The Gateway Gardener April 2019

Gateway Gardener

APRIL 2019

THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

019 2 the ntry a P r e! fo r d k i o Ins Loo llinat Po uide G

Stop and Smell The Garden

Flowers that Make Scents

Technicolor Trees of Spring 2019 Eco-Product Guide Earth Day Festivals and Garden Expos FREE Courtesy of:

Enjoy a Weed-Free Lawn!

Weed Free Zone

• Convenient Hose-end, Spot Treatment Spray Bottle and Concentrate.

• Effective from 40 to 90 degrees F. • Reseed in 14 days.

• Great for creeping charlie (ground ivy), violets, clover and more!

Look for these and other ferti-lome products at your favorite independent nurseries and garden centers.

For plant care and information on over 8,000 plants, visit www.fertilome.com

Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

APRIL 2019

Volume 15, Number 3

Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists Diane Brueckman Rosey Acres Joyce Driemeyer Master Gardener Abby Lapides Sugar Creek Gardens Steffie Littlefield Edg-Clif Winery Jennifer Schamber Greenscape Gardens Scott Woodbury Shaw Nature Reserve

Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published 9 times/year by Double Dig Communications, Inc. to promote enjoyable, successful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equipment rental, repair and sales establishments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices.

Please send letters-to-the-editor, questions, event announcements, editorial suggestions and contributions, photos, advertising inquiries and materials, and any other correspondence to: The Gateway Gardener Magazine® PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Phone: (314) 968-3740

info@gatewaygardener.com www.gatewaygardener.com The Gateway Gardener® is printed on recycled newsprint using environmentally friendly soy-based ink, and is a member of the PurePower® renewable energy resources network.

A

From the Editor

s I write this in midMarch, spring seems to have gotten lost on its way to our region, but I’m hopeful that it will have gotten its bearings and arrived by the time April debuts. In the meantime, I’ve been enjoying the vanillalike scent emanating from my garden’s witch hazels on mild days. The tiny party-streamer blossoms that come out on mild days (typically in January and February, but this year hanging on well into March) from the native vernal witch hazel would be easily overlooked from a short distance, but the fragrance announces itself over a much greater territory to both human visitors and pollinators. It’s testament to how important scent can be to the enjoyment of the garden. For many years, scent took a back seat in the work of hybridizers concentrating instead on bigger flowers, more varied color, stronger stems and other “improved” growth characteristics. This seems to be changing, with more and more new introductions touting flowers that make scents! Abby Lapides introduces us to some of her favorites on page 4.

A good place to discover these new introductions—besides your local independent garden

tells us more about the Garden Classroom on page 6.

center—is in a test or display garden. We have several test and display gardens for the All America Selections (AAS) plant trialing organization in the St. Louis area, including at Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis County Parks and the St. Louis Community College Meramec campus. The Meramec campus garden is in the southwest corner of the campus, and is part of an area that has recently been designated the Garden Classroom at Meramec. As many readers may know, Meramec offers a Horticulture Studies program that is one of the best such programs in the region, and has graduated many of the people who make up the professional roster of horticulturists in our region today. Jennifer Schamber

On the Cover...

Petunia ‘Tumbelina Anna’, pictured here, isn’t just another pretty face.

She has a sweet fragrance as well!

For more on flowers “that make scents”, see Abby Lapides’ article on page 4. (photo by Ann Lapides) IN THIS ISSUE 4 Stop and Smell the...

Finally, April is Earth Day month, and we celebrate the spirit of Earth Day in a couple of ways.

First, in our annual Eco-Products Guide on page 20, area garden centers offer some suggestions for making your gardening efforts more sustainable. Then, on page 24, we preview several of the region’s Earth Day and spring gardening festivals and expos.

The Gateway Gardener is proud to be a media sponsor of many of these events, and I invite you to visit our booth at most of them to pick up a back issue you may have missed, various brochures to guide you in gardening with native plants, attracting pollinators, and other sustainable gardening practices. You can also read about the Wild Ones, a group that promotes and practices those very ideals, on page 26, of course as always, read Scott Woodbury’s latest native plant tips on page 10, and learn about how you can participate in the upcoming City Nature Challenge on page 12.

Happy Earth Day, and…

Good Gardening!

8 The Garden Classroom at Meramec 10 Technicolor Trees of Spring 12 City Nature Challenge 14 April in the Garden 16 Spring in the Rose Garden 18 JT’s Fresh Ideas 18 Anise Hyssop 20 Eco-Products for 2019 22 St. Louis Hort History 24 Earth Day Festivals and More 26 Wild Ones 28 Dig This 30 Upcoming Events

Stop and Smell the...

By Abby Lapides

Lavender ‘Big Time Blue’

W

e try to mirror it with perfume, air fresheners and candles sugary sweet to spicy. ‘Georgia Peach Pie’ dazzles in the front of because there is nothing better than the intoxicating the garden or along a pathway where its spicy clove-like scent can smell of flowers. Adding a sensual dimension to the garden, scented flowers delight visitors and attract pollinators. If you’ve ever been to the perfume counter of a department store you know that fragrance is a very personal choice. When choosing scented plants let your nose take the lead.

Many pinks, or Dianthus, have strong fragrance ranging from

ons, i t a c 3 lo are h t i w nces OU! Y w o N cha ar from ot f n e r O’Fallon MO we’

Dianthus ‘Georgia Peach Pie’

324 Firma Road The Farm • Home Grown

Olivette

9520 Olive Blvd.

Seasonal • Opening April 2019

Oakville

6703 Telegraph Rd. Garden Center and Gift Shop

Come visit us for ALL your gardening needs!

PlanthavenFarms.com 4

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

Dogwoods, Redbuds, Weeping Cherries, Shade Trees, Evergreens, Azaleas & Rhododendrons

Proven Winners

Over 10,000 Perennials Carolina allspice ‘Aphrodite’ best be enjoyed. The large single peach flowers with a raspberry center circle bloom all summer on long stems. Excellent cut, these flowers’ pretty blossoms and intoxicating perfume can be enjoyed indoors for weeks. When forming a bouquet, pick blossoms in the early morning or late afternoon—scented flowers’ fragrant oils evaporate in the sun.

Lavender’s iconic scent may be the most desired by gardeners. For many years lavender was difficult to grow in St. Louis, but not anymore! Recently, new lavenders have been introduced that not only grow, but thrive in our St. Louis weather and soil. One of best new ones, ‘Big Time Blue’ features deep purple flowers that bloom in showy waves all summer. Don’t just enjoy these flowers outside, cut and dry these delightful stems to savor their fragrance year round. After cutting, bunch flower stems together with two ties, one just under the flowers and one near the base, and hang upside down in a dark, dry spot for about 10 days.

When naming my favorite scented shrubs Carolina allspice ‘Aphrodite’ tops the list. Whenever I see it in bloom I have to bury my face in the fragrant flowers. These large magnolia-like burgundy cont’d on next page Abby Lapides is owner and a speaker at Sugar Creek Gardens Nursery. She has degrees from the University of Missouri, and is a member of the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis.

You can reach her at (314) 965-3070.

10 acres of shade, specimen and ornamental trees Area’s largest selection of Monrovia premium plants Rare and hard-to-find collector plants Every type of Espoma organic product you need for your ornamental plants and vegetable gardens.

All trees and shrubs installed by us are 100% GUARANTEED for 2 years!

And be sure to tune in Saturdays 11am-1pm

#TreeGuy

2651 Barrett Station Rd. 314-966-0028 Ballwin, MO 63021 Sherwoods-Forest.com Proud supporter and sponsor of the St. Louis County Parks Pollinator Pantry Program APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

Follow Us! 5

cont’d from previous page

Petunias were once the annual to plant for scented flowers. Breeding for exciting colors and flower patterns forced their strong vanilla scent to take a back seat. But, with ‘Tumbelina Anna’ we get the best of both worlds. A double petunia, meaning it has extra petals for a heavily ruffled look, ‘Tumbelina Anna’ displays masses of pink flowers with white picotee edges and a deliciously sweet scent. This trailing petunia is best placed near a window or a door where the heady scent can easily be admired.

Your yard doesn’t need to have full sun to enjoy scented blooms.

Many hostas feature heavily scented flowers. These August lilies bloom white flowers later in the season than their lavender flowering cousins. Their large white tubular flowers offer us a sweet scent reminiscent of honeysuckle. One of the best, ‘Fragrant Bouquet,’ was Hosta of the Year in 1998 and is still the standard for fragrant hostas.

Petunia ‘Tumbelina Anna’ blossoms give off an aroma that will remind you of strawberries.

To get the most intense experience of a flower’s fragrance, lean close and breathe lightly onto the flower before inhaling. The heat and rush of air releases the fragrant oils. The leaves and bark of Carolina allspice are also fragrant; bring a few stems inside to give a fresh scent in the winter months.

Another shade lover, ‘Heaven Scent’ Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium, provides intensely fragrant grape-scented, lavender-blue flowers.

In spring the interesting leaves emerge with a red hue then arrange themselves into a ladder shape. This tough plant forms into dense mounds that look great along garden pathways where its fruity fragrance can best be enjoyed.

Fragrances seem to lose their scent after a few moments, but the flower hasn’t run out of perfume – rather, your olfactory system is saturated and you are numbed by the smell. Give your nose a little scent rest and it will be back in smelling action.

Photos by Ann Lapides except as noted.

W H AT’S B E T T E R T H A N

F R E S H? V I S I T YO U R O N E - S TO P - S H O P F O R HERB GARDENING

G A R D E N H E I G H T S N U R S E RY 1605 Big Bend Blvd.

Richmond Heights, MO 63117 314-645-7333 www.gardenheights.com

6

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

find out how trees reduce stress - www.TREESWORK.org APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardenerâ„¢

7

The Garden Classroom at Meramec

by Jennifer Schamber

A rendering of the South Entrance to St. Louis Community College-Meramec’s proposed new Garden Classroom. Illustration by Bob Watel. e’re seeing headlines like these quite often now, “Green University of Exeter) that workspaces full of plant life can make Office Environments Linked With Higher Cognitive workers more productive and creative. The Spheres houses an Function Scores”, “Why Plants In The Office Make Us astonishing 40,000 plants comprised of 400 species surrounded by More Productive”, and “Plants and Human Health Benefits”. waterfalls, “treehouses” and a four-story living wall. At Apple’s The concept of Amazon’s Spheres in Seattle was inspired by new headquarters in Cupertino, California, 80% of the property is these ideas and is supported by some academic research (e.g., extensively landscaped and includes 9,000 trees. The biggest and boldest companies in the world are making it very clear that plants are a very important part of the equation for their future success Let Us Help Your Garden Thrive and the health and happiness of their workers.

W

Bring ad in for

25% off

1 regularly priced item restrictions apply Expires 4-30-2019

Here at home, St. Louis Community College (STLCC) Meramec has a campus that is surrounded by a forest of 1200 trees and acres of gardens that enhance the student and community experience.

Over the years, the STLCC Horticulture Program has transformed these gardens, one at a time, to mirror industry advancements and reflect student and consumer interests. Recently, the Horticulture Program committed to bringing these outdoor assets to the forefront

Green Your Space

Grow Your Knowledge

Plants • Trees • Pottery • Gifts • Decor & More

54 Clarkson Road, Ellisville, MO 63011 636-227-0095 Open 7 Days

timberwindsnursery.com 8

60 N. GORE AVENUE WEBSTER GROVES (314) 962-3311 ROLLINGRIDGENURSERY.COM

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

of the community by allowing the developing a master Horticulture Program to demonstrate plan that connects the its leadership in fragmented spaces environmental and makes them more stewardship.

From clearly educational, accessible and a human wellness engaging.

The standpoint, the plan will increase outdoor master plan initiative engagement for was born under the direction of Jerry not just students, but also staff, who Pence, Horticulture Program Coordinator, will benefit from with help of increased walkability program faculty, of the campus, which can significantly staff, advisors and The completed proposed garden in color, as it would fit into the Meramec campus. contribute to better college community. Drawing by Carrie Coyne.

The project initiative health and overall named “The Garden Classroom” features pavilion classrooms, happiness. stormwater management gardens, green infrastructure The initiative is organized into multiple phases, and with further demonstrations, increased canopy cover, tree walks, urban farm support from the community, the project will break ground in amenities, native perennial collections, perennial trials, annual 2019. There are extensive naming opportunities, from benches displays, pollinator and wildlife habitats, along with walking to pavilions. Please consider making a pledge or outright gift to paths, comfortable seating, wayfinding and interpretive displays. support this initiative. The Garden Classroom will be the premier The 11-acre Garden Classroom will “demonstrate cutting edge training ground for students of horticulture, the green industry, as technologies, innovative techniques and sustainable management well as a tremendous asset to the college and the entire St. Louis practices in a hands-on learning environment.” community. The ideas that grow from this project will spread as the Developing this project will reveal many layers of benefits next generation of students take on the world. including economic, environmental and human wellness. From an economic standpoint, the college will offer a more welcoming environment for students of all majors and interests. The space will increase the aesthetic appeal of the school, possibly leading to increased enrollment for the school as a whole. As outdoor education, play-space learning, and 21st century learning have been a focus for many top-tier elementary and secondary schools in the area, it seems to be the norm for this next generation of college students to expect to have the ability to connect to outdoor spaces at school. Outdoor aesthetics ranks very high for college applicants. This project will offer opportunities to cross over into other programs throughout the college including human services, health science, art & communications, engineering/trade, and business. An increase in canopy cover will also benefit the college and community economically by leading to reduced energy costs, reduced stormwater output, and a reduction in the urban heat island effect.

200-400% More Tomatoes

Environmentally, the Garden Classroom improvements will serve as models to the community for future planning and development,

Stronger! Faster! Super Yields!

• Mighty ‘Mato super tomatoes are created by grafting resulting in 2-4 times more fruit

Jennifer Schamber is the General Manager of Greenscape Gardens, and plays leaderships roles in the Western Nursery & Landscape Association, GrowNative! and the Landscape & Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. She has earned Green Profit Magazine’s Young Retailer Award, and Greenscape Gardens was named the National Winner of the 2015 “Revolutionary 100” Garden Centers by Today’s Garden Center Magazine.

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

• An increased ability to uptake water and nutrients results in improvements in taste • Naturally strong, no chemicals needed, perfect for ORGANIC gardening

Over 2,000 varieties of plants

1011 N. Woodlawn • Kirkwood, MO www.SugarCreekGardens.com 314-965-3070 MORE PARKING Now Available!

VOTED #1 BEST GARDEN CENTER! 9

Naturally Natives The Technicolor Trees of Spring text and photos by Scott Woodbury except as noted

O

on warm sunny days. As much ne of life’s simple joys as I love looking at maples happens when winter finally yields to spring. in spring, I don’t recommend planting them because their Monochrome woodlands of grey dense roots are impossible twigs, brown bark and tan leaf to garden in and they spread litter suddenly come to life, like prolifically from seed. Nor do I when the first Technicolor movie, The Wizard of Oz, brightened recommend planting ash trees because emerald ash borer is TV screens back in 1939. Every killing them off lock, stock and year silver maple, sugar maple barrel. I strongly recommend and ash turn treetops purple, planting plums, short-lived as chartreuse and mauve. They are they are, because they flower the first noticeable colors painted Hop Hornbeam nicely in spring and produce across the forest-44 corridor in spring. Less obvious, but no fruits that may be turned into tasty jam. Big tree plum, Prunus less beautiful, are the purple or yellow catkins of hazelnut, black alder, river birch, hop hornbeam mexicana produces the biggest wild plums, which are a whopping and musclewood, all remarkable woody plants in the birch family one and a half-inch in diameter. Pawpaw is also top on the list of that work well in small gardens and attract myriad early pollinators early spring-flowering edibles because the blossoms are heavenly, particularly to pollinating flies. My colleague Jen Sieradzki turns the fruits into the most amazing ice-cream. These are the first colorful brush strokes of spring, a warm-up of what is still to come.

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery 9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109 www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003

Meet us at one of these locations in the St. Louis area.

Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we will bring it to the location.

Kirkwood Farmer’s Market, 150 East Argonne Dr. Kirkwood MO 63122. Give us your order in advance, or pick from the selection at the market. April 6, 13, 20, & 27, and May 4; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-orders can be picked up 4-6 p.m. Fridays.

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110.

Event: “Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis.” www.missouribotanicalgarden.org April 6 & 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Town Square Pavilion, Illinois (US 51 North) & Main (Hwy 13), Carbondale IL. Sierra Club Native Plant Sale. www.sierraclub.org/illinois/shawnee or Carla: 815-263-8173. May 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shaw Nature Reserve, I-44 & Hwy 100, Gray Summit, MO 63039.

Event: “Shaw Wildflower Market,” www.shawnature.org. May 11, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Member’s preview sale Friday, May 10, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Opening day at our Brazito (Jefferson City) location is March 16.

10

If you are lucky to live near a rocky glade in the Ozarks, you are lucky enough, because there is so much living diversity that exist on or near glades. At the glade edge, you might notice eastern red cedar draped in yellow flowers (technically cones) or the puffs of yellow pollen that follow. Mixed between cedars may be serviceberry and redbud flowers and the silvery-light green leaves of gum bumelia.

Each mingles and contrasts with the dark-green cedar needles like the magical William Morris Woodpecker Tapestry. Keep in mind that cedar trees are not welcome on natural glades because they take over, and redbuds can be somewhat weedy in gardens. Be sure to pull unwanted seedlings early or their roots quickly grow to China. When redbud is ending its Red Buckeye bloom, flowering The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants

The Gateway Gardener™

Robert Weaver

Fringetree

Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for more than 20 years. He is also an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s GrowNative! program.

Buckeyes are found in the wild along

rivers and creeks. Both red and Ohio buckeye, with their intoxicating color-full flowers attract humans, tiger swallowtails and hummingbirds alike on Easter. They are great candidates for use in or around rain gardens because they tolerate flooding and drought.

Red buckeye is the most satisfying flowering tree of all because it will bloom within two to three years from seed. In ten it will This finch thinks the redbud blossoms grow to a stately rounded look good enough to eat...or maybe tree eight feet tall and just to beautify a nest! wide. By contrast, Ohio Looking for buckeye takes its sweet time, Something Unique for growing ten feet in twenty years your Garden?? and exhibits various growth forms.

On a recent trip to northwest Come Stroll Thru Our Arkansas, gardener friend Susan Gardens and Discover Pang showed me colonies of the Pleasure of Plants!

Ohio buckeye that grew as multistemmed shrubs. We walked Natives, Not-so-common Trees, Shrubs & Perennials past them twice before noticing them because I thought they were supposed to be trees. These trees… er…shrubs, obviously have not 1674 N. Bluff Rd read the botany books. With a little Collinsville, IL 62234 (618)344-8841 luck and hard work, they will be APRIL 2019

making an appearance in the Whitmire Wildfower Garden in the coming years. Life is full of surprises and discoveries to be made, especially if you go outside, get lost and see for yourself. Reminds me of a favorite quote “It is not down on any map, true places never are”

by Herman Melville. Happy botanizing ya’ll!

PLANT AN OAK, make a bird happy.

Robert Weaver

Hazelnut

dogwood begins. Its four-corner blossoms hover in the woods by the thousand, like chimney smoke lingering on a calm cold morning. Soon after, fringetree blooms with fragrant frilly cream-colored clusters of drooping petals. All of the plants mentioned in this paragraph grow in Ozark glades and so tolerate extreme dryrocky garden soils but are also easy to grow in most gardens.

How does that work? It’s all about feeding baby birds.

You’ve heard us say, “If you only plant one tree, let it be an oak.” That’s because native oaks host tons of protein rich caterpillars and insects needed by breeding songbirds. An average of 9,000 caterpillars are required to ensure survival of one nest!

Think you don’t have room for an oak? Think again. One of the best species for hosting caterpillars is dwarf chinkapin.

Maturing at a height of just 20’, it will fit in most yards.

Forrest Keeling Nursery knows exactly what birds (and other wildlife species) want! We offer over 250 species of native trees and shrubs, including 21 oaks, which support songbirds’ and help reverse their decline…one tree at a time!

88 Forrest Keeling Lane | Elsberry, MO 63343 | 800-FKN-2401 | forrestkeeling.com

11

Who’s Eligible?

It’s called City Nature Challenge St. Louis, but the event welcomes participation from a wide swath of the metro area, including Missouri counties of St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles, Jefferson, Lincoln, Franklin, Warren, Washington and St. Francois, and Illinois counties of Calhoun, Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Clinton, McCoupin and Bond.

City Nature Challenge St. Louis April 26-29, 2019 We already know the St. Louis Cardinals are #1 in baseball, but when it comes to the international nature scene, St. Louis is no slouch either! Last year, in its first year participating, the St. Louis metro area came in 12th overall among 68 participating cities worldwide in the City Nature Challenge. We can do even better in 2019 if you join this year’s Challenge!

What is it?

The City Nature Challenge is a citizen science program, pitting citizens of cities worldwide against one another to determine which city’s residents can observe and document the most unique species of wild plants, birds, and animals—including insects--during the 4-day Challenge period. Photos are recorded with phones or pads using the free iNaturalist app.

Get Started!

Why Participate?

Many people think you have to go to the country to experience nature, but it’s all around us if we look! Anyone can find a bit of nature, whether it’s a house sparrow or a dandelion, or a toad, and if you keep looking you may find something more unusual. Not only do you learn more about what’s around you, but the data collected helps scientists, land managers and the community study and protect the nature we have.

You can find all the information you need about the City Nature Challenge St. Louis, including information on how to use the iNaturalist app by visiting the website at https://tinyurl.com/yahdt68g.

So get outside and start observing the nature that’s all around us!

custom container design

2832 Barrett Station Road, Ballwin MO www.greenscapegardens.com 12

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardenerâ„¢

13

April in the Garden

by Steffie Littlefield

A

and lilies by installing supports for these plants as they begin to grow. It’s so much easier to put a peony ring on a plant when it is only 3-6 inches tall than when the rain is bending over your long awaited flowers.

pril is such a magical time of year, when the first new life emerges in the garden and produces big flashes of color from bulbs, peonies and charming woodland wildflowers. It is also a very confusing time as the weather plays tricks on us here in St Louis, with a roller coaster of temperatures and even late snows or frost to stunt our plants’ growth.

What can we do to survive April?

Fourth, as the biggest show in spring, azaleas, comes to an end, be ready to generously fertilize them with a good acid fertilizer, so they can set even more buds for next year. While you have the acid fertilizer out make sure to take care of your hollies, boxwoods, dogwoods and blue hydrangeas.

First, take your time in removing mulch and leaf litter in your beds, the extra blanket insulates the ground To turn your pink hydrangeas blue, now’s the time to from the rises and falls in temperatures add acidifying fertilizer or aluminum sulfate.

Fifth, it is time to get those roses off to that can cause tender shoots to emerge a good start with fertilizer and insect too early and be stunted by frosts. and disease treatments. Especially if you want to use an organic Second, prepare beds that are to be planted in May with summer product line, prevention is the key to control rather than trying to annuals and vegetables. Clear out the early spring weeds, add fix a disaster of leaf spot or rose slugs. Keep the area cleared of nourishing compost and organic phosphorus if needed to encourage debris and keep your plants healthy from the beginning. vigorous root growth and larger yields.

Sixth, as spring bulbs fade, snip out the spent flower stems and Third, make way for the big May and summer show of iris, peonies

ZICK’S GREAT OUTDOORS CELEBRATING OUR 39TH YEAR New Shipments Arriving Daily!

We carry quality nursery stock, and we supply intelligence on how to use it in your great outdoors!

You Owe Yourself a Visit to One of the Midwest’s Most Unique Nursery Experiences!

Open 7 days a week @ 16498 Clayton Rd. (Corner of Clayton/Strecker in Wildwood)

“Like” Us on

“Like” Us on

636-458-1445 St. Louis’ supplier of pine straw!

14

allow the foliage to “ripen” and turn yellow before cleaning up the leaves. This is a perfect time to mark where these bulbs are so you do not damage them when planting new perennials or annuals in your beds. Also give these big performers a quick dose of bulb food designed to nurture the bulbs development and get them ready to rest until next spring.

Seventh, as plants begin to show life you can divide your summer and fall blooming perennials so they are ready for the growing season. This is best done when plants are small. Give them some extra compost in the holes and keep them moist even if the weather is cool, as winds can be dangerously drying to tender shoots.

Eighth, start to add to your vegetable garden with cold tolerant crops like onions, peas, cabbage and broccoli, spinach and arugula.

Hold off on the heat lovers like tomatoes, the cold soil will only stunt their growth. If you are anxious to get those crops growing use row covers, cloches or mulches for protection.

April is such a fun time of year to garden with new plants sprouting every day, enjoy and prepare to succeed!

Steffie Littlefield is a St Louis area horticulturist and garden designer. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association, Missouri Botanical Garden Members Board and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis. She is part-owner of Edg-Clif Winery, Potosi, MO. www.Edg-Clif. com.

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

Here’s to the tickle of grass between your toes, games that can be played with a drink in hand, and a fireworks display of amazingly colorful blooms.

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

ⓒ 2019 Endless Summer/Bailey Nurseries, Inc.

experience life in full bloom BloomStruck® from Endless Summer®. Check out all our varieties of reblooming hydrangeas at endlesssummerblooms.com.

TM

15

Think Spring in the Rose Garden

by Diane Brueckman

A

pril is here and we need to get into our rose gardens. Every year is different. This past winter was very wet and cold even though the cold came late. I didn’t start to cover my roses until late December and finished in early January. A good layer of mulch should have protected the roses through the really cold weather in January. Don’t be alarmed if the canes above the mulch appear to be dead. It’s what’s below the mulch that matters.

If you haven’t pruned your climbers do it now. Remember, the healthy main canes (canes coming from the bud union or crown of the plant) should be left alone. Any damaged or diseased main canes should be cut to the base of the plant. Prune the lateral canes (those coming off the main canes) leaving 4 or 5 bud eyes. Retie them to their support, putting some tension on the main canes to encourage

Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her at (618) 785-3011 or droseyacres@ egyptian.net.

Premium Black Garden Only Soil and Mulch You Call...

We Deliver!

$124 plus tax

w/ FREE Delivery!

Here is the easiest, most hassle free way to get a full cubic yard of Black Garden Soil or Mulch delivered to your home. And the BEST NEWS is: You Don’t Need to be Home for Delivery.

Stays Dry!

No Mess!

No Lugging!

the lateral canes to leaf out and flower.

Prune out the dead wood and crossing canes on ‘Knock Out’ Roses and cut back about 1/3 of their height. The same goes for other shrub roses. Of course, all once-blooming roses should not be pruned until after they bloom.

April 15th is the average date of the last hard frost in our area. Of course, anything can happen, we could get frost after that date or the weather could be very warm and the roses start to grow while still covered. I like to uncover the hardiest roses first and leave the Hybrid teas and other tender roses for last. If a frost is predicted just push some of the mulch you removed back around the bud unions.

Spray the roses with a fungicide after they are uncovered before you see any disease. If you removed the dead leaves from the plants and the beds last fall, chances are good you will not see much disease.

Spring, however, is when you will see powdery mildew and botrytis blight, both of these fungal diseases respond to a spray of neem oil.

These fungal diseases are prevalent during cool wet weather and are not a problem once summer heats up the garden. When I see either of these diseases my first tactic is to cut off the infected parts of the plant, usually the top buds and leaves. Place the clippings in a bag and destroy, then spray. Botrytis is a gray/brown mold on buds and flowers, which prevents the blooms from opening. Powdery mildew is a white mold on tender new growth and flower buds.

Aphids are another pest that surfaces in spring. Unfortunately, the bad bugs get here before their enemies. Be patient, manually remove if they are thick on the new growth. I know it is hard to see something sucking the life out of the new buds that you have waited all winter to see. Letting the natural enemies of the pests do the work for you is easier, cheaper and very rewarding in the end. Again, neem oil is my treatment of choice if needed.

There is still time to move a rose that is in need of a new home in your yard. Prepare your rose’s new home before you dig the rose. Try to get as much of the root as possible. It helps if the soil is moist, not muddy, so the root ball stays intact. Gently move the plant to its new home. If it was planted at the right depth before, keep it at the same depth, back fill the hole with soil and water well. Check frequently to be sure the rose is not drying out. Once the roots have had a YOUR TREES DESERVE THE BEST CARE chance to settle in the bush will be fine with routine watering.

Win a BigYellowBag®

of Black Garden Soil or Mulch.

Enter code at BigYellowBag.com Tim Gamma – B.S. Horticulture Board Certified Master Arborist Tom Gamma ISA Certified Arborist

EVXGG49

636-978-2120 BigYellowBag.com 16

P R U N I N G ■ F E R T I L I Z AT I O N ■ P L A N T I N G S P R AY I N G ■ T R I M M I N G ■ R E M O VA L

314-725-6159 Insured

gammatree.com

Roses that are bare-root can be planted until the end of April.

Mail order roses should have arrived by March or April. If they come any later pot them and grow them out for a least six weeks. Keep the pots in the shade at first and slowly move them into the sun. Keep them well watered. Potted roses can be planted any time.

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

Feed your passion.

Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food

Outdoor & Indoor.

Your partner in a beautiful world. It’s fortified with 11 essential nutrients to feed plants continuously and consistently for up to six full months When perfection matters, why trust anything else? © 2019, The Scotts Company, LLC. All rights reserved

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

17

The Cornucopia Corner

Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table

Anise Hyssop: 2019 Herb of the Year

By Jenny Fagan

T

he 2019 Herb of the Year is one of my favorites.

It is extremely easy to grow, tolerant of a variety of soils, my garden is proof of it, and reseeds itself, which is ok with me. This herb is a favorite of pollinators. In my garden it sprouts up by my pond, and the bees love it.

Mine gets up to 2-ft. tall, and is located in part shade, but also does not mind a sunny locale.

I use it to make a delicious sun tea. It has a mild hint of licorice when you bite into it. And you know herbalists—they make you rub things to get the true smell, and taste plants to get the full effect. I don’t like licorice, but I love this herb in sun tea. Anise hyssop is also beautiful in summer herb

Jt’s Fresh Ideas

Roasted Beet salad with Fennel and anise hyssop

Ingredients

Large handful of whole, small, anise hyssop leaves and flowers (larger leaves should be torn) Kosher salt and pepper Virgin sunflower oil, to taste 1 lb heirloom beets, such as red, white, gold, or chioggia varieties 2 oz aged goat cheese or blue cheese sliced 1 bulb of fennel, shaved thin on a mandoline, avoiding the core 1 small red onion ¼ tsp sugar A few sprigs of fresh thyme ¼ apple cider vinegar

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Season the beets lightly with some oil, salt and pepper. Wrap the beets and thyme sprigs in aluminum foil then place on a cookie sheet with a roasting rack and roast for 45 minutes, or until the beets are tender when pierced with a paring knife. When the beets are cooked, remove them and cool.

When the beets are cool, peel them, then slice 1/4 in thick. To make perfect circles like in the pictures, cut out circles of beet using the rim of a glass or a ring mold.

To shave the fennel, remove the top green stalk and then cut the bulb in half vertically.

Using a mandoline, shave the fennel about 1/16 of an inch thick, avoiding the core.

Remove the root and top from the red onion, then peel and cut in half vertically.

Julienne the red onion as thin as possible. (you will only need 1/4 of the entire onion

18

and flower bouquets, and everyone will think you are another Martha Stewart when you sprinkle it your summer salads. The plant reminds me of a tall blue clover. In our herb gardens it is planted up with monarda, Echinacea, chamomile, and lavender— like-minded herbs that do not like a lot of water and don’t need much attention, my kind of gardening. It is a great backdrop plant and at least in my garden not an invasive herb. My Anise hyssop grows with little attention and a fair amount of neglect! It can be grown from seed very easily in the spring or purchased from one of the local plant sales or nurseries. I love that it reseeds itself and pops up throughout the garden. It is easy to pull out if you don’t like this behavior, but after reading The Humane Gardener, I have affirmation (finally) that my gardening philosophy of “why pull that plant out if It likes that spot” is ok! I recommend trying this beauty out, and let me know what you think!

Happy Gardening, Jenny Fagan is a member of the Webster Groves Herb Society, and an avid gardener.

for this recipe, save the rest of the onion for another purpose.) Season the thinly sliced onion lightly with the salt, pepper, sugar, vinegar, and 1 tsp of the sunflower oil. Allow the onion to sit for 4-5 minutes to macerate and remove the “raw” flavor, then combine with the sliced fennel and reserve. (you can do this a day ahead of time if you like.)

To serve the salad, arrange a few beet slices on each of four salad plates or arrange them all on a platter family style.

Season the sliced beets with salt and pepper, and sunflower oil to taste. Top the beets with the shaved fennel and onion, garnish with the cheese, then scatter the anise hyssop leaves and flowers over the whole thing.

Recipe and photo courtesy of: www.Yummly.com

Please share some of your favorite recipes with us.

You can email us @ info@gatewaygardener.com

to Ti m e e h t is CH r. our M A R P l a n Y a ke o ve M ! pe Help dsca Lan We Can

• • • • • •

15 Impressive Greenhouses Over10,000 Hanging Baskets!

100s of Varieties of Perennials Over100,000 Annuals Over 70 Varieties of Roses Great Selection of Beautiful Planted Containers

$5.00 OFF any purchase of $50 or More

on ALL Nursery Products

In honor of the 2019 Herb of the Year, Anise Hyssop!

Enjoy...

Jt

(Including Trees & Shrubs!)

One coupon per customer per visit. Hurry offer expires April 30, 2019!

FARM AND GREENHOUSES

352 Jungermann Rd. St. Peters, MO 63376 (636)441-5048 M-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

UPCOMING HERB SALES Don’t miss the Annual Herb Days sale at Missouri Botanical Garden by the St. Louis Herb Society. Choose from a wide selection of over 9,000 herb plants, plus the Society’s popular cookbook, periodicals and herb-related products. The sale is open to the public May 3rd from 9am-5pm and May 4th from 9am-noon with a special member’s only sale May 2nd from 5-8pm. Warning: This plant sale often sells out early, so Sundays hours may be shortened if plants are sold out.

Another popular annual herb sale is hosted by the Webster Groves Herb Society on April 27th from 8:30am-2pm at the First Congregational Church in Webster Groves. You’ll find close to 10,000 culinary, ornamental and medicinal herbs for sale, plus heirloom vegetables and native plants. Herb demos, free recipes and gardening books for sale are also

a part of this event. Proceeds benefit the Society’s herb gardens at Hawken House, Mudd’s Grove and Faust Park, and also provides scholarships to local horticulture students as well as donations to schools and organizations. For further information visit their website at www.wgherbs.org.

Of course April offers dozens of plants sales throughout the region, most of which feature herbs among the wide selection of plants. Be sure to check out the Upcoming Events calendar in the back of this issue, and online at GatewayGardener.com.

The 9th Annual St. Louis Region-Wide

Sustainable Backyard Tour!

Sunday, June 23, 2019 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CALL FoR SuSTAinABLe YARdS! if your St. Louis City or County backyard is organic and low-impact, and has something interesting and educational to share, consider being a BACkYARd HoST. Showcasing green living practices such as low-impact lawn care, composting, using recycled materials, organic gardening, chicken and beekeeping, native plants, water conservation, renewable energy and more, the Tour is an annual FREE, self-guided tour.

The deadline to register to share your backyard as a Tour Host is May 1, 2019.

ViSiT

www.sustainablebackyard.org FoR deTAiLS!

or get involved: l Volunteer l Suggest a Yard l Be a Sponsor

Davidsan’s Japanese Maples SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE SALE!!

STL area readers of The Gateway Gardener!

A BIG SPRING SALE JUST FOR YOU! BRING THIS AD to Davidsan’s (pick-ups only, not shipped)

April 1 through April 30, 2019 919 S Farmingdale Rd, New Berlin, IL - Just 5 miles west of Springfield, IL, 90 minutes from St Louis on I-55 www.davidsansjapanesemaples.com 217-303-2641 info@davidsansjapanesemaples.com OPEN Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

Total Tree Purchase... $100-$299 take $20 OFF

$300-$499 take $75 OFF

$500-$999 take $150 OFF

$1000+ take $350 OFF INSTANT DRAMA FOR YOUR YARD! 6800+ trees: Japanese maples, ginkgo trees, rare conifers, oaks, beech, extra hardy acers and more. Current availability list link is on the website.

There are a few trees excluded from this sale.

19

2019 Eco-Garden Product Guide You can make your green thumb even greener by practicing sustainable gardening in your landscape! Here are some suggestions from area retailers for products that can help us all establish our own greener gardening habits.

Happy Earth Day! Hillermann Nursery & Florist 2601 E. 5th Street, Washington, MO 63090 636-239-6729 Hillermann.com

Rolling Ridge Nursery 60 North Gore Ave. Webster Groves, MO 63119 (314) 962-3311 RollingRidgeNursery.com Flexrake Classic Triangle Weeding Hoe. Classic features quality craftsmanship and details like beautiful oak handles and durable carbon steel blades. This Classic series tough grade triangle weeding hoe is made with high quality heat treated steel and features a beautiful 54” oak handle.

Heat treated for strength. Oak hand turned handles. Nostalgic craftsmanship. Hand finished.

Frisella’s Nursery 550 Hwy F Defiance, MO 63341 (636) 798-2555 FrisellaNursery.com

20

Greenscape Gardens 2832 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester, MO 63021 (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com

Frisella Nursery’s Natural Plant Food. Frisella’s Natural Plant Food was developed specifically for the St. Louis region, making it the best mixture for our hardiness zone and soils. Now is a great time to give your trees, shrubs, and organic veggie gardens a good spring feeding with our all-natural plant food. powder coated in matte black. The screens are very easy to assemble.

Stop by the shop to see them on display.

Planthaven Farms 6703 Telegraph Rd. Oakville, MO (636) 272-5005 O’Fallon and Olivette, too!

PlanthavenFarms.com

Orcon Beneficial Insects. For organic pest control in your garden, populate it with live beneficial insects that will happily make meals of the pesky pests.

Lady bugs are professional aphid destroyers, and red wiggler worms aerate your soil naturally!

Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S. Big Bend Blvd.

Richmond Heights, MO (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com

Veradek Privacy Screen. These beautiful laser-cut steel screens come in three available styles and are the ideal solution for instant privacy on a terrace or outdoor living space. All three self-standing options measure 45” x 76” and are

Dr. Earth Pump & Grow. Easyto-use organic fertilizer. Just two pumps is all you need to give your houseplants that boost they need to bounce back from the winter months. Pet and family friendly.

100% organic ingredients and naturally derived products, and full of the nutrients your house plants need to thrive.

Sugar Creek Gardens

1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com Supermoss Beneficial Bug Hotels. Made from all natural materials, these hotels provide a place in your garden for beneficial bees and other insects to lay eggs, seek shelter and plan their attack on the damaging insects in your garden. Home for pollinators, too!

A fun and unique addition to your back yard.

2019 Native of the Year, Purple

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

Poppy Mallow. A beloved native perennial, Purple Poppy Mallow, sprawls with low growing cut-leaf foliage that is sprinkled with extra bright purple cup-shaped flowers for months on end. It works beautifully in formal gardens as well as naturalized areas or spreading over walls. Its huge tap root, makes it extremely drought tolerant and an ideal choice for those hot spots that bake in all day sun.

Sherwood’s Forest Nursery 2651 Barrett Station Rd. Ballwin, MO 63021 (314) 966-0028 Sherwoods-Forest.com

Modinex Privacy Screens.

Transform your space with style and ease. Made from wood-poly composite, ideal for exterior and interior use. Ideal for adding privacy and decor accents to your homes exterior and interior living environment. Quality construction and DIY installation.No sealing, painting or maintenance required and can be finished or painted to enhance your decor. Resistant to water, mold, mildew, and termites.

O.K. Hatchery 109-115 Argonne Kirkwood, MO (314) 822-0083

rain like liquid sprays. Lasts up to 45 days per application.

Kirkwood Gardens 2701 Barrett Station Rd. St. Louis, MO 63021 (314) 966-4840 KirkwoodGardens.com

Just Natural Organic Growing Mixes. Just Natural’s locally sourced, organic line has any mix you need for all of your growing needs! Whether starting seeds, improving existing soil, or building a new bed, their organic soil blends will pair perfectly with our full line of organic vegetable and flower seeds for growing your own!

Effinger Garden Center 720 South 11th St. Belleville, IL 62220 (618) EffingerGarden.com

Espoma Organic Liquid Plant Food and Pest Control. Feed your orchids, violets, cacti and other houseplants organically and keep them free of pests and diseases.

Plus add beautiful shine to green leaves with organic leaf gloss. Safe for pets, children and everyone!

Zicks Great Outdoors 16498 Clayton Rd. Wildwood, MO (636) 458-1445 ZicksGreatOutdoors.com

Rose Tone, Tree Tone, Garden Tone, and more; Each Espoma plant food is a complex blend of long lasting natural ingredients.

The natural organics break down slowly for steady, continuous feeding. They contain Bio-tone® microbes, add organic matter to soil, and are naturally low in salts, so they won’t burn.

The Gateway Gardener™

Timberwinds Nursery 54 Clarkson Road Ellisville, MO 63011 636-227-0095 Timberwindsnursery.com

Stay Away Pests by Earthkind Stay Away® is the world’s first natural pest prevention line made solely of essential oils and plant fiber. It’s a radically different approach that puts health and happiness at the forefront with safe and effective natural formulas and practical knowledge. Stay Away® is guaranteed to eliminate pest infestations in the spaces where you live, work, and play, without toxic chemicals.

Weyou invite to visit our

Espoma Organic Fertilizers.

Rabbit Scram and Deer Scram.

All natural, organic granular repellent creates a perimeter barrier around your garden so deer and rabbits don’t come in. Doesn’t discolor leaves or wash off with

APRIL 2019

The Potted Plant Garden Center & Gifts 1257 St. Peters Cottleville Rd. St. Peters, MO 63376 (636) 447-9000 PottedPlant.net

Pine Straw Mulch. A fantastic eco-friendly product that can add beauty to your gardens. It is a natural mulch that enhances the nutrient composition of your landscaping beds and works in hillside gardens (does not wash away). Pine straw can assist in retaining moisture levels in your soil without creating a hard crustlike layer typically occurring with hardwood mulches. A bale of pine straw covers more area than hardwood mulch, making it a great cost-effective addition to your beds year-round.

Gateway Gardener booth at Earth Day and other events this spring.

Stop by and say hi or ask your questions on how to practice more sustainable gardening!

See page 24 for some of the events we’ll be participating in.

21

St. Louis Hort History Edited by Robert Weaver

Sherwood’s Forest: Tree Guy Celebrates 40 1 If any thoroughfare in our region commercial and residential can claim the title “Nursery clients. Soon, customers were Row” it may very well be Barrett asking him to manage their Station Road in near west St. exterior landscapes as well, and Louis County. Four retail nursery/ David’s reputation and loyal garden centers call a mile-orlandscaping and plant care base so stretch of the road home, and clientele were growing. another commercial wholesale Upon earning his Business nursery lies just off the road near Marketing degree in 1976, the Museum of Transportation.

David continued working at One of those is Sherwood’s Forest Exotica while exploring career Nursery & Garden Center, which options. That search ended celebrated its 40th anniversary A view of the nursery circa 1985. when Option #1 emerged right last year. We caught up a year later under his nose. Joe Teston to share their role in St. Louis’ Hort History. decided to retire in 1978, closing the Frontenac store. David bought Mostly lying in the floodplain of Grand Glaize Creek, the Barrett Station area was likely a fertile crescent of sorts, attracting sod growers and tree nurseries as early tenants. As those properties were sold and subdivided through the years, the large tracts of undeveloped land and suitability for growing plants undoubtedly made it an attractive location for nursery businesses.

Joe Teston was one such businessman, who used the property at 2651 Barrett Station Road to maintain an inventory of trees and shrubs for his Teston Tree Service in the 1960s and early 70s, and later where he greenhoused inventory for his Exotica Ltd. tropical plant store in Plaza Frontenac.

the Barrett Station Road business, keeping the Exotica Ltd. name but incorporating as Sherwood’s Forest Nursery, which in 1985 became the business’ public name as well.

Over the years, David Sherwood has earned a reputation among clients and throughout the region as the “Tree Guy”, featuring an inventory of 1000s of trees, and specializing in rare, unusual and large-caliper trees.

Among those unusual specimens are the topiaries that line Barrett Station Rd. and are well known to passersby and visitors.

S h e r w o o d ’s topiary tradition began in the The “Tree Guy” David Sherwood tends to his early 90s, says friends, from a 1999.St. Louis Post-Dispatch David, when article. they began providing fanciful figures for the Junior League flower shows at the convention center. Large horses, dragons and giraffes were common among the evergreen menageries, some crafted from wire, moss and ivy, others sculpted from conifers and other evergreens. Today’s collection at the roadside includes a butterfly, a man catching butterflies, several dolphins and the Sherwood logo among others whimsical characters.

One of Joe’s employees at Exotica during that time was a young college student working his way through business school named David Sherwood. David’s job at Exotica was a continuation of many “green” jobs he had cultivated in youth, beginning with a full slate of lawn-mowing jobs during summer months, and continuing with experience designing and planting hanging baskets for a neighborhood swim club he managed.

His talent with those baskets was noticed by club members, who often asked to buy them for their homes. A parttime job at a local florist creating arrangements and delivering led to the job at Exotica and additional side work creating and managing interiorscapes for But Sherwood’s is much more than trees. The 10-acre full-service The nursery in the Exotica Ltd. days.

22

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

answering listeners’ plant care questions while remodeling contractor John Shea—“Mr. FixIt”—fields home repair questions.

David in the “Forest” as it appears today. nursery and garden center also offers shrubs and over 10,000 perennials—they are the largest Monrovia dealer in the region-tropical plants, of course, and a full garden center and gift shop offering a wide range of gardening supplies and accessories.

In addition, Sherwood offers complete landscape design and installation, and installs tropical atrium gardens with plants up to 15 ft. tall!

David is also very active in other green industry endeavors. Sherwood’s Forest is a long-time supporter and frequent host for the St. Louis County Parks Children’s Garden Club, which meets at various locations on the 1st Saturday of One of the current topiaries greeting each month, and David is visitors to Sherwood’s Forest. the CEO (Chief Example for Others) for the Parks Department’s Pollinator Pantry Program.

Having celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, David and Sherwood’s Forest Nursery and Garden Center represent another important page in Barrett Station Road’s green history, as well as that of St. Louis horticulture.

You can learn more about Sherwood’s Forest Nursery and Garden In addition to the walk-in customers who have known and trusted Center at www.Sherwoods-Forest.com and follow them on David and his Sherwood crew for years, David has introduced Facebook and Instagram. himself to a new audience in recent years as the gardening voice photos courtesy David Sherwood. on KTRS 550 AM radio’s “Inside Out Show,” featuring David

DESTINATION GARDEN CENTER AND CAFE IN DEFIANCE, MISSOURI : 636.798.2555 :: FRISELLANURSERY.COM

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

23

Join Us for Earth Day Events and Other Spring Festivals This spring, The Gateway Gardener will be joining in Earth Day celebrations and other events all across the region.

Come visit us at many of these events for free plant food samples, great information on sustainable gardening practices and that special back issue of The Gateway Gardener you may have misplaced! Here’s a quick look at some Earth Day and other spring celebrations on the upcoming calendar:

Claire Cohen/Missouri Botanical Garden

Meet Me Outdoors in St. Louis April 6th-7th 10-am-4pm Missouri Botanical Garden April 13th-14th—Shaw Nature Reserve April 27th-28th—Butterfly House

Instead of celebrating on the same weekend at all three venues, this year each gets its own weekend! Activities include Canopy Climb, yoga, fishing, self-guided geocaches and scavenger hunts, exhibitors representing conservation organizations, parks and trails, micro-habit building of nesting boxes, insect hotels and native bee homes, native plant sales, and lots of food and music.

(The Gateway Gardener will be at the Missouri Botanical Garden site on Sunday only—please stop by our booth and say hi, pick up a back issue or help yourself to a free plant food sample!)

Riverbend Earth Day Festival April 13th Noon-6pm The Old Bakery Beer Co. Alton, IL The Riverbend Earth Day Festival, has a temporary new home, but still features great local entertainment, food and drinks, an

24

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

artisan’s market, environmental education and more! It is free, open to the public and fun for all ages. Events will include nature activities and information from a variety of environmental nonprofits, plus 50 non-profit and artisan vendors. The Old Bakery Beer Company is at 400 Landmarks Blvd. in Alton. In cooperation with the Nature Institute and Sierra Club.The Gateway Gardener is a media sponsor.

Shaw Spring Wildflower Market May 10th and 11th 2-7pm Friday, 9am-2pm Saturday Shaw Nature Reserve Gray Summit, MO

Bill Ruppert

Kirkwood Earth Day April 20th 10am-3pm Downtown Kirkwood’s Farmer’s Market Greenway Kirkwood, MO

by those great folks. The Gateway Gardener is once again proud to be a media sponsor of one of the largest Earth Day celebrations in the country! Learn about sustainable products, services and practices, meet area non-profits that share Earth Day values, and enjoy local music and performances, hands-on educational activities, great food and more. Visit Earthday-365.org/festival for more information.

Celebrate “The Amazing Birds” in Downtown Kirkwood. The 10th annual Earth Day at the Market will be held in the Market Greenway.

Learn from experts in Herbs, Organic Gardening, BeeKeeping, Composting, Tree Care, Native Plants and Wildflowers, and much more. Visit with vendors there just for Earth Day as well as the Market regulars—especially our friends from Missouri Wildflower Visit us for plenty of information about growing with natives while Nursery! taking advantage of the largest selection of native plants available in the St. Louis area! Shaw Nature Reserve and several nurseries St. Louis Earth Day Festival throughout the area offer hundreds of varieties of Missouri native April 27th-28th annual and perennial wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs. Favorites 11am-5pm both days like milkweed for monarchs and beautiful coneflowers, plus many Forest Park, plants essential for attracting pollinators and wildlife to your St. Louis, MO garden. Plus live music, food and crafts.

We will be sharing a booth with our friends at St. Louis Audubon Society, so one day you’ll find us there, the other will be hosted

St. Louis Greenhouse Plant Society

Annual Greenhouse Plant Sale May 4th • 9am-3pm

May 5th • 10am-2pm

Located at: South Technical High School, 12721 West Watson in Sunset Hills

All plants grown locally by the St. Louis Greenhouse Plant Society master gardener level volunteers.

Annuals • Perennials • Herbs • Vegetables • Water and Bog Tropicals • Natives • Pollinator Attractors • Succulents Proceeds benefit St. Louis city and county parks, youth and community gardens and Special School District students.

Please bring your own boxes or bags. Thanks!

GreenhousePlantSociety.com APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

(314) 965-1367 25

of invasive plant species such as bush honeysuckle, water conservation on the urban landscape, and other stewardship practices that promote healthy habitat for birds, native wildlife and people

www.stlouisaudubon.org

St Louis Gardeners Go Wild

by Marsha Gebhardt

Grow Native! helps people garden with native plants for many purposes: beauty, biodiversity and fun. Choosing native plants in developed landscapes allows you to coex‐ ist with nature, rather than compete with it. The benefits of native landscaping are fueling a gardening movement that says “no” to pesticides and fertilizers and “yes” to biodiversity and creating more sustainable landscapes.

Novice and professional gardeners are turning to native landscaping to manage storm water, reduce maintenance, and promote plant and wildlife conservation. The Grow Native! website includes easy landscape plans and “Top Ten” lists.

for birds, and absorbing excess www.mobot.org rainfall to prevent runoff into rivers and streams, thus helping to provide clean water.

Shaw Nature Reserve has many roles—as a nature reserve, a place to walk and hike, and a good spot for relaxing and for studying nature. It has become a premier educational, research and habitat restoration and reconstruction site. Native Plant School covers a variety of different topics, but all revolve around helping you naturescape.

Native Plant Gardening Circle of Support

Our site

Wild Ones continues to lead the natural landscaping movement as we explore, teach, and change the prac‐ tice of gardening in our communities and around the country to using native plants. Native plants, including trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, are better adapted to local conditions, and require less mainte‐ nance. Imagine a yard that requires little or no fertil‐ izer, water and pesticides! Wild Ones promotes envi‐ ronmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity. We offer educational as well as hands‐o opportunities to increase your knowledge of natie plants.

on

Ongoing

Re sou rces

Re

sea rch

s& I dea

Sh pla stu an Sc he Shaw Nature Reserve has many ro

www.mobot.org

place to walk and hike, and a good studying nature. It has become a p Shaw Nature Reserve has many roles—as a nature reserve, a and habitat restoration and recon

place to walk and hike, and a good spot for relaxing and for www.mobot.org School covers a variety of differen studying nature. It has become a premier educational, resea helping you naturescape.

Wild Ones continues to lead the natural landscaping and habitat restoration and reconstruction site. Native Plan movement as we explore, teach, and change the prac‐ www.mobot.org School covers a variety of different topics, but all revolve aro tice of gardening in our communities and around the helping you naturescape.

country to using native plants. Native plants, including

trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, are better YOU HAVE THE QUESTIONS adapted to local conditions, and require less mainte‐ New to naturescaping?

Want to see more birds and butterflies? nance. Imagine a yard that requires little or no fertil‐ Wild Ones continues to lead the natural landscaping izer, water and pesticides! Wild Ones promotes envi‐ Concerned movement as we explore, teach, and change the prac‐ about the loss of bees for pollination? Worried about ronmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve extinction oftice of gardening in our communities and around the the Monarch butterfly? Notbiodiversity. We offer educational as well as hands‐o sure where to start?

Wild Ones continues to lead the natural landscaping

country to using native plants. Native plants, including movement as we explore, teach, and change the prac‐ opportunities to increase your knowledge of natie trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, are better plants. tice of gardening in our communities and around the WE HAVE THE ANSWERS adapted to local conditions, and require less mainte‐ country to using native plants. Native plants, including These four organizations are geared to homeowners and can help nance. Imagine a yard that requires little or no fertil‐ trees, shrubs, wildflowers and grasses, are better izer, water and pesticides! Wild Ones promotes envi‐ you create that wildlife paradise.

Please visit the websites on the adapted to local conditions, and require less mainte‐ reverse sideronmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve for information on activities and upcoming events. nance. Imagine a yard that requires little or no fertil‐ biodiversity. We offer educational as well as hands‐o izer, water and pesticides! Wild Ones promotes envi‐ opportunities to increase your knowledge of natie ronmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve plants. biodiversity. We offer educational as well as hands‐o

Look for this rack card at Wild One booths and events this spring. The reverse side of the card describes outreach efforts of the various organizations in the Circle of Support.

opportunities to increase your knowledge of natie plants.

of native plants available in the metro St. Louis area!

Saturday, May 11 | 9 a.m.–2 p.m.

Member preview Friday, May 10 | 2–7 p.m.

Browse hundreds of varieties of native annuals, perennials, ferns, trees, shrubs, and vines. Market vendors will be selling local beer, wine, snacks, body products, furniture, art, and much more.

FREE for members and their children $5 nonmembers $3 students and seniors 65+ For more information, visit shawnature.org/wildflowermarket

307 Pinetum Loop Rd. | Gray Summit, MO 63039 shawnature.org | (314) 577-9555

26

valuation &E

&

Native! website includes easy landscape plans and “Top Ten” lists.

to add native plants to their landscapes. St. Louis gardeners of all ages are realizing the importance of providing host and nectar plants for native The St. Louis County Library pollinators, food and shelter branches have been choosing to provide native landscaping topics through their adult education programing. Some that they have been requesting from Wild Ones St. Louis’ speakers’ bureau have been “Birdscaping: Native Plant Landscaping for Birds”, “Wild for Monarchs”, and “Formal Choose from the widest selection Front Yard Landscaping with

Spring Wildflower Market

You and Your Garden

n atio

W

ild Ones St. Louis Chapter is proud to be a major player in the Circle of Support, provided to the increasing number of area home gardeners who are eager

native plants in developed landscapes allows you to coex‐ ist with nature, rather than compete with it. The benefits

Grow Native! helps people garden with native plants of native landscaping are fueling a gardening movement for many purposes: beauty, biodiversity and fun. Choosing that says “no” to pesticides and fertilizers and “yes” to biodiversity and creating more sustainable landscapes. native plants in developed landscapes allows you to coex‐ Grow Native! helps people garden with native plants Novice and professional gardeners are turning to native ist with nature, rather than compete with it. The benefits for many purposes: beauty, biodiversity and fun. Choosing landscaping to manage storm water, reduce maintenance, of native landscaping are fueling a gardening movement native plants in developed landscapes allows you to coex‐ and promote plant and wildlife conservation. The Grow that says “no” to pesticides and fertilizers and “yes” to ist with nature, rather than compete with it. The benefits Native! website includes easy landscape plans and “Top biodiversity and creating more sustainable landscapes. of native landscaping are fueling a gardening movement Ten” lists.

Novice and professional gardeners are turning to native that says “no” to pesticides and fertilizers and “yes” to landscaping to manage storm water, reduce maintenance, biodiversity and creating more sustainable landscapes. and promote plant and wildlife conservation. The Grow Novice and professional gardeners are turning to native Native! website includes easy landscape plans and “Top landscaping to manage storm water, reduce maintenance, Ten” lists. and promote plant and wildlife conservation. The Grow

Educ

Wild Ones members and volunteers take a break from greeting visitors at a stop on the 2017 Native Plant Garden Tour.

This increased interest is seen in attendance at the many native plant educational events in the St. Louis region. For example, Wild Ones’ monthly events in January and February hosted about 90 and 125 people, respectively.

Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter also plays an integral role in major well-attended annual events like the Partners for Native Landscaping Workshop (March 29 and 30) and the Native Plant Garden Tour (June 15).

Ad vic

gre Our Bring Conservation Home and site assistance to small, privat will Our Bring Conservation Home Program provides on‐ greater St. Louis area for the r hea site assistance to small, private landowners in the and animal habitat on their gr of in greater St. Louis area for the restoration of native pl will offer advice in landscapin wat and animal habitat on their grounds. The BCH Progr healthy and sustainable native stew will offer advice in landscaping with environmentally of invasive plant species such www.stlouisaudubon.org bird healthy and sustainable native plant species, remov water conservation on the urb t r o C p o of invasive plant species such as bush honeysuckle, n stewardship practices that pro p s u u S www.stlouisaudubon.org lta water conservation on the urban landscape, and oth birds, native wildlife and peop & ti e stewardship practices that promote healthy habitat Grow Native! helps people garden with native plants www.stlouisaudubon.org birds, native wildlife and people for many purposes: beauty, biodiversity and fun. Choosing

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

Native Plants”.

Another indicator of the increased interest in native plants and landscaping is the fact that some of the local plant retailers have been making large increases in their native plant offerings in order to meet demand.

about creating their own wildlife habitat. Members frequently share native plants from their gardens. Most monthly gatherings are open to the public.

Visit the Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter website at stlwildones.org for a calendar of events, informational blogs, grant application information, a link to become a member and more. We invite you to join us in “Healing the Earth one yard at a time.”

Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter developed the Circle of Support rack card in 2018. This highlights four major non-profit players in the native plant gardening community and the role each plays in Marsha Gebhardt is president of the St. Louis Wild Ones Chapter. this expanding field: GrowNative!, Shaw Nature Reserve, St. Louis Audubon’s Bring Conservation Home, and Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter. The piece is used by all four organizations at classes and events to connect gardeners with key resources.

Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter is one of the largest and most active of 54 Wild Ones chapters across the United States, starting with 7 members in 1998 to almost 200 today. The growth of Wild Ones, both locally and nationally, reflects the increasing awareness by the public of the importance of native plant gardening.

The chapter’s yearly native plant sale at Shaw Nature Reserve on the Friday and Saturday before Mother’s Day is the major fundraiser for the year. These funds are used to offer grants to schools and non-profit organizations to install native plant gardens. To date, approximately 50 gardens, all with educational components, have been installed. The requests have increased significantly in the past year or two.

The chapter holds most of its monthly gatherings at members’ homes, public or private spaces where everyone can view native plant gardens, ask questions, exchange ideas and get inspired

Experts trust the #1 brand in organic gardening Laura LeBoutillier grew up working in her parents’ garden center. Since then, she and her husband Aaron have published hundreds of inspirational and educational gardening videos online for over 2.4 million loyal fans. Laura loves her garden and uses only the best products to ensure it looks beautiful.

That’s why she trusts Espoma Organic® for her fertilizer and potting soil needs.

Espoma. A natural in the garden since 1929.

Visitor to a garden featured on the 2017 Native Plant Garden Tour.

APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

Visit www.espoma.com/video to see our inspirational videos.

27

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News Call For Sustainable Yards!

On Sunday, June 23, 2019, the Sustainable Backyard Tour returns for the 9th year showcasing green living practices, including low-impact lawn care, composting and using recycled materials, organic gardening, chicken and beekeeping, gardening with native plants, water conservation, renewable energy and much more. If your backyard is eco-friendly, and located in St. Louis City or St. Louis County, we invite you to consider being a host on this year’s tour and joining the more than 300 St. Louis families who have welcomed tour goers into their yards over the years.

Your yard doesn’t need to be perfect, elaborate or large. If it’s inviting and demonstrates some element of sustainability that the public can learn from, we’d like to hear from you! As an organic, life-celebrating event, the tour asks only that you commit to organic best-practices and refrain from using synthetic pesticides and additives.

Hosts agree to open their yards from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and interact with visitors—hundreds of visitors! More than 2000 people attend the tour overall—but with dozens of stops to choose from, no individual host is overwhelmed.

And while many host sites are single-family backyards, residents of apartment buildings, condos and other residential communities are encouraged to apply, too.

The deadline to register to host is May 1st, 2019.

Visit www.sustainablebackyard.org for details or email TerrySBYT@gmail.com.

In Memoriam

Maria Asta Sadauskas, owner of The Greenery nursery in Godfrey, Illinois, passed away on February 6, 2019.

Asta was born in Oldenberg, Germany, in a displaced person’s camp following WWII and traveled with her family at age 2 to the US, settling in Decatur, Illinois. She earned advanced degrees in art and horticultural studies at the University of Illinois—Champaign, and while there, studied under the esteemed woody plant guru, Michael Dirr. She was able to put her art and horticultural skills 28

to use as one of the original illustrators for Dirr’s “bible” of the green industry, the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, current editions of which still include her illustrations. Asta came to the Alton area and eventually started the Greenery with life partner Bob Thomas, who passed away in 2007. She and Bob were known for their home-made peat-free potting soil to which they attributed improved survivability of their plants. Through the years, Asta helped her many customers beautify their gardens and landscapes, many of which are hidden gems in the metro area that have appeared on many regional garden tours through the years. She also gave freely of her time and expertise to beautify many community spaces in Alton and Godfrey, in particular many projects sponsored by the Jennie D. Hayner Library Association.

Asta leaves behind 2 brothers, Linas Sadauskas, wife Dalia and their children, Victor, Alex, Nora, Lilija, and Marisa of Wheaton, Illinois, and Zigmas Sadauskas, wife Angie and their children Justin and Viki of Detroit, Michigan ,as well as many friends and loyal customers.

New Horticulture Specialist

University of Missouri Extension has welcomed Justin Keay as the new Horticulture Specialist for St. Louis and St. Charles County.

Justin has worked as an agricultural research associate with Lincoln University, an organic farm inspector, owner and operator of North County Produce Farm, Justin Keay a territory manager for Hummert Horticultural Supply, and served as a buyer for Whole Foods Market, helping local producers comply with insurance, food safety, and animal welfare standards.

Justin completed his M.S. in Integrated Agricultural Systems at Lincoln University. He has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Washington University, and he has additional academic training from St. Louis Community College. Justin grew up fishing, canoeing and camping across the Ozarks. His passion for protecting the environment and natural resources of Missouri led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. His love for being immersed in the natural world led him into his work of running an organic farm, where his observations of soil life, and plant and animal communities created new questions and opportunities for exploration. Justin The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

has extensive training in soil ecology and health, fertility management, and integrated pest management. Justin is a lifelong resident of north St. Louis County where he was a student in the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Justin bought a small farm in Florissant and sold produce at the Ferguson Farmers Market.

“Food production is a great passion of mine. I have devoted my adult life to developing an understanding of how local food producers can grow successful and sustainable businesses, contribute to the community, and exist in harmony with the natural world,” Mr. Keay said. “I look forward to serving the citizens of St. Louis City and County, as well as St. Charles County.”

Horticulture

Want to be outdoors? Love plants? Prepare for a career in the green industry through the area’s premier horticulture education program.

Get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art greenhouses and 10 acre Garden Classroom.

St. Louis Composting Grows in Kansas City

St. Louis Composting, Inc., the region’s largest producer of STA-certified compost, mulch products and soil blends, has acquired Lawn-Corps. Family owned and operated for 27 years, Lawn-Corps is the only green waste company in South Kansas City. The acquisition will leverage the equipment that St. Louis Composting already has and increase the volumes of finished mulches and composting.

Lawn-Corps is a 37-acre yard waste processing facility in Belton, Missouri that collects and processes yard waste into high-grade products such as compost and organically dyed mulches.

Let us Help You Build Fill Start and

Grow Your Veggie Garden!

Study soils, green infrastructure, sustainable plant managment, landscape design and more.

Our graduates work for landscape management companies, garden designers, growers botanical gardens, research greenhouses, garden centers, conservation areas, and municipal parks.

FPO Kirkwood Gardens Registration for the fall semester is now open.

Visit STLCC.edu/horticulture for more information.

The following professional organization is pleased to support the STLCC Meramec Horticulture Program and its contributions to the St. Louis green industry.

We’re Open Mon-Sat 8am-5pm Sun 10am-3pm 2701 Barrett Station Rd. St. Louis, MO 63021 www.kirkwoodgardens.com 314-966-4840 APRIL 2019

The Gateway Gardener™

To learn more about professional assistance for your garden, lawn and landscape, go to the “Landscape & Garden Enthusiasts’ Corner” of our website; www.stlouislandscape.org

29

Upcoming Events Succulent Pot. $10 supply fee for the pot, plant, potting material and decorations. Hillermann Nursery and Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at www.

GatewayGardener.com, so check there for the latest details.

Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in the June issue is May 1st.

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122 Email: info@gatewaygardener. com

GARDEN CLUBS AND PLANT SOCIETY MEETINGS Interested in Joining a Garden Club or Plant Society? We have meeting dates, locations and contact information on more than 50 area garden clubs on our website at www.GatewayGardener.com.

Don’t have access to the internet?

Just call us at (314) 968-3740, or write us at PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122, and we’ll get the information to you. So share your joy for gardening and join a garden club or favorite plant society today!

FUN FOR KIDS April 6th 9am-Children’s Garden Club.

Throw and Grow Seed Balls.

Planthaven Farms, 6703 Telegraph Rd., 63129.

10am--First Saturday Making a Spring

30

Kids: Chick

GARDEN TOURS, PLANT SALES AND SHOWS April 11th-12th 9am-5pm—Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society Show. New cultivars and old favorites are shown by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Missouri Botanical Garden, Ridgway Center, Jordan Education Wing.

April 26th-27th 9am-4pm Fri, 9am-2pm Sat— St. Louis Community College, Meramec Horticulture Club Plant Sale. Annuals, perennials, vegetables, native and pollinator plants. Cash or check. Open April 25th 4-6pm for students, staff and faculty only. Parking Lot K, 11333 Big Bend, Kirkwood. Rain location in Student Center. All proceeds benefit STLCC students’ Meramec Botanical Society.

8am-6pm Fri., 8am-Noon Sat.— Webster Groves Garden Club Plant Sale. Sun and shade-loving perennials raised and collected from local private gardens, as well as a selection of annuals purchased from local commercial growers.

Experienced member gardeners will be on hand to counsel shoppers concerning plant selection and care.

Webster Groves Recreation Center, 33 E. Glendale Road, Webster Groves, MO 63119.

April 27th 8am-2pm—Plant Sale-Ascension Lutheran Church.

5347 Donovan St., 63109. Sale will include perennials, annuals, house plants,and other garden accessories including hanging baskets and edible plants. Details about sale and pre-orders can be found at ascensionstl.com/plants.

April 27th 8am-1pm – 8th Annual Lincoln County Master Gardener Plant Sale. Vegetables, annuals, perennials, natives, herbs and more.

Check us out at our Facebook page Lincoln County Master Gardeners.

U. of MO Extension, 880 W. College, Troy, MO. 8:30am-2pm—Webster Groves Herb Society Sale. Thousands of herbs, vegetables and native herbs. Useful tips, demonstrations, tasty treats and recipes. No admission charge and great parking. Proceeds help the society support and maintain several gardens plus provide scholarships to local horticulture students. First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 W. Lockwood. Free admission and parking.

9am-noon—St. Charles County Master Gardeners Plant Sale.

Annuals, perennials, herbs, Missouri natives, vegetables and more. University of Missouri Extension, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters, MO 63376 St. Clair County Garden Club Plant Sale. Members provide hosta, daylily, iris, phlox azaleas, cannas and more, plus lots of natives to feed the monarchs and other pollinators. In front of Wild Birds Unlimited in Schnuck’s Plaza, Hwy. 159, Swansea, IL. April 27th-28th 9am-1pm Sat., 11am-1pm Sun.—U. City in Bloom’s Annual Plant Sale. Perennials, annuals, native and wildlife-attracting plants, culinary herbs and vegetables.

(Opening Night Party and Plant Sale April 26th, 5-7pm. $25 donation, includes wine, cheese and snacks. Reservation required.)

Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave., University City. UCityinBloom.org, 314-9736062.

April 28th 1-3pm—St. Louis Hosta Vendor Day. Hostas and companion plants and garden items for sale. Open to the public. Creve Coeur Community

Center, 300 N. Ballas. FREE. SAVE THE DATES MAY 2nd through the 6th—Plant Sales hosted

by Kress Farm Garden Preserve, Central Missouri Master Gardeners, St. Louis Greenhouse Plant Society, Olivette in Bloom Native Plant Sale, and Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association. More information in the May issue calendar of events.

CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS April 2nd and 4th 9:30-10:30am—High Impact for Small Spaces. Discover landscape ideas to maximize the impact for smaller gardens and yards. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070 for reservations.

April 5th-6th 9am-5pm—Arbor Day Tree Giveaway. The Kemper Center for Home Gardening will give away Missouri native tree saplings. Tree saplings will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis, one per visitor while supplies last. Master gardeners will answer questions and give advice on planting trees.

Trees available while supplies last. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Included with Garden admission. www.mobot.org or call 314-5775100.

April 6th Noon—Lawn Care Made Easy.

Get the lowdown on Lawn Care from the pros. Speaker Craig Munie, Munie Greencare Professionals.

Effinger Garden Center, 720 South 11th St., Belleville, IL. (618) 2344600.

April 6th-7th, 13th-14th and 27th-28th Meet Me (Outdoors) in St. Louis Garden Month. Active outdoor experiences, exhibitors, experts and more at Missouri Botanical Garden, Shaw Nature Reserve, and the Butterfly House. See page 24 for more.

April 9th and 11th

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2019

9:30-10:30am—Naturally Beautiful Gardens with Missouri Native Plants. Learn the Missouri native plants needed to create and maintain a lovely native plant garden. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood.

FREE. Call (314) 965-3070.

April 11th 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Container Gardening. Class will focus on how to make large and small container plantings with native plants. Register by April 8th. Classroom behind Joseph H. Bascom House at Shaw Nature Reserve. For reservations or more information, call (314) 577-9526 or visit ShawNature.org.

April 11th and May 2nd 5-7pm—Girls Night out Planting Party. Bring family and friends and your empty pots and plant them up with beautiful spring flowers. RSVP to (636) 272-5005. Planthaven Farms, 6703 Telegraph Rd., Oakville, MO. PlanthavenFarms. com.

April 13th 4pm—What’s New and What’s Best. A garden party with wine, cheese and education. Speaker Bill Ruppert, St. Louis Horticulturist and local gardening guru. Effinger Garden Center, 720 South 11th St., Belleville, IL. (618) 234-4600.

10am-noon—Wine Class with Harvey Jasper. Rack #2 wine to carboys and degas. These steps will be discussed and handouts available. FREE to attend.

Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636239-6729, www.hillermann.com.

10-11am—Ladies Garden Party.

Enjoy a springtime brunch of quiche and mimosas and a tour of the nursery. Guests will receive a FREE plant and have the opportunity to learn more about Hope Ranch, a nonprofit nondenominational Christian organization seeking to “break the cycle” for children who are falling through the cracks.

Advance tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Hillermann Nursery & Florist, The Missourian ofices in Washington, Union and St. Clair, and at HopeRanchMO.org. Seating is limited. April 10th deadline to purchase tickets. FREE to attend.

APRIL 2019

Hillermann Nursery & Florist.

Contact Jennifer Hope at 636649-9901 or visit their website, HopeRanchMO.org.

April 13th Noon-6pm—Riverbend Earth Day Festivals. See page 24 for details.

April 14th-17th Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri “Get Your Bloom On” Convention. FGCM members will attend the 86th convention at the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet, Maryland Heights, MO. Tours, seminars, awards and fellowship with gardening friends. Visit www. fgcmo.org and check out the winter edition of The Garden Forum for more information.

April 16th and 18th 9:30-10:30am—Plants That Work. Discover the perennials and shrubs that reward us with abundant blooms and luscious foliage without all the fuss. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. April 17th 9:30-10:30am—Stop and Smell The…. Discover wonderfully fragrant perennials, shrubs, roses and herbs. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood.

FREE. April 20th Noon—Easy Landscaping Ideas and Top 10 Tips. Ideas for designing low-maintenance landscape. Speakers Rick and Trudy Effinger and staff. Effinger Garden Center, 720 South 11th St., Belleville, IL. (618) 234-4600.

10am-noon—Wine Class with Harvey Jasper. Clarifying the wine. This steps will be discussed and handouts available. FREE to attend. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

creative combinations of plants, colors and textures to amaze your family and friends. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. April 24 9:30-10:30am—Beginning Tomato Gardening.

Learn techniques and tips needed to grow and harvest a bumper crop of delicious tomatoes. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. th

April 27 Noon—Spring has Sprung Container Workshop. Bring a pot from home or purchase a new one.

Speakers Rich and Trudy Effinger and staff. Effinger Garden Center, 720 South 11th St., Belleville, IL. (618) 234-4600. th

9-11am—Volunteer O’Fallon (MO) Earth Day Celebration.

The community is invited out for a day of planting, landscape maintenance, and greenspace, street, and creek cleans. Celebratory lunch afterward. The event is free and open to everyone, but we do require pre-registration so we can account for numbers, amount of food, and project size. Email or call for more information: volunteer@ ofallon.mo.us. 636-379-5417.

April 27th-28th Chinese Culture Days. Annual celebration features a Grand Parade with 70-foot dancing dragon, authentic regional cuisine, t’ai chi and acrobatics. Special tours in the Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden (the Chinese Garden) focus on the symbolism of many plant species and architectural details.

Please note: No trams, free hours or early morning walking hours on signature event weekends. Missouri Botanical Garden.

10am-6pm—St. Louis Earth Day Festival. See pgs. 14-17 for information.

April 30th 9:30-10:30am—Gardening Under Trees. Learn how to garden under trees without damaging them, using an ever expanding selection of shade plants. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood.

FREE. May 1st 9:30-10:30am—Tropicals and Annuals for Exotic Displays.

Learn the best most colorful plants and attractive combinations. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE.

PLANT

SALE STLCC MERAMEC

HORTICULTURE PERENNIALS VEGGIES HERBS NATIVES ANNUALS

April 25 - 4 to 6pm Preview for STLCC students, staff & faculty

April 26 - 9 to 4pm April 27 - 9 to 2pm Open to the Public

11333 Big Bend Rd - St. Louis, MO 63122

West Parking Lot K - Cash or Check (Rain Location: Student Center) OUR PLANTS are grown on campus in our greenhouses by students and staff. All proceeds from the sale go to the student’s Botanical Society allowing them to take field trips and attend green industry events.

SUMMER & FALL REGISTRATION OPEN APRIL 1ST

10am-3pm—Kirkwood’s Earth Day Celebration. See page 25 for details.

April 23rd, 25th and May 2nd 9:30-10:30am—Dazzling Containers for Entrance Ways, Patios and Gardens. Learn

The Gateway Gardener™

31

Spring is here!

It’s a great time to add nutrient-rich compost for a better planting season and a more beautiful yard.

Compost improves soil structure, helps retain moisture and protect plants.

Ask your landscape contractor to spread STA-Certified Compost for your next project. Or visit one of our six area locations for the largest selection of STA-Certified Compost, Mulch Products and Soil Blends.

VALLEY PARK, MO

PACIFIC, MO

ST. LOUIS, MO

FLORISSANT, MO

39 Old Elam Avenue 636.861.3344

18900 Franklin Road 636.271.3352

560 Terminal Row 314.868.1612

13060 County Park Road 314.355.0052

BELLEVILLE, IL

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO

5841 Mine Haul Road 618.233.2007

11294 Schaefer Road 314.423.9035

Visit us online at www.stlcompost.com