The Gateway Gardener October 2022

Your

Founded in 2005

by

Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver

Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Diane Brueckman

Rosey Acres

Abby Lapides

Sugar Creek Gardens

Steffie Littlefield Edg-Clif Winery

Jennifer Schamber Greenscape Gardens

Scott Woodbury Shaw Nature Reserve

Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL

The Gateway Gardener® is published 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

Vegetable gardens rule in the Midwest! Our heat and abundance of water in the summer make growing summer annual vegetable favorites like tomatoes, green peppers, beans, squash and other delicious veggies

From the Editor

The

ALMOST a no-brainer. (Believe me, I know there are challenges, including squirrels and other garden thieves, plus diseases and pest insects— okay, maybe not so easy.) But those are the annuals. They don’t have to survive the winter. Plus, when it comes to some fruit trees, the conditions the summer annuals love aren’t so conducive to year-round woody plant survival. The humidity encourages fungus and other diseases, and the woody trees and shrubs that love the winter don’t like the summer; those that like the summer can’t survive the winter…for the most part. In our Summer issue, our friends at Custom Foodscaping shared some notable exceptions with us, including the “hardy” fig tree. Our contributor Jennifer Schamber shares her experience tips for growing ‘Brown Turkey’ hardy figs on page 6.

On the ease-of-growing scale,

philodendrons will get a much higher score. Of all the houseplants, philodendrons are among the most forgiving of brown-thumb neglect and/ or helicopter-plant-parenting. And if your idea of this popular denizen of the humble office cubicle and dorm room is just that, well, there’s a whole diverse world of philodendrons out there just waiting for your discovery. Abby Lapides shares a few of her favorites on page 4.

Again looking at that easeof-growth scale, roses have historically scored somewhere between figs and phillies, being fairly hard to outright kill, but pretty willing to look awful even as they survive. I inherited a few tea rose bushes from my mother years ago, and

On the Cover...

The author’s daughter Alice finds this hardy fig provides a perfect hiding spot. If you’d like to try growing figs in your garden, check out Jennifer Schamber’s article on page 6. (photo by Jennifer Schamber)

while they survived benign neglect for years, it wasn’t until I started addressing their real needs—spraying, feeding, mulching—that they rebounded to resemble their beauty previously enjoyed under Ma’s care. On page 8, Diane Brueckman tells us how breeders and rose organizations have changed their priorities in recent years, producing hardier, less-demanding roses.

Finally, one plant we wish were less hardy is the pesty invasive shrub honeysuckle. Scott Woodbury shares some strategies on page 10 for controlling the invasion, whether you’re a homeowner or a large landowner.

It’s harvest season now, so our gardening worlds are a mashup of life and death, coming to the end of their annual life cycle while yielding up bountiful harvests (we hope) for we gardeners and our feathered and furry friends. Happy Autumn, and…

Good Gardening!

The Wild World of Philodendrons

By Abby Lapides

Easy to grow, Philodendrons are great houseplants for beginners, but with thousands of varieties featuring exciting and unique foliage, they can excite even the most experienced gardener. Philodendrons come in a wide array of shapes and sizes that fit into just about any space in the house. Learn about some of my favorite varieties and how to care for these fun and easy houseplants.

The shiny and interesting leaves on ‘Dragon Trail’ Philodendron add lustrous texture to the home. New leaves emerge lance-shaped, and as they mature the ridges in this slightly puckered leaf split, creating deeply dissected leaves. This trailing type looks great on a shelf or table. It also may be attached to a totem to create height. While a decorative moss totem may be used, even something as simple as a bamboo stake works well to support climbing houseplants. When attaching, be sure to use a stretchy tie or keep the tie loose to accommodate the thickening of the stems.

In high demand, ‘Lemon Lime’ Philodendron’s neon yellow leaves electrify even the darkest rooms. Like all Philodendrons, ‘Lemon Lime’ likes humid environments, so try to keep humidity levels at 50% or above. In the winter this may be difficult. Misting helps, but I find the best way maintain humidity is to cluster plants together. As plants respire, they emit water vapor, humidifying the air around them. And it’s a great excuse to get another houseplant.

With large highly dissected green leaves the lacy tree Philodendron,

‘Dragon Tail’ ‘Xanadu’

Philodendron selloum, has been a staple houseplant for many years. Needing no staking the lacy tree Philodendron naturally grows into a shrub or tree. While this Philodendron matures into a monster-size plant that requires a lot of space, its smaller sister ‘Xanadu’easily fits into most living spaces. ‘Xanadu’ has showy dissected leaves and a high tolerance for neglect, which makes it a personal favorite. Like all Philodendrons bright indirect light is ideal, but most will tolerate dark spots as well.

New to the market is the Philodendron called ‘Fuzzy Petiole’. As the plant matures the petiole, the stem that connects to the leaf, becomes hairy and red. While the unique petiole is highly showy, the leaves are gorgeous as well. The matte leaves are ruffled and puckered, looking dramatic and blousy. This climbing type requires a totem for support.

A smaller, but no less showy Philodendron, ‘Birkin’ features striking white foliage. Fully white leaves emerge from the center and slowly turn green. As the green emerges the white recedes to pinstripes creating a two-toned zebra effect. ‘Birkin’ slowly grows into a small to mid-sized mound perfect for a coffee table or desk. While ‘Birkin’ thrives indoors, I like to take it, and all Philodendrons, outdoors in the summer. They can head outside once the lows are 55 degrees or above. Keep them in shady locations away from any intense sunlight. When it’s time to bring them indoors be sure to spray with an insect spray like neem oil to get rid of any unwanted interlopers.

Long-lived, versatile and easy-care, Philodendrons are perfect introductory plants to the rewarding hobby of growing houseplants. All Photos by Ann Lapides

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.

‘Fuzzy Petiole’

‘Birkin’

e should just plant fruit trees all down our streets and in parks, then everyone would have fresh fruit!” What a wonderful idea! With a lot of meticulous planning (careful selection of species), under ideal conditions (good site selection) and with a regular, on-going maintenance plan (including regular watering and scouting for pests/disease), one might find some degree of success with this plan. But large-scale examples of public projects like this are hard to find, especially in the St. Louis area because we have a range of challenges. When attempting to grow some conventional fruits,

Gettiin’ Figgy With It

like apples, pears and peaches, some challenges include our climate (roller coaster weather patterns), tough soil for some fruits (dense clay/rock), and oftentimes inconsistencies in rainfall patterns and difficulty in timing follow up care and maintenance. Growing fruit trees can be elusive, that’s why we don’t have them lining every boulevard and they don’t fill our parks. But it certainly doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try growing fruit! It just means we need to approach it with a shift in our expectations.

The old (but not very popular) quote, “You don’t really know a plant until you’ve killed it twice.”, applies perfectly to growing fruit. Oftentimes, we don’t know if something will grow in a particular space until we try it. An example of this is the story of my “Goldilocks” fig. I’ve always dreamed of growing a fig tree. There are a few cultivars, like ‘Brown Turkey’ and ‘Chicago Hardy’ that can be successfully grown under certain conditions in zone 6 (and sometimes even in zone 5). The greatest successes of growing figs in the St. Louis

Text and Photos by Jennifer Schamber

The author’s ‘Brown Turkey’ fig with fruit.

area are in the urban core, usually inside the interstate 270 loop, but preferably even closer to the St. Louis city limits (the heat island effect creates a warmer microclimate there). Some folks decide to play it safe and grow them in pots that are brought indoors for the coldest part of the winter, but when you see a beautiful, happy fig growing on the south side of a brick house in the city (or in the Ottoman Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden), it sparks a true desire to grow one.

A few years ago, I planted a fig at my home in Kirkwood in an empty spot where I wanted it to grow. After a very rainy period, it let me know pretty quickly that it didn’t want to grow in that spot. It was too wet, it didn’t drain well enough, so it died. It took an entire year before I figured out another spot for a fig. It wasn’t where I wanted it to grow, but it seemed like the only place it might work. The spot is protected on three sides with a brick wall facing west, a solid fence protecting it from the north wind, and full, hot southern exposure all afternoon. The hose has a hard time reaching all the way around the corner to this spot and the soil drains well. I planted it in the fall with extra care and thickly mulched it before going into the winter. The following spring, I pulled the mulch away and waited patiently, knowing that it is one of the later plants to leaf out. I waited and waited. I finally pulled the plug on it at the beginning of June when there was no apparent sign of life.

After these two attempts, I finally felt like I’d gained quite a lot of information about what the plant doesn’t like and decided to make one more attempt. Realizing that this is a plant that prefers to be in a more temperate climate, it seemed like it probably needed to be rooted in thoroughly before going into a cold winter. The following

May, I planted a third Brown Turkey fig in that same spot. It didn’t appear to grow much all summer, but it didn’t die. It was likely growing a good root system. After it went dormant, I placed a thick layer of mulch at the base and crossed my fingers. This spring, I pulled the mulch away from the base and waited… and waited. Around the beginning of May, a tiny little nub appeared at the base, then another. By June, multiple leaves had emerged and I felt a true sense of victory. Very little care or maintenance was needed over the summer and this fall, we enjoyed our first crop of fresh, homegrown figs. It topped off at about six feet tall in just the first year.

Success can be short-lived when growing fruits, as an array of various challenges can arise. Certain pests, diseases or blights can hit unexpectedly. Consider using native edible options, like serviceberries and blackberries, that are well suited for our climate. If we make good choices and do our best to learn all the “Goldilocks” aspects of any plant, we can increase the likelihood that it will thrive. Then maybe we’ll make an attempt to try to grow another one.

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

How to Find that Perfect Rose

by Diane Brueckman

You may wonder what happened to the All American Rose Selections (AARS). The American Rose industry gave the award to the roses voted the best in trials across the country from 1940 to 2013. The AARS award was the most prestigious award given to outstanding roses in the United States. As a former judge for the AARS, I had some misgivings about the results of the trials. The roses selected were judged more heavily on the beauty of the bloom with little weight given to disease resistance and vigor. Another problem was the scores were averaged and no account was given for different growing conditions across the country. Care of the roses varied in the different test gardens. The final problem was treating for disease which did not allow judges to see how the roses resisted diseases without help from fungicides.

The big growers in Europe were way ahead of the American rose industry in breeding for disease resistance and hardiness. In particular Kordes started trialing their roses with no fungicides in the 90s. Many of the Kordes and Meilland (French breeder) roses are beautiful, hardy and very disease resistant. When looking for roses for your garden check the tag or look them up look for KOR for Kordes or MEI for Meilland at the beginning of the official name. For example, ‘MEIludere’ is ‘Mother of Pearl’ an older but very strong Meilland Rose.

In 2012 at the meeting of the Great Rosarians of the World, the

OCTOBER IS FOR PLANTING

idea for American Garden Rose Selections™ or AGRStm was conceived. The organization is overseen by internationally known rose experts who determine the criteria for judging the roses. AGRS™ is modeled after the ADR (Allgemeine Deutsche Rosenneuheiten-prufung (Performing Testing of New Rose Varieties in Germany), a very well-respected group in the rose industry. The trials are held in independent botanic gardens across the country where the roses are judged three times a year, first and foremost for health, vigor and fragrance. At the end of two years, recommendations are made and awards given. Look for the logo on plant labels for AGRS™ winners.

American Rose Trials for Sustainability® (A.R.T.S.) is an organization that puts weight on regional sustainability. Again, the roses are tested with no pesticides and no deadheading. The country is divided into regions based on climate conditions. Strict protocols are followed on fertilizing, watering and, of course, no spraying. Beauty and fragrance are judged as well as diseaseresistance. The roses tested are judged every month on their performance in each region. If the roses perform well in only one region, they are awarded the Local Artists Award. Roses that perform well in four or more regions are awarded the Master Rose Award. Look for the logo of A.R.T.S. on the plant label.

There are other ways to look for great garden roses. Proven Winners is a marketing company. They put their name on plants they have sought out and trialed for three years. The criteria for a Proven Winner plant include sustainability and beauty as well as ease of care. Many of their roses come from breeders like David Zlesak, professor of horticulture at Wisconsin University River Falls, who has developed many disease-resistant roses. Zlesak is responsible for the OSO Easy Roses, many new polyantha roses and more.

In conclusion, though we miss AARS winners, there are many ways to find great roses for our gardens that require less time and money to keep them looking great. I no longer have my large rose garden but I do have some Kordes, Meilland and Proven winners that have taken abuse from our move and are coming along just fine.

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

www.greenscapegardens.com

.

Fall in love with your garden, all over again

It’s time to revisit the garden with fall plantings. Don’t forget to nourish with Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food. It will feed your plants essential nutrients consistently and continuously throughout the autumn season. When perfection matters, why trust anything else?

Scotts Company,

Naturally Natives

Honeysuckle Plucking 101

text and photos (except as noted) by Scott Woodbury

Bush honeysuckle is one of the greatest threats to our woodlands. It comes in with bird droppings, crowds out most other species, and is here to stay…unless . . .

Note: Bush honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii and other non-native shrub species of Lonicera) is a large shrub that was introduced from China to North America in the 1800s as an ornamental plant. It was used extensively for gardening and for screening and to help prevent snow drifting along highways throughout the Midwest.

Unless we intervene with some serious elbow grease. Honeysuckle is not easy to eradicate and keep under control, especially when it is mature and heavily infesting the woods. It produces branches 3-5 inches thick, can grow 10-15 feet tall, and eventually covers

every square foot of woodland within reach. You can’t even walk through the woods when bush honeysuckle has taken hold.

Note: Bush honeysuckle has no natural predators, birds eat the bright red berries in fall and spread seeds far and wide, and it grows so aggressively that it shades out every other plant in the woods growing beneath it.

Owners of small properties (less than an acre) can control bush honeysuckle by hand, digging up the roots of medium-sized shrubs with a mattock or shovel. This is called root docking. A video of the process is on the Deer Creek Watershed Alliance website. Small saplings, with stems a half-inch thick or smaller in diameter can be pulled by hand when the soil is moist. This makes for easy scouting once you get the big ones out of the way. But keep in mind that scouting needs to happen every year to keep them out. A great time to scout for honeysuckle is in late fall when the leaves turn yellow. They stand out like fancy diamonds on a sand bar. Note, however, that root docking often disturbs soil, which can lead to erosion and encourage the germination of bush honeysuckle seeds in the soil, along with the seeds of other invasives.

Property owners with more land may have a greater challenge. The City of Webster Groves is having success controlling honeysuckle at Shady Creek Nature Sanctuary using goats. These browsing animals love eating honeysuckle and can even devour good size shrubs. Follow-up is recommended to remove large branches that may remain and any resprouting foliage. Keep in mind that once the mature plants are gone, new seedlings continue to appear, so scouting annually is a must. Be aware, however, that goats will eat just about any plant, including desirable natives.

Note: Honeysuckle has a great advantage over our native woodland species, because it leafs out before canopy trees leaf out in early spring, and it holds onto its leaves into late fall, after canopy trees

The above images show before and after views from a “honeysuckle hack” undertaken in 2017 at Kirkwood Park in St. Louis County.

photos by Robert Weaver

Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants

is typically followed with targeted applications of glyphosate herbicide to the resprouting foliage during the growing season. Mechanical removal of honeysuckle that is not followed up with glyphosate treatment if often a wasted effort. Judicial application of glyphosate on cut stems/stumps and/or on resprouting foliage the following spring can greatly benefit native vegetation restoration efforts. Always read and follow herbicide label directions.

drop their leaves.

Commercially, heavy infestations of large, mature honeysuckle (on many acres), are removed using a forestry mower and heavyduty skid steer. This process makes short work of grinding large honeysuckle shrubs to shreds, though it is expensive. This process

Large-scale woodland restorations also may involve thinning native canopy trees. Determine which tree species are in greatest abundance and start removing some of them in winter. Typically, native elm, boxelder, shingle oak, white and green ash are in abundance. You may need to remove 20-30% of the canopy trees to open up the woodlands enough for better airflow, increased sunlight, and stronger growth of perennials and grasses, all of which will encourage fewer honeysuckle shrubs in the future, especially if you scout for new seedlings annually and conduct a prescribed burns. Seek out a qualified restoration contractor in the Grow Native! resource guide. There are some great examples of these kinds of woodland restorations just west of the Jewel Box at Forest Park in St. Louis, and just west of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden parking lot at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit.

Happy honeysuckle plucking!

And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be are

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 has launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding.

~ VIRGINIA WOOLF

Bush honeysuckle flowers in the spring, followed by summer berries.

Hand pulling saplings (top photo) is fairly easy, especially when the ground is moist. For larger shrubs, stumps left behind should be treated with herbicide (bottom photo) to prevent regrowth.

The

Corner

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

Home Grown Fall Decorations

By Steffie Littlefield

Who doesn’t love the fall??? Cooler weather, family outings, warm colors in the landscape, softer light in the evenings, getting ready for the Holidays and “YES” decorating with natural materials that represent the change in the season.

Mid-summer my family starts to hear me say; “oh let’s save that for decorating”, “don’t’ put that in the compost, I’ll reuse it”, and “Let that dry a bit and it will last through fall”. It’s always on my mind that when the days are shorter and the temperatures are cooler it is time to switch out our decorations with nature-inspired, rustic-themed, recycled good STUFF! So, look around you in the garden, there is a real treasure trove of items to collect for the

mantel, wreaths and front porch pots and baskets. Of course, some planning can help, like planting pumpkins, decorative squash and gourds in June. But you can always buy those at your local market or nursery, too. What really makes a display stand out are the unexpected use of everyday garden plants. My favorites for drying and decorating include okra pods and stems, pepper plants, dill and parsnip seed heads, hydrangea flowers, sumac pods, horse chestnuts, yard-long bean pods, black rudbeckia seed heads and native grass plumes.

Here’s some ideas on how to prepare and use them:

Okra pods are amazing, they will dry with white, gray and black stripes and even pop open to reveal black seeds inside. They can be collected still attached to long stems for arranging in vases and pots or the individual pods wired together in bunches or star shapes. They can be sprayed with a satin sealant or even with colorful paints or glitter. Their curved and pointed shape is so dramatic. Hot pepper plants covered with small peppers that are red or purple can be cut and hung to dry. Then the branches of peppers can be added to bouquets of other dried material for fall center pieces or wreaths.

Dill and parsnips have these lovely large round seed heads that can be dried hanging upside down and also used like dried flowers. Dill, if dried properly, will retain a nice green color for your display. Use caution when handling them because they are very fragile.

Hydrangeas are really the queen of the garden with the large fluffy flowers clusters that dry so easily you can enjoy them all winter long. Gather them just as the flowers are losing moisture and

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

starting to dry naturally by cutting long stems and then hang upside down where you have good air circulation and low moisture. Their uses are endless.

I confess! I planted and grow a selection of sumacs just for the decorative pods. The deep red fuzzy pods are so impressive and add a rich texture and color to your decorating project.

My pair of horse chestnut trees always delight my guests with their beautiful nuts. The red chestnuts are so fascinating with that swirling look of fresh waxed wood. The Ohio chestnut is a rich dark mahogany color. Children and adults all love to handle them experiencing their smooth texture. They are said to be good luck when given as a gift, so I love to give them to children. I use them in vintage glass containers, vases and in baskets for interesting and interactive decorations.

Bringing Houseplants Inside

By Carol J. Evans, St. Louis Master Gardener

As the days grow shorter and the nights cooler, it’s time to think about bringing your houseplants indoors. Knowing the optimal time to do this depends on the plant, but as a rule of thumb, they should be brought in at least a month before you turn your heat on. This is because many houseplants may be damaged if temperatures drop below 45-500 F at night.

Tips for bringing plants indoors

There are several tips to ensure you are bringing in healthy houseplants. One important tip is to pick off any debris you find on plants or their soil surface. The debris can be old leaves, spent blossoms or other such plant material. Doing this discourages pests from remaining on the plant. Another tip is to prune or repot plants into larger containers if they have grown during their time outdoors. A container at least 2 inches larger than the current pot is suggested as optimal.

Finally, pruning extensive growth and any roots that are protruding will both encourage new growth for many plants and improve their overall appearance.

Discouraging pests

Check for pests such as aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and others, and treat if necessary. An easy, first step to ensuring no pests are brought inside is just spraying plants with water either outside or in the shower. Pick off any obvious pest signs, such as insects, webbing, egg sacs, etc. If you still see pests, spray or wipe the top and undersides of leaves of plants with an insecticidal soap or a pesticide such as neem oil. Make sure to check labels to see how best to use these products before you use them indoors.

Acclimating plants indoors.

Some care should be taken when acclimating your plants to the humidity and light of the house. Some experts suggest bringing pots indoors during the evening and moving them outside early in the day for a week or two. Whether you

My yard long beans are prolific, and when we get busy in the fall, I do not get them harvested early enough to eat. But when they are dry on the vine, the soft cascading bunches can add to any display of natural material, can be woven in a wreath, or can be used to tie up bunches of okra stems, dried grasses etc.

The seed heads from black-eyed Susan flowers are spikey black balls on long stiff stems that are easy to use in dried flower arrangements for fall. The same is true for many tall grass seed plumes and sprays. The grasses like other dried flowers should be bundled and hung to dry for a few weeks. Fill weather baskets with these soft-hued materials and mix them in your bright pumpkin display and your neighbors will be taking pictures of your porch this fall. Fall decorating is not just about Halloween and these materials are lovely for Thanksgiving decorations as well.

do this or bring them in all at once, try to mimic the light conditions they had outside. Place them in a location in your home where there are not extreme temperatures such as heating vents, cold air from open window, etc.

As for indoor care, your plants may not need as much water indoors as they did outside. It is best to check that the soil is dry to the touch before watering.

Using this information to bring your houseplants back into your home from the outdoors will go a long way toward keeping them healthy and pest free this winter.

Sources: Gardening Know How (2022) https://www. gardeningknowhow. com/houseplants/hpgen/ acclimate-plants-indoorswinter.htm

Missouri Botanical Garden https://www. MissouriBotanicalGarden. org/gardens-gardening/ your-garden/help-for-homegardener/advice-tipsresources/gardening-bymonth/September

Premier Tech https://www. pthomeandgarden.com/5tips-for-bringing-outdoorplants-indoors-for-thewinter/

University of Minnesota Extension (2022). https:// extension.umn.edu/yardand-garden-news/bringinghouseplants-back-inside

University of Minnesota Extension (2021) https:// extension.umn.edu/yardand-garden-news/give-yourhouseplants-fresh-start

Upcoming Events

Oct. 3rd

Upcoming Events, Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More

Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at GatewayGardener.com, so check there for the latest details.

Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in Winter issue (November-February) is October 1st.

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

FUN FOR KIDS

Oct. 1st

9am—St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Children’s Garden Club. FREE. Sherwood’s Forest Garden Center, 2651 Barrett Station Rd., Manchester, MO 63021. Subject to safety guidelines.

11am-2pm—Ghouls in the Garden. Celebrate Halloween at a special trick-or-treating event. Come in costume and visit several stations throughout the Garden to fill your treat bag with special goodies. See the circus, dance with some trolls, and huff and puff with Three Little Pigs. Enjoy music, dancing, and photo opportunities. FREE for members-only, advance registration required. Membership level determines the number of free entries you receive. Nonmember guests beyond your allotment cannot register for the event, but may purchase general Garden admission tickets in advance to participate. Ticket availability is limited. Visit the Garden ticketing website at missouribotanicalgarden.org.

Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, 314-577-3100.

Nov. 5th

9am—St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Children’s Garden Club FREE. Planthaven Farms Garden Center. 6703 Telegraph Rd., Oakville, MO. Subject to safety guidelines.

CLASSES, SALES AND OTHER EVENTS

Oct 1st

10am—Hypertufa Class. Get your hands dirty and make your own container using hypertufa (a light weight mix that looks like concrete). In this class you will learn how to mix the ingredients together to make the container and how to plant it when you are finished.

The containers will need to stay here for 3 days to dry and cure before they can go home. $30.00. Space is limited. Call 636-239-6729 to reserve your spot. Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www. hillermann.com.

Oct. 5th 6:30pm—Hybridizing of Daylilies, Care and Culture. Jason Delaney, former curator of bulbs at Missouri Botanical Garden. Part of the Patio Garden Speakers Series hosted by the St. Louis Elks. Contact Doug Wolter at drwplants@ gmail.com with questions. Elks Lodge #9, 12481 Ladue Rd., St. Louis. This event is open to the public.

Oct. 7th-9th Noon-8pm Friday, 9am-5pm Sat. and Sun. (8-9am Sat. members only)—Best of Missouri Market. Handmade artisan and craft items, and food, mostly from Missouri artists and producers, including native plants from Missouri Wildflower Nursery. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw, St. Louis.

Oct. 8th 9am-12:30pm—Gardening in the Air. This online ½-day workshop features 3 tracks: water, lawns and nature. Registrants can participate in one class from each of the 3 tracks. Class descriptions and times are available online at go.illinois.edu/GIA2022Fall. There is no fee, though donations are accepted at the time of registration. Presented by University of Illinois Extension, Madison-MonroeSt. Clair Extension Unit.

10am—Fall Porch Pot Class. Perfect workshop to get your porch ready for fall and winter! During this class you will make a fall porch pot using live fall annuals with fall accents. You

will be taught how to make the fall accents to add in and how to care for your porch pot. This is a great workshop that you can take again in December to learn how to transform into a winter porch pot by adding fresh evergreens. $50.00. Space is limited. Call 636-239-6729 to reserve your spot. Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com

Oct. 8th 6:30pm—Houseplants. Becca De La Plaz. Part of the Patio Garden Speakers Series hosted by the St. Louis Elks. Contact Doug Wolter at drwplants@ gmail.com with questions. Elks Lodge #9, 12481 Ladue Rd., St. Louis. This event is open to the public.

Oct. 9th 5-7pm—U City in Bloom Plein Air Festival. This year’s event features an art show, reception and sale at University City Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave. 63130. For further information contact Judy Prange at judyprange@ outlook.com. Visit UCityinBloom.org.

Oct. 13th 4-6pm—Bellefontaine Tree Walk. Join one of Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum’s horticulturalists for a walking tour. This stroll through the cemetery will focus on trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. Be prepared to walk on uneven terrain with moderate slopes. Upon arrival to 4947 W. Florissant Ave, a greeter will give parking and meeting instructions. Presented by Grow Native! To register, email outreach@moprairie.org or call 573-808-7007.

Oct. 15th 10am-2pm—Bring Conservation Home Plant Sale. Native plants to attract and feed birds, butterflies and

other pollinators. A portion of the proceeds benefits St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home program. Webster University Bookstore Parking Lot, 554 Garden Ave., Webster Groves, MO 63119.

Oct. 15th

10am—Kokedama Class. This is a trendy way to have and showcase green plants in your home. You will make a Kokedama (a moss ball planter) and learn how to make each layer. You will choose from a variety of green houseplants to find the right one for you. Instructions on care will also be taught during the class. $35.00. Space is limited. Call 636239-6729 to reserve your spot. Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann. com.

Oct. 22nd

10am—Fall Succulent Planter

Class. As the weather starts getting cooler, warm your house with a festive planter of succulents. We will be planting these in a festive fall gourd that will make the perfect table centerpiece for the season. $35.00. Space is limited. Call 636-239-6729 to reserve your spot. Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www. hillermann.com.

Oct. 26th

4-5pm—Grow Native! Master Class: The Seed Cycle. In this class covering native seed collection, stratification and propagation, you’ll learn about the plant life cycle and how to mimic some of nature’s processes that impact seed germination and plant growth. Suitable for the home gardener and large-scale native plant producers. The class will be held via Zoom, and will include 50 minutes of instruction and at least 10 minutes for q&a via chat. A recording of the webinar will

also be available for those who registered. Free for all Missouri Prairie Foundation dues-paying members and Grow Native! Professional members, or $15 for non-members. Register at grownative.org/events.

Oct. 28th

6-9pm—Spirits in the Garden. Celebrate All Hallows’ Eve sampling tastings from local and regional distilleries, wineries and breweries! Strut your stuff in a costume contest. Test your horror movie knowledge in our trivia contest. Solve a scavenger hunt. Dance the night away to spooky tunes spun by Lamar Harris is DJ Nune. Watch classic horror movies. Meet local paranormal investigators. Learn about the spirited history of the Garden. Enjoy a fortune teller, fire performer and stilt-walking Frankenstein’s monster. Admission includes all activities and tastings. Food available for purchase. Cash bar also available. All attendees must be at least 21 years of age. $20 members, $30 adults (ages 21+. This outdoor event happens rain or shine. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., 63110.

October 30th

1-2pm—Preparing Perennials and Flowering Shrubs for Winter. Part of Passiglia’s Walk & Talk educational programs. Walks start at the nursery patio. Passiglia’s Nursery, 1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood. Call 636-431-4061 or visit passiglia.com.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

St. Charles Convention Center St. Charles, MO

2022 Event Sponsor

Keynote by Anita Brooks

P4 Power Coaching “7 Secret Powers of Exceptional Leaders”

Anita Brooks motivates organizations and people to dynamic breakthroughs as an international speaker, certified personality trainer, communications specialist, certified training facilitator, and in-demand business coach. And a full day of programs in Seven Educational Tracks

Landscape Design • NEW Lawn & Landscape Maintenance • NEW Green Industry Business & Technology • Sports Fields • Golf • Water Management • Pesticide Applicator Recertification (Cat. 3) CEUs (Continuing Education Units) Available

Full Schedule and Online Registration at: www.mogic.org

Special Pre-Registration Rate DEADLINE: Tuesday, Nov. 23rd, NOON!

Managing Organizations