The Gateway Gardener Winter 2020

Gateway Gardener

WINTER 2020-2021

THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

’s a e u s is This EPER! tion KE forma In e c r se u U o s l l e ’ R You Round! ear 4-15 Y l l A s1 e g a P

Holiday Gift Guide Shop Local for the Gardeners on your List

2021 New Plant Preview Horticultural Therapy Leaves of Autumn FREE Courtesy of:

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 March 2021 issue is February 1st.

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122 314-968-3740 Email: info@gatewaygardener.com Nov. 3rd-Dec. 31st Winter Jewels. The Butterfly House transforms into an enchanted land this winter. Visit a fierce dragon and noble knights at the castle, discover tropical jeweltoned butterflies and fairy gardens in the Conservatory, and make new friends in the gnome forest. Free for members, included with admission for non-menbers. Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, 12/24 and 12/25.

Nov. 4th 8:30-12:10pm—2020 GrowNative!

Professional Member Conference (Virtual)—Open to all! Keynote address is Soil Carbon Dynamics in Restored Prairie

and Native Grassland Plantings, by Dr. Sarah Baer. Other programs include Landscaping with Native Trees, and Native Landscapes for Municipalities. Free to professional members of GrowNative! $30 for non members. Register at GrowNative.org/ Conference2020.

Nov. 11th through Dec. 16th 4pm Wednesdays—Fall Missouri Prairie Foundation and Grow Native! Webinars and Master Classes (Virtual). Webinars are free to all, Master Classes free to GrowNative! professional members. Call (636) 303-7418 for questions. Register at moprairie.org/ events. Nov. 11th-Master Class: Landscaping with Native Sedges; Nov. 18th-Webinar: Winter Sparrows, A Challenge but a Joy!; Dec. 2nd- Webinar: Gardening for Beneficial Insects; Dec. 9th-Webinar: Healthy, Happy Habitat; Dec. 16th-Master Class: Invasive Plant Management.

Nov. 11ththrough Dec. 31st 11am Wednesday-Friday—Books and Butterflies. Join us for special story time readings with “celebrity” guests from classic children’s literature, local St. Louis landmarks, sports mascots, and more!

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. (Closed Thanksgiving, 12/24, and 12/25) Nov. 11-Jan. 2nd Garden Glow. Celebrate the season with one million lights, fun new experiences, and

traditional favorites. Enjoy s’mores, festive drinks, and great photo opportunities that will delight guests of all ages. Tickets and information at mobot.org/glow. Advance tickets encouraged. Missouri Botanical Garden.

dinner and see how butterflies get into the holiday sprit by taking night strolls through the tropical conservatory. Finish off the evening with a souvenir photo op with the the guest of honor! Advance registration required. Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House.

Nov. 14th-15th Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. Noon-4pm—Old Webster Winter Market. Visit small businesses and restaurants, including Rolling Ridge Nursery for outdoor market set up on sidewalk and patios.

Feb. 27th, 2021 St. Charles County Master Gardeners will present a virtual set of eight gardening classes starting at 9am. “Grow it, Eat it – The joy of growing , eating and preserving the harvest”.

More information and online registration can be accessed after January 1st at www. stcharlescountymastergardeners.com.

Nov. 18th Native Plant School: Combining Native Perennials (Virtual). Success with native plants in the garden comes with choosing the right plant for the right location. Free to MBG members and $10 for non-members.

Register early, only 100 spaces available.

Registration ends Nov. 16th at 9am. Register at mbgregistration.mobot.org.

Nov. 28th-29th 10am-5pm--Holiday Open House.

Complimentary cocktails and goodie bags, family photo ops, discounts on various items, live music and more. Sun. Live Reindeer photo op. Planthaven Farms, 6703 Telegraph Rd., Oakville. (314)-846-0078.

Dec. 12th-13th, 19th-20th Supper with Santa. Santa is stopping by the Butterfly House. Join him for a delicious

February 2021 Southern Illinois Fruit & Vegetable Conference (Virtual). Combined with the Southern Illinois Tree Fruit School. This event will have a shortened format at a reduced price. We will be advertising the event in the coming months in our normal promotional manner with mailings and e-mails. Also please check our website for program updates: extension.illinois.edu/ mms.

March 2021 Gateway Green Industry Conference and Weekend Gardener (Virtual). We plan to offer Continuing Education Units for arborist, park & recreation, landscaping architects, etc. at our GGIC event. Information will be posted on our website: web.extension. illinois.edu/mms.

TO PLANT A GARDEN IS TO BELIEVE IN TOMORROW THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT THIS SEASON

WINTER BREAK DECEMBER 1-FEBRUARY 28 GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE AT WWW.GREENSCAPEGARDENS.COM

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The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

WINTER 2020-2021

November through February Volume 16, Number 7

Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists Diane Brueckman Rosarian Abby Lapides Nursery Professional Steffie Littlefield Edg-Clif Winery Jennifer Schamber Nursery Professional Scott Woodbury Native Plant Specialist 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.

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From the Editor

hat a wild trip 2020 has been. And here we are wrapping it up and looking toward a Holiday Season unlike any most of us have experienced. For many of us, it will be without the usual holiday gatherings of family and friends who are so integral to the season’s joy and spirit. It will be without, as well, many of the annual holiday traditions, festivities and events that we look forward to every year.

But, disappointing as all that will surely be, it may also be a time for us to get creative in establishing new ways to make this unique year of holiday celebrations special. In our family, plans are already being discussed for a caravan tour of area light exhibits.

Other more adventurous and perhaps less vulnerable folks may get together for socially distanced gatherings around a bonfire. And of course, there still will be, I’m sure, plenty of outdoor decorating going on—at least our caravan is counting on that! And even if we can’t get together, we may still want to remember those gardeners in our lives. On page 10, we offer several gift suggestions to help you in your search for that special gardening friend or family member—or for a little welldeserved self-indulgence!

For some the anxieties of 2020 have nothing to do with the holidays

or COVID, but are nonetheless compounded by these additional stresses. Scientific studies have shown us being around plants can do something about that, leading to a therapeutic discipline known as “Horticultural Therapy.” On page 6, guest contributor Lisa Ann Douglass introduces us to Horticultural Therapy and some of the programs she has been involved in, especially with children, to help reduce stress through the power of plants.

Many gardeners get through the stresses and doldrums of winter by thumbing through the myriad of seed and plant catalogs that stream in in January and February.

In addition to tried and true favorites, we’ll often discover a new introduction we simply have to have. Abby Lapides suggests a few of those on her 2021 plant radar beginning on page 4.

Enough talk, however, about stresses and doldrums. With Thanksgiving upon us, I want to give thanks for the extreme good fortune many of us in the gardening industry experienced as so many people turned to growing vegetables and planting gardens in 2020. The independent garden centers were remarkably creative in putting in place safe strategies to make sure we could all still get our gardening fixes, and gardeners rewarded them.

And I want to give thanks for the good health most of my family and friends have enjoyed, both related to the coronavirus and other issues. If one can say that in these times, one is truly blessed. I hope each of you can do so.

Finally, I want to thank all of our readers and advertisers for continuing to enjoy and support The Gateway Gardener as we wrap up our 15th anniversary. I’m looking forward to continuing the adventure in 2021. See you all in March!

Good Gardening!

On the Cover...

These cheery snowmen might be just the thing to brighten the holiday season for your favorite gardener. For more suggestions check out our annual Holiday Gift Guide on page 10. (Photo courtesy Timberwinds Nursery)

IN THIS ISSUE 2 4 6 10 12 14

Upcoming Events 2021 Plant Preview Horticultural Therapy Holiday Gift Guide Autumn Leaves Resource Guide--Metro Pros

Looking to the Future: 2021 Preview

By Abby Lapides

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hile much of the world stopped in 2020, the plant world kept on going.

Exciting new plants available in 2021 will keep us looking towards the future.

‘Carpet Angel Daisy’

Red Hot Poker ‘Rocket’s Red Glare’. Want to scare the neighbors? With ‘Rocket’s Red Glare’ red hot poker they’ll think you’ve started a fire in the yard.

Large spikes of fire-red flower buds open to peachy flowers that are adored by hummingbirds.

These flowers open from the

Yucca ‘Pole Vaulter’

Walter’s Gardens

leaves form into an attractive tidy rosette of foliage, but it’s the flower spikes that you’ll be drooling over. Gigantic spikes of creamy white flowers can get up to 10’ tall! If you’re looking for something to add some real Yuccca ‘Pole Vaulter. Let’s wow-factor to your garden switch gears and look at ‘Pole Vaulter’ may be it. Yuccas something that is prized for its are hardy succulents that are giant size. Yucca ‘Pole Vaulter’ perfect for hot and dry areas. is an exciting new plant that can make your garden look Hibiscus ‘French Vanilla’. A like it came out of the Wild breakthrough color for hardy West. Large blue-green spiky Hibiscus, ‘French Vanilla’ is

the first to exhibit shades of yellow. Soft yellow flower buds open to dinner-plate sized flowers of a creamy custard yellow. The ruffled flowers feature a prominent red eye.

While the large flowers look like they’d be more at home in a tropical paradise, hardy Hibiscus actually is a tough native Missouri perennial.

Although later to emerge than other perennials in spring, they can add up to an inch of growth 4

Walter’s Gardens

Hibiscus ‘French Vanilla’

Red Hot Poker ‘Rocket‘s Red Glare’

Walter’s Gardens

Growing Colors

‘Carpet Angel Daisy.’

The classic Shasta daisy is universally beloved. Their snow-white flowers are sure to bring cheer to any passersby. Most Shasta daisies can grow quite tall, with the classic ‘Becky’ growing over 3’. But what if you want something a little shorter? Or a lot shorter?

The brand-new ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ grows only 4-5” tall but can get a whopping 24-40” wide, making it the first-ever ground cover Shasta daisy. This adorable daisy is perfect for the front of a sunny garden, where its petite habit will best be seen.

a day, and are perfect for large plantings or used in the back of the perennial border.

bottom to the top, looking like a dense patch of fireworks shooting off. Grass-like green foliage forms into a nice dense mound. The spiky flowers and leaves perfectly contrast with the rounded foliage and leaves of hardy Hibiscus.

Diervella ‘Honeybee’. It can be difficult to bring vibrant color to shady conditions, especially if the soil is dry. ‘Honeybee’ Diervella, a small and rugged shrub, loves dry shade. The

The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

Growing Colors

Diervella ‘Honeybee’

or used in mass where a lowmaintenance ground cover is needed.

Celosia ‘Candela Pink’. If you’re looking for something completely unique try Celosia ‘Candela Pink’. This one-ofa-kind annual features long intense pink flowers that look like they could glow in the dark.

Not only is this a showstopper, it’s also extremely tough and long blooming, winning it a place in the All America Selections for 2021. I saw this in a test garden about a year ago, before it was even named, and I was thunderstruck. Don’t take my word for it, read some of the AAS judges’ comments: “It kept going almost 2 months after the comparison quit blooming.”

“Totally deer resistant and tolerated high humidity and high temperatures into the ’90s.” “Really unique!

The longer blooms make it a very striking and interesting plant that would be great for container gardens and in the right garden, a fabulous addition to the landscape.”

Celosia ‘Candela Pink’

Ann Lapides

bright golden foliage brings light to even the dullest of corners. Clusters of yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, which are adored by pollinators, bloom all season long. In fall

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.

Waiting for the first plants to wake up in the garden can be agonizingly long for the anxious gardener. Dreaming about some the foliage turns deep crimson. of the new plant offerings can A great choice for planting help move winter along, at least in spots with erosion issues in our minds.

WINTER 2020 The Gateway Gardener™

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What is Horticultural Therapy, Anyway?

H

ave you ever wondered why you feel so much better after you smell a flower, toil in the soil or get a fresh breath of air? Have you ever noticed that you sleep better after gardening? Well, it is true - we really do feel better after these activities. Numerous brain studies prove it. Often people do not recognize the therapeutic benefits they receive from gardening, but often they say, “I feel so much better after spending time in the garden”.

Text by Lisa Ann Douglass, Photos by Hillary Fitz to help servicemen rehabilitate after traumatic stress and mental illness. During the Second World War in the 1940s, garden club members brought gardening activities directly to the servicemen.

So what exactly is a Therapeutic Horticulture garden, you ask?

According to the American Horticulture Therapy Association, “a therapeutic garden is a plant-dominated environment purposefully designed to facilitate interaction with the healing elements of nature. Interactions can be passive or active depending on the garden design and users’ needs.”

From my personal experience, I know that gardening can relieve stress, anxiety, and clear the mind. I have been a beneficiary of the mood stabilizing effects Lisa Ann Douglass conducts a “Blooming Minds” class. of gardening. I have personally felt how gardening can increase my sense of tranquility, spirituality Horticultural Therapy, like Physical Rehabilitation and and enjoyment of engaging in nature. These are real effects that Occupational Therapy, all have common objectives and goals. gardening has on me. The powerful healing I’ve experienced in the The common objective is healing and recovery. What is unique to garden is one of the reasons why I changed my career to become a Horticultural Therapy is that it incorporates the whole person— mind, body, and spirit—engaging all of the senses to achieve a Horticultural Therapist. deep-healing effect and improve overall wellbeing. Horticultural Many people are familiar with professions such as Occupational Therapy has been shown to help regulate emotions, moods and Therapy and Physical Rehabilitation. Doctors write prescriptions perceptions. It can provide relief to people who experience anxiety, for these services to help restore a patient’s physical wellbeing. depression, PTSD, or those who suffer as a result of experiencing Would you be surprised if you received a written prescription to trauma. see a Horticulture Therapist? You might say, “What is that? What Here are just a few examples of the many kinds of people who is Horticultural Therapy anyway?” might benefit from Horticultural Therapy: WHAT IS HORTICULTURAL THERAPY? Horticultural Therapy is not a new concept, although it is making a * A person who has witnessed a shooting or other shocking event, comeback in modern science and medicine. It has been documented and then suffers from post-traumatic stress; since ancient times. For instance, some of the most powerful * A child who comes from a low-income home without enough to healing medicines trace backs to roots in Mesopotamia around eat and experiences anxiety due to chronic food insecurity; 500 BC. In Ancient Egypt and Persia, they created gardens to * A teen who has been bullied and suffers from trauma, anxiety or sooth the senses, provide beauty, and cultivate healing medicines. depression.

Many of these healing herbs are still in use today and a number of Regarding social justice, studies have shown that there are modern medicines have been derived from these powerful plant serious food inequities when comparing underserved, lowcompounds. income households to those with higher incomes. Underserved In the 1800s, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a psychiatrist who was also a communities can benefit from the role of the Horticultural Therapist, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was recognized as the which includes designing gardens and providing experiences in “Father of American Psychiatry.” Dr. Rush was first to document the public spaces where people can visit the garden to enjoy growing positive effects that working in the garden can have on individuals food, learn, or simply take in the beauty of nature. The garden can with mental illness. In 1879, Friends Hospital in Philadelphia provide a safe space, which is integral to a therapeutic setting. This built the first greenhouse in a hospital setting that was dedicated space also offers access to nature, which are often not available to for the beneficial effects that plants had on patients. Since World underserved communities.

War I, over 100 years ago, Horticulture Therapy has been used 6

The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

In the first Blomming Minds session, children learned All About Apples.

The garden offers many benefits and opportunities for everybody, particularly those who have experienced trauma in urban environments—to feel nature’s positive influences on regulating the nervous system, calming and soothing the body and mind.

St. Louis has a large number of food deserts, or areas where there is inequity and lack of access to healthy, wholesome food. Here lies an opportunity to truly make a difference. The garden could be an amazing resource for those who are truly in need of healthy foods for their family. My goal is to become a Horticultural Therapist, and help provide these much-needed services and a place of refuge for those communities that have gone unheard for too long.

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS I have the pleasure and privilege of working as the Garden Education Coordinator at a prominent garden center in suburban St. Louis.

For many years. it has been a community partner, teaming up with organizations such as Gateway Greening, the St. Louis Zoo, and GrowNative - helping to spread the word about the amazing benefits of gardening. As the Garden Education Coordinator, I conduct educational activities in and around the garden. Using an outdoor classroom setting is an amazing experience and I have so much fun with the kids!

The kids who attend our programming have an opportunity to get some fresh air and spend an hour of their time away from cell phones and electronic screens. Their parents benefit by having an hour of free time to browse, get some work done, or simply just sit down and relax in a nature-filled space. When the kids come to a session, they get to participate in a number of hands-on projects.

Whether it be getting hands dirty with a planting project, touring the nursery and interacting with a variety of plants, collecting little treasures in nature, or making nature related projects—there is so much to be experienced at the garden center. Now more than ever, as the stresses of the pandemic weigh heavy on families and on education, our goal is to provide an alternative to screen time and a memorable outdoor experience that is uplifting, positive, and nourishing. We have consistent, repeat families that attend our sessions and it is so rewarding to see the joy that this programming brings to the children and the parents. One parent commented, “We have enjoyed every class we have been to. The kids have learned a lot and we talk about what we learn in the lessons. We take it home and we live it”. Even though the classes are for children K-5, the parents often walk away learning something new, too! Some have walked away with recipes, fresh vegetables, and more. After our Roots and Shoots class, one parent even took a trip to the grocery

WINTER 2020 The Gateway Gardener™

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store with the kids to find the vegetables we discussed in class!

Before we begin each class, I always welcome each child personally. At every session, I ask each child how they’re doing.

Then I explain the rules of the class, such as raising hands to ask and answer questions, being mindful of talking over others,

children and families in the community that were being affected by the pandemic. She asked me to put together an educational program for children.

When it came time to move forward with the plan, Jennifer, Hillary and I teamed up. We p u t our heads together and came up with ideas for the program that we

listening decided t o what others have to t o call share, and cleaning up afterwards.

“Blooming Minds.”

Hillary Fitz, our marketing manager and a “Blooming Minds” is a pilot program certified yoga instructor, begins and sometimes that draws on therapeutic horticulture also ends each class with a mindfulness & techniques with an emphasis in science and yoga activity. This part of the programming is mindfulness.

As a community resource, Blooming Minds program designed to help the kids to relax and focus, clearing their minds is free for children who attend. It is experiential educational and preparing them for the next stage of the class. program for children ranging from kindergarten to 5th grade.

“BLOOMING MINDS” – A PILOT PROGRAM FOR KIDS Hosting programming during a pandemic is definitely a challenge, In 2020, Jennifer Schamber, our general manager and the contributor so we got creative while still keeping safety the top priority. We who usually writes in this space, wanted to do something special for practice safety precautions and social distancing. Class size is limited to 6 children per class to keep the kids safe.

We just completed our first Fall program, which ran 8 weeks, ending in mid-October.

Here’s an example from Week One:

F I N D T H E P E R F E CT

PLANTS&

P OT T E RY

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

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ALL ABOUT APPLES We started the session with fun, educational information about where apples come from. I read a book called No Ordinary Apple: A Story About Eating Mindfully, by Sara Marlowe. It encourages children in a humorous way and teaches them to slow down and appreciate eating in a very simple, mindful way. In class, each child tasted slices of different apples and was asked to describe the flavors of each apple, using several different mindful tasting techniques. The kids gave some very interesting responses to questions about the apple’s sweetness, how the apple feels on their tongue, and how it feels different in various parts of their mouth.

Next, they voted on their favorite apple and why they liked it best.

At the end of each session, I closed by asking the children what was the most important thing that they learned. After listening to the responses, I found that they were able to understand the point of mindfulness. We talked about how they could apply these same techniques when tasting different foods - even foods that they do not like. We also got creative with an apple-based art project!

SO HOW DID THE PROGRAM GO? The program showed some amazing benefits. It encouraged kids to go outdoors, breathe fresh air, and let the sunshine warm their faces.

They learned a lot over the course of the programming and walked away with not only some amazing nature-inspired art projects, but with an appreciation for nature and a better understanding of what mindfulness is. Their parents and grandparents benefit as well from The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

the opportunity to have some personal time and foster independent learners.

I loved every second of working with the kids. Watching the kids engage with nature and reap the benefits of this programming was truly inspiring. I have a wonderful feeling and cannot wait to see where this journey takes me.

Lisa Ann Douglass is the Garden Education Coordinator at Greenscape Gardens, in Ballwin, Missouri. She is currently completing her credentials as a registered Horticulture Therapist, recognized by the American Therapeutic Horticulture Association. She earned her MBA from Kennesaw State University. She is a certified Therapeutic Horticulture Activity Specialist in Advanced Behavior & Cognitive Development.

She is also the owner and Executive Director of Healing Seeds of Eden LLC. In 2021, her company will begin the first round of funding to support purchasing land, designing and creating the “Healing Seeds of Eden Community Gardens” which will serve as a public space dedicated to providing Horticulture Therapy, education and outreach activities to support the diverse communities of the greater St. Louis area.

G I F T S O A K V I L L E

nd

Rou ‘ r a e Y Open

Come visit us for ALL your Fall/Winter needs!

✓Fresh Cut Michigan Trees ✓Greens and Magnolia Garland and Wreaths ✓Unique Gifts & Home Decor ✓Poinsettias & Amaryllis ✓Houseplants & More!

PlanthavenFarms.com 6703 Telegraph Rd. 314.846.0078

Healing the Earth one yard at a time.

ST. LOUIS CHAPTER Would like to express our appreciation for the native landscaping education and inspiration provided by The Gateway Gardener, its contributors and advertisers.

stlwildones.org

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Holiday Gifts for Gardeners Sugar Creek Gardens 1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood, MO 314-965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com

candles! In three decorative sizes and winter scents, these soy candles make for a perfect hostess gift or gift for yourself this holiday season. The largest candle even has a decorative Christmas tree top that can be used as décor long after the candle burns out! Available scents include: Winter White, Balsam and Cedar, and Woodfire.

OK Hatchery 115 E. Argonne Dr. Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 822-0083

The Incredible Soil Knife A million garden tools in one!

Plant bulbs and flowers, divide perennials, dig out weeds, saw through roots, prepare furrows for seeding, chop greens off root veggies, and so much more! Lifetime guarantee!

Garden Heights Nursery, Inc 1605 S Big Bend St. Louis, MO 314-645-7333 GardenHeights.com

Studio M Mail Wraps, Flags, and Doormats Mailwraps are made in the USA and have vivid, longlasting colors. Flags are made of exclusive SolarSilk® fabric, and rubber doormats are weatherproof and can be used indoors or out.

Bluebird House A traditionally crafted bluebird house using durable, renewable cedar, chosen for weather resistance and superior insulation properties.

Beautifully detailed wood carving on face available in Mother Earth, Father Time, Bear and Owl designs. A 1-1/2” entrance hole, is attractive to the eastern bluebird and discouraging to unwanted species. Turn-tab closure on the front for quick and easy clean out. Appropriate air ventilation and drainage is provided. Fully assembled. Corrosion resistant screw hardware. 13” x 6.5” x 6.25”.

Planthaven Farms Garden Center 6703 Telegraph Rd. Oakville, MO 63129 (314) 846-0078 PlanthavenFarms.com

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

Fresh greens, wreaths, pine roping, holly and poinsettias.

Decorated or plain grave blankets and grave sprays. Cut balsam and fraser fir Christmas trees and live green spruce. And be sure to bring your camera for a great holiday photo op with our antique Russian sleigh!

Greenscape Gardens & Gifts 2832 Barrett Station Rd. Ballwin, MO (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com

Hillermann Nursery & Florist 2601 E. 5th Street Washington, MO 63090 636-239-6729 Hillermann.com Bronze Bird Lamp Unique bird and turtle lamp perfect for the wildlife and nature lover on your list.

Illume Cotton Wick Candles Cozy up for the holidays with these Illume warm winter 10

Welliver Outdoors Carved

Winter Porch Pots There’s nothing like fresh The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

Looking for that special gift for your favorite gardener? We asked area garden centers and other related shops for some suggestions to make your shopping easier-or clip and leave conspicuously lying around as a not-so-subtle hint to your Santa. greenery that lasts all winter long to spruce up your space for the holidays and beyond.

These winter porch pots are handmade by our custom design team here at Greenscape and each one arrangement is one of a kind. Made from fresh evergreen cuttings and seasonal accents, these low maintenance porch pots are a wonderful way to add life to your space throughout the cold, dreary months. Last but not least they smell amazing!

Effinger Garden Center 720 South 11th St Belleville IL 62220 618-234-4600 www.effingergarden.com

Rolling Ridge Nursery 60 N. Gore Webster Groves, MO (314) 962-3311 Rolling RidgeNursery.com

Fresh Greens and More Fresh greens, wreaths, pine roping, holly and poinsettias.

Festive holiday planters.

Amaryllis, rosemary and bonsai. Decorated grave blankets and grave sprays. Cut balsam and fraser fir Christmas trees. Live blue spruce, Alberta spruce and white pine trees.

Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard 10025 Edg-Clif Drive Potosi, Mo 63664 573-438-4741 www.edg-clif.com steffie@edg-clif.com

Moss Amigos Moss Amigos are the easiest plants to take care of. All they need is love, light, and an occasional water change (they’re living, after all!) These furry green balls of joy are popularly known as moss balls, when in fact they aren’t technically moss at all, but pure 100% spherical algae.» They make the perfect gift for any occasion~ various styles and hats to choose from!

the gift of a winter getaway and winery experience. Cheers!

Timberwinds Nursery 54 Clarkson Road Ellisville, MO (636) 227-0095 TimberwindsNursery.com

for stronger, healthier, fastergrowing plants. Able to fruit and flower earlier and survive better. And grow up to two times faster. Order your gift card at bit.ly//ShopNatives.

Card to be redeemed at our Elsberry location, just a short drive from St. Louis on Highway 79.

Karen Dideon Santas A wide selection of home décor and unique gifts items for inside and out: tableware, scented candles, ornaments, Karen Didion Santa’s, stocking stuffers and more. The greenhouse is stocked with seasonal bulbs and plants, and we will offer a complete selection of live greens to decorate your home. Stop in to share some holiday cheer with us.

Forrest Keeling Nursery 88 Forrest Keeling Lane Elsberry, MO 63343 800-356-2401 ForrestKeeling.com

Edg-Clif Winery Getaway Escape to the country for a winter weekend! Visit www. edg-Clif.com and tap a link to one of the 4 Airbnb cottages for

WINTER 2020 The Gateway Gardener™

Native Plants Make winter gardening dreams come true for your native plant fanatic with a gift card from Forrest Keeling Nursery.

Innovator of the patented RPM-production method

Herbaceous Perrenial Plants, 4th Edition, by Dr. Allan Armitage.

New edition of a reference recognized as one of “75 Great American Garden books.”

Dozens of new species, hundreds of new cultivars.

Detailed discussion of changing plant nomenclature.

All with Dr. Armitages informal/humorous style. Visit www.allanarmitage.net/shop, Amazon or Stipes.com.

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Naturally Natives In Autumn, Our thoughts Turn to Leaves

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by Scott Woodbury

n fall and early winter, wet, fallen sycamore leaves produce a fragrance similar to bay rum or bay leaves. Since it isn’t bottled and available at my local drugstore, I head for a river bottom in search of the leaves and their lovely smell. It is more noticeable when the leaf litter is damp or wet. It’s a subtle odor, though unmistakable when you discover it. Like a fresh humid-air smell from the Gulf Coast, blown northward on a warm spring breeze in Missouri. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) grow incredibly fast (2 to 3 feet per year) and are long-lived. They can uptake huge amounts of water from saturated soils in poorly drained areas of your property. They also have very showy bright white and tancamo bark when mature.

f. inermis) has similar tiny leaflets that disappear in planting beds.

I often hear that oaks are a poor choice near parking areas and houses because the acorns are too big and messy. But chinquapin oak acorns are tiny—smaller than a dime—and its leaves are the smallest of all the oaks in the northern Ozarks. It’s fine textured leaves and small acorns are easy to sweep up on pavement and they virtually disappear in planting beds while providing litter (if left in beds as mulch) for over-wintering butterflies and moths.

Also, chinquapin oak (Quercus muhlenbergii) grows quickly and tolerates high pH (low acidity) soil that occurs near concrete and limestone gravel (sidewalks, driveways, and foundations).

Black Gum Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) has the best burgundy, yellow, and Kentucky orange fall color. Its small leaves also sift into planting areas without the need for raking and therefore support wildlife. It Coffeetree produces many purple berries that cedar waxwings gorge on from October through early December. They start feeding at the top and Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is full of methodically work their way down, with their cee-cee-cee call contradictions. It was once awarded “Best Tree for Solar Benefit” head all the way down the tree. by the American Society of Landscape architects because its leaves cast the greatest amount of shade in summer, and its stems cast the Sweetgum least amount of shade in winter. The result comes in home energy cost savings, because when a tree (or trees) grows on the south ‘Rotundiloba’ and/or west side of the house (within 15 feet), the building gets shaded and cooled from summer sun and bathed in warm winter rays. Its stems are oddly coarse in texture, having half the stems and branches of a maple tree, hence more sunlight passes through its canopy in winter. On the other hand, its leaves are massive and bipinnately compound, which means that its leaflets (which are many and tiny) are arranged on a series of twigs (called petioles) that branch two times into an intricate arrangement. The overall lacey, leaf structure can measure two-feet wide and long. Fall color is bright yellow and the leaflets are so tiny that they somewhat disappear in the landscape, though the massive 15-inch petioles Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) gets confused with black need to be raked up. Thornless honey-locust (Gleditsia triocanthos gum. It also has fantastic red-orange fall color, but has five-lobed leaves and is shunned by gardeners who dread the messy gum balls.

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The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants

Robert Weaver

I had to rake up gum balls before my own wedding reception to keep people from turning their ankles. There is a fruitless cultivar of sweetgum called ‘Rotundiloba’ that has rounded leaf lobes and burgundy fall color. It is slow-growing, upright, and fits into small garden spaces better than the straight species.

When I was younger, I cut a big black walnut tree down thinking it was dead though it was very much alive.

You see, black walnuts (Juglans nigra) lose their leaves early.

In dry years, leaves start coming down in late August and trees are leafless by September. It must have been a dry year.

To be honest, I didn’t feel entirely bad since my friend convinced me it was dead, it was on his property, and he split and burned the wood in his wood stove that winter. That said, I learned my A typical walnut tree in early October. lesson. Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) and Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) lose their leaves in late summer or early fall and so can serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) and rusty blackhaw viburnum (Virburnum rufidulum).

Young witchazels (Hamamelis vernalis and H. virginica) at times have a quality that some may find unattractive. The dried winter leaves stick to the stems through its bloom period (November through February), hiding the winter flowers. This normally happens on young trees (less than 5 to 7 years old) but sometimes lasts for over a decade. Due to genetic diversity, some seedlings are more prone to this condition than others. This also occurs on oak

seedlings during a period of juvenile vigor, when plants are growing rapidly. Most oaks outgrow this before they turn ten, but not all.

However, the persistent dried leaves on witchazel and young oaks do provide a privacy screen, which is an attractive quality.

Speaking of leaf challenges, arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) leaves smell like old gym socks when it rains. Unless you like this odor, plant them as far away from your nose as possible. They have nice burgundy and/or pinkish fall color, dense stems that birds prefer to nest in, and clusters of purple berries that birds devour. When you pry money out of your pocket to purchase this plant, remind yourself how important plant diversity is for attracting wildlife and consider the benefits of keeping fallen leaves in garden beds. Many butterfly, moth, and bee species overwinter in or beneath fallen leaf litter and will die if you rake and remove the leaves. Consider raking fifty percent fewer leaves this year in your garden beds and planting smaller-leaved native tree species that blend in where leaves float down into planting beds. There are so many different ways to garden beautifully while promoting wildlife. It will take all of them to turn around the current wildlife decline occurring in our neighborhoods. Garden with purpose; make a difference today!

Photos by Scott Woodbury except as noted.

AND YOU...

RESTORING CLEAN AIR, PURE WATER AND RENEWED EARTH.

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

88 FORREST KEELING LANE ELSBERRY, MO 63343 800-356-2401 FORRESTKEELING.COM

WINTER 2020 The Gateway Gardener™

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2020-21 Klip n Keep Resource Guide Your Metro Region Green Industry Pros

GARDEN CENTERS AND NURSERIES

Sugar Creek Gardens

Kirkwood Gardens

North

Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center

1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com See Ad Pg. 9

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

El-Mel Inc.

St. Louis City

6185 US-67 Florissant (314) 741-2117

Bowood Farms

South

4605 Olive St. Central West End (314) 454-6868 BowoodFarms.com

St. Louis County Central Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S. Big Bend Richmond Heights (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com See Ad Pg. 8

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

Crabapple Cove 6961 Telegraph Rd. (314) 846-4021

Frisella Nursery

Planthaven Farms 6703 Telegraph Rd. Oakville (314) 846-0078 PlanthavenFarms.com See Ad Pg. 9

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

The Potted Plant Garden Center & Gift Shop

West

Chesterfield Valley Nursery

OK Hatchery

Rolling Ridge Nursery

Greenscape Gardens & Gifts

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

2651 Barrett Station Rd. Ballwin (314) 966-0028 Sherwoods-Forest.com

St. Charles County

16825 North Outer 40 Chesterfield (636) 532-9307 ChesterfieldValleyInc.com

115 E. Argonne (314) 822-0083

2701 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester (314) 966-4840 KirkwoodGardens.com See Ad Pg. 5

1257 St. Peters Cottleville Rd. Cottleville (636) 447-9000 PottedPlant.net

2832 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com See Ad Pg. 2

The Gateway Gardener™ WINTER 2020

2020-21 Klip n Keep Resource Guide Your Metro Region Green Industry Pros

GARDEN CENTERS AND NURSERIES

Other Missouri Locations

LANDSCAPING MATERIALS

St. Louis Composting

Forrest Keeling 88 Forrest Keeling Ln. Elsberry, MO (800) FKN-2401 ForrestKeeling.com See Ad Pg. 13

Hillermann’s Nursery & Florist 2601 E. 5th St. Washington, MO (636) 239-6729 Hillermann.com See Ad Pg. 5

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

ILLINOIS Belleville

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

Collinsville

Creekside Gardens 721 Johnson Hill Rd. (618) 344-7054

WINTER 2020 The Gateway Gardener™

StLouisCompost.com 39 Old Elam Ave. Valley Park, MO (636) 861-3344 560 Terminal Rd. St. Louis, MO (314) 868-1612

11294 Schaefer Rd. Maryland Heights, MO (314) 423-9035 5841 Mine Haul Rd. Belleville, IL (618) 233-2007 13060 County Park Rd. Florissant, MO (314) 355-0052 18900 Franklin Rd. Pacific, MO (636) 271-3352 See Ad Back Cover

LANDSCAPE INSTALL MAINTENANCE & DESIGN wallflowerdesign wallflowerdesign.biz See Ad Pg. 7

PONDS & WATER GARDEN SUPPLIES Chalily Pond & Gardens 14430 Manchester Rd. Manchester, MO (636) 527-2001 ChalilyPond.com

TREE CARE

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

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

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