The Gateway Gardener Jan/Feb 2015

Gateway Gardener

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

Indoor Decorating with Houseplants

What’s in YOUR Garden?

Combo Planters with Tropicals and More!

Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes Klip ‘n’ Keep Resource Guide FREE Courtesy of:

Orchid Show 2015

Orchids and Their Pollinators

January 31 through March 22 This year we explore the special relationship between orchids and their pollinators. Come find out about it: it’s more fascinating than you think!

Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitor’s Bureau 800-252-5464 www.mtvernon.com 40+ booths of plant and gardening items plus free hourly classes daily Keynote speakers Doug Tallamy and Diane Brueckman on Friday & Saturday natural remedies, cooking herbs, flowers, vintage and antique garden items, books, dried flowers, gourds, orchids, pottery, baskets, trellises, soaps and more at the 27th annual

Midwestern Herb & Garden Show February 13-15 Times Square Mall 42nd & Broadway Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sunday 12 noon - 5 p.m.

Admission is free

4344 Shaw Blvd • St. Louis, MO 63110 • www.mobot.org

Start Your Garden Indoors Now!

We Have the Seeds and Supplies You Need!

Plus a Complete Line of Bird Feeders and Bird Seed Safe for you AND your plants!

Earth-Wise Plus!

Eco-Friendly Ice Melt 50 lbs - $14.99!

e” Lik

“

Us

on

115 E. Argonne Kirkwood, MO

(314) 822 -0083 Hours: m-f 9:00-5:30 Sat 8:30-5:00 We Accept: - Personal Checks & Cash

Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 Volume 11, Number 1

Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Barbara Perry Lawton Garden Book Author and Garden Writer Connie Alwood Master Gardener Diane Brueckman Rosarian Joyce Driemeyer Master Gardener Scott Woodbury Native Plant Specialist Mara Higdon Gateway Greening Glenn Kraemer Turf Horticulturist Steffie Littlefield Nursery Professional

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 look out upon the “winter interest” in my garden—isn’t “winter interest” a convenient concept for granting us license to forego garden cleanup for as long as possible?—my mind wanders both back and forward. Back, to successes and failures, losses and gains. Forward, toward strategies to enjoy more successes and fewer failures, more gains, fewer losses.

As we start the new year—our 10th anniversary year!—I reflect on The Gateway Gardener’s losses and gains, as well. Losses, thankfully, have been precious few. Just this last year, of course, was the passing of our beloved native plant contributor, Cindy Gilberg, who was such a valued part of our first 10 years, and with whom we would have hoped to have shared many more with our readers. And recently, we learned that Ellen Barredo is leaving St. Louis and starting a new adventure in a place where she’ll have to learn a whole new plant palette. She would be missed if only for her regular contributions on houseplants and tropicals. But Ellen meant so much more to me, for she was a keen tracker of the new and innovative in the gardening world, and informed me far beyond the limits of her assigned houseplant territory. She was also a relentless advocate to potential advertisers, always key

avant garde-n.

to the magazine’s wellbeing. Good luck, Ellen, we wish you the best!

Filling these empty shoes will not be easy. Scott Woodbury, curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, has already stepped in to continue Cindy’s mission of educating us on all things native. As for Ellen’s shadow, we have decided not to continue with a dedicated houseplant contributor, but rather float that topic around as our other contributors become inspired. Ellen’s role as trends advisor, however, will, I think, be especially important to fill. In 2015, you’ll find a couple of new contributors providing a youthful yet experienced insight into what’s new in gardening. Beginning in March, Jennifer Schamber, general manager of Greenscape Gardens, and Abby Lapides, owner of Sugar Creek Gardens, will tag-team in alternate months, providing articles on various topics in the

You’ll also notice a new feature for 2015. Beginning in this issue (“Know the Pros”, pg. 6) we want to introduce you to many of the green-industry professionals and independent businesses that can be invaluable resources to help you garden more easily and enjoyably, as we state on our cover each issue.

We’ve also recently updated our website to make it even easier to find current, seasonal articles and videos; they’re right there on the home page at GatewayGardener. com.

Finally, you’ll notice in the photo on this page, I have a new canine companion. Facebook followers will know that we lost our longtime “mascot”, Teddy, last year. Not to be long without an office and garden partner, we welcomed Rosey to the family in November.

Though so far an indiscriminate aerator and voracious herbivore, she promises better behavior before The Gateway Gardener celebrates its 20th anniversary. Happy New Year and…

Good Gardening!

On the Cover...

You don’t have to wait until spring to do your container combos.

Houseplants mix beautifully in containers, especially if combined with natural decorative elements like those shown here. For more ideas, see page 4. (Photo by Robert Weaver)

IN THIS ISSUE 4 Decorate with Live Plants 6 Know The Pros!

8 Klip ‘n’ Keep Resource Guide 10 Shows, Classes and Conventions 12 What’s in Your Garden?

14 Dig This 15 Upcoming Events

Decorate Your Indoor Living Space with Live Plants

W

BySteffie Littlefield

inter weather can keep us from enjoying outdoor activities and interacting with nature and plants. During the cold months, stay in touch with nature by including live plants as part of your inside room décor. Not only will tropical plants enhance your home or office space, but they will make the air cleaner, add humidity to the atmosphere and make the inhabitants calmer and lighten their mood. Choose houseplants for their clean-air benefits and you will also find they add that is a decorative addition to a coffee table, sideboard or a beauty to your home. bright corner. Try combining There are lots of houseplants trailing English ivy with whitewith different foliage colors blooming peace lily and gold and textures to choose and and green-striped snake plants. combine to create a container The red-leaved rubber plant

3 Tips for Success!

1. Group plants according to moisture and sunlight similarities for easy maintenance and healthy plants.

2. Choose variety of leaf color, texture and size for visual interest.

3. Use pots with drainage holes and saucers to protect flooring. combined with neon pothos and a frilly Boston fern makes a charming container garden.

For something larger start with a weeping ficus, under-plant with the old favorite, variegated spider plant, and the new pinkspotted Chinese evergreens, ‘Lady Valentine’ or ‘Pride of Sumatra’. All these plants are on the best Clean-Air Plants and easiest houseplants to grow.

Other plants to look for are bamboo palms and dracaenas with red edges or tricolor.

plants. A new look for indoor plants is to create an arrangement with more creativity and decorative elements. Natural

Some rooms or occasions call for more than just lovely foliage

Your Wildlife Connection!

$10.00 OFF

Any Purchase of $40.00 or more Good through 2/28/15. With this ad. Not good with any other sale, coupon or discount or on previous purchases.

NURSERY & FLORIST

www.hillermann.com

2601 E. 5th Street • Washington, MO • 636-239-6729 Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8:00 to 5:00, Sunday: Closed

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The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

lotus pods and root balls will give your foliage plants an eye-catching flowery appeal.

Plumes of milo and millet and twisted grasses bring a whole new dimension to potted plants.

These natural accents give potted houseplants an updated styling that is trending with the current emphasis on natural materials and healthy living.

twigs, pods, seed heads, bamboo, palm leaves and cones can be added to tropical plants to create an artfully arrangement for the sophisticated interior space. Whether your home is contemporary, traditional or more rustic, these natural stems and picks make easy decorative accents. Added to a cluster of lush green foliage plants, twisted stems give the container height to fill a blank wall without crowding the living space. Rose-like flowers made from palm leaves, large

Visit your local independent garden center and get advise on the best houseplants for your home and experiment with fun combinations and artistic designs.

To see a video on how to make your own decorative planters from Tropical Plants and natural elements, visit www.

GatewayGardener. com/articles-andvideos.

Steffie Littlefield is a horticulturist and garden designer at Garden Heights Nursery. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis.

NEED A SPEAKER for your Garden Club or Group?

The St. Louis Master Gardener Speakers Bureau can provide expert speakers on dozens of interesting topics!

Master Gardener volunteers are available to speak to garden clubs, church, civic and other groups.

Choose from over 50 different programs, from Aromatherapy to Winter Damage, Birds in the Garden, to Soil Preparation, Daylilies to Orchids.

Explore the complete list of topics at www. stlmg.org. Look for the Speakers Bureau tab in the top margin.

(A $50 fee funds Master Gardener programming in our community.)

REINVIGORATE Brighten up the New Year with succulents for the home.

HOME & GARDEN :: LANDSCAPING :: IRRIGATION :: MAINTENANCE

550 HIGHWAY F DEFIANCE, MO 636.798.2555 ::::: FRISELLANURSERY.COM

Your Complete Gift & Garden Center

Upcoming Events

January - It’s for the Birds!

February 7th - 2015 Children’s Garden Club Meets 9AM February 11th-14th - Valentine Roses For Your Sweetie - ORDER EARLY February 19th - Spring Garden Seminars Start & Go through March 26th, 2015

11530 Gravois Road St. Louis, MO 63126

(314) 843-4700 or www.sappingtongardenshop.com OPEN 7 DAYS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

The Gateway Gardener™

5

Know The Pros!

Green-Industry Experts You Should Meet!

Each month, we are introducing readers to one of our area’s green-industry professional individuals or businesses. In this issue, we invite you to get to know...

A Little History…

February 26 ‐ March 1, 2015

America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome Missouri’s Largest Home Product Market Place The Home Show is ...

THE place to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services from more than 400 companies under one roof.

Fun Things to See and Do ...

• Five fantastic gardens, plus dozens of patio and landscape displays • 13th Annual Flower Show • Shannon Quimby, HGTV alumni, shows you how to turn junk into beautiful home and garden decor • Big Toy Test Drive ‐ take John Deere lawn equipment for a spin • Learn about tiny homes and see a unique 400 square foot studio

What to Know Before You Go ...

• Admission Prices: Adults $10, Children 6‐12 $4, Children 5 & Under Free • Show Hours: Thurs, Fri & Sat 10 am ‐ 9 pm, Sun 10 am ‐ 5 pm • Adult Discounts: $2 Off Thurs or Fri or $1 Off Sat or Sun with coupon from Schnucks Seniors Half Price Admission on Thurs, Feb 26 ONLY, sponsored by Suburban Journals, no coupon necessary For tickets, information and a complete list of things to see and do, visit

STLHomeShow.com Official Spa Company

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Pre‐purchase tickets online to receive $2 Off Adult Admission any show day!

1225 N. Warson Rd. Saint Louis, MO 63132 314-994-3900 www.wormsway.com

Open since 1989, Worm’s Way Missouri is dedicated to helping customers succeed in all of their indoor and traditional gardening.

They are pleased to take part in community events such as the Schlafly Gardenworks, an inner-city garden revitalization program, events at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and the St. Louis Earth Day. Worm’s Way Missouri has a focus on gardening education, with free classes to the public and free talks with local schools.

You’ve GOT to see their…

4,800 sq. ft. sales floor! Stocked with all the products you’ll need to keep your thumb green, customers are invited to stop by for everything from complete indoor lighting and hydroponic gardening systems, organic fertilizers, growing media, pest control, environmental controls gardening tools, soil amendments and so much more--everything you need to get growing!

What’s New for 2015?

Worm’s Way will be offering more exclusive monthly specials, ranging from ‘buy one, get one’ sales, free items and huge discounts on product favorites. They also have a new look for their popular Frequent Farmer Gold Membership program. This program saves customers 10% off every purchase for an entire year! Worm’s Way Missouri will also continue to advocate for free gardening education. They just set up a new area in the store that has become a new classroom, where they will be teaching different classes throughout the year. Contact them for more info!

Produced by

and included is a full year’s subscription (a value of $6) to

The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Saturday, February 21, 2015 Hosted by the Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis Held at St. Louis Community College - Meramec More information and registration at: www.hortco-op.org / 888-978-8433 Are you ready for spring? Join St. Louis’ local plant experts to start planning your garden for 2015 - education designed for:

Patio & Home: No yard? No problem! Learn how to create that perfect outdoor space on the patio or balcony.

Family Garden: Update the yard to create an outdoor space the entire family will enjoy - from gardening with children to creating a relaxing, outdoor oasis.

Field & Forest: It’s all about nature! If your idea of outdoor

living is to embrace native plants, the urban forest and wildlife, these education sessions are for you.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

The Gateway Gardener™

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2015 Klip n Keep Resource Guide Your Metro Region Green Industry Pros

GARDEN CENTERS AND NURSERIES

Kirkwood Material

Greenscape Gardens & Gifts

OK Hatchery

Kirkwood Material Supply

800 S, Fillmore Kirkwood (314) 822-9644 KirkwoodMaterial.com

115 E. Argonne Kirkwood (314) 822-0083

Rolling Ridge Nursery

MISSOURI

Sugar Creek Gardens

St. Louis City

1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com

3401 Hampton (314) 781-2314 BayerGardenShops.com

North

Bayer Garden Shop

Bowood Garden & Home 4605 Olive St. (314) 454-6868 BowoodFarms.com

St. Louis County Central Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S. Big Bend Richmond Heights (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com

Hartke Nursery 1030 North Warson St. Louis (314) 997-6679 HartkeNursery.com

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60 N. Gore Webster Groves (314) 962-3311 RollingRidgeNursery.com

A. Waldbart & Sons Nursery 5517 N. Florissant Florissant (314) 741-3121

South Sappington Garden Shop 11530 Gravois Rd. Crestwood (314) 843-4700 SappingtonGardenShop.com

West

Ballwin Nursery

112 Old Ballwin Rd. Ballwin (636) 394-7776 BallwinNurseryLandscape.com

2832 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com 2701 Barrett Station Rd. St. Louis (314) 966-4840 KirkwoodMaterial.com

Passiglia Nursery 1855 Highway 109 Wildwood (636) 458-9202 Passiglia.com

Valley Park Elevator & Hardware 2 Marshall Rd. Valley Park (636) 225-7100 ValleyParkElevator.com

Zick’s Great Outdoors 16498 Clayton Rd. Ballwin (636) 458-1445 ZicksGreatOutdoors.com

St. Charles County Ann’s Gardens & Greenhouse 5130 Mexico Rd. St. Peters, MO (636) 244-5533 AnnsGandG.com

Daniel’s Farm & Greenhouses 352 Jungermann Rd. St Peters (636) 441-5048 DanielsFarmAndGreenhouse.com

Frisella Nursery 550 Hwy F Defiance (636) 798-2555 FrisellaNursery.com

The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

2015 Klip n Keep Resource Guide Your Metro Region Green Industry Pros

TREE CARE

Lake St. Louis Garden Center

Gamma Tree Experts (314) 725-6159 GammaTree.com

3230 Technology Dr. Lake St. Louis (636) 561-0124 LakeStLouisGardenCenter.com

Trees, Forests and Landscapes (314) 821-9918 TreesForestsAndLandscapes.com

Other Missouri Locations Forrest Keeling

88 Forrest Keeling Ln. Elsberry, MO (800) FKN-2401 ForrestKeeling.com

Naturescapes Nursery

Hillermann’s Nursery & Florist

Godfrey

Collinsville

1674 N. Bluff Rd. (618) 344-8841

The Greenery

2601 E. 5th St. Washington, MO (636) 239-6729 Hillermann.com

1021 W. Delmar Ave. Godfrey, IL (618) 466-8475

Missouri Wildflowers

Piasa

Cottage Garden

9814 Pleasant Hill Rd. Jefferson City (573) 496-3492 MoWildFlowers.net

6967 Route 111 (618) 729-4324 CottGardens.com

Springfield

ILLINOIS Belleville

Davidsan’s Japanese Maples

Effinger Garden Center 720 South 11th St. (618) 234-4600 EffingerGarden.com

Sandy’s Back Porch Garden Center 2004 West. Blvd.

(618) 235-2004 SandysBackPorch.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

By Appointment Only (217) 303-2641 DavidsansJapaneseMaples.com

HYDROPONICS AND INDOOR GARDENING Worm’s Way 1225 N. Warson Rd. St. Louis, MO (314) 994-3900 WormsWay.com

The Gateway Gardener™

LANDSCAPING MATERIALS St. Louis Composting StLouisCompost.com 39 Old Elam Ave. Valley Park, MO (636) 861-3344 560 Terminal Rd. St. Louis, MO 11294 Schaefer Rd. Maryland Heights, MO 5841 Mine Haul Rd. Belleville, IL 13060 County Park Rd. Florissant, MO 18900 Franklin Rd. Pacific, MO

Thank you for supporting The Gateway Gardener frequent advertisers listed on this page. They make it possible to provide the magazine to you FREE each month. (Entries in red indicate year-round advertisers.)

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2015 Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes Gateway Green Industry Conference & Trade Show Gateway Convention Center Collinsville, IL January 27th and 28th Registration begins at 8am each day followed by the Keynote Session from 9-10:30am and then 3 break-out sessions each day.

Registration fee includes admission to classes, trade show, break refreshments and lunch. Keynote speakers will be Sam Wortman, speaking on Urban Agriculture, and Thomas Rainer, speaking about Designed Plant Communities. Breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Registration is $90 for 1 day or $120 for both days with discounts available for full-time students and Certified Master Gardeners. For registration information visit web. extension.illinois.edu/mms or call 618-344-4230.

27thAnniversary Midwestern Herb and Garden Show Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL. Feb. 13th-15th Hosted by the Herbs for Health and Fun Club and Mt. Vernon’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, this 27th Anniversary Show is the largest event of its type in the area. Featured speakers Doug Tallamy, a popular national speaker and author of Bringing

Nature Home, and Diane Brueckman, former rosarian at Missouri Botanical Garden and owner of Rosey Acres. A variety of other talented class speakers will host presentations geared for everyone from the novice to the master gardener. Plus, exhibitors display a variety of herbal and gardening items. Proceeds from the herb club’s resale booth are used for horticulture scholarships for local students. All indoors. Admission and hourly educational seminars are FREE. For details, visit www.midwesternherbandgardenshow. com or call Visitors Bureau (800) 252-5464. Free. Fri-Sat hours 10am– 9pm, Sunday Noon – 5pm.

Spring Training for Outdoor Living St. Louis Community College – Meramec February 21st An education event by the Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis.

Now is the time to start planning your garden! Whether that’s a few containers on a condo balcony or a yard filled with chickens and an outdoor entertainment room, education sessions are designed just for you. Join local garden center owners, landscape pros and St. Louis’ top plant people for education opportunities including: Patio & Home--Learn how to create that perfect outdoor space on the patio or balcony. Family Garden--Update

Crabgrass Season is Right Around the Corner!

Time To Purchase

Already Seeing Weeds?

Use Winterizer with Surge™ for weed control in cooler temperatures. It is effective in temperatures as low as 45°F!

1 Apply Dyna Green™ Crabgrass Preventer to control crabgrass, annual grasses, and broadleaf weeds up to 5 months!

Purchase Dyna Green ™ Fertilizer At These Authorized Dealers: Ann’s Garden & Greenhouse LLC 5130 Mexico Rd. St Peters, MO 63376 636-244-5533 www.annsgandg.com Bayer Garden Shop 3104 Hampton St Louis, MO 63139 (314) 781-2314 www.bayergardenshops.com

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Bayer Garden Shop 5926 Old State Rd. Imperial, MO 63052 (636) 464-2314 www.bayergardenshops.com Kirkwood Material Supply 7201 Barrett Station Rd, St Louis, MO 63021 (314) 966-4840 www.kirkwoodmaterial.com

Kirkwood Material Supply 800 S Fillmore Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 822-9644 www.kirkwoodmaterial.com Passiglia Nursery 1855 Highway 109 Wildwood, MO 63038 (636) 458-9202 www.passiglia.com

Sappington Garden Shop 11530 Gravois St Louis, MO 63126 (314) 843-4700 www.sappingtongardenshop.com Valley Park Elevator & Hardware 2 Marshall Rd Valley Park, MO 63088 (636) 225-7100 www.valleyparkelevator.com

Listen to The McGraw Show M-F 6-10am

The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

the yard to create an outdoor space the entire family will enjoy, from gardening with children to creating a relaxing, outdoor oasis. Field & Forest--If your idea of outdoor living is to embrace native plants, the urban forest and wildlife, these education sessions are for you. For more information and registration details, visit hortco-op.org or call 888-978-8433.

38th Annual Builders Home and Garden Show America’s Center St. Louis, MO—Feb. 26th-Mar. 1st The St. Louis Builders Home & Garden Show is one of the largest consumer home show in North America. Approximately 400 exhibitors fill more than 400,000 sq. ft. of America’s Center in downtown St. Louis! The show has been in existence for more than 35 years and is the place for area consumers to see, touch, compare and buy everything they need for their homes and gardens. The Builders Home and Garden Show is actually 6 complete shows in one - Lawn and Garden, Pool and Spa, Green Products, Kitchen & Bath, Interior Design and Building Products.

This year’s show features 5 fantastic gardens that will inspire you to create the yard and garden of your dreams. In addition to the magnificent landscapes, you will find lawn decorations, mowers and equipment, hardscape materials, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, nurseries, fencing, decking, playground equipment, plants, trees, shrubs and lawn and landscape services. The Lawn & Garden Showcase is also home to a number of presentations by gardening experts on a variety of topics, as well as the Children’s Garden Club, where kids can create free make-and-take projects. There is also the annual Flower Show Competition. Plus, ride a giant ferris wheel, and take some of the most popular John Deere lawn and garden equipment for a spin.

Dig In: A Gardening Seminar University of Missouri Extension Center St. Charles, MO February 28th 9am-12:30pm. Three sessions will be held with three topics offered each session. Registrants will choose a topic for each session for a total of three hours of instruction. $25 (nonrefundable) for registration received by February 20; $30 for late and at-the-door registration. Visit http://extension.missouri. edu/stcharles/digin.aspx to view the schedule of topics and details. Call 636-970-3000 to register for the seminar. All major credit cards accepted.

Partners for Native Landscaping Powder Valley Nature Center Kirkwood, MO February 28th 8am-4pm. A workshop for homeowners offering information and resources on how to landscape with native plants for greener communities. Topics include how to garden for birds and pollinators, cope with invasive species, develop and maintain a rainscape, garden for monarch butterflies and more.

Registration is $10 and includes lunch. Register online at www. stlouisaudupon.org/PNL.

A Standard Flower Show February 26th-March 1st Builder’s Home & Garden Show America’s Center • St. Louis, MO This year’s annual flower show at the St. Louis Builder’s Home and Garden Show invites participants to sew together a patchwork of beautiful floral design! “The Quilting Bee” is the theme for this year’s edition of the annual flower show and competition, once again presented by the East Central District of the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., and the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri.

Participants can enter in a number of categories, including a youth division, and show off designs celebrating a variety of themes.

Children can get some tips and practice prior to the show by attending the Children’s Garden Club meeting on January 3rd at Baisch & Skinner. Sponsors encourage any interested gardeners and flower arrangers to enter regardless of past experience.

The deadline for entries is February 19. For questions call: Design Entries Nancy Senter (314) 521-6534

Horticulture Entries Jackie Reynolds (314) 968-5004 Youth Entries Doug Wolter (314) 822-9095 The Flower Show is made possible by the Home Builders Association and the Home & Garden Show.

Sponsors include Sherwood’s Forest Nursery and Garden Center, which provided landscape materials to beautify the flower show area, Saint Louis County Parks, Baisch and Skinner, National Garden Clubs, Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Jost Greenhouses, St. Louis Composting and Wiethop Greenhouses.

Even if you don’t enter, be sure to stop by the Flower Show at Booth #744. And be sure to bring your children to the Children’s Garden Club booth #944.

For complete rules and regulations, visit our website at: GatewayGardener.com/flowershows/rules

Entry Form for Horticulture Division

Name__________________________________________ Phone #________________________________________ Address________________________________________ City_________________State_______Zip_____________ Class#

Class Title

_______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ Mail form to: Jackie Reynolds • 452 Foreston Place Webster Groves, MO 63119

Entry Form for Design Division

(Also use this form for Youth Design Section*)

Name__________________________________________ Phone #________________________________________ Address________________________________________ City_________________State_______Zip_____________ For Youth Entries: Age_______ Class#

Grade______________

Class Title

_______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ Mail form to: Nancy Senter • 8822 Heather Lane • Hazelwood, MO 63042 *Youth entries to: Douglas Wolter • St. Louis County Parks and Recreation • 1675 S. Mason Rd.• St. Louis, MO 63131

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

The Gateway Gardener™

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Naturally Natives What’s In Your Garden? Natural Diversity or Horticultural Variety Text by Scott Woodbury

Photos by Robert Weaver

center, native plant displays are passed up. They tend t’s no secret that native to lack colorful variety and gardens lack plant variety bold foliage textures. They compared to traditional lack new trademarked and gardens. A trip to a local heavily marketed varieties to garden center illustrates the choose from each spring. No point. Native plants are usually skinny upright or low bushy displayed in small well-marked evergreens. No weeping small areas (the Grow Native! point flowering trees or wispy of purchase). The remainder ornamental grasses. Only one of the garden center consists purple coneflower for heaven’s of vast areas dedicated to sake compared to the dozens cultivated varieties (cultivars) of cultivars that come in every of annuals, perennials, This American toad is finding plenty of insect diversity to keep him color of the rainbow. ornamental grasses, tropicals, happy among the native Rudbeckia seedlings. hanging baskets, sculpted But here is the thing. Native evergreens, trees, shrubs, butter). This is horticultural the eye, promising an artful plants attract more natural and evergreen groundcovers diversity at its best, delighting display and the latest, greatest diversity with a handful of (a garden center’s bread and plant and trend year after year. species than a hundred nonnative cultivars combined.

Why? Homeowners like nice Partners for Native Landscaping Native gardens have finches things. They are looking for a ...a workshop for homeowners. makeover or something new to because purple coneflowers Sat., February 28, 2015 8am-4pm see and show. They are hoping produce seed. They have at Powder Valley Nature Center • Kirkwood • MO dozens of bee and wasp to maintain or increase the species because plants like value of their big investment, In-Depth Workshop offers information and resources wild hydrangea have pollen their home. So when perusing on how to landscape with and nectar. And native plants at the local garden

I

native plants for greener communities.

Learn How to...

• Garden for Birds and Pollinators • Design & Maintain a Native Garden • Promote Monarch Butterflies • Develop & Maintain a Rainscape • Manage Invasive Bush Honeysuckle

Register Today! Space is Limited Register Online at www.stlouisaudubon.org/PNL Workshop at Powder Valley Nature Center 11715 Cragwold Rd. KIrkwood, MO 63122 Partner Organizations...

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Also...

• Hear about Organizations • Discover Upcoming Events • Meet Other Native Gardeners • Purchase Missouri Wildflowers

Cost: $10

Includes Lunch

Native plants are great at attracting colorful visitors to the garden, such as this monarch on a marsh milkweed.

The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants Dig Deeper.

Visit

GreenGardeningStL.com for More on Sustainable Gardening

A Grow Native! Top 10 List Featured Category:

Plants That Attract Abundant Wildlife Colorful birds of many species, including this house finch, flock to tasty native serviceberries in late spring. plants attract beetles, bugs, dragonflies, grasshoppers, crickets, spiders, butterflies, moths, lacewings, flies, ants and better yet, the critters that feed on them: birds, bats, hawks, lizards, frogs, toads, snakes and more. In total the natural diversity in a native garden is vastly greater than the horticultural variety in a traditional garden. In years past I have enjoyed the eyegrabbing jolt and the alluring elegance that comes from a horticultural display full of cultivars and non-native plants.

But now I enjoy the ongoing march of natural diversity that finds its way to the native garden. The difference is that gardening isn’t just about my selfish pleasures anymore.

Those days are waning as I plant more and more native plants and observe more and more natural diversity. The native garden is a sanctuary for species, a buffet for birds who feed their young insects, and a safe harbor for as much diversity as I can attract. Gardens can still wow gardeners and their visitors but what they are seeing is so much more than just nice to look at.

It’s full of life and mystery.

It’s unpredictable and changes from day to day. It invites natural diversity that isn’t for sale in any point of purchase.

The native plants on this list were selected by Scott Woodbury, Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, based on his observations and many years of experience, and represent a variety of plant types that support insects and other wildlife—herbaceous, woody, wildflowers, and even a sedge.

Native PlaNt Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

American spikenard (Aralia racemosa) Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum (Aster) oblongifolius) Bradbury beebalm (Monarda bradburiana) Eastern Blazingstar (Liatris scariosa) Marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) Palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis) Prairie pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) Swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

HeigHt

Wildlife attracted

3–5'

Bees, moths, flies, spiders, wasps, bugs, birds

2–4'

Fall butterflies, bees, wasps, winter birds

18–24" 3–5'

Butterflies, bees, birds Butterflies, bees, winter birds

10–15'

Monarchs and other butterflies, bees, bugs, birds Moths, butterflies, bees, flies, wasps, birds, mammals

18–24"

Moths, butterflies, birds

3–5'

1–3"

Copious spring flies, bees, wasps

40–50'

Moths, butterflies, birds

12–18"

Fall butterflies, bees, flies, wasps, winter birds

Grow Native! is a native plant education and marketing program of the

So I ask you again, what’s in your garden?

Bring Conservation Home

Horticulturalist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for more than 20 years.

• Dreaming of your own wildlife sanctuary?

• Fascinated by hummingbirds, butterflies or creepy/ crawlies?

• Not sure how to get started or which native plants are best?

Call (314) 599-7390 or check out our habitat assistance and certification program at:

www.stlouisaudubon.org/BCH

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

The Gateway Gardener™

13

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News Master Gardeners Honored

At its annual Holiday Party in December, the St. Louis Master Gardeners recognized a number of individuals and organizations for their volunteer contributions and community service Left to right, Chuck Brust, Mark efforts. In the latter Kalk and U, of Missouri Extension category, The Specialist Nathan Brandt.

Covering House, The Water Tower & Park Preservation Society, Gateway Greening City Seeds Urban Farm, and Tillie’s Corner were presented with cash awards to help support their endeavors in the use of gardens and gardening to promote community beautification, health, wellbeing, education and sustainability.

For the first time, Master Gardeners were recognized for the total number of lifetime volunteer hours they have contributed individually, including more than 8,000 hours by John Stevens, and over 7,000 hours by Ann Case! Individual Master Gardeners were also recognized for their significant service anniversaries (5, 10, 15, 20—and in the case of our very own Joyce Driemeyer, as well as Doris Johnston, Rosemary Murphy and Carol Wilson, 30 years!). Chuck Brust and Mark Kalk were recognized as co-Master Gardeners of the Year.

Chuck has volunteered for Flora Conservancy in Forest Park, participated in the beautiful plantings and maintenance at Kiener Plaza and Market Street downtown, and other Master Gardener volunteer projects. Mark has also contributed many hours getting his hands dirty in various volunteer projects, but has also been an active member of the Master Gardener leadership, helping coordinate the MG annual plant sale and the first MG Garden Tour, and also chaired the committee hosting last summer’s Missouri Master Gardener Conference in St. Louis. Lastly, nearly 60 members of the new Master Gardener Class of 2014 were introduced to the group.

Gateway Greening Wins ConAgra Foods Grant

Last October, Gateway Greening was awarded a $12,500 grant as part of the 2014 ConAgra Foods Foundation Nourish Our Commmunity program. The ConAgra Foods Foundation awards these grants annually to nonprofit organizations that provide exceptional service to communities where ConAgra Foods employees live and work. Funds will be used to purchase garden supplies for 2015 youth garden awardees. The organization was nominated for the award by Mark Sluss of ConAgra Foods, which employs 33,000 people across the United States.

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“Moving forward, our biggest growth opportunity is to engage youth in sustainable food production and gardenbased education and this grant from the ConAgra Foods Foundation will help this opportunity become a reality for an increasing number of youth,” said Gateway Greening Assistant Director, Mara Higdon.

Green Industry Awards Scholarships

At its recent holiday gathering, The Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis granted two $1,000 scholarships, one to a professional working in the green industry, and the other to a student studying horticulture at a regional school.

Tim Brunsman, an employee of the City of Richmond Heights, earned the professional award. Tim plans to Tim Brunsman, left, and use the award to attend professional Hort Co-op President development seminars and classes.

Roy Gross.

Tiffany Watson, a horticulture student at St. Louis Community CollegesMeramec, earned the academic award. Tiffany, who also works fulltime at Ritter Greenhouses in Bridgeton, hopes to become a landscape designer and certified arborist.

Tiffany Watson At the same event, the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis also announced scholarship recipients for its two $1,000 annual scholarship grants. Joseph McKee, also a student at St. Louis Community Colleges-Meramec, earned one award, while Tiffany doubled up by earning the second award.

Joseph McKee with his The Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis is a non-profit professional two sons, Lucas and green industry association organized Logan. to promote quality horticultural practices and materials by providing contemporary educational experiences for green industry professionals and consumers in the Gateway region. The Landscape and Nursery association consists of green-industry individuals and businesses serving “to lead the cooperative exchange of responsible knowledge and beneficial information intended to achieve landscape and garden excellence in the Gateway region.”

The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Upcoming Events Feb. 7th 9am—Fun Things in the Garden- Children’s Garden Club. Sappington Garden Shop.

11530 Gravois, St. Louis County, MO. FREE.

Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More 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 March issue is February 1st.

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

Feb. 26th-March 1st Children’s Garden Club at the Builder’s Home and Garden Show, America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis.

Booth #944

CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS Jan. 10th & 24th 10am-noon—Wine Making, California Merlot. This class will cover Polishing & Back Sweetening. A handout outlining each step in the process will be available. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.

Hillermann.com.

Jan. 27th-28th Gateway Green Industry Conference & Trade Show. See pages 10-11 for details.

Jan. 31 -Feb. 1 9am-5pm—Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Orchid Show and Sale. 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, Beaumont Room, st

FUN FOR KIDS Jan. 3 9 am—Use of Dried Materials— Children’s Garden Club. Baisch & Skinner, Inc., 2721 LaSalle St., St. Louis, MO. FREE. rd

st

Ridgway Visitor Center. Included with Garden admission. www. osogsl.org.

Jan. 31st through Mar. 22nd 9am-5pm—Annual Orchid Show: Orchids and their Pollinators.

Features 800 blooming orchids from one of the world’s premier orchid collections. The Orchid Show is the only time of year when a vast, rotating selection of orchids from the Garden’s collection is available for public viewing.

Orthwein Floral Display Hall at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Garden admission plus $5 ($3 for Children); free for Garden members.

Feb. 12th 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Naturescaping Beyond Beauty.

Learn how to select, arrange, install and maintain native plants for optimal owner, neighbor and wildlife satisfaction. Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations.

Audience participation encouraged.

Registration is required by visiting online at www.shawnature.org or calling (636) 451-3512 x0. $15 ($12 Garden members).

Feb. 13th-15th 27th Anniversary Midwestern Herb and Garden Show. See pg. 10-11 for details.

Dig Gardening?

Register for the Missouri Master Gardener online training TODAY!

Feb. 21st Spring Training for Outdoor Living. See pages 10-11 for details.

Feb. 19th-Mar. 26th 2pm and 7pm--Gardening Seminars. Each Thursday a different topic is discussed.

Join the fun! Call for topics.

Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700 or SappingtonGardenShop.com.

Feb. 26th-Mar. 1st Annual Builders Home and Garden Show. See page 10-11 for details.

Feb. 28th Dig In: A Gardening Seminar.

See pages 10-11 for details.

Partners for Native Landscaping. See pages 10-11 for details.

Spring 2015 events: Feb 28 Dig-In: A gardening seminar, pick your topics, 3 hours Mar 4

Begin training to become a Master Gardener, 15-weeks

Mar 14 Cool-season vegetable sale, in the greenhouse, 9 - Noon Apr 25 Annual Plant Sale, 9 - Noon

260 Brown Rd., St. Peters, 63376 Call 636-970-3000 for more info

Master Gardener Certification - $175 (Complete 30 hours of volunteer work.)

For Personal Enrichment Only - $325 (No volunteer hours.)

CLASSES BEGINNING: • Learn the principles of plant growth Feb. 1- Register by Jan. 23 and development Sept. 1 - Register by Aug. 21 • 14-week online course Register at • Learn at your own pace extension.missouri.edu/mgonline

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

The Gateway Gardener™

15

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