The Gateway Gardener March 2021

Gateway Gardener THE

MARCH 2021

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

Shade Color

All Year Long

WWOOFing Native Plants for Under Trees Veggies for the Spring Garden FREE Courtesy of:

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Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

MARCH 2021

Volume 17, Number 1

Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists Diane Brueckman Rosey Acres 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.

T

From the Editor

his picture is wishful thinking, a rerun from a previous spring, necessitated because, as I write this in mid-February, I still look out on a snow-covered landscape cloaked in single-digit temperatures. Yet it’s not too hard to conjure up thoughts of spring.

Thanks to a submerged trough heater, the bubbler, visible from my office, still invites the birds to sip from the running water and even occasionally bathe, after which they often take shelter in the large rhododendrons right outside the window. Frequently they even take refuge right on the windowsill, where I suspect this drafty old house provides a few extra degrees of warmth.

The daffodils, thankfully, have not gotten prematurely enthusiastic as they did in the year of this photo, opening early only to find themselves flopped over in a late spring polar blast. This year they’re still tightly budded. Even the snowdrops are yet to open, though showing a promising white through their green buds. But the witch hazel ribbons had unfurled before this cold, and will again on sunny, warmer days ahead. And I’ve just spent a couple weeks putting together this issue, which has been a great spring conjurer of its own!

Though I’m craving sun and warmth right now, by midsummer,

WWOOFing! No it’s not the dog barking at the door to come in from the cold. It’s an acronym for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Jennifer Schamber turned over her spot this month to allow Michael Miller, one of her employees, to share his experience traveling the world working on small organic farms, and how knowledge—and friendship—is both given and received to mutual advantage.

Check it out on page 6.

I’ll be seeking relief in the shade garden. Those who garden under trees may experience a riot of color there when the spring bulbs take advantage of naked limbs and burst forth for a too-brief period. If you want to extend color season in your shady areas, check out Abby Lapides’ article on page 4. She has suggestions for more color throughout the calendar year!

We stick with the shady theme for you native gardening enthusiasts.

I’ve probably confessed this before on this page, but as my introduction to native plants was by way of sunny prairies, it was years before it dawned on me that there are actually native plants that grow and blossom in the shade!

On page 10, Scott Woodbury takes us through his own calendar of native plants that will provide color under trees all year.

From the new age of WWOOFing to a stroll through history, these pages feature not one, but two new segments in our occasional series, St. Louis Hort History.

On page 14, a relative newborn, Garden Heights Nursery shares its 25-year history as Richmond Heights’-and-beyond go-to plant purveyor. Then an old-timer, Home Nursery, leads us through its 100-year-old story of growing beautiful plants for the region’s gardening and landscaping trade.

If history teaches us anything, it’s that we won’t have seen the last of winter in March. But spring is coming. The signs are growing…

Good Gardening!

On the Cover...

Looking for something beyond hostas for color in the shade garden?

There are plenty of perennials like this Ajuga ‘Cordial Canary’ that will give your shady spot a brightness boost! Check them out in Abby Lapides’ article on page 4. (Photo courtesy Growing Colors)

IN THIS ISSUE 4 Shade Garden Color 8 WWOOFing Around the World 10 Natives for Under Trees 12 Veggies for the Spring Garden 14 Hort History: Garden Heights 16 Hort History: Home Nursery 19 Spring in the Rose Garden 20 Dig This 22 Upcoming Events

Enjoy Year-Round Color in the Shade!

By Abby Lapides

M

Lenten Rose ‘Tropical Sunset’

any St. Louis area homeowners have the privilege of being stewards to large, mature trees. While these giants provide a stately beauty to the home, the shade they emit posts challenges to the gardener when trying to achieve a showy garden underneath. Most shade-loving perennials have limited blooming periods, which can cause headaches when

THE FIRST SIGNS OF

SPRING COLOR

Ajuga ‘Cordial Canary’ designing a continually blooming garden. Use this guide of hardy perennials and shrubs to keep the shade garden in flower all season long.

January-March

Sometimes blooming as early as January, enjoy pops of color in the garden early with Lenten rose. As the flowers age they change colors, turning dusty pink, chartreuse or cream. Coming in a wide array of color, Lenten rose fits into any shade gardener’s aesthetic.

Spring has sprung!

G A R D E N H E I G H T S N U R S E RY 1605 Big Bend Blvd. 63105 314-645-7333 www.gardenheights.com

4

“40 Years Serving The Metro East”

720 South 11th St. • Belleville (618) 234-4600 • www.effingergarden.com

The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

‘Tropical Sunset’ stands out as a favorite of the newer varieties.

The orange flowers with red highlights of ‘Tropical Sunset’ allow for unusual colors in shady spots, especially in spring. On warmer days expect to see bees buzzing around these early-to-open flowers. Other early bloomers: Virginia bluebells, daffodil, Ozark witchhazel.

the grower

K I M L OV E L AC E - HA I N S F UR T H E R

It’s been a big year for Kim Lovelace-Hainsfurther. Named President of Forrest Keeling Nursery and MoGIA, Kim—like the hundreds of thousands of native trees her company grows— is a survivor. In 2013 she lost her daughter, Jillian, in an automobile accident. Through a host of inspirations, Kim has helped replant millions of trees and along the way revegetated her life.

Lungwort ‘Twinkle Toes’

April

One of my personal favorites, lungworts (Pulmonaria), provide interesting leaf textures and adorable flowers to the shady garden.

Growing low, lungwort shines in the front of a garden or lining a walkway. I grow ‘Twinkle Toes’ in my garden and it impressively thrives with my, at best, sporadic watering schedule. Other April 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.

What are the inspirations for your journey through the plant world?

I was able to go to Macheros, Mexico, and see the monarch migration. It gave what we do here at FK a lot of meaning for me to see just millions and millions of monarchs hanging in the trees. It’s spiritual. My mentor is obviously my dad. I still learn something new from him every day, and being able to work alongside of him has been one of the greatest gifts in my life. When I lost Jillian he’s the one who pulled me along. The best advice he gave me when I was young: “Kim, if you make a bad decision, make another decision.”

Is there a project that you are most proud of?

It has more to do with all of us than me, but the replanting of millions of oak and hard mast trees in the Missouri and Mississippi River bottoms. By using the RPM system (Root Production Method) these trees have been successful and they’re providing eco-services, food and habitat for wildlife.

What do you see as the opportunities in the green industry in our region? Getting people to connect their health and well-being with nature, the importance of plants to clean water and air: it’s all connected. It’s not just ornamental. It is essential.

Dawn or dusk? Dawn. When it starts hitting around April I can get on my bike at 5:15 and get my 25 miles in before I go to work. Morning is my time to remember Jillian.

Life theme song? “The Dance” by Garth Brooks: Our lives are better left to chance/ I could have missed the pain/ but I’da had to miss/ The dance.

MARCH 2021

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cont’d from previous page bloomers: wild sweet William, azalea, Siberian bugloss, oldfashioned bleeding heart.

May

A long-time favorite groundcover, ‘Chocolate Chip’ Ajuga flourishes in shade. 2021 brings the brand new ‘Cordial Canary’ a yellow-leafed version of ‘Chocolate Chip.’ This new variety has shockingly vibrant foliage that keeps its color well, even in darker shade. In May, spikes of blue flowers contrast strongly against the neon foliage. This tough low grower tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including dry shade. Other May-blooming plants: cranesbill, Jacob’s ladder, lily of the valley.

The long-blooming cousin to the old-fashioned bleeding heart, the fringed-leafed bleeding hearts bloom for months on end. Small pink-to-red heart-shaped flowers dangle over fern-like foliage beginning in June. Plants need adequate moisture to continue blooming all summer. These small plants are perfect for the front of the garden or tucked in between rocks. The regal ‘King of Hearts’ displays lipstick pink blossoms that are larger in size and quantity than other varieties. Other summer bloomers: hosta, coral bells, fairy candles, turtlehead.

September-Frost

June Indian Pinks

Windflower ‘Curtain Call Deep Rose’ Designed for our favorite winged friends, the showy flowers on the Missouri native Indian pinks (Spigelia) begin to bloom right when the hummingbirds come to town. Bright yellow stars tip the end of the red tubular flowers, creating a bouquet of shooting stars. Indian Pink blooms most of June and into July. Other June bloomers: Astilbe, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Smooth Hydrangea.

July-August

Windflowers (Anemone hybrid) produce countless flowers at a time when most plants are ready to call it a day. While the classic tall varieties create enticing displays, their large size, usually growing 3’ tall or more, limit their function in the garden. The petite ‘Curtain Call Deep Rose’ features loads of large vibrant pink flowers while only growing about 18” tall. Another dwarf, ‘Snow Angel’, illuminates the garden with hundreds of bright white blossoms. Windflowers provide a late-season nectar source for pollinators, and their long-lasting flowers look beautiful in fall bouquets. Other late-season bloomers: woodland aster, toad lily.

To create a long-blooming shade garden, use a nice mix of perennials and shrubs. Add strong punches of long-season color by planting annuals like begonias, New Guinea impatiens or wishbone plant, but be prepared to replant every year. With a little thought and good plant selection you can Celebrating the Past. attain a multi-seasonal flowering shade garden.

Building Momentum All photos courtesy Walters Garden except Ajuga, courtesy Growing Colors, and Windflower, by Abby Lapides.

Fringed-leafed Bleeding Heart ‘King of Hearts’ 6

Towards the Future.

www.HomeNursery.com The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

TREES WORK

health for your

Feeling tired?

Spending just 20 minutes outside can give your brain an energy boost comparable to a cup of coffee.

Spending time in nature, conservation areas, woods, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels.

Getting away from busy schedules allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings calm and a sense of well-being.

Taking a nature walk may increase attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.

Exposure to nature contributes to physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Get healthy in nature this year. Visit mdc.mo.gov/places-go or download the free MO Outdoors app for ideas on where to go near you.

Download for

Android

MARCH 2021

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7

WWOOFing Around theWorld

By Michael Miller

A

n ex-Monk in Thailand. A preschool teacher in Guatemala.

A curmudgeonly Grandma in Vermont.

These are just a few of the wonderful people who hosted my wife and I as WWOOFers over the last 7-and-a-half years, teaching us in diverse ways all about farming, sustainability and community.

What is WWOOFing, you might ask? WWOOF stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms, and it’s an organization whose mission is to link visitors (WWOOFers) with organic farmers for a work and education exchange. As a WWOOFer, you join the daily life of the farm, working hard and getting hands-on farm instruction. In exchange you get free room and board, which normally means a simple room and a lot of fresh, delicious food! As a host, you get help - and fresh energy during the busiest times. In the best cases, like the ones I’m about to describe, you have a mutually enriching experience and end up with a lifelong friend.

Michael and his wife, Maria, relax at the WWOOFing farm in WWOOF’s definition of an “organic farm” is intentionally Thailand. open ended - ranging from school gardens to homesteads to big common factor is growing organic food - and wanting to connect production farms - and there are hosts all over the world. But the with people and share that knowledge. Here are some of our best and most memorable experiences from years of WWOOFing around the world - and how we hope to bring it full circle in St. Louis.

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An ex-monk in Thailand

Deep in the jungles of northern Thailand, we stayed at the organic farm of an ex-monk, Pnon. The accommodations were... modest, to say the least. No electricity. No gas. Wood-burning stoves. Well water (but without the pump. That’s your job.) We harvested peanuts by the bunches, and greens and herbs, too; we harvested jackfruit, mangos, and coconuts. We cut back the encroaching jungle, seemingly every hour. We cut firewood and gathered water. The experience both fed my young idealism “Life is so much better without electricity!” - and annihilated it - “We have to make another fire, just to eat?... The ants sleep here, too?”

I learned a lot about farming, and a lot about living close to the land.

A preschool teacher in Guatemala

In Guatemala, near a small Mayan village on the shores of Lake Atitlán, we harvested thousands of avocados, picked

Michael and Diego, right, a village pre-school teacher, played in a local soccer tournament.

The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

and dried too many coffee beans to count, and established a precious school garden for the Pre Ks. Diego, the village’s dedicated and passionate preschool teacher, had set up a WWOOFing account at the nearest town’s Internet café. His class had 46 students - 46 preschoolers! and he taught them alone. He managed it remarkably well, using his guitar skills and infectious personality to great effect. But it was still a lot, and we ended up helping as much A row of zinnias at Ginny’s farm in in the classroom as Vermont. the avocado orchards or coffee fields, which was fine by us. It was a unique cultural experience, and Diego is still a dear friend all these years later!

A Vermont grandma

One summer, on “the way back” from Guatemala to St. Louis, we WWOOFed for a summer in central Vermont, in what turned out to be one of the most formative experiences of my entire young adulthood. Ginny, a sweet and curmudgeonly grandma, grew produce that she sold at the farmer’s market and the local co-op, and raised meat chickens and turkeys, too. We cleaned, fed, watered, weeded and harvested, and then did it all again. She taught us so much that when we left her farm, we truly felt like we could start our own - and we plan to! It went beyond farming, too.

She taught us how to make yogurt and cheese. How to bake bread.

How to preserve food. How to homestead. She baked cookies for the local co-op, and tragically, nearly every day, she’d underbake a batch “by accident,” and we’d have to eat them as we came in from the field. It was truly beautiful and beneficial for all. She had a lot of farming knowledge to share, and we were eager to learn, with abundant energy.

WWOOFing shaped us in many beautiful ways. We learned how to farm, and fell in love with it. We realized that there are wonderful people everywhere, and grew to love them, too. And as we build our own farm here in St. Louis, we’ll honor our WWOOFing family around the world by growing amazing food, of course, and also by welcoming the next generation of WWOOFers to come stay and learn the miracle of sustainable agriculture.

As one of my favorite organic farmers in California likes to say: “Knowledge is like compost. It only works if you spread it around.”

Michael Miller is a writer and organic farmer based in St. Louis, Missouri. When he isn’t playing with words or plants, he’s probably hanging out with his lovely wife and his sweet puppy Banjo. You can reach him at michaelmiller845@gmail. com.

MARCH 2021

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TOP MISSOURI NATIVES

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Lance Leaf Tickseed

Baby blue flowers in spring

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Over 2,500 varieties of plants!

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Voted #1 Best Garden Center!

9

Naturally Natives Naturalizing Native Plants Under Trees text and photos by Scott Woodbury

Wood poppies, Jacob’s ladder, Virginia bluebells, blue-eyed Mary, and wild sweet William.

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

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. Plants purchased at events away from the nursery cost 10% more, which covers sales tax and shipping. This costs less than having them shipped UPS from the nursery.

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 3, 10, 17, 24, and May 1, 22, 29; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shaw Nature Reserve, 307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, MO 63039. Event: “Shaw Wildflower Pickup-Up www.shawnature.org.

May 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No Friday sale this year.

Opening day at our Brazito (Jefferson City) location is March 21. Our retail “store” (outdoor sales area) is open for you to make selections. You can also send a pre-order and pick it up at the nursery. Please practice physical distancing and wear a mask when you arrive.

We can ship your order! We ship plants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays all year. UPS usually delivers the next day in Missouri and to the middle of surrounding states. Shipping charges apply.

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f you are struggling to grow lawn under the shade of trees, then maybe it’s time to unleash a patch of woodland wildflowers. Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica), wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), woolen britches (Hydrophyllum appendiculatum), yellow violet (Viola pennsylvanica), wild sweet William (Phlox divaricata), roundleaf groundsel (Packera obovata), and columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) are all spring-blooming species that work well naturalized beneath the high branches of oak, sweet gum, or black walnut trees.

Because many spring wildflowers go dormant by summer, mix in sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum), or Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) to fill in gaps that appear mid-season and provide structure. Shrubs, including smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), beautyberry 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 30 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program.

The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants (Callicarpa americana), and shrubby St. John’s Wort (Hypericum prolificum) are all shade tolerant and help provide year-round structure.

Summer and fall bloomers round out the season. They include purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), star coreopsis (Coreopsis pubescens), downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana), showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa), Ohio horsemint (Blephilia ciliata), sweet coneflower (Rudbeckia subtomentosa), American bellflower (Campanula Americana) and eastern blazingstar (Liatris scariosa).

Don’t forget grasses and sedges. I recommend starting with a few woodland rye (Elymus virginicus), bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix), American beakgrain (Diarrhena obovata) or river oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). Sedges like palm (Carex muskingumensis), oak (C. albicans), star (C. radiata), Pennsylvania (C. pennsylvanica), and cattail (C. typhina) add a fine-textured contrast to the wildflowers. Remember that in nature, grasses and flowers are randomly mixed like a tossed salad. This approach will look terrific beneath the trees in your yard as well.

Start your project in February or March by killing an area of turf grass about 200 square feet (10 x 20). If you are ambitious, double or triple this amount. This can be done by pinning down a tarp or a piece of plastic for 8 to 10 weeks in the shade of medium (40+ feet) to large trees (60+ feet), possibly circling the trunk of Wood poppies and ostrich ferns. one. Then remove the covering, install your plants, lay 2 inches of ground leaf mulch on the bare soil, and water immediately. (Avoid cutting medium to large tree roots while planting large container plants.) If it doesn’t rain, water weekly and finally, keep the weeds out. Remove lower tree branches to a height of 15 feet for medium ...the days will lengthen, the ice will melt in the trees and 25 feet for large trees to allow indirect side-light to enter pasture pond. The song sparrow will return and the garden.

I like to install plants 18 to 20 inches apart. This way, plants grow in thickly by the following season and work to crowd out some of the weeds. To calculate the number of plants needed, there is a helpful plant calculator at classygroundcovers.com. Plant in a triangular pattern. For example, if your planting area is 200 square feet, and you are planting 18 inches apart, then you will need 103 plants total. At 20 inches apart, you will need 83 plants. If you are planting on a budget, consider buying plugs or small pots and plant 24 inches apart (58 plants). The next year in April, look for new seedlings that will begin to appear and spread. You may expand the planting area outward to make it bigger or dig up and move seedlings to create new beds. This is what I mean by unleashing woodland wildflowers. They will spread by themselves, especially if you rake up tree leaves in February or March so that new seedlings can germinate in April and grow in the bare spaces, unencumbered by a thick layer of leaves. In February or March, trim spent foliage and stems to a height of 8 to 22 inches. Many species of native bees nest in dead stems. New plant growth in April will hide the stubble.

What are you waiting for? It’s time to unleash woodland wildflowers in a shaded space near you. What could be more fun and beneficial to human and wildlife health? Happy gardening!

sing, the frogs will awake, the warm wind will

blow again. All these sights and sounds and smells will be yours to enjoy… this lovely world, these precious days… ~ E.B. WHITE, “CHARLOTTE’S WEB”

CONNECT NATURE

CALL OR CHECK WEBSITE FOR CURRENT HOURS. 88 Forrest Keeling Lane | Elsberry, MO 63343 | 800-FKN-2401 | forrestkeeling.com

MARCH 2021

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The Cornucopia Corner Spring Vegetables to Get Your Garden Growing

By Steffie Littlefield

Why start spring veggies on St Patrick’s Day? Well, that’s basically the middle of March and we will have sunny days, cool light rains and mild temperatures long enough into early June to bring these cool weather lovers to harvest. By then, there will still be time to put a second crop of heat-loving vegetables like peppers, cucumbers, or tomatillos in the same ground. Many spring vegetables prefer to be started directly in the soil where they are intended to grow.

Others like broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, kale, onions and leeks can be planted as small plants started inside or purchased in 6-packs.

These also prefer this cooler part of the growing season.

Start your garden year by doing a good clean up of winter weeds, leaves and other debris. This all can go right into the compost pile after turning it over to access the rich dark decayed matter on the bottom to add to your garden beds. My garden is so large I treat myself to about 16 cubic yards of compost or worm castings in the spring. Wow, just getting those spread early really makes the garden look wonderful and ready to produce. Plant a nice bed of fingerling potatoes in the rich dark compost. Save some compost to mound up around the potato plants as they grow to stimulate extra roots that produce the tender tubers. Next, I turn to the bed where I have already secured a fence to support my sugar snap and snow peas. Before I plant them, I use an inoculant to treat the seeds by stirring the pea seeds in a black sticky slush and let them soak for about an hour before putting in the ground. This speeds up the growing process, which insures I will get to harvest peas before the weather is too hot and they shrivel up. The good thing about peas in a bed is they fix lots of nitrogen to feed other crops during the summer. I like to follow my peas with cucumbers on the other side of the fence. Those nitrogen-fixing legumes guarantee some 12

gorgeous big cukes later in the summer. Also, along the side of my pea row I always plant beets. I love all the different colors of beets. These seed clusters benefit from soaking in water for a few hours or overnight before planting and then sowing them in a shallow trench but keeping them moist by watering up to twice a day.

Some beets can be pulled small for spring vegetable dishes and then others left to get large for pickling later in fall.

Now carrots are beneficial to tomatoes so sowing the fine carrot seed along the edges of the bed that is being prepared for tomatoes will encourage healthy vigorous growth. They can be easily pulled while your tomato plants are small and will be out of the way when things get crazy in the tomato bed later in the season.

Find a bed that needs a bit of soil reconditioning and plant the small onion sets just below the surface and their roots will break up that tired soil so the new compost can work its way deeper. I always like to plant the showy broccoli, cabbage, kale and kohlrabi starts close to the garden gate, where they can be admired by curious visitors. Add red cabbage, blue kales and different textured leaf lettuces to create a beautiful display and have lots of great greens to eat. Don’t forget to sow spinach seeds and arugula in short rows every week for a month to have enough for your table but not too much to handle that you lose it to the heat in June.

123rf.com

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ne of the deadlines I use to get my gardening energy pumping and engage myself in planning the new garden year is St. Patrick’s Day! That’s my target date for planting spring potatoes, peas, carrots and beets. Planting these traditional cool-season vegetables reminds me of my grandmother’s garden and picking strawberries and spring peas as she fished out the new potatoes from their mounds.

We used to get the biggest thrill out of pulling carrots, always one or two grew with a strange configuration giving us something to chuckle about.

This spring starting your garden will give you great joy and healthy meals for the early part of the summer while you anxiously wait for those first tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans and peppers. Get your green going for St Patrick’s Day! 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.EdgClif.com, and teaches a class on viticulture at SLCC-Meramec.

The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

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If you grow your own, grow with Osmocote®. © 2021, The Scotts Company, LLC. All rights reserved

MARCH 2021

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St. Louis Hort History

by Sarah Hensley

Garden Heights Nursery: Growing Together for 25 Years!

The Hut, circa 1998

Garden Heights storefront, 2009.

S

ince the first day of Spring in 1996, home gardeners and green-industry professionals alike have chosen Garden Heights Nursery to bring the joy of plants to homes and gardens! Celebrating 25 years this month, Garden Heights is a

Now Hiring!

Landscaping Design/Sales Green Industry Pros

S

Celebrating 20 years in business!

Landscaping | Design/Build | Mowing | Irrigation (314) 657-7050 | info@quietvillagelandscaping.com

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Garden Heights’ greenhouse was added in 2010 and is full of unique houseplants, cacti, succulents, citrus, tropical plants, and more! vibrant part of the St. Louis gardening community, known for their knowledgeable and welcoming staff, creative displays inside and out, diverse selection, and of course their beloved garden cat, Ginger.

It all began with the vision to start a quality garden center in the central corridor. At the time that owner, Lou D’Agrosa, started envisioning the business, there were a few garden and landscaping centers in West County, but nothing closer to Ginger the GHN mascot. the city. The perfect location The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

soon presented itself. On a busy stretch of Big Bend Boulevard on a 1-acre lot that used to belong to a real estate business and a drive-through Fox Photo, D’Agrosa established Garden Heights Nursery.

When it opened, Garden Heights focused on offering a wide selection of trees and landscaping necessities, as well as a variety of garden décor and pottery.

Over time and with the addition of the greenhouse in 2010, their Louis D’Agrosa, Garden offerings grew to include unique Heights Nursery founder and and diverse houseplants and owner. tropical plants. Of course one of the best developments has been the addition of Ginger to the Garden Heights family. Ginger wandered her way onto the Garden Heights lot 4 years ago and has been Garden Heights’ accidental mascot and lovable family member ever since.

important. That’s gratifying, that what we do brings joy to peoples’ lives.”

D’Agrosa’s love for the outdoors and for St. Louis runs deep.

Growing up in University City, his family members weren’t big gardeners or outdoorsmen, but he was always outside. “I was an outdoors kind of kid… I feel very fortunate to be able to be outside and to work with my hands.”

Before Garden Heights he followed that passion for the outdoors: He worked in landscape design and contracting for 15 years prior and also ran a design-build company for a time. Starting Garden Heights was a natural answer to a need in the St. Louis area, a need he was passionate about.

Today he serves on Meramec College’s Horticulture advisory board, is a board member of Missouri’s Green Industry Alliance (MoGIA), and serves as Board President for United Garden Centers, a large local buying group.

Looking to the future, he hopes to continue being a part of the amazing St. Louis gardening community and working with Garden Heights’ incredible team to continue to inspire and bring happiness to people through growing! Join us in celebrating 25 years of Today, Garden Heights is a treasured part of the St. Louis gardening growing and gardening with Garden Heights! community. D’Agrosa shares that one of the most satisfying results Garden Heights is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary throughout is seeing just how much joy gardening brings people. “There’s the year with special events for their friends, beginning on their something to be said about digging in the dirt,” he says. One of anniversary date, March 20th, 2021. Be sure to check their website his favorite experiences is seeing people he knows from the store at GardenHeights.com. around town. “We’ve become part of the community. To me that’s

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St. Louis Hort History Home Nursery: 100 Years and Still Growing!

The old store from an undated photo.

L

The retail store and fleet of trucks, circa 1941. ike many family businesses, Home Nursery had modest beginnings. remarried. Her second husband was the owner of a truck-farming Their story began in 1908, when Ernest Tosovsky and his business, and the relationship between Ernest and his stepfather parents immigrated to Edwardsville, Illinois, from war-torn birthed the beginning of the young man’s love affair with growing Czechoslovakia. After the tragic death of his father, Ernest’s mother plants and flowers.

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Ernest first began experimenting with hot beds outside his home, and then progressed to growing berries in nearby fields. By 1921, he had expanded to growing them on 30 acres of land. Soon, the demand for his products exceeded just local communities, and Ernest saw the opportunity to branch out in other directions. He began growing flowers, evergreens, fruit trees and ornamental

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314.966.4840 KirkwoodGardens.com

Ernest and son Ernie behind the retail counter, circa 1940s.

The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

An early delivery van decorated as a parade float. plants on the land surrounding his home.

A constant innovator, Ernest introduced roses to his product line.

Along with his brother, Chuck, he also created a new technique of growing nursery stock in containers. Together, the two young men experimented by growing plants in containers in their own yards. In time, they sold them at garden centers and local businesses.

In 1970, Ernest made his first major purchase of land: 230 acres in St. Albers, Illinois.

This would become the main production farm for Home Nursery Inc. two years later, eventually expanding to over 500 acres. Of this newly purchased land, 120 acres were devoted to field production.

Ernest Tosovsky

A 1970s arial view of the Home Nursery greenhouse complex. housing the corporate office and garden center. They also opened outlets in Granite City, Wood River, Collinsville, Alton, Godfrey, and East St. Louis.

In 1982, the local business was sold, and Home Nursery moved the stock shop to the Albers farm. A second stock shop opened in Chesterfield, Missouri in 1986.

Over the course of the last 85 years, Home Nursery has risen from setbacks, each time stronger and more united. Each phase The Tosovsky family. of growth has reinforced its commitment to its employees as well as the quality of the plants.

Recognizing that employees were its most valuable resource, they cont’d on next page

Home Nursery moved to several locations between 1950 and 1990, each time expanding. Between 1928 and 1940, the business grew to six locations: five in Madison County and one in St. Clair County, with the Edwardsville location

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cont’d from previous page were the first grower in the nation to establish their own housing complex to meet workers’ needs.

They began in 1989, by renovating nine units in a mobile park, which housed 27 migrant workers. Later, desiring a more permanent solution, Home Nursery constructed a housing complex on five acres of its own property.

Not only is this available for employees, but it accommodates their families as well. The complex consists of five furnished apartment complexes housing up to 88 employees, plus an onsite daycare facility that serves the entire community as well.

Home Nursery, Inc. currently markets to 13 Midwestern states.

They service customers with four outside sales representatives, one contracted sales representative and one Customer Service Sales Coordinator. The Albers farm production consists of 385 acres used for field and container production with about 150 acres available for future production. During the peak seasons, Home Nursery employs approximately 115 people while at non-peak season employing approximately 90.

Today, the third generation of ownership is represented by Ernest Sr.’s granddaughter Ann Tosovsky as president.

“My goal for Home Nursery is to continue the great work that began with my grandfather,” said Ann. “We aspire to be the best grower in the Midwest by staying relevant to our customers and providing exceptional customer service, while making sure our plant standards are at the highest level. We will grow the business for the next generation as well as focus on being a respected partner with our customers and vendors. Service has always been

Founder Ernest Tosovsky, left, and his brother Chuck. an integral part of who we are and we will carry on the tradition of giving back to our industry and community.”

THE GARDEN IS CALLING.

DIG IN.

Home Nursery has undergone many changes since 1921. They have made significant contributions to beautify and develop surrounding communities, and grown to be one of the largest wholesale suppliers in the Midwest.

As Home Nursery celebrates its 100th anniversary, it plans to celebrate throughout the year with “100 Ways,” which are activities planned to commemorate its 100-year anniversary. Some of the actions will include recognizing and thanking employees and customers, philanthropic opportunities and giving back to the communities and the industry.

“We want to use our anniversary as an opportunity to thank and recognize everyone who has supported us, partnered with us, purchased our products, become our friends, helped us grow, challenged our thought process and pushed our limits,” said Ann .

“Without these people, we would not be here today celebrating 100 years of business and we want to honor all of those individuals and companies.”

From Ernest Tosovsky’s initial experiments of growing berries and vegetables in his backyard, to selling fine quality plants in more than 17 states, Home Nursery has become a leader in producing field and container grown nursery stock and roses. Not resting on history however, as they celebrate 100 years, they are looking forward to continued growth in the decades ahead.

2832 Barrett Station Rd, Ballwin, MO 63021 www.greenscapegardens.com

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The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

Time to Get Those Roses Growing!

by Diane Brueckman

E

very spring is a fresh beginning in the garden.

Problems don’t seem so daunting when the plants are small and leafless. Getting an early start makes the whole year easier.

date. In the St. Louis area that is April 15th. While our plants are waking up we can get a start on the weeds we missed last fall.

Just remember getting weeds out before they go to seed saves work later on. The rose bush that was in the wrong place, perhaps it grew bigger than it was supposed to or its spot was too shady, can be moved now to a new location. As long as the soil can be worked you can move the bush. Water it in well and cover it with mulch just as you would when planting a bareroot rose.

It is time to finish pruning your climbers and shrubs. Hardy roses, which include all the Knock Out® roses and the Easy Elegance® roses will love having a bit of a trim.

Rugosa roses and many of the Old Garden Roses (OGR) also fall into the hardy rose category. The shrub roses Artfully pruned climbers at Missouri Botanical Garden. that don’t get deadheaded as If you ordered bare-root roses frequently, at least in my garden, need to be opened up by taking from a catalog they should arrive before the end of April. Bareout the crossing canes and very old canes that will not produce as root roses need to be planted while it is still cool. When the plants much bloom as we would like. Be sure when you start pruning arrive open the package immediately and inspect the plants for those OGRs that they are the rebloomers. Roses that only bloom broken canes and roots. Trim off any damage and soak the roses once bloom on old wood and if you prune them before they bloom overnight in water with a little bleach to kill any mold that might be you will cut off the blooms before they open. The once-blooming on the plants. Dig a large hole and mound some soil in the middle.

Mix about 1 cup of an organic fertilizer into the soil. Spread the roses get pruned after they bloom.

The Knock Out roses have an unfair reputation for being more roots over the soil then fill half way with soil and water. I like to susceptible to rose rosette disease (RRD) than other roses, mostly use the water the roses were soaking in. Cover the new bush as if because they are not pruned every year, especially in commercial you were winter protecting it. In about 2 weeks you can remove and public landscapes. When you trim back the canes by 1/3 the mulch. I always wait until I finish uncovering the rest of my you are cutting off overwintering mites that carry the RRD virus. roses.

Pruning is not a guarantee that your rose will not get RRD but it is one of the recommended prevention techniques and keeps your plants looking their best.

Climbers can become very unwieldly if not trimmed every year.

I like to trim them in late winter before the foliage opens and clouds the issue. It is best to cut the main canes that are diseased or damaged back to the bud union and leave the healthiest canes intact and tie them to their support. A good climber will have anywhere from 3 to 6 main canes (canes that come directly from the bud-union or if not a budded bush from the crown of the plant). A diagram for pruning shrub roses.

A tip for those who have a very vigorous climber, I start by cutting back the lateral canes coming off the main canes first. This is not the final pruning on the laterals just a trim to open up the bush. You will have less trouble with wild thorny canes fighting your efforts.

Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian Once you have determined which canes are staying you can cut with Missouri Botanical Garden, the laterals back to 4 to 6 leaf buds. Tie the canes to their support and currently owns Rosey Acres in stressing them to encourage the lateral canes to produce blooms all Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her along the main cane.

Do not uncover your more temperamental roses, the Hybrid Teas, Grandifloras and most Floribundas until after the last average frost MARCH 2021

The Gateway Gardener™

at (618) 785-3011 or droseyacres@ egyptian.net.

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Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News FFA Award Winners

Each year the Missouri Future Farmers of America (FFA) awards statewide Proficiency Awards that recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. The Missouri Green Industry Alliance (MoGIA) a statewide green industry group with many local members, sponsors two of these awards.

In the Nursery O p e r a t i o n s c a t e g o r y , Josephine Horne of Silex, Missouri, was the state winner.

Horne, a graduate of Elsberry R-II High School, has worked at Forrest Keeling Nursery in Elsberry as part of her supervised agricultural experience program. Her responsibilities include planting and moving trees, pruning, watering, and pulling weeds. Horne observes and treats any trees or plants suffering from disease, insect damage or improper nutrition. She learned how to identify the trees by studying the characteristics of their bark, leaves and branch formation.

In FFA, Horne competed at the state level in the poultry, agronomy and grasslands evaluation career development events. She is a graduate of Helping Youth Maximize Agricultural eXperiences Academy and Public Speaking Academy. Horne attended Washington Leadership Conference, National FFA Convention & Expo, Missouri FFA Convention and State FFA Leadership Camp.

She also exhibited at the Missouri State Fair and North American International Livestock Exposition.

Horne is currently attending Saint Louis University, St. Louis, where she is studying biochemistry and focusing on the pre-medical 20

curriculum. Horne said, when she is home from college, she will continue working at the nursery.

In the Landscape Management Proficiency Award category, Seth Evan Hildebrand of Marshfield was the State award recipient.

Hildebrand, a senior at Marshfield High School, is a member of the Marshfield FFA Chapter, and his supervised a g r i c u l t u r a l experience involved managing his own mowing crew at Dunn Mowing & Landscaping, LLC, Marshfield. He maintains yards through mowing, trimming, pruning and removing trees. He is responsible for ensuring the direction and safety of his crew. Hildebrand continues improving his customer-service skills to ensure every customer is satisfied with his work and the work of his crew.

Hildebrand said the favorite parts of his job are diagnosing and repairing equipment.

In FFA, Hildebrand currently serves as chapter treasurer and previously served as chapter parliamentarian. In 2018, Hildebrand won the Area 10 Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award. He attended National FFA Convention & Expo, and Missouri FFA Convention.

After graduating high school, Hildebrand plans to further establish his own business, Hildbrand’s Tree Works. Hildebrand said he hopes to have a recognizable community business and wants to be able to offer employee benefits.

Mineral Area College Discontinues Ag Program The Mineral Area College agriculture program has been eliminated, effective June 30, 2021, along with numerous other programs due to extreme budget limitations caused in part by the effects of COVID-19 on enrollment and student The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News activities. As part of its general agricultural studies, MAC offered instruction on a wide range of horticulture topics, including Landscape Design, Greenhouse Management, Turfgrass, Herbaceous Landscape Plants, and more. Many professionals and workers in the area have benefitted from horticultural studies at MAC in addition to hands-on skills in their profession.

Public Prairie Garden Grants Available

The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) recently announced t h a t gardening and other conservation g r o u p s , parks, schools, and other entities are invited to submit proposals to MPF’s Prairie Garden Grants Program. In 2021, MPF will award several grants to help fund the establishment of prairie gardens or plantings. Grants will not exceed $800 each. Those with smaller projects are encouraged to apply as well.

Gardens must be available to the public and must incorporate native prairie species (not cultivars).

Matching funds are not required, but proposals with secured matching funds may be evaluated higher than others. Deadline for submission is March 15, 2021 with funding dispersed in April.

Please visit https://moprairie.org/mission/ grants/ for more details and an application form.

Keep Your Bird Feeders Clean

Though the backyard bird-feeding season may be winding down for some, it’s still a good time to tell newcomer bird-feeding enthusiasts as well as experienced feeders about the importance of maintaining sanitary feeders as well as the area underneath feeders. A report came out of the Northwest part of the country this winter about incidences of significant bird die-off related to birds catching salmonellosis from feeders and infected birds congregating at feeders. The phenomenon MARCH 2021

The Gateway Gardener™

seemed to affect mostly finch species, especially pine siskins. Contributing factors may have been an uncommonly high number of the birds at feeders due to an irruption of the species. (An irruption occurs when some natural occurrence takes place at a species’ normal wintering grounds, causing greater numbers than usual to winter elsewhere, usually further south). Also contributing may be a greater than usual number of people introduced to bird feeding because of COVID-19 limitations.

Whatever the cause, it’s always good practice to clean feeders regularly (monthly as recommended by the Audubon Society) as follows: Wear rubber gloves when handling feeders, and wash hands thoroughly afterward.

Rinse the feeder with warm, soapy water, then dunk in a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. (You can substitute a 3-1vinegar solution to avoid bleaching out wooden feeders.) Rinse again thoroughly and allow to dry before refilling.

Remove seed hulls and other debris that accumulate beneath feeders.

Finally, if you notice sick or dead birds, wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after disposing of them. Consider reducing the number of feeders, spacing them out, or taking them down altogether for a few weeks. Experts assure us there is plenty of food in the wild to sustain birds.

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Upcoming Events Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at 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 May issue is April 1st.

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Email: info@gatewaygardener. com March 3rd and 9th A Virtual Program: Gardening 101. Presented by Gateway Greening and hosted by St. Louis County Library. Learn how to create compost from kitchen scraps to plant material and recycle organic matter into your garden.

Adults. Registration required.

Participants will receive Zoom information via email immediately after registering. Go to www.slcl. org for more information or to register.

March 3rd 4-5pm—Grow Native! Webinar: Build Your Own Bird Sanctuary.

Hosted by Missouri Prairie Foundation. This seminar will discuss how songbirds and hummingbirds can be attracted to landscapes through the use of native plants that furnish insects, seeds, flowers, and fruits for birds.

Specific examples of the most versatile and adaptable native woody and herbaceous plants will be included as well as simple gardening practices essential for birds. The session will close with a brief review of resources you can enlist to help on your journey. The webinar, to be held via Zoom, will

22

be 45 minutes including a question and answer session. The webinar will be recorded, and sent to all registrants as well as posted to our YouTube channel. Go to moprairie. org to register. Links will be sent to all registrants.

virtual format. The virtual platform will offer 7 sessions that will be open from March 10 – April 1.

Continuing Education Units will be available for certified arborists, landscape architects, golf course professionals and IL Park and Rec employees. Guests are encouraged March 6th to attend any or all of the sessions.

9am-1pm—2021 Virtual Cost for the entire session is $35, Weekend Gardener. University with discounted rates for full-time of Illinois Extension is offering horticulture students and certified a FREE day of gardening topic master gardeners and master talks in a relaxing virtual format. naturalists. This conference is open You can attend any or all of the to all who are interested. Sessions virtual sessions. Classes start on include Control Options for Severe the hour from 9am-noon, including Infestations of Woody Plants, Beginning Vegetable Gardening, Planting and Care of Native Trees, Native Plants, Crevice Gardens and Climate Change and its Impact Growing and Designing with Cut on Flora of Illinois, Pruning,Top Flowers. To register visit: https:// Urban Tree and Shrub Picks, Insect web.extension.illinois.edu/registrat Invaders and Abiotic Tree Stressors ion/?RegistrationID=22973 . and their Treatment Options.

For questions please call Mary For more information contact Kay at 618-939-3434. University Extension office at (618) 344-4230 of Illinois Extension offers equal or e-mail pstanton@illinois.edu. opportunities in programs and employment.

March 10th 2pm—Virtual Program: A March 10th Journey of Transformation 4-5pm—Missouri Prairie to Native Plant Gardening.

Foundation Webinar: Notes Presented by Partners for Native from Underground: Ants in Landscaping and coordinated the Prairie. Hosted by Missouri through St. Louis County Library’s Prairie Foundation. Grassland Adult Programming. Registration ants all nest underground, but required. To register go to slcl. during the growing season, most org and search by title or date. For live nearer and become active at more details of the talks, find the the surface or even above ground flyer online at stlouisaudubon.org/ level, where the flourish of prairie pnl2021. life is in such vibrant force. The webinar, to be held via Zoom, will March 12th Program: be 45 minutes including a question 2pm—Virtual to Native and answer session. The webinar Introduction will be recorded, and sent to all Landscaping for Wildlife and registrants as well as posted to our People. Presented by Partners for YouTube channel. Go to moprairie. Native Landscaping and coordinated org to register. Links will be sent to through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming. Dave Tylka all registrants. of the St. Louis Audubon Society th st explores basic approaches to March 10 -April 1 Virtual Gateway Green Industry native landscaping, highlighting Conference. University of Illinois useful ideas, tools and resources Extension has been hosting for gardeners. Adults and teens. the Gateway Green Industry Registration required. To register Conference for green industry go to slcl.org and search by title professionals in the Metro East or date. For more details of the area for 39 years. Due to on-going talks, find the flyer online at Covid-19 restrictions we will be stlouisaudubon.org/pnl2021. hosting our 2021 conference in a

March 17th 4-5pm—Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: 10 Easyto-Grow Spring Edible Native Plants for your Garden. Hosted

by Missouri Prairie Foundation.

The speaker will share information on wildflowers, shrubs, and fruit trees that provide food for you!

Identification tips will be discussed, growth requirements, when and what to harvest, what to eat, and how to prepare. She will also point out non-native, edible plants that may show up in your garden, as well as “look-alikes” that may be toxic or questionable. Note: This webinar on native edibles is intended as general information only. As with any foods, there is a potential for allergic reactions when consuming native edibles.

Always seek the advice of a health professional with any questions about touching or eating any plant matter. The webinar, to be held via Zoom, will be 45 minutes including a question and answer session. The webinar will be recorded, and sent to all registrants as well as posted to our YouTube channel. Go to moprairie.org to register. Links will be sent to all registrants.

March 22nd 7pm—Virtual Program: Invasive? Native? Exotic? An Eco-Logical View of Plants.

Presented by Partners for Native Landscaping and coordinated through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming. Registration required. To register go to slcl. org and search by title or date. For more details of the talks, find the flyer online at stlouisaudubon.org/ pnl2021.

March 24th 4-5pm—Grow Native! Master Class: Native Shrubs of the Lower Midwest. Hosted by Missouri Prairie Foundation. This program is a guide for those who wish to enrich their gardens or landscapes with native shrubs, and create an aesthetic that captures their spirit of our place in the Lower Midwest.

The program will explore how to effectively use native shrubs to

The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2021

create a functional and sustainable landscape. A diversity of shrubs will be explored — designed to stir one’s imagination with the inherent beauty of our native shrubs’ forms, foliage and flowers that contribute a symphony to our senses through each season. I hope it inspires one to create a place that can celebrate the wonder of the wild, where the local fauna flourish — filled with bird and insect songs, busy bees and other beneficial bugs. Maintenance tips will be included along the way that not only keep the plants looking beautiful and healthy but also ensure you are protecting their associated fauna. The master class, to be held via Zoom, will include 50 minutes of instruction with at least 10 minutes for a question and answer period via chat. A recording of the webinar will be available only to those that registered. One CEU for landscape architects will be available. Free to all MPF duespaying members (including Grow Native! Professional members) and $15 for non-members. Go to moprairie.org to register. Links will be sent to all registrants.

March 29th 2pm—Virtual Program: Native Plant Gardening for Birds.

Presented by Partners for Native Landscaping and coordinated through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming. Registration required. To register go to slcl. org and search by title or date. For more details of the talks, find the flyer online at stlouisaudubon.org/ pnl2021.

March 31st 2pm—Virtual Program: Challenges with Native Plant Practices and Plants. Presented

by Partners for Native Landscaping and coordinated through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming.

Registration required. To register go to slcl. org and search by title or date. For more details of the talks, find the flyer online at stlouisaudubon.org/ pnl2021.

March 31st 4-5pm—Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Reflections on Urban Native Gardening.

Hosted by Missouri Prairie Foundation. The speaker will

MARCH 2021

discuss the rewards and challenges of starting and operating a native plant focused landscaping business in an urban area. He will highlight case studies over five years in gardens ranging in size from 10 square feet to 10,000 square feet.

The speaker will break down

maintenance costs for homeowners in time and dollars, and installation costs using a professional and in materials only. Examples of completed projects, including stormwater management garden designs will help homeowners and professionals. The webinar, to be

held via Zoom, will be 45 minutes including a question and answer session. The webinar will be recorded, and sent to all registrants as well as posted to our YouTube channel. Go to moprairie.org to register. Links will be sent to all registrants.

Partners for Native Landscaping

Spring Seminar Series

The Partners for Native Landscaping (PNL) come together each year to present a program with the goal of inspiring and helping individuals to create gardens that are not only beautiful but are also habitats for native wildlife.

This year, due to Covid, instead of an in-person workshop PNL has coordinated with St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming to present a Spring Seminar Series via Zoom.

Seminar Schedule

Wednesday, March 10, 2 pm • A Journey of Transformation to Native Plant Gardening Friday, March 12, 2 pm • Introduction to Native Landscaping for Wildlife and People Monday, March 22, 7 pm • Invasive? Native? Exotic? An Eco-Logical View of Plants Monday, March 29, 2 pm • Native Plant Gardening for Pollinators Wednesday, March 31, 2 pm • Challenges with Native Plant Practices and Plants Monday, April 5, 7 pm • Native Plant Gardening for Birds Monday, April 19, 7 pm • Gardening with Native Shrubs and Trees Monday April 26, 7 pm • Rainscaping with Native Plants Tuesday, May 4, 7 pm • Growing a Culture for Native Plants All programs are FREE, but advance registration is required. They may sell out, so don’t delay.

To register: Go to slcl.org, click Events & Classes, Adult Programs & search by title or date.

For more detailed descriptions of the talks, find the flyer online at https://stlouisaudubon.org/pnl2021/ To learn more about our Partner organizations, go to their websites listed below.

GrowNative.org

MSDProjectClear.org

MDC.mo.gov

StlWildOnes.org

STLCC.edu

The Gateway Gardener™

MissouriBotanicalGarden.org

biodiverse

st. louis

BiodiverseCitySTL.org

StLouisAudubon.org/bch/ 23