Roast at Fairground Park

15 Seats remaining. 1:30 pm December 7th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: Holiday Nature Ornaments and Cocoa. Register

10 am December 9th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Holiday Decorating with Herbs. Register

6:30 pm December Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Endangered Species- The Ozark Chinquapin. Register

2 pm December 12th St. Louis County Public Library event at Mid-County Branch, Clayton: Holiday Decorating with Herbs. Register

3 pm December 13th Missouri Conservation Department webinar: Missouri Black Bears. Register

December 15th Tower Grove Park Frosted 5k & Fun Run fundraiser. Register

2 pm December 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Missouri Foxes. Register

1 pm January 4th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Plants that Changed the Course of History-Volume 1, Missouri Botanical Garden Speakers Bureau.

January 25th thru March 4th event at Sachs Butterfly House, Faust Park, Chesterfield: Morpho Mardi Gras- Bugs, Rhythm, & Blues. Fee applies

February 1st thru March 9th at Missouri Botanical Garden: Orchid Show. Garden admission is free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

February 15th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference

9 am to 4 pm April 25th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden parking lot.

Join us Sundays on Bluesky for #GardenSunday. No longer on Twitter thanks to Elon Musk turning it into a dumpster fire.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

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

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 Goldenrod

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. No additions this week, just deleted past events.

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads —

One of the rarest trees in the world- Karomia gigas – is on display at MoBot’s Arid House. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents mornings on Saturdays and Wednesdays. (KSDK)

Health and farmworker advocates urge ban of herbicide linked to Parkinson’s. EPA will determine next year if the herbicide, paraquat dichloride, should have its license renewed for another 15 years. (Missouri Independent)

Scientists just figured out how many chemicals enter our bodies from food packaging. A new study details the chemicals finding their way into human bodies from contact with food. (Gift article @ Washington Post)

Residents worry Ameren gas plant in St. Louis County will be expensive, dirty (paywall St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Why ‘chaos wheat’ may be the future of bread. It’s time to look beyond all-purpose flour (Gift article @ Washington Post)

A turtle and its advocates could stand in the way of a huge Pearl River engineering project in Mississippi (Louisiana Illuminator)

Elon Musk’s New AI Data Center in Memphis Raises Alarms Over Pollution (Time)

Arctic Seed Vault Shows Flawed Logic of Climate Adaptation. The difficulties illustrate why we need to prevent climate disaster rather than plan for it. In 2017, the vault suffered a flood caused, ironically, by climate change. (Scientific American)

Some Sports v. Nature News. Once Again, a Lizard Interrupts Singapore Grand Prix Weekend. It appears Singapore’s monitor lizards are getting faster as this year’s party crasher is chased down the track by the marshals. (Road & Track)

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

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

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 —

Thursday, September 26th Order Deadline: 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.

For crafty gardeners. Virtual Class 1 of 12. 5 pm Monday, September 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: 2024 Swamp Needlers, Wildflowers. Learn simple, but beautiful, embroidery techniques while exploring some iconic, as well as secretive wildflowers in Missouri. Complete 17 blocks, to create a large quilt with enough extras for pillows or wall art. Register

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

10 am to 5 pm Wednesday, September 25th, Missouri Botanical Garden event @ Little Shop Around the Corner (resell store), 4474 Castleman: Clearance Sale

2 pm Wednesday, September 25th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Monarch Magic. Register

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

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

5:30 pm Thursday, September 26th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: The Marvels of Biomimicry – Part 2. Register

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

6:30 pm Thursday, September 27th, Mid-Continent Public Library (Kansas City) Zoom Class: Monarch Mania. Register

4 Seats remaining. 1 pm Friday, September 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Hummingbirds. Register

3:30 pm Friday, September 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Fall Maintenance for Your Native Garden. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Friday, September 27th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Fundraiser: Beer Barons 2024, Barons of Beer and Distilling Chapter IV. Tickets $30.

7 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 28th, Missouri Conservation Department Women’s Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring Park. No license or tag required. Bennett Spring is in Laclede and Dallas Counties about a 3-hour drive from Kansas City or St. Louis.

Saturday-Sunday, September 28th-29th Tower Grove Pride at Tower Grove Park

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, September 28th, Heartlands Conservancy Monarch Tagging & Stewardship @ at Arlington Wetlands, Granite City IL. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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. Not a sale.

10 am Saturday, 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.

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 28th, Missouri Botanical Garden and Missouri Conservation Department Wild about Nature Festival at Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, Franklin County MO. Fee: MoBot Members- $5 Adults, Free for Children; Nonmembers $7 Adults, $3 for children. Tickets

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

1:30 pm Saturday, September 28th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

4-7 pm Saturday, 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 Sunday, September 29th, Metropolitan Parks & Rec Tax District (dba Great Rivers Greenway) Bridge Boogie at Chain of Rocks Park

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

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.

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

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

12 Seats remaining. 10 am October 5th Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden: Nature Crocheters Fall Fun! Register

6:30-9 pm 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

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 False Dragonhead, Obedient Plant

If you missed the Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale, The Garden Shop on Hampton has got you covered. They are selling seedlings: arugula, cabbage, lettuce, peas, Swiss chard, more. Friday, August 16th through August 31st at The Garden Shop, Deep Discounts on select annuals and perennials: $2 for 4-inch pot, $4 for a quart-sized pot, $6 for 1/2-gallon pots. Say hi to new shop cat- Ms. Astilbe, aka Bebe

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Updated this week with Plant & Seed Swaps @ St. Charles County Library and new Tree & Shrub Sales category

Native Plant Gardeners: Have you joined Wild Ones? Three St. Louis Area, MO & IL Area chapters. A chapter in Southeast Missouri. A Midwest Missouri chapter in Columbia.

I wonder if St. Louis City’s Forest Park Golf Course knows there’s a program called Monarchs in the Rough, for golf courses west of Mississippi, to help restore pollinator habitat in out-of-play areas.

A good resource for starting and maintaining a Seed Library (Seed Library Network) Some Seed Libraries in Missouri

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 —

Fertilizer from human waste faces scrutiny but remains a profitable industry. Oklahoma lawmakers and environmental officials attempted to take steps this year to protect cities & corps from liability if new health problems are found (Investigate Midwest via Missouri Independent)

EPA takes emergency action to stop use of dangerous pesticide used on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, onion. DCPA is known to harm fetuses and “needs to be removed from the market immediately” Gift article (Washington Post)

For our crafty gardeners- Make a basket with iris leaves (Fairegarden blog)

Gardening By Month: August Tips, Tasks, and Problems (Missouri Botanical Garden)

August Gardening Tips on Outdoor Flowering Plants & Ornamentals, Vegetable Gardening, Fruits and Nuts, Lawns (University of Missouri Extension)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis August Blitz events in Fountain Park, Grand Center, Penrose Neighborhoods

Go see the Sunflowers Fields at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Going on now: August Artists at the Gallery, Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Photographer Steve Springmeyer’s Portraits of the Southwest and watercolor artist Wylie Longmire‘s scenes of forests and rivers of St. Louis and rural eastern Missouri.

Going on now. Online Ordering for 3 am to 7 pm Friday, September 6th, Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market in Gray Summit, Franklin County.

Going on now. Online Ordering: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulip- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. 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.

Shakespeare in the Park this Week, The Tempest: Free performances 6:30 pm Thursday at Ivory Perry Park, Visitation Park Neighborhood; 6:30 pm Friday at City Park, 101 S Buchanan
Edwardsville IL; 6:30 pm Saturday at January-Wabash Park, Ferguson; 6:30 pm Sunday at Bellevue Park, Belleville IL

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

2 pm Tuesday, August 13th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Zoom Class: Winter Gardening and Overwintering Crops. Register

6:30 pm Tuesday, August 13th Piasa Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: “Back to the Basics: Madison County’s Approach to Waste Management.” Register

4 pm Wednesday, August 14th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Monarch Conservation: Opportunities and Challenges. Register

5 pm Wednesday, August 14th Metro-East Green Cities Gathering at The Mill, Granite City IL. Register

9 am Thursday, August 15th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

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

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Missouri Botanical Garden event: Nature Speaks…Through History—The Influencers with Abra Lee, storyteller and author of the forthcoming book, Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers. Garden admission fee required.

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Piasa Sierra Club event: Bike Outing, 10-mile ride thru the woods on the Madison County IL Transit bike trail system. Register

6 pm Thursday, August 15th, Piasa Sierra Club Bike Outing, 10-mile ride thru the woods on the Madison County IL Transit bike trail system. Register

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

23 Tickets remaining. For Kids Ages 7-16, parents also welcome. 4 pm Friday, August 16th, St. Louis Public Library and Tower Grove Park event at Tower Grove Park: Bird Nerds Birding Club. Register

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

8 am Friday, August 16th, Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event at Greensfelder Park, St. Louis County: Phenology Walk with Adam Rembert. Litzsinger Road Ecology Center. $1 cash event day appreciated. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

9 am to 4 pm Sunday, August 18th, Sachs Butterfly House event: Bee Jubilee. Fee required. Sachs Butterfly House provides Free Admission to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents only 9-11 am Tuesdays.

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

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

13 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

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. Register

6 pm August 22nd Missouri Botanical Garden event: Nature Speaks…Through Art History. Learn about Robert Duncanson and Edward Bannister, two 19th-century Black artists known for their nature landscapes. Garden admission fee required.

6 pm August 23rd Urban Harvest fundraiser: Harvest Dinner featuring Chef David Kirkland. Tickets $125

2-5 pm August 24th Soulard Art and Floral Auction at Soulard Station, fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group.

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

8 am August 25th Southwest Garden Neighborhood Tree Care Blitz. Register

8:30 am August 31st Eastern Missouri Sierra Club event in Hillsboro, Jefferson County: Kress Farm Garden Preserve Talk, Tour, Hike. Register

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market, Gray Summit, Franklin County. Online Ordering Begins August 9th for Pick Up event day.

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.

9 am to 1 pm September 7th Fox Park Neighborhood Garden Tour. Register

10 am September 7th Body N Soul Urban Farm event, Old North Neighborhood: Pot Party- Paint Your Own Containers. Register

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

10 am to 3 pm 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.

2 pm August 19th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Plants, Pollen and Allergies. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am August 24th Heartland Conservancy event at Pontoon Beach, IL: Arlington Wetlands Work Day. Register

8 am to 4 pm Saturdays. September 7th & 14th. Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Farmers Market. Order your native plants online by Monday prior to Saturday pick up at Market or purchase from what they bring.

8 am September 7th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

5 pm September 7th Heartlands Conservancy Fundraiser at Rock Springs Park, O’Fallon, IL: Farm to Fork. Tickets $100.

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

2 pm 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 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

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

10 an to 2 pm September 20thUrban Harvest STL and Perennial Class at Grandel Square Center for Urban Agriculture demonstration farm: Building a Garden Bed-Mini Greenhouse Edition. Free. Register

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

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

3:30-6:30 pm September 26th Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at World Bird Sanctuary, Valley Park, St. Louis County. Entry Fee $12 per car.

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.

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

4 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 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: Texas Green Eyes, Berlandiera texana

Volunteers Wanted. St. Louis City Forestry Dept needs help watering trees

Volunteers Wanted. Brightside St. Louis August Blitz events in Fountain Park and Penrose Neighborhoods

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

A good resource for starting and maintaining a Seed Library (Seed Library Network) Some Seed Libraries in Missouri

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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

Pollinator gardens – going beyond the plant lists to create a robust habitat. (Wild Ones)

Having Japanese Beetle problems? A good article on To Trap or Not to Trap- The Ever Controversial Japanese Beetle Trap (Seed St. Louis and Giving Grove)

Refrigerating produce in jars looks great, but it can breed bacteria. Fresh produce has various needs, including air circulation, that a sealed jar won’t provide. Gift article (Washington Post)

The Great Salt Lake isn’t just drying out. It’s warming the planet. The lake released 4.1M tons of carbon dioxide & other greenhouse gases in 2020… more evidence that dried-out lakes are a significant source of emissions. Gift article (Washington Post)

Hilarious. ‘Mystic Veg’ psychic who uses asparagus to predict the future reveals who she thinks will win the US Presidential Election in November (Daily Mail, UK)

Raising & Harvesting Okra (University of Illinois Extension)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

Go see the Sunflowers Fields at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

Going on now. Order Online: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. Carlton Daffodils- 30 bulbs $17. Midwest Mix Daffodils 30 for $17, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada. Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulip- 30 bulbs $17. Pink Impression Tulips- 30 bulbs $17. 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.

6 pm Monday, 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.” More Info on event

10 am Tuesday, July 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

1 pm Tuesday, July 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Snakes of Missouri. Register

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

4 pm Wednesday, July 31st, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Dark Sky as a Natural Resource presented by Dr. Vayujeet Gokhale. Learn about the problem and solutions to light pollution. Register

5:30 pm Wednesday, July 31st, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Sunset Stroll with Master Guide. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 9 am Thursday, August 1st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

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

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

8 am Saturday, August 3rd, St. Louis Audubon Society event at Forest Park: Beginner Bird Walk. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, 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.

10 am Saturday, August 3rd, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour with Master Guide. $5. Register

For K-3rd Grade Kids. 10:30 am Saturday, August 3rd, St. Louis Public Library event at Carpenter Library: Creatures of the Night with Missouri State Parks.

10 am Sunday, August 4th Heartlands Conservancy event at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea, St. Clair County, Illinois: Bee Walk @ Exploration Garden.

6 pm August 6th St. Louis Public Library and Seed St. Louis class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Winter Gardening and Overwintering Crops.

2 Seats remaining. 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

9 am August 9th Online Ordering Begins for Pick Up at September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

9:30 am August 9th St. Louis County Public Library event at Sachs Branch: Bird Walk. Register

1 pm August 9th St. Louis City Public Library class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Best Gardening Practices

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

2 pm August 9th St. Louis City Public Library class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Canning and Preservation 101

9 am August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale: 4-packs for $3.50 each- Bok Choy, Broccoli (purple & green), Cabbage (red & green), Cauliflower, Collards, Edible Hosta, Lettuce (red & green), Misome (Tatsoi Hybrid)

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.

2 pm August 10th St. Louis City Public Library class at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading: Intro & Advanced Chicken Tending

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

2 pm August 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Zoom Class: Winter Gardening and Overwintering Crops. Register

9 am August 15th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center: Guided Nature Walk with Naturalist. Register

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

14 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

For Kids Ages 7-16, parents also welcome. 4 pm August 16th St. Louis Public Library and Tower Grove Park event at Tower Grove Park: Bird Nerds Birding Club. 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.

9 am to 4 pm August 18th Sachs Butterfly House event: Bee Jubilee. Fee required. Sachs Butterfly House provides Free Admission to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents only 9-11 am Tuesdays.

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

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. 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

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

2 pm August 19th St. Louis City Public Library class at Central Library: Missouri Botanical Garden Speaker Series- Plants, Pollen and Allergies. Register

2 pm 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 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

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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Mexican Sunflowers, Tithonia rotundifolia. These will grow to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide with many flowers that attract pollinators.

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Updated this week with Brightside Daffodil & Tulip Sale and more info on next weekend’s Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society

Missouri Conservation Department invites public in St. Louis region to collect seed this summer for native tree propagation

Monday, 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

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads/Views —

Watering on the Garden (Seed St. Louis)

Forest ReLeaf developing City Tree Farm on the lot adjacent to the Scott Joplin House, Midtown

Can You Compost Bread? The Great Debate, Solved! Yes, you can compost bread, BUT there are some general rules of thumb to follow for best results. (Bob Vila)

Spongy moth caterpillars are very hungry and very invasive and may be on their way to Missouri (KSDK)

From burn scar to wetland. After wildfires destroyed Lahaina (Maui County, Hawaii), the battle to restore an ancient ecosystem will shape the town’s future. Gifted article (Washington Post)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

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

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

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

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

7:30-10:30 am Friday, July 19th, Missouri Conservation Department and Wild Bird Sanctuary event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: Bird-Banding Demo. Also see Banding Together for Birds.

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

9 am-4 pm Saturday-Sunday, July 20th-21st, Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale at Jost Event Center, St. Louis County

10 am Saturday, 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

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

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

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

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

6 pm August 22nd Wild Ones Webinar: Combating the Biodiversity Crisis with Native Plants presented by Sarah Gray and Coralie Palmer from the Indiana Native Plant Society. 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

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

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

Sow Outdoors This Week: Basil, Beans, Cucumbers, Melons, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Tomatillo, Winter Squash
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Basil, Melons, Parsley, Peppers, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

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

Good Reads —

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

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

Gardening by Month: May Tips, Tasks, Problems from Missouri Botanical Garden

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

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

11:30 am to 4:30 pm thru March 31st, 2025 Missouri Botanical Garden multimedia exhibit at Sachs Museum- Kernels of Culture: Maize Around the World. Garden Admission is Free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am every Monday St. Louis Public Library Outdoor Storytime in Forest Park, Albrecht Nature Playscape.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, May 11th, St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm May 25th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

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

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

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

June 1st Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

4 pm June 5th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Documenting Multiple Types of Pollinators Through Photography. Register

10 am June 8th How to Trellis Tomatoes Class at Heru Farms, Florissant. Register

June 9th Missouri Botanical Garden sponsored Private Garden Tour. Tickets: $50 MoBot Member, $65 Nonmember

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 22nd Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

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

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

June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

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

August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

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

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

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

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

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

October 5th Seed Sty. Louis Garlic Sale

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

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Ozark Beauty Strawberries. These have produced for us from April to November in now Zone 7a and Zone 6b, previously Zone 6b and Zone 6a.

Start Indoors This Week: Peppers, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
Sow Outdoors This Week: Arugula, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Chard, Collards, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Onions
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Plant Sales, here’s a page for them.

April 15th Registration Deadline for Missouri Callery Pear (Bradford Pear) Buy Back Program. Help get ride of this invasive tree!

Brightside St. Louis Blitz Project Registration Open (neighborhood clean up and beautification). Free Blitz Blooms available this year for your public spaces project: gomphrena, dianthus, marigolds, celosia and vinca

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Good Reads —

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

As feds stand down, states choose between wetlands protections or rollbacks. Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill that would narrow state protections of small streams and major aquifers. (Missouri Independent)

How to Germinate Native Seeds (Prairire Moon Nursery)
Native Seed Propagation Methods (Shaw Nature Reserve)

How to Build a Pollinator Garden (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

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

10 am Wednesday Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Guided Walking Tour. Register

7 pm Thursday, April 4th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: These Are the Spiders in Your House. Register

9 am to 3 pm Friday & Satruday, April 5th & 6th, Missouri Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

8 am Saturday, April 6th, St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 25 and June 1. Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

9 am Saturday, April 6th, Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale: Bok Choy‘Chun Mei, Broccoli Burgundy, Broccoli Castle Dome, Cabbage Caraflex, Cabbage Omero, Cauliflower Minuteman, Collards Georgia Southern, Kale Lacinato (Dino Kale), Kohlrabi Azur Star, Lettuce Heat Tolerant Variety Pack, Lettuce Salanova Red Butter, Misome Choho (Tatsoi Hybrid). 4-packs for $3.50 each

Volunteers Wanted. 9-11 am and 1-3 pm Saturday, April 6th, Forest ReLeaf April Open Nursery Potting Day at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights. Register

9 Ticket remaining. 10 am Saturday, April 6th, Missouri Conservation Dept In-Person Orienteering and GPS Event at Tower Grove Park: Geocaching – Amphibian Adventure. Register

11 am to 3 pm Saturday, April 6th, St. Louis Public Library In-Person event: Earth Day at Central Library

2 pm Saturday, April 6th, Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Tower Grove Park: Nature Crocheters – Frogs. Register

3 pm Saturday, April 6th, Missouri Prairie Foundation In Person event: Brews and Blooms at Civil Life Brewing. Free native plant giveaway (one per household, while supplies last), container garden demonstration, and gardening advice from Missouri native plant and landscaping experts.

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 32 Seats remaining. Register.

4 pm April 10th Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Master Class: Landscaping with Vines. Free to MPF dues-paying members and Grow Native! professional members. $15 for non-members. Register

April 9-11 Missouri Native Grasslands Summit, Jefferson City. $75. Register

19 Tickets remaining. 2 pm April 9th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Wildflower Walk. Register

Noon April 10th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Where can I Hunt for Mushrooms. Register

4 pm April 10th Grow Native! and Missouri Prairie Foundation Zoom Master Class: Landscaping with Vines. Free to MPF dues-paying members and Grow Native! pro members. $15 for non-members. Register

6 pm April 11th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Virtual Learning to Hunt: Mushrooms. Register

14 Seats available. 6 pm April 11th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Class at Forest Park Hatchery: Fishing Lesson 1- Equipment, Casting & Proper Fish Handling (required for Lessons 2 & 3). Register

9 am April 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Virtual Learning to Hunt- Wild Edibles with Bo Brown. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 13th Riverlands Native Plant Festival, West Alton MO

4 Tickets available. 2 pm April 13th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area, St. Louis County: Build Habitats for Nature. Register

7 pm April 13th Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm April 16th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden Neighhborhood: Citizen Science Month. Register

9 Tickets remaining. 7 pm April 16th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: Powder Valley at Dusk Hike. Register

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

17 Seats remaining. 6 pm April 10th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery. Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Requires Fishing Lesson 1. Register

11 am to 1 pm April 18-20 Southwestern Illinois College @ Belleville Horticulture Club Plant Sale and Greenhouse

4 Tickets remaining. 9 am April 19th Missouri Stream Team Volunteer Level 1 Water Quality Monitoring Part 2 Field Certification at Castlewood State Park, Ballwin. Requires Part 1 virtual learning completion. Register

2 pm April 19th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Earth Week- Effects of Artificial Light on Wildlife. Register

7 am to 3 pm April 20th Veterans Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring State Park, west of Lebanon, about a 2 1/2 hour drive from St. Louis

12 Tickets remaining. 9 am April 20th Missouri Stream Team Volunteer Level 1 Water Quality Monitoring Part 2 Field Certification at Babler State Parl, Wildwoon. Requires Part 1 virtual learning completion. Register

15 Tickets remaining. 1 pm April 22nd Missouri Conservation Department Earth Day Hike & Nature Immersion at Emmenegger Nature Park, Kirkwood. Register

For Kids Age 7 and under. 10:30 am April 25th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy: Rain, Rain Go Away. 17 Seats available. Register

20 Seats remaining. 6 pm April 25thy Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Class at Forest Park Fish Hatchery. Fishing Lesson 2- How to Tie a Knot & Bait a Hook. Requires Fishing Lesson 1. Register

9 am tyo 4 pm April 26th St. Louis Community College @ Meramec Horticulture Students Plant Sale and Parking Lot K

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

April 27th-28th U-City in Bloom Plant Sale. 9 am to 1 pm Saturday & 11 am to 1 pm Sunday. Heman Park Community Center, University City

8 am April 27th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at St. Vincent Greenway. Register

Noon April 27th Heartland Conservancy Spring Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL

1-4 pm April 27th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Waste Prevention (Intercepting Compost Materials from the Landfill), St. Louis Place. Register

Noon to 2 pm April 28th St. Charles County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale at University of Missouri Extension St. Charles County. Vegetables, perennials, natives, herbs and annuals.

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm May 4th West County Daylily Club Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am to 2 pm May 5th Feed the People Garden Project Plant Sale in Bevo Neighborhood.: Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers

10:30 am May 4th EcoTones Concert at Nee Kee Nee Stream, Tower Grove Park

9 am May 11th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale

9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

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

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

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

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

June 1st Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am June 8th How to Trellis Tomatoes Class at Heru Farms, Florissant. Register

June 9th Missouri Botanical Garden sponsored Private Garden Tour. Tickets: $50 MoBot Member, $65 Nonmember

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 22nd Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

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

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

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

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

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

9 am to 5 pm September 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.

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: Tulips. Pictured are seven year old Brightside Reds from Brightside St. Louis annual sale.

Start Indoors This Week: Basil, Peppers, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
Sow Outdoors This Week: Arugula, Beets, Bok Choy, Carrots, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Spinach, Turnips
Transplant This Week: Perennials + Bok Choy, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Onions
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Added this week: April 6 Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale, May 5 Feed the People Community Garden Plant Sale in Bevo

April 15th Registration Deadline for Missouri Callery Pear (Bradford Pear) Buy Back Program. Help get ride of this invasive tree!

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Good Reads —

Extreme Weather. These lakes are usually still frozen over. See how they look now. From Minnesota to Maine, ice is already gone from many lakes, earlier than ever witnessed (Free Read- Washington Post)

Birdwatchers flock to Nebraska for the ancient migration of Sandhill Cranes (Iowa Public Radio)

How to get a more eco-friendly yard, one season at a time. Small changes can turn your garden into a haven for flora and fauna. (Free Read- Washington Post)

How to Germinate Native Seeds (Prairire Moon Nursery)
Native Seed Propagation Methods (Shaw Nature Reserve)

How to Build a Pollinator Garden (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

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

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

Gardening and Nature Events —

6:30 pm Monday, March 25th, Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: The Swine Republic- Struggles with the Truth About Agriculture & Water Quality with Chris Jones, author. Register

10 am Tuesday, March 26th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

2 pm Tuesday, March 26th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom class: Creature Feature- Eastern Bluebird. Register

4 pm Wednesday, March 27th, Grow Native Webinar: Gardens of Excellence- Urban Native Landscape Design. Register

Hey, Parents of Elementary School Kids. 4-6 pm Wednesday, March 27th, Missouri Conservation Department In-Person Event: National Archery in the Schools Program Open House At Shenandoah School, Tower Grove East. Register

6 pm Thursday, March 28th, Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health & Why It Matters. $12. Register

3:30 pm Friday, March 29th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Specialty Gardens – Edible Garden, Tea Garden, Dyeing Garden, Rain Garden, Pollinator Garden. Register. Also see Native Plant Dyes (U.S. Forest Service)

10 am Saturday, March 30th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

1:30 pm Saturday, March 30th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Rock Gardens. Register. Also see Rock Garden (Grow Native)

9 am to 3 pm April 5th & 6th Missouri Arbor Day Tree Giveaway at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

8 am April 6th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Forest Park. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 25 and June 1. Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

9 am April 6th Seed St. Louis Spring Seedling Sale: Bok Choy‘Chun Mei, Broccoli Burgundy, Broccoli Castle Dome, Cabbage Caraflex, Cabbage Omero, Cauliflower Minuteman, Collards Georgia Southern, Kale Lacinato (Dino Kale), Kohlrabi Azur Star, Lettuce Heat Tolerant Variety Pack, Lettuce Salanova Red Butter, Misome Choho (Tatsoi Hybrid). 4-packs for $3.50 each

Volunteers Wanted. 9-11 am and 1-3 pm April 6th Forest ReLeaf April Open Nursery Potting Day at CommuniTree Gardens Nursery, Maryland Heights. Register

11 am to 3 pm April 6th St. Louis Public Library In-Person event: Earth Day at Cerntral Library

3 pm April 6th Missouri Prairie Foundation In Person event: Brews and Blooms at Civil Life Brewing. Free native plant giveaway (one per household, while supplies last), container garden demonstration, and gardening advice from Missouri native plant and landscaping experts.

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

April 9-11 Missouri Native Grasslands Summit, Jefferson City. $75. Register

10 am to 2 pm April 13th Riverlands Native Plant Festival, West Alton MO

7 pm April 13th Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

April 18-20 Southwestern Illinois College @ Belleville Horticulture Club Plant Sale

9 am tyo 4 pm April 26th St. Louis Community College @ Meramec Horticulture Students Plant Sale.

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

April 27th-28th U-City in Bloom Plant Sale. 9 am to 1 pm Saturday & 11 am to 1 pm Sunday. Heman Park Community Center, University City

8 am April 27th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at St. Vincent Greenway. Register

Noon April 27th Heartland Conservancy Spring Native Plant Sale at Clinton Hills Conservation Park, Swansea IL

1-4 pm April 27th New Roots Urban Farm Workshop: Waste Prevention (Intercepting Compost Materials from the Landfill), St. Louis Place. Register

Noon to 2 pm April 28th St. Charles County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale at University of Missouri Extension St. Charles County. Vegetables, perennials, natives, herbs and annuals.

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm May 4th West County Daylily Club Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am t0 2 pm May 5th Feed the People Garden Project Plant Sale in Bevo Neighborhood.: Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers

9 am May 11th Seed St. Louis Summer Seedling Sale

9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

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

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

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

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

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

June 1st Green Living Festival at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am June 8th How to Trellis Tomatoes Class at Heru Farms, Florissant. Register

June 9th Missouri Botanical Garden sponsored Private Garden Tour. Tickets: $50 MoBot Member, $65 Nonmember

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 22nd Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

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

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

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

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

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