THE GatewayGardener
Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes ®
Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver
Publisher and Editor
Robert Weaver
Columnists
Jeanne Carbone
Missouri Botanical Garden
Abby Lapides
Sugar Creek Gardens
Steffie Littlefield
Edg-Clif Winery
Scott Woodbury
Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding
Samantha Zale Greenscape Gardens
Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL
The Gateway Gardener® is published 7 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
LFrom the Editor
ooking back at last spring’s letter, I feel like I may have jinxed us. “As winters go,” I started off, “this was another mild one.” Mea culpa. As I write this, another several inches of snow have blanketed the ground while single digit temperatures ensure its plans for an extended stay. The early arrival daffodils I shared photos of last year are indeed up and blooming again, but they look very sad at the state of their current accommodations on this midFebruary day. Ah well, I count blessings. Given the true weather disasters plaguing the nation elsewhere, we can live with this, while looking forward to… March!
As you may have noticed with the starburst on the cover, we are celebrating our 20th anniversary of publication in 2025! I’ll postpone the celebratory scribbling until the actual anniversary month in September. Just a quick thank you for now to all the readers and advertisers who still find value in this whip-and-buggy era print publication (as well as to those of you who find us through more contemporary digital platforms).
If you would find the time and inclination some rainy day, I would love to hear from you by
Me 20 years ago. Less facial hair, more head hair.
email, voice mail or traditional mail as to what continues to draw you to us (constructive suggestions also welcome). As you might imagine, I may share your comments in a future issue. Contact information is in the masthead to the left of these words.
Speaking of constructive suggestions, one time I received an abundance of those when I made the misguided decision to withhold our regular native plant gardening article. Responses were immediate and unequivocable: don’t mess with the natives! Well, those readers get an added bonus in this issue. Scott Woodruff’s regular contribution gives us some harmonious design suggestions on page 10. We help Grow Native! celebrate 25 years of
photo by Jim Bruno
promoting native plant use in the landscape on page 16, and we report on UMSL’s study of bee behavior in the predominantly native plant scapes of an urban highway embankment on page 18. You’re welcome!
And to keep fans of our other regular contributors from picking up torches and forks, we welcome back Abby Lapides on page 4, who offers suggestions for adding edibles to the ornamental garden, Steffie Littelfield for another report from the veggie garden on page 14, and other familiar faces.
As for me, in the here and now, I’m going to send this issue off to the whip-and-buggy printer, grab a hot cup of coffee, and enjoy one final moment of rest before the snow-covered landscape turns from white to green, from dormant to growing, from self-sufficient to once again demanding my attention. I’m looking forward to it!
Good Gardening!
We all want beautiful plants to create gorgeous gardens, but what if that plant did a little more? Explore some of the fabulous plants that will give bountiful harvests while looking as good as traditional ornamental plants.
‘Ruby Ann’ strawberry produces abundant plump fruit in summer and fall. Combining brilliant ruby red flowers and juicy, sweet fruit, this everbearing strawberry delights with its delicious fruit and attractive form. For months on end, ‘Ruby Ann’ puts on a superb display with flowers and strawberries appearing together.
This hardy perennial will come back year after year if planted in the ground, but it also looks fabulous in containers and hanging baskets.
SAY HELLO TO SPRING WITH HELLEBORES!
While a tomato will never be the most ornamental of plants, there are varieties with neat forms that won’t bully other plants in the garden. Two that produce delicious tomatoes, while looking presentable are ‘Tidy Treats’ and ‘Rosella Purple’. ‘Tidy Treats’ produces tons of cherry-sized or smaller tomatoes that are deliciously sweet. A perfect size for snacking or tossed into salads without having to cut them
Strawberry
‘Ruby Ann’
‘Tidy Treats’
up. ‘Rosella Purple’ is a beefsteak type, producing tomatoes up to about one pound. Both can be planted in large containers or tucked into sun beds.
‘Bright Lights’ Swiss chard is a must-grow every year for me.
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.
Not only do I love eating the stems and leaves sautéed up in eggs or mixed into sauces, but I love looking at them as well. A mix of rainbow-colored stalks hold up deep green, glossy leaves. While the best time to harvest these is when they’re about 12” tall, I love letting some of them grow large in the center of containers for a unique and beautiful thriller. Another boon, chard can be harvested all summer unlike lettuce which tends to bolt once temperatures heat up.
Many herbs are so pretty they could be planted front and center in any garden. One of my favorites is the classic ‘Tricolor’ sage. cont’d. on next page.
With over 8 acres of large trees, perennials, shrubs, annuals and much more. Come see a REAL nursery! (Not a box-store parking lot.)
Louis’
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Swiss Chard
about 18” tall. New foliage displays a striking purple-pink before turning green. ‘Tricolor’ can be used like standard culinary sage, great with chicken and root vegetables.
‘Emerald Tower’ basil easily could be used in mixed containers or in the garden. Growing into a pillar of deep green, glossy edible leaves, you’ll be torn whether to eat it or admire its beauty.
A well-branched variety with short internodes, it makes a beautiful, towering 2-3′ tall plant. Late to bolt, flowers appear in October. Other ornamental herbs – thyme, red fennel, chives.
Having fresh picked apples and peaches feels like complete luxury, but you don’t need an orchard to produce delicious fruit. Breeders have been developing smaller, narrower and more ornamental fruit trees without skimping on flavor. The Fruit Snacks collection of apple trees all grow about 10-15’ tall, but only 3-4’ wide! These architectural wonders produce abundant delicious apples in fall. ‘Bonanza’ patio peach delivers big on flavorful fruit while staying petite in size. If you want a lot of variety, but don’t have the space, look for trees that have grafted different varieties of fruits onto one tree like ‘Fruit Cocktail’! Each ‘Fruit Cocktail’ produces peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots all on the same tree. All mentioned fruit trees produce beautiful pink or white flowers in spring before setting fruits. Use one as a replacement for a small flowering tree.
Any of these plants could be mixed into established ornamental gardens. Or with a little thought and planning, create a food scape that’s as pretty as it is delicious.
Hairy green leaves with white edges form into a dense mound
Apple
‘Fruit Snacks’
Basil
‘Emerald Tower’ Ball Seed
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Look for Perfecto Mundo azaleas in the distinctive white Proven Winners container at your local garden center, or learn more at PerfectoMundoAzalea.com
SCAN TO LEARN MORE
Happy Houseplants 101 Preparing for the New Growing Season
Photos(exxcept as noted) and Text By Samantha Zale
After a couple of years in its original pot, this plant could use a bigger home. Spring is the perfect time to repot.
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, houseplants enter a season of active growth. After the slower pace of winter, spring presents an opportunity to rejuvenate your plants and set them up for success. Here’s a comprehensive guide to preparing your houseplants for a healthy and vibrant growing season.
Assessing the Health of Your Plants
The first step in spring preparation is evaluating the current state of your plants. Begin by inspecting them for signs of stress or damage. Yellowing leaves, stunted growth or pests like spider mites, mealy bugs and fungus gnats are common issues to address. Pruning and cleanup is essential during this stage—
remove dead leaves, stems, debris to improve airflow and prevent disease.
Next, assess your plants’ placement. As spring brings longer daylight hours, consider whether your plants are receiving adequate light. Adjust their positions closer to windows or brighter areas if necessary (while being mindful of drafts). Ensuring that plants have correct conditions will encourage new, healthy growth. Once temperatures stay consistently above 50 °F, many houseplants can go outside for the season. Remember to ease plants into full sun over a period of about a week.
Refreshing the Soil
Winter can leave your plants’ soil compacted and depleted of nutrients. Spring is the perfect time to refresh it. If a plant’s roots are poking out of drainage holes or deforming the pot, or it shows signs of stunted growth, it may need repotting. Choose a container that’s about one to two inches larger in diameter than the current pot to avoid root binding. For plants that don’t require repotting, replace the top one to two inches of soil with fresh potting mix. This will provide a boost of nutrients without disturbing the plant’s root system. Be sure to select a soil mix tailored to your plant’s specific needs, such as a coarse, welldraining mix for succulents or a bark mix for orchids.
Adjusting Watering and Feeding Habits
With increased light and warmer temperatures, most houseplants
Samantha Zale has degrees in Horticulture, Anthropology and Biomedical Science. Over the years she has worked at The Missouri Botanical Garden, garden centers, and The Webster Groves Parks Department. Now you can find her at Greenscape Gardens, where she is a content creator as well as Retail Manager.
Robert Weaver
Scale (left) and mealy bugs (right) are common insect pests on houseplants. Individuals such as these can be spot treated with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Larger infestations may require an application of neem oil or a systemic pesticide applied to the soil. Make sure your product is approved for indoor use.
require more water during spring. However, it’s important to increase watering gradually to avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Check the soil moisture before watering and ensure pots have proper drainage. Spring is also the time to reintroduce fertilizers, which were likely reduced or stopped during the winter months. Use a balanced, water-soluble or organic granular fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients for new growth. Aim for fertilizers tailored to the plant’s needs, such as a bloom booster to encourage flower production. Always follow the recommended feeding schedule and product specific instructions to avoid over-fertilization.
Light and Temperature Adjustments
Spring’s longer days provide more natural light for your plants. Take advantage by positioning them near bright windows. If direct sunlight is too harsh, use sheer curtains to filter the light and prevent leaf scorching. Rotating your plants weekly will ensure even growth as they stretch toward the sun. Temperature consistency is equally important. Keep plants away from drafts such as nearby vents, fans, windows and heaters, all of which can dry them out prematurely.
Preventing and Treating Pests
Warmer weather often brings an increase in pests. Regularly inspect your plants for signs of infestations, such as webbing, sticky residue or tiny bugs on leaves & stems. If pests are present, act quickly to prevent them from spreading. Natural remedies, like neem oil or insecticidal soap, are effective and safe for indoor use. To prevent reinfestation, maintain a clean environment by removing fallen leaves and debris from pots. Avoid overwatering, as excess moisture can attract pests like fungus gnats. By staying proactive, you can keep your plants pest-free throughout the growing season.
Spring is the season of renewal and your houseplants are ready to thrive with the right care. By assessing their health, refreshing the soil, adjusting watering & feeding routines, optimizing light & temperature conditions and staying vigilant against pests, you’ll set the stage for vibrant growth. Enjoy the process and watch as your plants reward your efforts with lush foliage and blooms throughout the season. Be sure to swing by your local garden center for tips. Happy Spring and Happy Gardening!
Naturally Natives
Harmonious wildflower pairings Add Je Ne Sais Quoi
Photos and text by Scott Woodbury
Columbine and Feathery Blue Star
Missouri Wildflowers Nursery
9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109 www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003
Meet us at one of these locations in St. Louis. Give us your order at least 5 days before a sale, and we will bring it to the location.
Kirkwood Farmer’s Market, 150 East Argonne Dr. Kirkwood MO 63122. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, or pick from the selection at the market. April 5, 12, 19, 26, May 31 & June 1. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shaw Nature Reserve. Admission fee applies to nonmembers, 307 Pineton Loop Rd, Gray Summit MO 63039. Event: “Shaw Nature Reserve Spring Wildflower Market,” May 3, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Member’s only sale Friday, May 2, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. www.shawnature.org.
Webster Groves City Hall, 4 East Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves MO 63119; Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Sale. May 4 (Sunday), 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
When pairing wildflowers, my designs strive for a single outcome, achieving a third look. This is when two (or more) plants come together to forge an eye-catching visual quality that’s greater than the sum of their parts. Like Oreos and milk, Cabernet and Bolognese, or a breathtaking quilt made from a ragbag of worn clothes. In the garden, this third look comes from varying depth, texture, or shape, or by combining colors that bring out a unique quality in different plants.
At times, combinations fall flat, extinguishing visual interest. Like when leaf texture, plant height, and shape are all the same. Or when too much of one color is present, especially yellow or green. But occasionally, by magic or design, plants combine and catch fire, or the opposite, they unite and sooth.
Here, I offer some combos that are sure to add a certain undefinable, attractive, je ne sais quoi quality to your garden. Like the calming, ethereal pairing of wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) with feathery bluestar (Amsonia ciliata var. filifolia) in full sun. Ethereal because columbine flowers seem to float
Scott Woodbury was the horticulturist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and stepped down from that position in June 2022. He continues to work on contract for Shaw Nature Reserve to carry out native landscaping education and launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding. Find suppliers of native seed and plants to enrich your landscaping all year at grownative.org.
Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants
(on wiry, leafless stems), distorting the perception of depth. Columbine’s mitten-shaped leaves stand out among mounds of needle-like bluestar leaves—a stunning display, even without flowers. The complementary red and light blue flowers are a vibrant wake-up call to gardeners and hummingbirds in spring. Columbine also enlivens a woodland when paired with wild sweet William (Phlox divaricata).
Other “floating” flowers (with slender, leafless, or tiny-leaved flower stalks) include black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), queen-of-the prairie (Filapendula rubra), rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), woodland knotweed (Polygonum virginianum), Indian plantain (Arnoglossum or Cacalia spp.), Joe pye (Eutrochium [Eupatorium] spp.), troublesome sedge (Carex molesta), and the tall ecotype of prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) that originates from Tucker Prairie in mid-Missouri. Where would gardens and gardeners be without the singular beauty of Joe pye? Alone, it is glorious, but when paired with garden phlox (Phlox paniculata), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), or marsh blazing star (Liatris spicata), it shines
Eastern Blazing Star and Texas Green Eyes
Virginia Bluebells and Wood Poppies
brighter. These analogous flower colors tend to soften and sooth. Similar combinations include downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana) with purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea); beautyberry (Callicarpa americana, with its fuschia berries) with aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium); showy evening
cont’d on next page
Joe pye, Garden Phlox and Coneflower
Butterfly Milkweed and Tickseed Coreopsis
primrose (Oenothera speciosa) with Ohio horsemint (Blephilia ciliata); and woodland spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana) with wild geranium (Geranium maculatum).
Yellow/blue or yellow/purple combinations are complementary show-stoppers in native gardens. Several pairings come to mind, like eastern blazingstar (Liatris scariosa) with Texas green eyes (Berlandiera texana). Blue wild indigo (Baptisia australis), eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana), and golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) are a stunning trio. Roughleaved goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) and New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) work well when you have elbow room and need some height. Beautyberry (with its bright berries) and eastern witchazel (Hamamelus virginiana) add a splash of fall color. Purple coneflower pairs nicely with a pinch of threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) or false sunflower (Heliopolis helianthoides). Most striking of all, perhaps, is the woodland combo of Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) and wood poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum).
You may be wondering where white or grayish flowers fit in?
I think of them as smoky fillers, as if a smoke machine were nestled in the garden. Pale pink or lavender, white and light gray flowers tend to unify a planting. They tie things together by complementing the plants around them, especially plants in the blue to pink range. Visually, I think these light, whitish flowers play with our perception of depth, and subtly lead the eye
through the garden, adding an elusive sprinkle of visual interest. These plants include rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), Culvers root (Veronicastrum virginicum), mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.), goat’s beard (Aruncus dioicus), smooth beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), heath and calico asters (Symphyotrichum ericoides and S. lateriflorus), robin’s plantain (Erigeron pulchellum), and the white-flowered forms of purple coneflower and marsh blazing star.
Lastly, here are a few fiery combinations that may get your blood flowing, or boiling! Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) with threadleaf coreopsis or black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) with orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa. (Note that Sullivant’s blackeyed Susan blooms earlier than variety umbrosa.) Purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) with threadleaf coreopsis. Royal catchfly (Silene regia) with purple coneflower and false sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides). And if you’re counting fall leaf color, then winged sumac (Rhus copallina) and shining bluestar (Amsonia illustris) or Arkansas bluestar (A. hubrichtii) can’t be beat. A close second is winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata, with bright red berries) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) in autumn.
The possible combinations of native plants are many. Have fun tinkering with these and your own creative pairings. Happy gardening!
The Color Wheel
The following three-color harmonies describe colors that pair well together.
• Complementary colors (across from each other on the color wheel) are vibrant when paired together. Like the colors most associated with Christmas—red and green.
• Analogous colors (next to each other) add a subtle harmony. Think of multiple shades of blue or lavender on a window or door frame.
• Primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), any two paired together express bold harmony. Like the Swedish flag in blue and yellow, or the US flag in red and blue.
Complex plant combinations may have multiple color harmonies on display simultaneously.
The Cornucopia Corner
Strawberries: THE Reason to Go to the Garden in Spring
By Steffie Littlefield
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Sweet, juicy and delicious, strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are easy and rewarding to grow. The first and biggest mistake a new strawberry gardener can make is to plant the wrong variety for your area. Not only are different varieties bred for different characteristics, but also different climates. Make sure to purchase a strawberry plant variety that will thrive in your climate by visiting your local nursery or ordering from a local Fruit Tree grower like Stark Bros Nursery. There are spring-fruiting, perpetual and alpine types to choose from, with many delicious varieties of each. And if you plant several different types, you can have home-grown harvests from late spring through to autumn. Many strawberries even produce new plantlets (or runners) after fruiting, so you can easily increase your plants every year or use them to replace older plants that are past their best.
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.
Stravberries can also be a part of an ornamental garden, as in the case of these ‘Ruby Ann’ cultivar with red berries AND red flowers. Check with your garden center pro to see if these will perform well in our area.
On average, you can plan to harvest one quart of strawberries per plant per season. This is generally true of both June-bearing and everbearing strawberry varieties. The difference is when you get to that one-quart figure. You’ll get them all at once with June-bearers and over the course of the summer with everbearing.
Adding strawberries to your garden is relatively easy and doesn’t require giving up other crops to make room. You can make your own strawberry patch if you have room or just add a few plants to the front of a border. Alternatively, they grow well in containers and even hanging baskets. My grandmother grew strawberries along the edges of her vegetable garden beds where little hands could easily reach and harvest fresh red berries. Make sure the small plants are not planted too deep and will not be too shaded in the growing season. Avoid planting your strawberry plants where you’ve previously grown any plants in the nightshade family as they can leave behind diseases in the soil. Avoid planting them too close to melons, asparagus, fennel or brassicas which compete with strawberries for nutrients. Strawberries impair the growth of brassicas in return. Strawberry plants have many good friends, including borage, lupin, onions, and thyme. Interplanting these and other beneficial plants will encourage healthy growth and a bountiful harvest!
Like most hardy perennials, strawberries die back in winter and start growing vigorously as the soil warms in spring After bearing fruit (as early as February in Florida, or June farther north), many types of strawberries produce numerous runners with baby plants at the tips. Carefully place these runners in the empty spots in your border to increase your strawberry harvest. How many plants you need depends on what you want to do with your strawberries—do you just want berries to eat fresh, or do you plan to preserve some or most of your strawberries for eating later by drying, canning, or freezing? For mostly
fresh eating: plant six or seven plants per person for fresh eating throughout the strawberry season. For preserving plant 10 plants per person. For preserving and eating fresh: if you want to do both, combine and pick a number--15 to 17 plants per person would be a good, solid supply of strawberries for eating fresh in-season and preserving if you have the space to do it, but in a small-space situation that can be hard.
There are so many ways to add strawberries to the home garden, in a patch planting, along the borders, in containers, window boxes or hanging baskets or build a tower or a pyramid for growing strawberries. Just give them a sunny location, good drainage, organic fertilizers and reap the benefits.
NEW LOCATION!
Friday, May 2nd, 12pm-8pm and Saturday, May 3rd, 9am-5pm
Florissant Elks Lodge 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. Florissant, MO 630331
The Gardeners of Florissant Annual Spring Plant Sale and Garden Bazaar
Perennials * Annuals * Shrubs Shade Plants * Vegetables Herbs * Hanging Baskets And More!
Indoors and climate controlled Easy loading from multiple doors
St. Louis Hort History
by Robert Weaver
Grow Native! Turns 25
In the very first edition of The Gateway Gardener, September 2005, alongside articles on the vibrant annual flower displays along downtown’s Market Street, beautiful rose gardens and how to care for them, high-input lawn care tips, and the latest cultivated perennial picks, tucked into a page somewhere in the middle of the magazine, was an article about “Native Plants for Fall.” Several issues and several native plant articles later, a question was put to me by a local garden center owner. “Why do you spend time on these “native plants”? They just don’t sell at retail!’
And that was true at the time, for a couple of reasons. First, most natives sold to gardeners are perennial plants, and prior to the 1990s, the nursery business was primarily an annuals game. The bulk of the volume was in sales of seasonal annuals: pansies in the spring, petunias and geraniums in the summer, mums in the fall.
advantage of those trends, but through its marketing and educational programs did much to add to the growth of native plant enthusiasts in Missouri and throughout the Midwest!
In the Beginning
Initiated in 1999 with the Conservation Federation of Missouri as the “Bring Nature Home” program, it was renamed Grow Native! in 2000 when it came under the auspices of the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Through 2011, these agencies laid a strong foundation for increasing the supply of and consumer demand for native plant products and services, with the development of many native plant educational and marketing resources.
But by around 2000, gardeners began asking for the color of annuals, but the convenience of plants that returned year after year. About the same time, young people in particular were embracing conservation and environmental movements, and applying new ideas to traditional practices, including gardening! Grow Native! not only came about at the right time to take
During this period Grow Native! helped grow the Missouri economy. Industry surveys between 2003 and 2008 show Missouri native plant sales grew 70% from %9.17M to $15.5 M. Quietly, the Missouri Native plant industry had become the 5th largest Missouri agricultural industry by dollar volume.
But the government agencies of MDC and MDA ultimately decided Grow Native! didn’t fall comfortably under their missions’ umbrella. So, after a period of searching for an appropriate entity to carry on its work, in 2012 Grow Native! found a new home with Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF).
A Grow Native! sponsored tour of new native plant landscaping at Forest Park in 2005.
Keynote speaker Doug Tallamy talks to attendees of the 2020 Partners for Native Landscaping event.
The Missouri Prairie Foundation is an organization that, since 1966, has dedicated itself to the permanent protection of prairie habitat and the need for greater understanding of the role of native grasslands in wildlife conservation, energy security and carbon storage. Its leaders felt the goals of the Grow Native! group meshed well with its own.
MPG expanded the geographic reach of the Grow Native! service area to include Missouri, eastern Kansas, northern Arkansas and souther Illinois. It also expanded avenues by which to operate the program, such as increasing the number of categories of Grow Native! professional membership, developing a sponsor program, and inviting professional members to sell plants and seeds at plant sales.
MPF continued the outreach work that has been a part of Grow Native! since its beginnings, organizing workshops and other educational offering for homeowner and professionals in Missouri and other locations. It has continued to produce marketing materials that help homeowners better understand and use native plants in their landscapes, including design articles in its Missouri Prairie Foundation Journal, “Top Ten” native plant lists that help gardeners key in on best performing plants, and other helpful fact sheets, all available on their website at grownative.org.
In recent years GN has continued to expand partnerships with groups of complementary missions, such as the Missouri Municipal League, Missourians for Monarchs, and others. Of particular emphasis of late, GN participated in the creation and administration of the Missouri Invasive Plant Task Force (MoIP), a mulitidisciplinary group composed of representatives from
federal and state land management agencies and organization, academia, and the horticulture industry. It’s primary goal is to elevate early detection and control of invasive plants statewide. Former Grow Native! program committee chair Betty Grace, of Albany, Missouri, and a Grow Native! professional member and native seed producer since 2000 said, “Twenty-five years ago, Grow Native! introduced itself as the “go-to” resource in our region for learning about and taking action to revitalize landscapes and gardens using native plants. Many gardeners and land managers embraced the program’s goal. The momentum and impact of Grow Native!’s efforts—seen in gardens and landscapes across the lower Midwest—tell the story of the program’s history and its goals for increasing success in the years ahead.”
Much of the information in the article was obtained from an MPF publication produced for their 20th anniversary, and written by Judy Good and Carol Davit.
To kick off its 25th-anniversary celebration, the Grow Native! program shares the vibrant illustration (opposite page) by artist Melissa Bryant, commissioned to recognize the significant Grow Native! milestone. “It was such an honor to be asked to create a celebratory wreath for the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program,” said Bryant. “I was able to incorporate several faunal associations that highlight the interconnectedness and support systems of native species. This focus has been a driving factor in my own work recently, so any chance I can help get the message out through art, it’s a perfect partnership!”
Study Explores Bee Behavior in Along Urban Interstate Do
Bees Mind Their Business While Traffic Buzzes By?
Anationally-known cognitive ecology scientist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Biology Department and the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center is launching a multi-year study of behavioral patterns of the bee populations living at an urban agriculture research site along Interstate 44 in the City of St. Louis and the positive impact of those behaviors on food production and sustainability.
Led by Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Aimee Dunlap, the study will compare the nesting, foraging and pollination patterns of bees living at the Green House Venture’s Embankment Greenway to that of bees living in rural areas. The study follows the multi-year development of the Embankment Greenway with native plants successfully establishing a bee pollinator habitat supporting approximately 50 species of bees.
“This study will help determine if busy urban roadsides with green spaces can be repurposed into thriving bee habitats and sustainable parts of the nation’s food production system,” Dunlap said.
A team of UMSL scientists and graduate students with the Dunlap Laboratory and the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center will study how different species of bees forage at the site, including the collection and distribution of pollen among different species of nearby plants. Dunlap and her team will also collect pollen samples from the site and develop a pollen library for research
purposes.
As part of the new study, Dunlap’s research team will invite students from four nearby elementary schools to observe the behaviors of the bees being studied and learn about the bees’ role in urban food production.
“We will use digital cameras with Go-Pro technology in the field and microscopes in school laboratories to help students understand the important behaviors and resulting impacts of the bees that we are studying,” Dunlap added. “We will also search for underground bee nests with the students and teach them the life cycles and habits of important bee populations.”
“Dr. Dunlap’s study is the next major step forward in our efforts to boost urban agriculture and sustainable food production research and education in the City of St. Louis,” said Tom Purcell, President of the Green House Venture. “We seek to inspire future generations of St. Louis plant scientists to help develop a sustainable and affordable food supply in our region. This study will have a dramatic impact on helping us achieve our mission.”
For more about the Green House Venture’s Embankment Greenway, see the article in the March 2024 issue of The Gateway Gardener at issuu.com/thegatewaygardener.
Information and photos provided by The Green House Venture, a STEM education program dedicated to educating and inspiring elementary students to create a sustainable world. Through hands-on experiences in bioscience and urban agriculture, the GHV equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to address pressing challenges in science, nutrition and dietetics, and urban agriculture. For more information about The Green House Venture, visit www.greenhousestl.org
A volunteer with the Green House Venture captures a bee at the Terrace Garden area of the Green House Venture’s outdoor campus as part of a 2023 bee study.
Dr. Aimee Dunlap, associate professor of Bilology and leader of the UMSL study.
The Green House Venture’s 3.5 acre urban agriculture campus along Interstate 44 in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis.
Therapeutic Horticulture Nature Journaling
By Therapeutic Horticulture Staff at Missouri Botanical Garden
Prompts To Help You Start YourJournaling Entries
I notice.. Be specific. Use words, pictures, and numbers.
I wonder…Who is, was, will it be? What happened, is happening, happens next? Where is, was , will it be? When did/will it happen? How does it work? Why is it this way?
It reminds me of… things you have learned, seen, or feel.
From the Beetles Field Journaling program at beetlesproject.org.
How do you celebrate the change of the seasons? The spring equinox brings with it the promise of what is to come, as nature awakens from its winter slumber. This time of year provides the perfect opportunity to explore the benefits of nature journaling. Whether you have a regular journaling practice or find yourself overwhelmed with the idea of adding one more thing to the day, nature journaling can provide a multitude of benefits. Taking time to pay attention to the nuances of the season can bring a sense of calm and connection. Try these simple techniques:
At the same time each day, focus on one area of your outdoor space or one tree or shrub
• Look for signs of growth.
• How has it changed since the day before?
• Let your gaze linger on the vista surrounding you.
• Explore the texture of the bark of a tree or the bud or a plant awakening to spring.
Each of these opportunities can easily be recorded in a journal with a few words or a simple sketch. The important thing is the observations you make and how you decide to record them. Putting into words or a drawing the experience of using your senses will deepen your connection to the time and place; including your feelings at the time brings your relationship to nature into focus. Think of it as capturing a moment in the cycle of nature, a moment you can revisit by looking at your journal the next day or a year from now. In the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer, “Maybe there is no such thing as time; there are only moments, each with its own story.” Capture your nature connection story.
The Therapeutic Horticulture team at the Missouri Botanical Garden includes nature journaling in offerings to community partners as well as through Adult Education classes. Visit https://www. missouribotanicalgarden.org/learn-discover/adults/ classes-tours-workshops to explore options. During the week of March 17-21, connect with the Therapeutic Horticulture team as they celebrate Well-being Week. Included with admission to the Garden, information and activities will be available to visitors of all ages. More information will be posted on Facebook and Instagram at mobot_ learning.
A typical journaling entry might include the date, location, weather conditions and other observations.
Western Red Cedar Greenhouses with Maintenance-Free Azek Exterior
BEAUTIFUL • PRACTICAL • FUNCTIONAL
Dig This! Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News
Award Winning Garden Designer Returns to St. Louis
After several years on Boston’s north shore, Adam Woodruff, a highly regarded naturalistic garden designer, has re-established his eponymous garden and landscape design consultancy in St. Louis. Adam had previously made a name in our region’s landscaping community during the 2010s, before reestablishing his business in the East.
Adam’s work has been featured in several books by well-known landscape architects and thought leaders in the field, as well as in some of the most prominent gardening and shelter publications, including Architectural Digest, Better Homes & Gardens, Garden Design magazine, Gardens Illustrated, Fine Gardening, Horticulture magazine, and Consumer Reports.
During the pandemic, Mr. Woodruff created a naturalistic garden design for himself and his partner, Sean Muthian, a biotech executive, at their Marblehead, Massachusetts home. This innovative garden, designed in collaboration with noted landscape architect Matthew Cunningham, was featured in the April ‘24 issue of Better Homes & Gardens and graced the cover of Fine Gardening magazine in December ‘22.
Adam Woodruff has thirty years of experience and background in Botany. He works on various projects throughout the United States, including city, suburban and country gardens, large estates and commercial properties. Locally, he was best known and recognized for his vibrant seasonal displays at
The Pierre Laclede Center and The Plaza in Clayton during the 2010s and his Jones Road garden in central Illinois, a project that won St. Louis At Home’s Architect & Designer Awards in 2014.
The consultancy offers various services, including garden and landscape design, plant acquisition, onsite layout of plant materials, installation supervision, and maintenance consultations.
To contact Adam, go to www.adamwoodruff.com or email principal@adamwoodruff.com
Green House Venture is Growing
Students participating in the Green House Venture program at Lafayette Preparatory Academy study soil samples with teachers in the school’s science laboratory.
The Green House Venture (GHV) recently welcomed Lafayette Preparatory Academy in St. Louis as the newest member of its Urban Education Alliance. This partnership offers a rich new learning environment for the Academy’s students,
blending GHV’s hands-on bioscience and urban agriculture experiences with the school’s already impressive science program.
Students in Lafayette Prep’s 5th-grade classes are currently working on experiments utilizing GHV’s computerized indoor Growth Chamber to test plant growth in various soil types, combined with their current lessons on photosynthesis. In spring, the students will join peers from other Urban Education Alliance schools for hands-on planting experiences at
A vignette from Adam Woodruff’s Marblehead, Massachusetts, landscape.
the GHV Campus.
Dig This! Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News
Lafayette Preparatory Academy joins three other City elementary schools currently participating in the GHV program, including Mullanphy Investigative Learning Center (St. Louis Public Schools), St. Margaret of Scotland School (parochial) and Tower Grove Christian Academy. Serving approximately 415 students from kindergarten through 8th grade from every zip code in the city, Lafayette Preparatory Academy embodies the diverse spirit that GHV cherishes.
Science education at Lafayette Prep is already a cornerstone of the curriculum, with daily dedicated classes for grades 5-8 and an integrated approach with social studies for younger students. The partnership with GHV will elevate their program, providing exciting new opportunities for handson learning and real-world application of scientific principles and practices.
For more information about The Green House Venture, visit www.greenhousestl.org
Illinois Master Gardeners Celebrate 50 Years
The 1970s were a time of change; people nationwide had growing concerns about environmental damage from industrial pollution and a renewed interest in home gardening. The environmental movement led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, Earth Day, and the Illinois Extension Master Gardener program. Now, the University of Illinois Extension is celebrating the 50-year legacy and accomplishments of the Illinois Master Gardener volunteer program.
Illinois Extension Master Gardeners enrich communities with their commitment to horticulture education and the art and science of growing. Over 2,000 active volunteers invest their time and talents in cultivating collaborative gardens that feed and support healthy communities, foster handson learning, and support the environment. In 2023
alone, 2,358 active volunteers invested 165,508 hours of service to improve the well-being of their environment and those who live in it.
In 1975, Floyd Giles, former Extension horticulture specialist, and state Master Gardener coordinator, formed the first Master Gardener program in Illinois, based in Will County and neighboring Chicagoland, DuPage, and Cook counties. The first training session had humble beginnings in the Des Plaines post office. Today, the program continues to expand across Illinois, involving local gardening projects in rural villages, suburban communities, and urban centers.
Since its inception in Illinois, the Master Gardener program has witnessed 50 years of countless volunteers dedicating their time and efforts to support projects. These initiatives include community gardens, therapeutic gardening programs, school partnerships, and education on environmental stewardship, among others.
As the program marks 50 years of positive impact, Master Gardeners continue to uphold their mission of “Helping Others Learn to Grow.” In celebration of this golden milestone, in 2025, Extension will offer local and regional events, celebrate generations of volunteers and staff, and continue highlighting the program’s evolution and momentum for the future.
Looking ahead, the Illinois Extension Master Gardener program will continue to adapt to meet the needs of Illinois residents and welcome new generations of gardeners from various backgrounds. Reinforcing the mission, program leaders will continue actively eliminating participation barriers. Hybrid training models have been adopted by the locally provided Master Gardener programs statewide, aligning with Illinois Extension’s newly launched 10-year Strategic Plan, aimed at advancing digital accessibility, supporting families, providing safe and culturally responsible food sources, and promoting sustainability.
Rooted in a legacy of education, environmental stewardship, and the development of impactful gardening projects, Illinois Extension Master Gardeners are enduringly committed to answering the call for gardening knowledge in Illinois.
Upcoming Events
Classes, Plants Sales and More
Through March 9th
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
Fun for Kids
March1st
9-10am—Children’s Garden Club: Flower Arrangements FREE. Pre-registration is required on the St. Louis County website at https:// tinyurl.com/yc3v3pfj or by calling 314-615-4386. Sponsored by St. Louis County Parks Department. Hosted by Baisch and Skinner, 2721Lasalle St. 63104.
April 5th
9-10am—Children’s Garden Club: Edible Pots. FREE. Pre-registration is required on the St. Louis County website at https://tinyurl.com/yc3v3pfj or by calling 314-615-4386. Sponsored by St. Louis County Parks Department. Hosted by Planthaven Farms, 6703 Telegraph Rd., 63129.
9am-5pm—Missouri Botanical Garden Orchid Show. A once-a-year opportunity to see hundreds of blooming orchids on display, plus enjoy the new, permanent living collections that surround the orchids in the new Emerson Conservatory. Included with Garden admission. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110.
March 1st
9am-noon—2025 Weekend Gardener. Join University of Illinois Extension for an enriching experience to explore the world of gardening with expert speakers and engaging discussions. Morning refreshments will be included, followed by sessions. Participants will have the opportunity to attend one session during each time period, making it a flexible and tailored experience. For more information and to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/ yc5kvmzm
March 5th
8am-4pm—Gateway Green Conference 2025. Natural resource industry professionals face the vital task of responsibly caring for our communities’ valuable environmental resources. Evolving research and environmental changes make it more important than ever to explore responsible stewardship practices, understand how to successfully manage emerging diseases and pests, and apply sustainable landscape practices to support our future. The conference provides a platform for sharing
new ideas and research-based information as experts delve into three vital tracks: building sustainable landscapes, conservation stewardship, and tree care. Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, IL. For more information and to register, go to https://tinyurl. com/y2vynbsv.
March 5th
2pm—Virtual Program: Native Garden Design Panel. Presented by Partners for Native Landscaping and coordinated through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming. Registration required. For more details of the talks and for registration links, go to partnersfornativelandscaping. stlouisaudubon.org/2025webinar-series.
March 7th-8th 10am-9pm—34th Annual Midwestern Herb and Garden Show. Free classes, plants and herbs for sale, garden art, ceramics, books, herbal remedies, plus other programs, vendors and food concessions. FREE. Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL. (618) 242-3151. (see ad on page 17)
March 8th
12pm—Gardening ClassSeedling FAQ. Bring all your seedling and seed starting questions. This session will cover many common seedling diseases and the biggest seed starting mistakes to help set you up for success. $5.00. Sign up on the events page at hillermann.com or call 636-239-6729. HoffmannHillermann Nursery & Florist, 2601 E. 5th St., Washington, MO 63090.
March 13th 6-7:30pm—Compost 101 Part of the Composting Class
Series hosted by Seed St Louis, Table to Garden, Good Dirt Composting Collective, and Willoughby Heritage Farm. Managing a compost system to do what you want when you want requires a few secrets of the trade. Learn basic principles and get practical advice to make composting easy and doable. This class covers what composting is, what causes the coposting process, what can and cannot be composted, and how to use compost, so you know how to troubleshoot along your composting journey. Class will be held at the Compost Demonstration site at Willoughby Heritage Farm, 631 Willoughby Lane, Collinsville, IL 62234 The price for each class is $15. Visit https://bit.ly/3GE34ws for more information and to register.
Week of March 17th-21st Well-Being Week. Connect with the Therapeutic Horticulture team as they celebrate Well-being Week. Included with admission to the Garden, information and activities will be available to visitors of all ages. More information will be posted on Facebook and Instagram at mobot_learning. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63110.
March 19th
2pm—Virtual Program: Monarchs and Mosquitoes: Control the Pests, Protect the Pollinators. Presented by Partners for Native Landscaping and coordinated through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming. Registration required. For more details of the talks and for registration links, go to partnersfornativelandscaping. stlouisaudubon.org/2025-
webinar-series.
March 22nd
10am—Passiglia’s 75th Anniversary Party. Join us for this unique gathering as we take a walk down Memory Lane! In our Garden Center classroom space, you will receive a sight and sound experience with Chris, Julie and other staff members to celebrate kicking off the 75th for Passiglia. Receive a gift exclusive to this event as we kick off the season. Passiglia Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center, 1855 MO-109, Wildwood, MO 63038. (636) 458-9202, passiglia@passiglia. com. Passiglia.com.
March 22nd
12pm—Gardening ClassFeeding Your Plants.Your plants are hungry! Come to this session and learn the most effective ways to provide everything your plants need to grow and thrive. $5.00. Sign up on the events page at hillermann.com or call 636-239-6729. HoffmannHillermann Nursery & Florist. Hoffmann-Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 2601 E. 5th St., Washington, MO 63090.
March 22nd
9am-noon—Webster Groves Herb Society Display. The Webster Groves Herb Society invites visitors to stop by their educational table in the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. Included with Garden admission. Missouri Botanical Garden. 4344 Shaw Blvd.
March 29th
April 2nd
2pm—Virtual Program: Community Care and Conservation: How to Tranform Vacant Lots into Neighborhood Green Spaces. Presented by Partners for Native Landscaping and coordinated through St. Louis County Library’s Adult Programming. Registration required. For more details of the talks and for registration links, go to partnersfornativelandscaping. stlouisaudubon.org/2025webinar-series.
April 3rd
6-7:30— Compost 101—Indoor Composting: Vermicomposting and Bokashi Hosted by Seed St Louis, Table to Garden, Good Dirt Composting Collective, and Willoughby Heritage Farm. Explore two strategies for indoor and small spaces that keep food scraps out of the landfill. Learn how worms can eat your garbage and turn food scraps into a powerful soil amendment. And, learn how small-scale bokashi fermentation can work in your home to enrich soil. Class includes hands-on demonstrations. Class will be held at the Compost Demonstration site at Willoughby Heritage Farm, 631 Willoughby Lane, Collinsville, IL 62234 The price for each class is $15. Visit https:// bit.ly/3GE34ws for more information and to register.
April 5th
8:15-1pm—Partners for Native Landscaping Workshop and Plant Sale. Registration opens in March. Visit partnersfornativelandscaping. stlouisaudubon.org/2025workshop-plant-sale.
10am—Build your own Terrarium. Create your own miniature garden grown inside a covered glass container. This is a low maintenance way to incorporate plants into your home or office. Learn about the ecosystems and plant life. Passiglia Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center, 1855 MO109, Wildwood, MO 63038. (636) 458-9202, passiglia@ passiglia.com. Passiglia.com.
