Naturally Natives A Good Time for Front Yard Conversations by Scott Woodbury
Margy Terpstra
had consumed part of my day. If there ever was a silver lining It was the highlight of my days. to the current health crisis, it is that people are spending more What a treat from the depressing new normal of visiting with time outdoors and yearning to coworkers, friends and family connect with other people. In on a computer screen. the past week, while strolling the sidewalk, I struck up But it got me thinking about conversations with two people the messages (and potential who were gardening in their messages) we send to our front yards. I was drawn in by neighbors through the frontthe attractive gardens, and then yard garden. The scent of the thrilled to have a face-to-face roses and lovely masses of chat over the split-rail fence, lemon-yellow daylilies (both, over the low-clipped hedge. non-native plants) briefly These days it is so easy to break Signage at the Kirkwood, MO, home of Dan and Margy Terpstra interrupted my mundane the ice. People are yearning for clearly explains the goals of their bird-friendly habitat. routine. I instantly sensed human connections. I simply beauty with my nose and eyes, said, “Your roses smell so nice” and “Are those ‘Happy Returns’ and then had the unique opportunity to follow up with a question daylilies?” and before I knew it, a few minutes of blissful chit-chat
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 the St. Louis area. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we will bring it to the location. Kirkwood Farmer’s Market, 150 East Argonne Dr. Kirkwood MO 63122. Prepaid orders are encouraged, but there will be a selection to pick from. Aug. 29, Sept. 5 and 12; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. St. Louis Monarchs at the Meadows, Lake St. Louis Market, Meadow Cir. Dr., Lake St. Louis, MO 63367. Prepaid orders are encouraged, but there will be a selection to pick from. Sept. 19, 8 a.m. to noon. St. Louis Native Plant Expo & Sale, Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, MO 63143. Details at www.stlouisaudubon.org. Benefitting St. Louis Audubon’s “Bring Conservation Home” program. Prepaid orders are encouraged, but there will be a selection to pick from. Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Louis Best of Missouri Market, Missouri Botanical Garden , Missouri Botanical Garden. 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110. Oct. 4, 5 & 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Now OPEN at our Brazito (Jefferson City) location. 10
Take a
Shade-cation
Come find your shady spot and inhale the restorative power of nature while supporting our nature restoration work at Shaw Nature Reserve. Gray Summit, MO | Open Daily shawnature.org/summer2020
17 miles of hiking trails 2,400 acres to explore Countless shady escapes waiting for you Masks recommended when near Visitor Center and parking lots. Reservations or e-tickets required. A division of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
The Gateway Gardener™ SEPTEMBER 2020
