Gateway Gardener
APRIL 2015
THE
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Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes
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From the Editor
Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes
April 2015
Volume 11, Number 3
Founded in 2005 by
Robert Weaver & Joyce Bruno
Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists
Barbara Perry Lawton Garden Book Author and Garden Writer Connie Alwood Master Gardener Diane Brueckman Rosarian Joyce Driemeyer Master Gardener Mara Higdon Gateway Greening Michael McVey Irrigation and Lighting Professional Steffie Littlefield Nursery Professional Abby Lapides
Nursery Professional
Jennifer Schamber Nursery Professional
Scott Woodbury
Native Plant Specialist
Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published monthly by Double Dig Communications, Inc. to promote enjoyable, successful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equipment rental, repair and sales establishments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices. Please send letters-to-the-editor, questions, event announcements, editorial suggestions and contributions, photos, advertising inquiries and materials, and any other correspondence to: The Gateway Gardener Magazine® PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Phone: (314) 968-3740
info@gatewaygardener.com www.gatewaygardener.com The Gateway Gardener® is printed on recycled newsprint using environmentally friendly soy-based ink, and is a member of the PurePower® renewable energy resources network.
L
ong-time readers will know of my fondness for native plants and the benefits they offer to wildlife, use in rainwater management, sustainable gardening practices and other advantages—not at all to short them on beauty as well! I’m pleased to offer our monthly feature on native plants (page 8), courtesy of the great folks at Shaw Nature Reserve, GrowNative! and the Missouri Department of Conservation. I think I learn as much from these regular contributions as I hope our readers do—in fact, I’m installing a new native groundcover area this spring using plant recommendations from Scott Woodbury’s article in our March 2015 issue! Natives play a huge roll in my own garden’s certification in St. Louis Audubon’s “Bring Conservation Home” program and as a Monarch Waystation (see our March 2014 issue), and since Missouri lies dead-center in the flyway of this fascinating and endangered annual migration, I’m issuing a throwdown challenge to my fellow Show-Me State gardeners to register their own qualifying gardens with MonarchWatch.org (see page 27). All that said, where would the beautiful ornamental gardens of our region be without the amazing
Webster/Kirkwood Times, Diana Linsley
Gateway Gardener THE
diversity and beauty of non-native ornamentals that our independent garden centers put forth for us to drool over with each new gardening season. I imagine our readers fall all over the gardening spectrum in terms of their aspirations for their gardens. Some are just interested in growing vegetables more successfully, others may only want to know how to keep their lawns green. Most, I suspect, want to do the right thing by the environment, but while doing that, I’m guessing a large percentage aspire to—even if only in a small vignette—bragworthy garden scenes. I know I do! So, while I acknowledge and even subscribe to the notion that we need more native plants to benefit our native wildlife, my own garden still includes pockets where you’ll find the newest inventions of the
On the Cover...
It’s a bird, it’s a plane..it’s Super Plant! Bodacious blooms and Jurassic foliage are just a few of the outof-this-world attributes exhibited by exciting new hybrid cultivars like this Phlox ‘Goliath’. For more Super Plants, see page 6. (Photo courtesy Sugar Creek Gardens.)
IN THIS ISSUE 4 Caladiums 6 Super Plants 8 Buckeyes and Swallowtails
10 12 14 16 18 20 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 30
ornamental hybridizing geniuses. So I’m always happy to be kept abreast of new introductions to be found in our local garden centers, such as those “Super Plants” recommended by Abby Elliott on page 6.
Joyce Driemeyer also reminds us on page 16 that, when it comes to attracting pollinators, many nonnative herbs also hold their own in that function as well as others. And, while most roses are nonnative, Diane Brueckman reminds us that rose hybridizers are not without concern for sustainability, and recommends some varieties on page 10 that thrive without the typical rose regimen of sprays and coddling. Still and all, it’s April—Earth Day Month! So, I’ll close with a thought to the monarchs. Along with the bodacious new ornamentals, ownroot roses and useful herbs, grow more milkweed—then register your garden with MonarchWatch. org. Show Me, Missouri!
Good Gardening!
New Roses It’s Alive! St. Louis Hort History Many Uses of Herbs Eco-Product Guide Irrigation Startup Watering the Garden 101 Know The Pros International Compost Awareness Week Vertical Gardening Earth Day Events A Missouri Monarch Challenge Dig This Upcoming Events
Caladiums by Barbara Perry Lawton
T
here are many more choices for color in the shade garden than most gardens are aware of, including beautiful annuals such as New Guinea impatiens, begonia, caladium, cyclamen, fuchsia, lobelia, perilla and torenia. Among my favorites are caladiums, a group of ornamentals grown for their spectacular foliage, large arrowshaped leaves that come in a wide variety of color combinations— white, pink, red and green—and patterns. They offer many choices to brighten your shady corners. The genus Caladium is a plant group of seven species originally native to Central and South America. Caladiums have been cultivated in Europe since the late 18th century. Like other aroids, relatives of philodendron, caladiums are poisonous to eat and also can be irritating to the skin. Although there are dwarf varieties, most garden caladiums grow about two feet tall with an equal width. And although most varieties grow best in full to partial shade, today there are varieties that will tolerate sunnier conditions. When grouped they may well look as though they’re in bloom. They mix
For Almost Anything You(Including Need Hard In The Garden To Find Tools)
well with softly textured ornamentals such as astilbe as well as the spikyleafed ornamental grasses and shadetolerent irises. Caladiums are top propects for container growing. You can buy caladiums potted, ready to set out in the garden or grow them from tubers. If planting the tubers, be sure to plant them with the pointed side up, about one and a half to two inches deep. As far as spacing, this will depend upon the mature size of the plants—that information should be on the label. Keep the plants moist but not wet. They prefer slightly acid soil. Caladiums grow from corms, reproductive tubers that are modified underground stems. The tubers can be divided to propagate the plants. They are hardy only to USDA Zone 10. Beyond that, grow them as houseplants or outdoor annuals. In our temperate climate, the corms should be dug up before the first hard frost, dried and stored, fairly dry, for the winter. Be sure to dig them up before the cold melts the leaves, as the corms will be very difficult to find thereafter. Barbara Perry Lawton is a writer, author, speaker and photographer. She has served as manager of publications for Missouri Botanical Garden and as weekly garden columnist for the PostDispatch. The author of a number of gardening and natural history books, and contributor to many periodicals, she has earned regional and national honors for her writing and photography. Barbara is also a Master Gardener and volunteers at MBG.
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E
Super Plants! by Abby Lapides Elliott
Our first Super Plant should be called Super Phlox. With blooms twice the size as the largest garden phlox variety, Phloxes ‘Hercules’ and ‘Goliath’ (see cover photo) boast bubblegum pink and purple blooms, respectively. Because these are cultivars from the Missouri native Phlox amplifolia, they both can tolerate our hot,
provides long blooms that are distasteful to deer and rabbits. ‘Superblue’ will provide armfuls of heavily scented blooms all summer. This compact variety reaches only 10-12” tall and wide, making it perfect for edging or in containers.
Agastache ‘Rosie Posie’ humid summers without getting powdery mildew. If they couldn’t get any better, they both have a sweet candy-like scent and bloom for months on
end. Like designer dogs, Super Plants combine many of your favorite traits into one plant. One I particularly like is Agastache ‘Rosie Posie,’ which provides bright, fuschia-pink flowers beginning in early summer that won’t stop until fall. Drought tolerant? Check. Deer and rabbit resistant? Check. Butterflies and hummingbirds go crazy for this one, which is why I love this variety. Lavender
6
Walter’s Gardens Inc.
ndless-blooming perennials. Jurrasicsized ferns. Built-in deer and rabbit resistance. Welcome to the world of Super Plants, where today’s hybridizers are creating amazing plants that defy what many horticulturists thought was possible. I’ve scoured the country looking for these Super Plants. Here are some of my favorites.
‘Superblue’
also
‘Fire Island’ is one of the more vigorous of the Fern Leafed Bleeding Heart family. Puffy lipstick-red heart-shaped flowers bloom in abundance over blue-green ferny foliage that deer and rabbits dislike. Because these flowers are sterile they bloom much longer than other varieties. Super Plants also means supersized blooms and foliage. For starters, how about a Hosta the size of a kiddie pool? This blue ruffle-leafed Hosta ‘Humpback Whale’ can reach 8 feet in diameter. I really love the color it adds year-round to my shade garden. One my favorite imports is the aptly-named Japanese Painted Fern ‘Godzilla.’ It’s a true monster, reaching 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Like all Japanese Painted Ferns deer tend to leave it alone. If you’re
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
Walter’s Gardens Inc.
Clematis ‘Sapphire Indigo’
Hosta ‘Humpback Whale’
looking for the Alton Giant of Astilbes, ‘Mighty Pip’ could be the largest of all. Soft pink fluffy flowers shoot up past 4 feet in height. Like many other Super Plants, the ferny foliage is deer and rabbit resistant.
a pot and taken inside in the winter or can be planted in the ground, coming back year after year. One of my favorite ‘miniature’ plants is the ‘Little Annie’ coneflower, the smallest variety available. Reaching only 8-10” tall, ‘Little Annie’ bursts with bright pink mini Sometimes selective breeding can produce something wholly flowers starting early summer. Sterile flowers will keep blooming unique. Clematis ‘Sapphire Indigo’ is truly singular. It is a cross almost until we get a frost. between a shrubby clematis and a vining one. ‘Sapphire Indigo’ These are some of my favorite Super Plants. What are yours? can be trained up a trellis to grow about 4’ tall, but if left on its own it will grow into a 3’ by 3’ weed-smothering mound. It will also cascade down walls or containers. Dark purple flowers fade indigo Abby Lapides Elliott is owner and a speaker at Sugar Creek Gardens Nursery. blue. It keeps this show up for months, blooming June through She has degrees from the University September. Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to Super Plants. Sometimes Super Small is superb! For example, ‘Pixie Grapes’ reach only 20” tall at maturity. These dwarf grapevines provide amazing miniature clusters of delicious grapes with few seeds. Plants can be grown in
of Missouri, and is a member of the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. You can reach her at (314) 965-3070.
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7
Naturally Natives Easter’s Plucky Buckeyes and Tiger Swallowtails
L
ike the great recession, the back-to-back summer droughts of 2012-13 were a test of mettle in the plant world. Many people lost more than hope and many garden plants suffered and even died. The grand walkway of bottlebrush buckeye, Aesculus parviflora (a non-native) at Missouri Botanical Garden comes to mind. In 2012 it died back severely and looked like a tornado swept through it. So did the two patches in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden. After the second knock-down of 2013 they were cut back severely and urged to grow back with a
Bill Hall
Scott Woodbury
Tiger Swallowtails enjoying a puddle session.
heavy dose of TLC. Last year they began to bounce back. All the while the native red buckeye, Aesculus pavia and Ohio buckeye, Aesculus glabra didn’t miss a beat. They dropped leaves early both summers like they always do, and grew and bloomed normally the following spring yet suffered no die-back. Their tried-andtrue dormancy mechanism, a trick honed over the millennia worked flawlessly, giving them the edge over the competition. If it weren’t for the will to pay for and apply copious amounts of water, bottlebrush buckeye might have disappeared from our gardens altogether. They
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Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants virginiana). Buckeyes flower around Easter when hummingbirds return and tiger swallowtail butterflies emerge from their over-wintering chrysalis. Look for their telltale yellow and black striped colors in the woods and sipping water from mineral-rich mud puddles. You might create a much-needed mud puddle in your garden or
plant its favorite foods, wild cherry (Prunus serotina), wafer ash (Ptelea trifoliate) and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). When April arrives get out for a hike or an early paddle. Don’t miss the swallowtails and buckeyes that grace our waterways, woodlands and gardens this Easter!
Scott Woodbury
Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for more than 20 years.
A Tiger Swallowtail sipping nectar at an Ohio buckeye. looked awful for three years. leaves early (late September or October) they are well-placed Native red and Ohio buckeyes next to greener-longer small grow wild along creeks and flowering trees like northern rivers in Missouri, Arkansas blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum and southern Illinois and so are prunifolium), fringetree flood tolerant and good choices (Chionanthus virginicus) or for rain gardens and clay soils. eastern witchazel (Hamamelus Since they typically drop
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New Roses are Here! By Diane Brueckman
M
the rugosa “William Baffin” at the Garden years ago and I am battling “Rosa Mundi” a gallica in my garden now. I may look for a budded “Rosa Mundi” and remove the one I have.
ore roses than ever are on their ownroots. This is an excellent option to look for when buying roses. For those who are not familiar with ownroot roses, they are roses that have not been budded onto a root stock. The big advantage is they are less susceptible to winter kill from the bud union since there is no bud union to die. So often a rose dies at the bud union and a cane comes up from the root stock and produces a bloom of another color, usually red from the Dr. Huey root stock. Star Roses and Plants
Most new garden roses on their own-roots are very well behaved. I am very pleased with the way the Easy Elegance roses have grown in my garden on their own-roots. Meilland, the French Francis Meilland hybridizers, test all of their new roses on their own-roots before budding them. If the roses are well behaved and vigorous they offer them as own-root roses. One such rose is “Francis Meilland” the last AARS winner and only Another advantage of own-root roses is new shoots coming from Hybrid Tea to win with the no spray program. It was long thought the crown of the plant will be the rose you want and there is no that roses, especially the Hybrid Teas and Floribundas needed to be need to remove the “suckers”. This is a double edged sword since budded to be vigorous. I think it was more a lack of patience that some roses, mostly species roses such as R. rugosa and R. gallica, promoted the budding. can sucker to the point of invasiveness. I had a terrific battle with
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It is true an own-root rose may take longer to gain the stature of a Remember do not uncover your roses before April 15th and have a budded rose. It has been my experience that they can take up to a very rosey year. year longer to attain the height and bloom power of a budded rose. In my mind it is worth the wait. Not all roses do well on own-roots but if you find them in commerce it’s a good bet that they will. Another option, mostly in the big box stores, is the bagged rose. They are cheaper than a potted rose but often are a low grade rose. Low Grade is a grade 1 ½ or 2 meaning it doesn’t have many good canes. A top grade 1 will have 3 canes at least as thick as a pencil. If you are an experienced rose gardener you may have success with these roses but a novice should steer clear of them. Any roses from a mail order supplier should arrive no later than April. May 1st is the latest I would plant a bare-root rose directly in the ground. If your roses arrive later than end of April, I would pot them up and keep them in a cool dark place for a few weeks so they can grow some roots to support the new green growth. The other must-do for a newly planted bare-root rose is to cover the canes to the top for a couple of weeks so the roots can take hold.
Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her at (618) 7853011 or droseyacres@egyptian.net.
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When planting your new rose dig a big hole and mound the soil up in the middle. Spread the bare-roots over the top and back fill with soil that has been mixed with some compost and an organic fertilizer such as Chicken Soup for Roses™. Water well when the hole is half full then complete filling with soil and water again. The latest advice is do not tamp the soil down let the water settle the soil around the roots.
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It’s Alive! Text and Photo By Mitch Leachman
I
tell people all the time that I came to gardening through native plants, and everything I’ve learned about gardening has been a result of that now decade-long experience. With that, my perspective just might be a bit different than many who play in the dirt.
fruit of American Beautyberry. The feeders have never had any interest for them, no matter the season. Also, one fall I was amazed to see a female Summer Tanager picking bees out of the air as they mobbed the New England Asters in full bloom; I’m a huge bee fanatic (more about that later), but everyone’s gotta eat. Finally, one windy day, I had the distinct pleasure of watching a Ruby-throated Hummingbird nectar on Common Milkweed flowers, hovering oh-so-perfectly in synch with the plant as it swayed.
To be sure, it is a hobby that gives me more pleasure than most indoor activities. Certainly, I want my beds and plants to be attractive to the eye; unfortunately, my maintenance regimen is not likely a model to follow. It has become an activity that I share with loved ones and Speaking of bees, I cannot believe A swallowtail larvae (caterpillar) dines in the the colors, especially in the fall when acquired knowledge I share with others. author’s garden. the asters and goldenrods are in bloom. Yet, mostly it is a selfish obsession to Green, metallic blue, black and white striped, orange, and more. I experience nature, up close and personal. typically take part of my lunch hour (from my home office) to just Two years in a row, I watched Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers stand with the asters and bees, watching, musing, calming. Oh, and stop in my backyard during their fall journey to fuel up on the have you ever pet a bee? You can. Many, if not most, of the solitary
12
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
bees in our gardens spend the night on flowers; you can find them there well after sunrise on cool fall mornings. I select a nice, sedate bumble and lightly stroke its back—can’t do that with any bird! There are so many more experiences to share, but let me leave you with just one more. This past year was just the third growing season for my Golden Alexanders—flat-topped clusters of tiny yellow flowers in spring. I planted them because they are a host plant for the Black Swallowtail butterfly, meaning the adult butterflies lay their eggs on the plant and the caterpillars eat it. One fine May day, I was doing some weeding nearby and noticed a number of caterpillars happily munching away. That prompted daily monitoring, watching them grow ever larger but fewer in number (again, everybody’s gotta eat!). Finally, one remained, which then formed a chrysalis to perform its miracle of metamorphosis. While I did not see the adult butterfly emerge, the neatly opened casing certainly gave me hope!
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So, I play in the dirt with native plants hoping to facilitate these sort of encounters. I need them. They inspire and nourish me. They remind me that we’re all part of the same environment. We don’t often admit it, but we need nature’s creatures, all of them—even more than they need us. Mitch Leachman is the Executive Director of the St. Louis Audubon Society where he has been active since 2001. He also helped create and coordinates the society’s Bring Conservation Home program, a native landscaping advice and certification program for urban landowners in the St. Louis region.
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St. Louis Hort History Edited by Robert Weaver From East to West,
Two Area Garden Centers Share 35 Years of Plant Passion!
O
ne of the joys I’ve experienced in 10 years of publishing The Gateway Gardeners is getting to k n o w many fine independent garden centers beyond those in my own neighborhood. Here are two with rich family hort histories from East to West!
humble beginnings. Today Rick, his wife Trudy, and a staff of 10 seasonal employees grow a large selection of quality perennials, unique annuals, herbs, flowering shrubs, roses, ornamental trees, water plants, and native plants. All the good stuff! Effinger’s is located in Belleville, Illinois, approximately 30 minutes from downtown St. Louis and just 11 blocks west of the Belleville Square. Their emphasis is on quality plants that thrive locally, excellent customer service, a knowledgeable experienced staff, and good value.
Zick’s Great Outdoors, Wildwood, MO
Effinger’s Garden Center, Belleville, IL
Effinger Garden Center is a first-generation, independently owned retail garden center, established in 1980. Owner Rick Effinger actually began cutting grass a couple years earlier, and added waiting tables to finance the original operation, which consisted of one old glass greenhouse, a pick-up truck, and a lawn mower. His vision, a passion for horticulture, a love of people, and 37 years of hard work helped transform the business from its NO
W is P the d s c l a n Y Ti m e o to We ape M ur Ca a k n H eov elp er. !
Lan
• • • • • •
15 Impressive Greenhouses Over10,000 Hanging Baskets! 100s of Varieties of Perennials Over100,000 Annuals Over 70 Varieties of Roses Great Selection of Beautiful Planted Containers
One coupon per customer per visit. Hurry offer expires April 30, 2015!
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YOU DECIDE... stand up and garden
FLOWERS... ...OR FOOD!
$5.00 OFF any purchase of $50 or More
www.danielsfarmandgreenhouse.com
Zick’s Great Outdoors started in 1980 with a pick-up truck and a shovel. Owner Doug Zick, received his B.S. in Horticulture at Mizzou, and spent two years with M o n s a n t o ’s Agricultural Division b e f o r e contracting for property at Clayton & Strecker Roads. At this time Clayton Road was a dangerous winding country road ending in Winding Trails subdivision. As the first
352 Jungermann Rd. St. Peters, MO 63376 (636)441-5048 M-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
TRY A GUTTER GARDEN!
Need a speaker for your garden club or group? Call us!
See them at: Creekside Gardens 721 Johnson Hill Rd., Collinsville, IL, or
GutterGardens.com
314.255.1845 618.334.2504
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
development at the intersection, Doug had his choice of any of the four corners, and picked the least expensive, a plot of land that included a creek winding through the property. Though the creek made it difficult to use all the property, today it is part of the rustic, natural charm that Zick’s Great Outdoors offers visitors. When his son Todd was three years old Doug created a spook house for young kids, which morphed into their annual ‘SpookOdyssey’ event featuring bonfires and fun for the entire family that has brought closeness to the community 23 years! Another annual event, Bandana Bash, has raised more than $200,000 to help aid ‘Friends of Kids with Cancer’ and other organizations and people dealing with cancer. Today, as you stroll through 12 acres of paths and bridges lined with hundreds of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals, you will see an array of eclectic displays like a 1949 Dodge truck planted and recessed into the landscape, a real 1890s jail. Iron gates and walls keep kids safe and make for a truly unusual place of recycled treasures. Among its offerings, you’ll find a huge selection of large trees, native plants, and a great selection of unusual perennials and annuals—especially, being in Wildwood, deer-resistant plants. Zick’s also carries compost, soils, and mulches— and is one of the few places in St. Louis where you can find pine straw! In season, they also offer a produce stand with fresh veggies, fruits, beautiful cut flowers and outstanding tomatoes, all locally grown. Zick’s is located at the corner of Clayton & Strecker Roads in Wildwood. You can reach them at (636) 458-1445 or sales@ zicksgreatoutdoors.com. APRIL 2015
From time to time, The Gateway Gardener recalls a slice of the St. Louis area’s horticultural history and the families that have contributed to it. If you have some photos, memories or other bit of history you’d like to share with us, send them to us at info@gatewaygardener.com or by mail to PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122. Or call us at (314) 968-3740.
ry e t e m e eC n i a t n o ellef
B
April 2y213 Ma June 3
Enjoy delicious wines and hors d'oeuvres as you walk the grounds of St. Louis’s most historic cemetery and arboretum, surrounding elegant Hotchkiss Chapel. Hear stories of famous (and infamous!) St. Louisans from our master guides, all as you sip and stroll. Hosted by the Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery.
The Gateway Gardener®
T I C K E T S A V A I L A B L E AT
www.bellefontainecemetery.org/events 15
The Cornucopia Corner Merits of Growing and Using Herbs By Joyce Driemeyer
I
f you are into cooking, you are already aware of the advantages of fresh herbs for seasoning and as an advantage in reducing salt content. By growing your own plants, one can control purity and avoid contaminants such as weed killers and insect
sprays. The nutritional content and health benefits such as vitamins, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities are present in many of these plants, especially, rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano. Even parsley is a source of some Vitamin A and minerals,
2015 CLEMATIS OF THE YEAR
SAPPHIRE INDIGO
plants, but the additional merit of growing herbs in your garden is the fact that, as in my garden, they swarm with bees I have never been a fan of of all sorts, beneficial flies, supplements, either vitamin or butterflies and birds. My fennel anything else. It is a completely coneflowers, lemon balm, uncontrolled industry in this marjoram, oregano and thymes country. The products can be are all strong attractants when contaminated and often do not in bloom. contain what they say they do. Also, the danger of interfering with medications one is already taking can be quite threatening. I especially do not recommend using any products out of China, Southeast Asian or India. including calcium, iron and ascorbic acid. Most importantly, maintain a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables.
I am all for native pollinator
Jt’s Fresh Ideas
A continuous profusion of blossoms appear June-September. It can be trained as a climber, or grown as a shrubby, weed-smothering ground cover with no support. Over 2,000 varieties of plants 1011 N. Woodlawn • Kirkwood, MO www.SugarCreekGardens.com 314-965-3070
VOTED #1 BEST GARDEN CENTER! 16
courtesy www.gothamhometable.com
“Baked” Flash Fried spinach
Ingredients 2 cups pre-washed Baby Spinach (stems removed) Olive Oil (I used Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray or 1 Tbsp Olive Oil) Sea Salt or Lawry’s Seasoned Salt Pepper Parmesan Cheese 1 Lemon (quartered)
Preparation Instructions Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper (you will want to do at least 2 baking sheets). Lay spinach leaves in a single layer on baking sheets and lightly spray with olive oil. Season
with salt and pepper. Bake for 8 10 minutes or until crispy. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and fresh squeezed lemon. Serve immediately. Please share some of your favorite recipes with us. You can e-mail us at: info@gatewaygardener.com.
One of my favorite appetizers is Flash Fried Spinach and this is my attempt for a healthier version.
I hope you enjoy!
Jt
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table Herb Sales in April If you are interested in herb plant purchases, do not miss the annual herb sale at Missouri Botanical Garden by the St. Louis Herb Society. They are offering a wide variety of annual basils, 12 varieties of lavenders, some of which would be great in sunny entry planters, and 15 varieties of thymes, including some creeping forms that would be attractive in a rock garden or along pathways. There are, of course, many other herbs available, some of which are uncommon. The sale is open to the public April 22nd from 6-8pm, 23rd from noon-5pm, and 24th-25th 9am-5pm. Hope to see you there.
25th from 8:30am-2pm at the First Congregational Church in Webster Groves. There you’ll find thousands of culinary, medicinal and ornamental herbs, heirloom tomatoes and other vegetables, plus herbrelated books, demonstrations and lots of helpful herb lovers to answer your questions. For further information visit their website at www.wgherbs.org.
Davidsan’s Japanese Maples Over 400 varieties of rare Japanese Maples Dissectum • Dwarf • Upright • Japonicum ... AND hundreds of other rare trees Conifer • Ginkgo • Beech • Franklinia • Oak • Redwood ...
Of course April offers dozens of plants sales throughout the region, most of which feature herbs among the wide selection of plants. Be sure to check out the Upcoming Events calendar in the back of this issue, and online at GatewayGardener.com, where updates to the printed version often feature other Another popular annual herb events that don’t make the sale is hosted by the Webster print deadline. Groves Herb Society on April After 30 years as a landscape designer, Joyce is now retired. She has been a MBG volunteer since 1969 and a Master Gardener since 1985. She is also a past board member of the Herb Society of America, and is a current board member of the St. Louis Herb Society.
6,000 trees in stock
18 greenhouses on 22 acres Granite Sculptures
Hand-made in China for your Asian Garden, at home or in a business setting. Lanterns, benches, animals, people, mailboxes, fountains, tables and more!
919 S. Farmingdale Rd. New Berlin, IL 62670 Ten minutes West of Springfield, IL
Just an easy 90-minute drive from St. Louis
Open April-Nov. Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 Other times by Appointment
(217) 303-2641 davidsan5611@gmail.com
APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener®
www.davidsansjapanesemaples.com www.davidsansgranite.com
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2015 Eco-Garden Product Guide You can make your green thumb even greener by practicing sustainable gardening in your landscape! Here are some suggestions from area retailers for products that can help us all establish our own greener gardening habits. Happy Earth Day! Hillermann Nursery & Florist 2601 E. 5th Street, Washington, MO 63090 636-239-6729 Hillermann.com
Native Mason Bee House. Native mason bees are important to the pollination of natural habitats and more than 70% of agricultural crops. Without native bees, ecosystems would be at risk. These bamboo and wood homes are built to help support native bees. $21.99. Rolling Ridge Nursery 60 North Gore Ave. Webster Groves, MO 63119 (314) 962-3311 RollingRidgeNursery.com
Espoma Organic Lawn Food. An organic chemical-free lawn program that is safe for kids and pets. It adds organic matter to improve your soil while providing long-lasting nutrition. It contains 2.5X more slowrelease nitrogen than the leading synthetic program. That means it lasts longer and won’t burn or leach away. $34.99/5,000 sq.ft. bag. Frisella’s Nursery 550 Hwy F Defiance, MO 63341 (636) 798-2555 FrisellaNursery.com
gardeners will receive a free featured pollinator plant. $3.99 Gutter Gardens LLC Available at: Creekside Gardens 721 Johnson Hill Rd Collinsville, IL 62234 (618) 344-7054, or: GutterGardens.com USA from Western red cedar 314-255-1845 or 618-334and cypress. Ideal for growing 2504 veggies. Great for decks and patios. The bed is 24” x 36”. Height is 26”. Farmer D is a father-and-son company based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are passionate about gardening and building long-lasting, quality products for their customers. $159.
Greenscape Gardens 2832 Barrett Station Rd. Skeeter Screen. Perfect for all Manchester, MO 63021 your outdoor activities! This (314) 821-2440 DEET-FREE formulation is GreenscapeGardens.com derived from natural essential oils. Safe for children, pets and the entire family. With a pleasant floral scent people like and biting insects hate. Earth-friendly with NO deet, pyrethrin, insecticides or herbicides. Diffusers, candles, sprays and granules for the yard! $10.99-23.99 Native Plant “Candy Store”. During the months of April and May, area gardeners will have the opportunity to shop from a huge range of native plant plugs, specifically chosen to Farmer D Organics Eco serve beneficial purposes in the Raised Garden Bed. Attractive landscape. With any purchase, and simple design. Made in Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S. Big Bend Blvd. Richmond Heights, MO (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com
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Gutter Gardens. Made from 100% recycled aluminum, Gutter Gardens™ can be safely hung on balconies, decks, fences, as window-boxes or on retaining walls. With riveted endcaps and food grade caulk, these planters are great for Food or Flowers. Now available in 6” and 8” wide sizes to fit every need. Local installation available. $16-25/ft. foot, includes hardware. Visit The Gateway Gardener booth at the Earth Day Festival, Forest Park, Apr. 26th.
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
Sugar Creek Gardens 1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com
Chick Magic Fertilizers. Chick Magic produces the highest quality organic fertilizer, while maintaining environmental sustainability. Chick Magic’s commitment is to the protection of precious natural resources and public safety. $9.99-12.99.
Lake St. Louis Garden Center 3230 Technology Dr. Lake St. Louis, MO (636) 561-0124 LakeStLouisGardenCenter. com
O.K. Hatchery 109-115 Argonne Kirkwood, MO (314) 822-0083
Worms Way 1225 N. Warson Rd. Saint Louis,MO. 63132 314-994-3900 WormsWay.com
Goat’s Beard, Aruncus dioicus. A cherished Missouri native with large, 1-ft. long white, feathery plumes in spring. Its ferny foliage looks great all season. A valuable specimen plant for the back of the shade border. The enormous plumes of creamy white blossoms attract butterflies and other beneficial insects in vast numbers.
Sappington Garden Shop 11530 Gravois Rd. St. Louis, MO (314) 843-4700 SappingtonGardenShop.com
Sunleaves Worm Farm. The Sunleaves Worm Farm is a four-layer home for red wiggler worms that eagerly devour unwanted food scraps and transform them into rich worm castings. When maintained properly, this unit is virtually odorless and can be used indoors or outdoors in a temperature between 50 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. $108
Natria Organic Solutions. Natria, from Bayer, features natural organic solutions to garden disease, weed and insect Borderline Designs “Found control. Available in readyGlass Feeders”. These unique to-use spray bottles and hosebird feeders and humming bird end sprayers. Products feature feeders are made from “Found naturally derived ingredients Glass”, turning one man’s trash like soybean oil, soap, essential into another man’s treasure. oils and bacteria, and are Each feeder is a “one of a kind” approved for organic gardening. work of art.
Eco-Friendly Nutrient Vitalizer 1.2 - 1.3 - 0.4 Available in 3.5 lb & 15 lb bags plus bulk totes
Fertilizer Derived from: 100% Dry Processed Cow Manure Digestate Kid and Pet friendly Fertilizer- No Chemicals
LLC
23551 Hwy 11, Triplett, MO 65286 www.naturesenv.com 573-514-5250
APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener®
19
Irrigation Startup A
by Michael McVey
s the weather begins to warm and we all emerge from our cocoons to enjoy the outdoors again, our “to do” list will start to grow. For those of you with automatic irrigation systems, one of the items on that list will be to get the system started up and checked out for the season. Whether you do this yourself or have a professional take care of it, there are certain things that need to be inspected. First you need to get the water turned on up to the backflow preventer. Be sure to close all the valves and testcocks, and tighten up all the bolts first so you don’t get a shower in the process. Many contractors will leave all these valves cracked open during the winter so if any water does get into it, it can drain out and not freeze and crack the device. You’ll also need to get it professionally inspected by someone properly trained and certified. Did you know that if you fail to get your backflow tested and keep it in working order, the water company has the authority to completely shut off your water?
two minutes. Once the test is activated, it’s time to take a walk and see how everything is doing. One at a time, different sections or zones of the yard should come on and then go off. While each zone is running, there are a few things you’ll want to check. Do all the sprinkler heads pop up completely? There could be thick grass or roots growing over the top that prevent them from rising. You could have low pressure due to too many heads, leaks, or missing nozzles that prevent proper function. If everything does pop up correctly, check that the nozzles are not clogged, the spray pattern is correct, and the spray is pointing in the right direction. There should not be an excessive amount of water leakage around the head. If there is, the seals may be worn out. It’s also important to check that the heads are buried at the correct depth and are not crooked. If a head is too deep, the spray can’t clear the top of the grass and you’ll get a puddle around the head. If they’re set too high, they pose a trip hazard and/or can get whacked by a mower. Sprinklers that are crooked don’t water as efficiently as they should due to poor water distribution. And finally, when a zone kicks off, all the sprinkler risers should fully retract below grade. As an irrigation system ages, the heads frequently get “sticky” due to wear on the seals and riser. If this happens, it’s time to swap them out for new ones.
Next you should open up the backflow valves and fill the entire irrigation mainline. You should hear turbulent water flow for a minute while the main fills and then all flow should stop. If it doesn’t, then you either have a break or something is stuck open. If the mainline holds pressure, then it’s time to test each individual zone. Many irrigation controllers have a “test” feature that will run Once you’ve determined that all the valves work, the heads come through all the zones one by one for a preset amount of time, like up and go down and spray properly, the last thing you’ll want to do is review the water schedule. Too many people take a “set it and forget it” approach to the irrigation schedule. The water needs of your yard are much different in a cool rainy April than they are in a hot dry August. Your watering schedule should reflect this. You may need to vary both the number of days per week that the system runs as well as how long each zone takes. Determining a proper water schedule could be an article on its own. Michael McVey has 10 years of experience in the Irrigation and Landscape Lighting industry. He is a Licensed Irrigation Installation Contractor with St Louis County and a Certified Backflow Prevention Tester with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. He currently works for Horstmann Brothers Landscaping in Overland, MO. You can reach him at michael.mcvey@horstmannbrothers.com or 314432-0880. 20
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
Earth Day, Every Day... for Everyone
APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener速
21
Watering the Garden 101 By Steffie Littlefield
W
ater is one of the 4 essential elements for plant growth; the other 3 are soil, air, and light. Without adequate water plant cells will not grow, they will collapse. There are times in a plant’s life when it needs more water and there are some plants that live in water and some that prefer dry conditions. Also different soils and environments will affect the amount of water that is needed. Quickly draining soils, sunny and windy conditions will all require more frequent watering.
Newly planted seeds and plants will dehydrate easily if not given a consistent water supply. In this situation plants need to develop new roots and this requires extra moisture. Newly seeded lawns should be watered 1-2 times a day depending on the air temperatures and wind, and newly planted plants 2-3 times a week in warm weather. Once the root system has filled out, watering can be cut back.
Average well-established plants will need water as the weather and soil conditions dictate. When the weather is cool and air moist, less To determine your watering needs, start by digging a hole and water should be used than in warm dry weather. Again the best feeling the moisture in the soil, run a test by filling the hole with gauge is to observe your soil moisture levels by digging through water and see how fast the water disappears. This will help to the mulch and feeling the soil beneath. determine how much water you need to supply each time you water. Watching the plant is another way of determining when more water is needed or if you have supplied enough. When the leaves are rigid and shiny a plant is well watered. If the leaves begin to droop or look dull, then get out the hose quickly and soak the soil several feet from the trunk around the plant. In the case of large trees and shrubs, water needs to be applied to the ground just below the tips of the branches (this is called the drip line). CAUTION: If the soil is always soggy and the water does not drain into the soil the plant can become waterlogged, which can also cause it to look limp and dull, but in this case the plants need air, not water.
LOCALLY
GROWN AT THESE LOCAL GARDEN CENTERS
Ann's Gardens and Greenhouse 5130 Mexico Rd. St. Peters, MO
For the Garden by Haefner's 6703 Telegraph Rd. St. Louis, MO
Crabapple Cove Nursery 6961 Telegraph Rd. St. Louis, MO
Garden Heights Nursery 1605 South Big Bend Blvd. St. Louis, MO
Creamer's Garden Center 1706 West Osage Pacific, MO Creekside Gardens 721 Johnson Hill Rd. Collinsville, IL Daniel's Farm and Greenhouses 352 Jungermann Rd. St. Peters, MO Dauster's Greenhouse 1751 Creve Coeur Mill Rd. St. Louis, MO Effinger Garden Center 720 South 11th St. Belleville, IL Fahr Greenhouses 18944 St. Albans Rd. Wildwood, MO
Gardens to Go 4404 Rainbow Dr. Jefferson City, MO Hillermann Nursery and Florist 2601 East 5th St. Washington, MO Kahl's Greenhouse and Landscaping 520 West Main Carlinville, IL Lake St. Louis Garden Center 3230 Technology Dr. Lake St. Louis, MO Parkview Gardens 1925 Randolph St. St. Charles, MO
Planthaven Farms 324 Firma Rd. O'Fallon, MO Planthaven Farms 9520 Olive Blvd. St. Louis, MO Sugar Creek Gardens 1011 North Woodlawn Kirkwood, MO Sunnyside Nurseries and Greenhouses 7960 Collinsville Rd. Troy, IL Sunnyview Garden Center 2 Front St. Troy, MO World Outdoor Emporium West 1307 Granville Dr. Wentzville, MO
localgrownplants.com
Experts with Passion to Care For Your Trees
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Offering Professional: Consultation & Design Plant Health Care Selective Natural Pruning Specimen Tree & Shrub Variety Installations Dedicated to Tree Preservation Certified Arborists & Degreed Foresters on Staff
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TreesForestsAndLandscapes.com email: treesforests@sbcglobal.net
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The Gateway GardenerÂŽ APRIL 2015
Drought-tolerant plants are those that can either store water to use in dry conditions or those that have deep roots and can access soil moisture deeper in the ground. Succulents and sedums are the first type of plant and are happier with less water and will not survive in wet areas. However the deeprooted plants will not only survive drier conditions they will also survive extremely wet conditions for short lengths of time.
Know The Pros!
Green-Industry Experts You Should Meet! Steffie Littlefield is a horticulturist and garden designer at Garden Heights Nursery. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Saturday, April 25 - 9 AM to 2 PM Sunday, April 26 - 11 AM to 2 PM Friday, April 24 - 5 to 7 PM
$20 donation includes Wine, Cheese & Snacks Reservations Required: www.ucityinbloom.org or call 314-973-6062
Heman Community Center • 975 Pennsylvania Ave. (63130)
U City in Bloom
6967 Route 111 Piasa, IL 62079 Phone (618) 729-4324
Where plant excitement rains...
Visit our beautiful countryside nursery, just 45 minutes from the St. Louis Arch. • Uncommon Annuals & Tropicals • Native Perennials • Hummingbird Plants
• Container and Display Garden
A gardener’s destination for 31 years!
picals, APRIL 2015 oody Shrubs. ants of Your
A Little History…
You’ve GOT to see…
Opening Night Party & Plant Sale
Hours: Mon - Sat 9-5 pm & Sun 10-5 pm
2601 E. 5th St. Washington, MO (636) 239-6729 Hillermann.com Founded by Don Hillermann in the spring of 1951, Hillermann Nursery started out as a hobby. Don’s brother Bernie joined him in 1953 and a partnership was formed. Originally located on West 5th Street in Washington, the company moved to its current location in November of 2000 and is now owned and operated by second-generation family members. The company hosts various departments including Nursery, Garden Center, Floral & Gift, Lawn & Garden Equipment, and Landscape, Irrigation & Landscape Lighting.
Plant Sale
Hummingbird Petunia Petunia exserta
Each month, we are introducing readers to one of our area’s green-industry professional individuals or businesses. In this issue, we invite you to get to know...
Bill & Chris Kelley bbkelley@frontiernet.net
The Gateway Gardener®
The great diversity of plants, products and services and the unique displays throughout the indoor and outdoor sales areas. The plant offerings include the largest selection of color in annuals, perennials and natives in several counties! There is a great selection of trees, shrubs, evergreens, vines, ornamental grasses, vegetables (including heirloom varieties), herbs, tropicals, houseplants and more. Many annual flower and vegetable plants, container gardens and hanging baskets are grown on site by staff. They have quality lines of lawn and garden equipment, floral and gift shop items, outdoor décor, pottery, memorial gifts, a great bird and wildlife department and much more! Hillermann’s recently introduced beer and wine-making supplies along with classes. They also offer residential and commercial Sandi Hillermann McDonald, landscape, irrigation and President and Scott Hillermann, Vicelandscape lighting design, president, second generation owners installation, and maintenance. of Hillermann Nursery & Florist, celebrating its 64th anniversary on Hillermann’s is very proud to be April 1.
What’s New for 2015
a Midwest location for an “All American Selection” Display Garden. They invite you to visit often to see new plant introductions coming in 2016! website lists events and activities held throughout the SeeTheir Us a Come year. tThey also host a Farmer’s Market on their parking lot every t his SFarmer the Fer s F p o M r r ing & Friday Thursday arkeguson in season. www more and t i
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Proud Member of… Looking for professional help for your garden, lawn and landscape? Search our website’s membership directory or look for the LNAGSL logo in members’ ads in The Gateway Gardener.
StLouisLandscape.org 23
Dig Into Compost!
Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week, May 3-9
S
transplant shock and over the long term, helps decrease plant stress and its response to drought, disease and insects. Because of the intense heat generated in compost piles, compost contains no weeds, insects or insect eggs/larvae. Compost can also help reduce salt damage and provides nutritional balance.
t. Louis Composting invites you to join in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW), May 3-9, 2015. This year’s theme is “Be Loyal to Your Soil- Compost!” This fits in perfectly since 2015 is also the International Year of the Soils. “Be Loyal to Your Soil” for many, can mean planting a backyard vegetable garden; the ultimate way to go green. Fresh produce comes direct from the soil to your table. It can also mean not spraying your soil with harmful chemicals. However, as any seasoned gardener will attest, the best strategy for boosting yields is to build a better soil by conditioning with compost. Compost delivers four major benefits to the garden, all of which help the environment: • Compost improves plant/turf quality. Compost reduces spring
• The benefits of compost are long-lasting. Rain and watering cause chemical fertilizers to leach out of soil stripping it of its nutritional properties. Conversely, compost binds with the soil and releases its nutrients over a longer period. • Compost enhances soil structure. Compost helps reduce the compaction of heavy soil, enhances sandy soil and increases soil fertility while rebuilding worn-out soil. Over time, compost makes any type of soil easier to work with.
Enjoy a Weed-Free Lawn! Weed Free Zone • Convenient Hose-end, Spot Treatment Spray Bottle and Concentrate. • Effective from 40 to 90. • Reseed in 14 days. • Great for creeping charlie (ground ivy), violets, clover and more!
Look for these and other ferti-lome products at your favorite independent nurseries and garden centers.
For plant care and information on over 8,000 plants, visit www.fertilome.com
24
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
Grow UP! By Robert Weaver
• Finally, compost can hold (18900 Franklin Road) – six times its weight in water, 11a.m. which helps reduce the need for irrigation during periods On Saturday, May 9, SLC will host a ZERO waste lunch from of drought. 11 – 12:30pm at the Pacific ICAW focuses on building facility. Our experts will educate awareness of composting and you about compost, soil and the its environmental benefits. Year benefits of both together. We after year, innovative programs will also be talking about how to help improve community begin backyard composting and sustainability and promote enrich your backyard vegetable the use of compost. Celebrate gardens! No registration is International Compost required; just show up ready to Awareness Week and get hands- COMPOST! on with St. Louis Composting with a heaping helping of Home composting equipment and bins will be available for compost! purchase at each event. Kitchen To celebrate, St. Louis composters will also be raffled Composting will host events at throughout the week. three of its composting facilities If you cannot attend ICAW on May 5, 6 and 9. Enjoy a events, be sure to celebrate complimentary lunch with our ICAW at home! Start your own experts and talk compost. compost pile or incorporate • May 5 – Fort Bellefontaine compost into your lawn, facility in Florissant, Mo. landscaping and gardens and (13060 County Park Road) – see its benefits for yourself! 11a.m. For more information about the benefits of compost and • May 6 – Belleville, Ill. composting at home, please facility (5841 Mine Haul visit our website at www. Road) – 11a.m. stlcompost.com or contact Sara • May 9 – Pacific, Mo. facility Ryan at 314-482-7740.
Do Your One-Stop Shopping Here!
Annual Spring Herb Sale Saturday April 25, 2015 8:30-2:00
First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, Missouri (at Lockwood & Elm) • Thousands of culinary, medicinal, and ornamental herbs, heirloom tomatoes and vegetables • Books, recipes, herb growing advice and herbal demos • Shopping assistants available to help with your selections
www.wgherbs.org
APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener®
Garden trend reports continue to follow the undeniable enthusiasm for growing one’s own vegetables and fruits. But not everyone has the room for a large vegetable garden; or if they do, it might not enjoy suitable sunlight for the best harvest. Nearly everyone, though, can find some spot on a deck, a corner of the yard, or even a sunny window indoors. And that’s all you need to grow delicious vegetables for your family all year round. There are many systems suitable for growing a vertical garden, but one in particular we’ve been made aware of is the Tower Garden®. The Tower Garden is an aeroponics growing system. Aeroponics is a soil-free growing method that drips water and nutrients over the exposed roots, similar to hydroponics, which bathe roots in water. The Tower Garden has a reservoir at the base that holds the nutrient/water solution, which is pumped through a plastic tower that holds the plants. The solution then drips down through the roots systems. NASA studies have shown this type of system grows crops in about half the time as similar plants grown in soil. What can you grow in a system like this? Virtually anything, from cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale to summer favorites like tomatoes, peppers, beans—or even flowers, if you prefer. The system eliminates many common garden problems like weeds, soilborne diseases and many insect pests (especially if you’re growing indoors). But, best of all, the footprint of these systems is only a couple of square feet, so you can put your vertical garden virtually anywhere. Tower Gardens are sold exclusively through Juice Plus franchisees. Locally, Sandi McDonald of Hillermann Nursery & Florist is one person who sells the systems. Worm’s Way also sells a vertical hydroponic gardening system called the Tower Gro Pot Kit, which includes the pots and pole for supporting them. You would have to purchase the reservoir, pump and tubing separately, but it works in a similar fashion and has many of the same benefits. Of course there are also several systems available at local independent garden centers for growing vertically with wall gardens that use a traditional soil media in pockets mounted on fences or walls. Hanging baskets and window boxes, such as the Gutter Garden™, also provide opportunities to grow in small spaces. Whatever system you use, don’t let lack of space limit your ability to harvest fresh garden vegetables. Just grow up! RESOURCES: Tower Garden Sandi Hillermann McDonald 636-299-8452 www.sandimcdonald.towergarden.com Tower Gro Pot Kit Worms Way, 1225 Warson, St. Louis (800) 285-9676, wormsway.com Gutter Gardens (314) 255-1845 or (618) 334-2504 GutterGardens.com
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Celebrate Earth Day All Month! The Gateway Gardener is pleased to be sponsoring and participating in several Earth Day and gardening programs throughout the month of April. Here are some of the Earth Day Festivals we encourage you to attend and visit us at our booth!
O’Fallon Garden Expo Fort Zumwalt Park, O’Fallon, MO April 11th, 9am-1pm
Experts will provide tips for growing a garden full of veggies and flowers that bloom all season. Boost your home’s curb appeal with live plants and trendy outdoor décor, take home a free shrub or tree sapling while supplies last (one per family), find out all about bees and honey from local beekeepers and get motivated by the O’Fallon Garden Club presentation, “Grow It: A Family-Friendly Presentation on Beginning Gardening,” at 10am and 11am. At 9:15 a.m., join in the annual Arbor Day Ceremony led by Mayor Bill Hennessy in planting a maple tree with the assistance of the Twin Chimneys Elementary School Earth Club. For kids, the event offers creative fun with an upcycled craft and a chance to work off some energy playing an interactive inflatable game, “Catch the Bee.” Other attractions include the St. Charles Model Railroad Club, which will have its scenic, radio-controlled layout on display, free, and Historic Heald Home tours for only $2. Picnic-style fare for purchase will be provided by Giardina’s Gourmet Dogs & More and Jo-Jo’z Frozen Yogurt. Admission and parking are free.
Riverbend Earth Day Festival Piasa Harbor, Godfrey, IL April 18th, Noon-6pm
The Nature Institute (TNI) is excited to host the 4th annual Riverbend Earth Day Festival in partnership with the Great Rivers Land Trust, the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center/Lewis and Clark Community College, the Sierra Club, and the Alton Regional Convention and Visitors Bureau. This event is FREE and open to all. The event will be held, rain or shine, at Piasa Harbor on Route 100 (The Great River Road). Join this celebration of nature, music, food, and the arts. The goal is to bring the larger community out to Piasa Harbor to enjoy live music, paddling, fishing, hiking, hands-on informational booths and workshops, nature related arts and crafts, electronic recycling, tree plantings and lots of tasty food offerings.
Earth Day Celebration Pierre Laclede Center II, Clayton, MO April 22nd , 11am-2pm
Vendors will display and demonstrate sustainable living products and practices, including gardening, energy conservation, water management practices and other. Primarily for building tenants, but visitors welcome!
St. Louis Earth Day Festival Muny Grounds, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO April 26th, 10am-6pm
Participate in a variety of hands-on educational activities, meet area nonprofits that share the mission of Earth Day, and learn about sustainable products and services offered by local businesses. Enjoy three stages of entertainment, great food, and family-friendly programming throughout the duration of the festival. This year’s event will include special features, like yoga classes all day for both adults and children, a rock climbing wall, and a Metro Bus mural painting. The theme of the festival is a message of inclusion “Earth Day Every Day...for Everyone!” Event entry is free; the Earth Day Festival is a welcoming place where all are invited for celebration and learning. Over twenty food and beverage vendors will be serving up diverse, local cuisine and drinks at this year’s Festival. A fresh layout will be unveiled with themed “Experience” areas segmented to make it easy for visitors to navigate the Festival and experience all the celebration has to offer. Visitors can explore the following areas: Alternative Transportation and Fuels; Arts and Crafts; the Earth Day Café; Energy and Green Building; the Farmers Market; Home and Pets; Nature, Recreation and Wildlife; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; Wellness and Spirituality; and the Youth Corner. Start the celebration early - join us on Saturday afternoon at Earth Day Eve, a fundraiser to support the St. Louis Earth Day organization. This family-friendly event will be held on the Festival grounds, 4 pm to 7 pm, on Theatre Drive in the Earth Day Café. All are welcome to enjoy a selection of Festival food and kick back to the music of Jake’s Leg, who performed 26 years ago at the very first St. Louis Earth Day celebration. Face painting and t-shirt tie-dying, along with a silent auction and 50/50 raffle will be featured activities available at the event, for a nominal donation. Tickets are available at www.stlouisearthday.org; all proceeds benefit the year-round programming of St. Louis Earth Day.
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The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
A Missouri Monarch Challenge! by Robert Weaver
N
ormally, we like to straddle the Mississippi River in our editorial focus, but in this case, you Illinois gardeners can take a break; you’ve earned it. Missouri gardeners, this message is for YOU!
By now, you’ve probably heard of the dangerously diminished numbers of migrating monarchs—we’ve certainly covered it in these pages, especially in our March 2014 issue (available online at www. issuu.com/thegatewaygardener). Our fair state is in the heart of the migratory path monarch butterflies take from their summering grounds in the Northern US and Canada, to wintering grounds in Mexico. And yet, according to the website MonarchWatch.org, Missouri is lagging woefully behind in the establishment of Monarch Waystations, gardens designed to include suitable nectar and host plant resources for these beautiful butterflies. The fine gardeners from the Land of Lincoln boast nearly 650 registered Monarch Waystations, ranking them 3rd among all states in Waystation registrations. The Show-Me State, sadly, shows only 254 registered sites. So here’s our challenge to
Waystation for several years. Join the City of Kirkwood, whose Kirkwood in Bloom group is planting a Monarch Waystation this spring at the Kirkwood Train Station (visit KirkwoodInBloom.org or attend Earth Day activities April 18th).
A monarch possibly checking out a suitable egg-laying site on common milkweed in the author’s garden. Gateway Gardener readers.
Go to the website MonarchWatch. org and read about how to establish your garden as a Monarch Waystation. It’s easy! All it takes are a few milkweeds and some nectar plants to qualify—though we hope you’ll do much more! There is a small fee for registering, but it helps support the great work of the Monarch Watch group, which is striving to save this wonderful insect and the annual migration, as well as protecting all pollinator species. We need about 150 more registrations to work our way into the Top 10 states. Join us—The Gateway Gardener garden has been a registered
people! Visit GrowNative.org.
Come on, Missouri gardeners! Show-Me the Monarchs!
Join the City of St. Louis, which is expanding its Milkweeds for Monarchs program in 2015 (go to the City’s website at www. stlouis-mo.gov and click on the Sustainability menu item). Join the St. Louis Audubon Society, which encourages similar wildlife-friendly gardening through its Bring Conservation Home program (visit www.StLouisAudubon. org/conservation/BCH). Join Brightside St. Louis, whose Demo Garden at Kingshighway and Vandeventer shows ways to garden for pollinators and other sustainable practices. Join the St. Louis Zoo with its Native Pollinator Conservation program (see our March 2015 issue or visit StLZoo.org and search for pollinator conservation). And join GrowNative!, which promotes gardening with natives for bees, butterflies, birds—and
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APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener®
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Dig This!
Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News Community College Eco-Garden is a Home Run!
As the baseball season gets u n d e r w a y , d e d i c a t e d volunteers are stepping up to Homeplate. Homeplate is the eco-garden at St. Louis Community C o l l e g e Florissant Valley. It also is a learning-centered initiative that grows healthy, sustainable organic food for the campus and community while providing learning, service, training and leadership opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the broader community. The sustainable, organic garden is a living laboratory where lessons are drawn from real-life experiences rather than textbook examples, allowing individuals to become active participants in the learning process. All food grown is available to participants and distributed to local food banks to support those in need. Mark Manteuffel, Ph.D., professor of biology at Florissant Valley, is the brainchild of this project. “We hope that we are able to donate significant amounts of fresh, organic vegetables and herbs to local food pantries,” said Manteuffel. “We are also hosting a Food Summit on campus, with the theme of food justice.” The Florissant Valley campus will host its inaugural Food Summit on April 22. Participants will explore subjects such as food justice, food sovereignty, food deserts, the metabolic rift, urban agriculture and permaculture, community gardens and cooperatives, among other topics. Student presentations will be a central feature of this event. Manteuffel said the Food Summit is part of the ongoing Sustainable Food Systems program at Florissant Valley. “In addition to all that we have going on, we are now working with Hamilton Heights Neighborhood to donate fresh produce,” Manteuffel added. Hamilton Heights Neighborhood Organization Inc. is a non-profit agency in St. Louis City that serves seniors in the neighborhoods of Wells-
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Goodfellow, Hamilton Heights, Mark Twain Industrial 1-70, and the community at large. The seniors in the program are low income who face challenges of expensive medical costs, high utilities, transportation problems, rent and other factors. The group recently received a grant from Community Development Administration to create an “EduGarden” for seniors and the disabled. The garden they are starting is unable to service 115 seniors, so the group turned to Homeplate for help. Homeplate plans to donate a mixed variety of wholesome and delicious fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits to ensure that the seniors get a balanced meal. Last year Homeplate attracted 33 volunteers and produced more than 440 pounds of vegetables and fruit. Anyone interested in volunteering at Homeplate should contact Manteuffel at mmanteuffel@stlcc.edu.
Keeping Green Waste Out of Landfill
Progressive Waste Solutions and St. Louis’ Hansen’s Tree Service are proud to announce the success of the first six months of their composting partnership. In the last 6 months of 2014, the companies’ efforts diverted from the landfill over 11,000 cubic yards of green waste. Upon collection, Progressive Waste Solutions transfers all brush, log and yard waste to Hansen’s Green Waste Recycling facility, located within the Champ Landfill. At the facility, all yard waste is ground and screened in order to produce a certified organic compost, while brush and log waste are doubleground to create Hansen’s certified organic hardwood mulch. Since it is illegal to dump green waste into Missouri landfills, it is commonly burned or hauled to distant landfills, decreasing their space and lifespan. This is not only an issue for the environment, but also destroys material that can be used to enrich local soil without the use of chemicals. Progressive Waste Solutions Area Manager, John Drier, said, “Removal of wood from local communities and businesses has been a challenge for years and this partnership provides a great alternative. We are excited to partner with Hansen’s in adding this great solution to the wide range of services we have available to best meet our
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
clients’ needs.”
Gateway Greening Announces New Urban Garden Projects
This spring, 33 garden groups from St. Louis City and County will have the chance to create new community garden projects or expand existing ones with support from Gateway Greening. As recipients of 2015 Garden Program Awards from the non-profit organization, the groups will receive materials and resources designed to build and support new and existing community garden projects throughout the region. In total, 12 new projects and 21 expansion projects were awarded for 2015 by Gateway Greening during its Garden Program’s 2015 Awards Ceremony. New garden award recipients for 2015 include the Cabrini Greens garden at St. Francis Cabrini Academy and the Carver Elementary School Community Garden, located in St. Louis City; the Kellogg Park Community Garden and Maplewood Food Pantry Garden at Christ Church, located in Maplewood; the Union Community Garden in the Visitation Park neighborhood, the Fruits of Zion Community Garden a part of The Order of Melchizedek Gospel of Christ Church in St. Louis City, and the Sun Patch Garden at Adams Elementary School in the Forest Park Southeast neighborhood.
Highlights of the planned new garden installations include efforts by the principal, teachers, parents and volunteers to reclaim an asphalt parking lot at Carver Elementary School and convert it into green space for students and neighborhood residents; a project to fill an empty lot with fruit trees and bushes, raised garden beds and a community gathering area at the Kellogg Park Community Garden in Maplewood; and work to develop a fruit and vegetable garden at Adams Elementary School where students, families and members of the Adams Park Boys and Girls Club can be involved in the growth and harvest of produce, which will be shared with those directly involved with the garden and those in the surrounding neighborhood.
Garden expansions announced during the awards ceremony include the Bell Community Garden, the 13th Street Community Garden and the Botanical Heights Community Garden, all located in St. Louis City; as well as Cliff Cave Community Garden in South St. Louis County, the Florissant Community Garden in Florissant, Mo., and the Pattonville Youth Garden in St. Ann, Mo. Other expansions will take place at locations across St. Louis City and County.
APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener®
New and existing garden projects supported by Gateway Greening take a variety of forms, from community vegetable gardens and native gardens to tree and shrub plantings, perennial beds and street beautification. This July, Gateway Greening will announce how local gardeners can apply to get their own projects started as part of the Community Garden Program in 2016.
Sustainable Backyard Tour Seeks Yard Hosts
The Sustainable Backyard Tour, held each year in June, is a unique opportunity to see firsthand how homeowners in St. Louis City and County are transforming their yards in a range of environmentally sensitive ways. More than 100 families h a v e welcomed tour goers into their yards over the past four years, d e m o n strating such practices as composting, organic gardening, chicken and beekeeping, native plant landscaping, rainwater conservation, renewable energy production and backyard habitat creation. Attendees design their own routes, choosing from locations and descriptions written by the homeowners.
As the tour grows, more hosts are needed to keep things interesting as well as to give past hosts a break. “We have a few charter hosts, who’ve been generous enough to be on tour every year, but we always want new yards to show that these things can be done anywhere,” says tour founder Terry Winkelmann. “Practices like permaculture, naturescaping and edible landscaping are spreading into every neighborhood and municipality—we want to find the trailblazers so we can shine a light on their efforts and learn from experiences.” While many host sites are traditional backyards of single family residences, apartment buildings, rooftops, frontyards, and school gardens are particularly encouraged. The deadline to register or suggest a potential host is May 1st. Visit www. sustainablebackyardtour.com for details and a link to the online registry. Or go directly to: http://goo.gl/ forms/4xoS1YUjgT.
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Upcoming Events Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at www. 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 the June issue is May 1st.
How to reach us: PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122 info@gatewaygardener.com
GARDEN CLUBS AND PLANT SOCIETY MEETINGS We have meeting dates, locations and contact information on more than 50 area garden clubs on our website at www. GatewayGardener.com or call (314) 9683740, or write us at PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122.
FUN FOR KIDS April 4th 9am—Fun in the Garden. FREE, no reservations required, everyone welcome. The Children’s Garden Club is designed to educate and bring delight in gardening to children with projects they do themselves. For the Garden by Haefner’s, 6703 Telegraph Rd., (314) 846-0078.
GARDEN TOURS, PLANT SALES AND SHOWS April 4th and 5th Noon-5 Sat., 9am-5pm Sun.—Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are shown by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Beaumont Room at Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden admission. www.mobot.org. April 11th-12th 9am-5pm—Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council 60th Annual Show and Sale. Horticulture-Design exhibits, educational culture info and supplies for African violets, Streptocarpus and other gesneriads. Missouri Botanical Garden, Orthwein Hall, 4344 Shaw Blvd. April 15th 7-8:30pm—2nd Annual Social and Seed Exchange. Bring your seeds to share with others. Cost to participate is 3 seed packets (or held-over seeds) or $3. Speaker to talk about organic gardening, expert gardeners will show you how to grow plants from seeds. Door prizes. Bring marker, pens and envelopes or baggies for seeds. Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Rd., Chesterfield.
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1pm—St. Louis Hosta Society Annual Vendors Day. Creve Coeur Government Center, 300 N. New Ballas Rd. Hosta plants, other garden plants, garden supplies, and garden decorations. Open to the public. April 22nd-25th Herb Days. Choose from a wide selection of potted fresh herbs, including new and hard-to-find varieties. The society’s popular cookbook, periodicals and herb-related books will be available. Herb Society members will give demonstrations and guidance on selecting, planting, growing and using herbs. Included with Garden admission or membership. Members Only sale 4-6pm on Wednesday, then open to the public 6-8pm. Thursday, Members Only sale 9am-noon, open to the public noon5pm. Public sale continues Friday and Saturday, 9am-5pm, at the MBG Orthwein Floral Display Hall. April 24th-25th 8am-6pm Friday, 8am-Noon Saturday— Webster Groves Garden Club Spring Plant Sale. Locally grown annuals and perennials. Webster Groves Recreational Center, 33 E. Glendale Rd., Webster Groves. www.mgcwg.org. April 25 8:30am-2pm—Webster Groves Herb Society Spring Herb Sale. Huge varieties of quality herbs and heirloom vegetables. Herb-related books, demonstrations and member availability to answer your questions. No admission charge and great parking. Proceeds help the society support and maintain several gardens plus provide scholarships to local horticulture students. First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 W. Lockwood. Free admission and parking. th
10am-2pm—Seven Pines Garden Club Plant Sale. Annuals, vegetables, hanging baskets, perennials (most from our members’ gardens) and garden gifts. Swimming pool grounds in Seven Pines subdivision, Maryland Heights/Creve Coeur area. 9am-noon—St. Charles Garden County Plant Sale. Vegetables, Missouri natives, annuals, herbs, perennials, seeds and more. University of Missouri Extension, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters, MO. Call 636-9703000 for directions and info. 9am-5pm—MBG Greater St. Louis Iris Society. New cultivars and old favorites are shown by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Missouri Botanical Garden, Beaumont Room. Included with Garden admission. 10am-2pm—Olivette in Bloom Plant Sale. Native plants from Missouri Wildflowers at great prices! Stacy Park Pavilion (Old Bonhomme Rd. just south of Olive in Olivette.) www.olivetteinbloom.org. 8am-1pm – 3rd Annual Lincoln County Master Gardener Plant Sale. A wide variety of annuals, perennials, bulbs, and
many types of vegetable plants and herbs, plus seed packets, yard art, bird feeders, and bird houses. “Ask the Gardener” booth. Bring a gallon container for FREE liquid fertilizer! Troy, MO, at the Valvoline Express Care, 47 The Plaza. April 25th-26th 9am-2pm Sat., 11am-2pm Sun.—U. City in Bloom’s Annual Plant Sale. Perennials, annuals, native and wildlife-attracting plants, culinary herbs and vegetables. (Opening Night Party and Plant Sale April 24th, 5-7pm. $20 donation, includes wine, cheese and snacks. Reservation required.) Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania Ave., University City. UCityinBloom.org, 314-973-6062. Earth Day Celebration at Sappington Garden Shop. Poker Chip Discount Days, free saplings, product sample giveaways and more! 11530 Gravois Rd. St. Louis, 63126. Call (314) 843-4700. May 2nd 8-11am.—St. Clair County Garden Club Plant Sale. Milkweed plants and seeds, along with annuals, perennials and shrubs. Schnuck’s Plaza in front of Wild Birds Unlimited, Hwy. 159, Swansea, IL. 8am-noon—Edwardsville Garden Club Plant Sale. Most of our plants are tried and true, dug out of members’ gardens. St. Mary’s Catholic Church parking lot, 1805 Madison Ave., Edwardsville, IL. 9am-noon—St. Charles Garden County Plant Sale. Follow up to April 25th sale, assorted plants. University of Missouri Extension, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters, MO. Call 636-970-3000 for directions and info. 7am-noon—Central Missouri Master Gardeners’ Plant Sale. Free admission Huge plant sale..all plants grown by Master Gardeners, including annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, tomatoes and tropical. Like us on Facebook or visit www.centralmissouri mastergardeners.org. 573-295-6263. Jaycee Fairgrounds, 1445 Fairgrounds Rd., Jefferson City, MO. 9am-5pm—St. Louis Hosta Society Plant Sale. Plants from local gardens and the Missouri Botanical Garden. Plenty of Hosta knowledge for free. Missouri Botanical Garden. 8am-1pm— Huge Plant Sale Event. Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association will offer great prices and great advice on truckloads of donated perennials from local gardens (including hosta, ferns, woodland plants, daylilies, butterfly favorites, plus nursery grown annuals & hanging baskets. Also featured: Container gardens (perfect for Mother’s Day!), Bake sale, silent auction, and a Sherwood’s Forest gift certificate raffle. Rain or shine Saturday, at Webster Groves Masonic Lodge, 12 E. Lockwood (next to City Hall at Elm). 9am-1pm--Plant Sale. Visit us for great deals on annuals, perennials, house
plants, veggies, garden decor and more. Bethel United Methodist Church, 17500 Manchester Road in Wildwood MO. 636458-2255. 9am-3pm--Kress Farm Preserve’s 17th Annual Plant Sale. Native plants, annuals, vegetable plants, daylilies, succulents, cacti and many other plants will also be featured. Raffle. Lunch available. Master Gardeners on site to answer questions. 5137 Glade Chapel Road, Hillsboro, MO. Call Jo at 636-296-9306 for additional information. May 2nd-3rd 9am-3pm— St. Louis Master Gardener Plant Sale. MG’s are growing beautiful annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs, natives and aquatic plants. The greenhouse on South Technical High School campus, 12721 West Watson Rd. Sunset Hills, 63127. Checks and cash accepted. Proceeds from the plant sale benefit St Louis Master Gardener programs throughout St. Louis County and City and assist with educational efforts at South Technical High School. For additional information, call 314-304-6831 or kkoehneman@earthlink.net.
CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS April 1st 7pm—Pollinator Palette. 2015 Edgar Denison Memorial Speaker Jennifer Schamber of Greenscape Gardens will speak on how to support pollinator reproduction by providing species-specific native host plants. Kirkwood Public Library, 104 East Jefferson, Kirkwood. FREE. April 2nd 10am—Spring Gardening Tips. Guest speaker Karen Collins, author of Karen’s Garden Calendar, offers tips for early spring gardening. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070 for reservations. April 3rd 9am-5pm—Arbor Day Tree Giveaway. The Kemper Center for Home Gardening will give away Missouri native tree saplings. Tree saplings will be distributed on a first-come, first served basis, one per visitor while supplies last. Master gardeners will answer questions and give advice on planting trees. While supplies last. Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden admission. www.mobot.org or call 314577-5100. April 4th 10am—Easy Landscape Design. Free. Hands on workshop with one-on-one advice. Bring photos, pictures and sketches. Effinger Garden Center, 720 South 11th St., Belleville, IL. (618) 234-4600, effingergarden.com. April 7th 5:30pm—Bring Conservation Home. Learn how this program of the St. Louis Audubon Society can help you enrich your
The Gateway Gardener® APRIL 2015
landscape with native plants to improve animal habitat for even the smallest urban landscapes. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070. April 9 5:30pm—Landscaping with Missouri Native Plants. Learn how you can ditch the lawnmower, watering system, fertilizer spread and leaf blower, while attracting more birds and butterflies in your garden. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. th
5-7pm—Ladies Night Out. Just for the Girls! Vendor booths, samples and demonstrations and up-cycling crafts will be available. Hillermann Container Garden, Silk Flower Arrangement, and bow making demos will be ongoing. Visit the Pot Shop for demos and decorate your own pottery plate for $5.00. Please call 636-239-6729 to RSVP. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com. 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Woodland Gardening. Bring your questions, comments, photos, drawings, and plant specimens for discussion. Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations. Audience participation encouraged. $15 ($12 Garden members). Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve. For reservations or more information, call (636) 451-3512 x0 or visit ShawNature. org. April 11th 9am-noon—Bark for Life. Honoring the life-long contribution of Canine Caregivers, plus an opportunity to contribute to cancer cures through the American Cancer Society. Lots of fun activities and pet vendor booths to enjoy with your canine friends. Contact Rhonda Mueller at 314-401-3642 (after 6pm), or lvpenguins@gmail.com, for more information. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann.com. 10am-noon—Missouri Native Gardening Q&A Session. Members of Wild Ones Natural Landscapers will be on hand to answer questions and share their knowledge of Missouri native plants and landscaping with environmentally healthy and sustainable natives. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. 10am—Miniature Gardening: Fairy Plants, Succulents and Bonsai. Free. Hands-on workshop right in the greenhouse. Effinger Garden Center, 720 South 11th St., Belleville, IL. (618) 2344600, effingergarden.com.
1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. April 16th 5:30pm—Abby’s Favorite Plants. Sugar Creek Gardens owner Abby Elliott shares her favorite perennials, shrubs and annuals. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. April 18th 11am—Start a Vegetable Gardening. Learn the basics: plant selection, what and how to plant, soil prep, maintenance and more. SummerWinds Nursery, 54 Clarkson Road, Ellisville. FREE. To reserve a seat call (636) 227-0095. 10am-noon—Equipment Center Demo Day. Test-drive and find the mower that is right for you, and check out all of the handheld power tools to make your outdoor jobs a breeze. Enter for a chance to win a STIHL FS56 Trimmer. Plus grilled grub from the Outdoor Kitchen! Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com. 10am-2pm—Webster Groves Herb Society Workshop. Members from the Webster Groves Herb Society offer free demonstrations on how to make chamomile tea, simple recipes for adding a little zing to your cheese dips and/or butters, savory (2015 Herb of the Year) seed packets and growing instructions. Participants may take home recipes and samples, compliments of the Webster Groves Herb Society. Missouri Botanical Garden, Beaumont Room. Included with Garden admission. 10am-3pm—Earth Day at Kirkwood Farmers’ Market & Station Plaza. Celebrating the Miracle of the Monarch with a “Monarch Waystation” garden planting at Kirkwood Train Station.. Meet the experts from over 20 local organizations covering topics such as bee keeping, growing herbs, native plants and wildflowers, organic gardening, composting, attracting birds and butterflies, and more. Visit www.KirkwoodInBloom. org for more information. Riverbend Earth Day Festival. See page 26 for details. Visit us at The Gateway Gardener Booth! April 18th – 19th 10am-4pm--Spring Open House. Immerse yourself in all the new and best plants of the year – tropical, herbs, annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees. Complimentary coffee, tea and freshly baked goods from Café Angelina will be served. Frisella Nursery, frisellanursery.com/events, 636.798.2555.
O’Fallon Garden Expo. See page 26 for details. Visit us at The Gateway Gardener Booth!
April 19th 1-3pm--Growing and Cooking with Fruits & Berries. Enjoy a freshly prepared brunch and homemade bakery items prepared with an array of fresh fruits and berries, and then follow Evelyn Presley from the Orchard to the kitchen as she talks you through selecting, growing and preparing your freshly picked produce. Frisella Nursery, frisellanursery.com/events, 636.798.2555.
April 14th 5:30pm—Growing Under Trees. Learn how to garden under your trees without damaging them. Sugar Creek Gardens,
April 21st 5:30pm—Containers for Year-Round Interest. Learn creative ideas to add seasonal interest as the year progresses,
11am—Oh Deer! Learn tips and techniques for managing these visitors in your garden: plant selection, repellents and more. SummerWinds Nursery, 54 Clarkson Road, Ellisville. FREE. To reserve a seat call (636) 227-0095.
APRIL 2015
The Gateway Gardener®
along with fertilizing, watering tips and over-wintering care. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE.
will put together their own mix for hanging baskets. Refreshments included. $25. Call (314) 843-4700 to RSVP. Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd.
April 22nd Sips, Souls & Strolls. Enjoy wines and hors d’oevres as you walk the grounds of St. Louis’ most historic cemetery and arboretum. Hear stories of famous and infamous St. Louisans from master guides. Hosted by Friends of Bellefontaine Cemetery. Tickets available at www. bellefontainecemetery.org/events.
April 28th, 29th & 30th 5:30pm (April 28 & 30), 10am (April 29)—Dazzling Containers for Entrance Ways, Patios and Gardens. Learn creative combinations of plants, colors and textures to amaze your family and friends. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE.
Pierre Laclede Center Earth Day Celebration. See page 26 for details. Visit us at The Gateway Gardener Booth! April 23rd 5:30pm—Super Hybrids. Learn about exciting new creations that exhibit extreme vigor, turbo-charged blooming power and gargantuan blossoms. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. April 25th 11am—Landscaping for Privacy. Learn what plant materials and hardscape options are available to enhance the natural beauty and privacy of your landscape. SummerWinds Nursery, 54 Clarkson Road, Ellisville. FREE. To reserve a seat call (636) 227-0095. 8am-4pm—Customer Appreciation Day. Join us for FREE product demonstrations, food & drinks, product giveaways, fun activities for the kids and more. Chesterfield Valley Nursery 16825 N Outer 40 Rd., Chesterfield. Call 636-532-9307 for info.
April 30th 5-7:30pm—Make & Take Container Party. Experts help you put together fabulous pots while learning creative combinations of plants, colors and textures. Bring a contain to plant or purchase one at the store. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. May 2nd 10am or 2pm—Container Planting Seminar. Learn everything you need to know to plant beautiful container plants this spring. Learn about combining plants for a dramatic effect and all the tools and tips you need to keep your container plants healthy and beautiful all season long. Space is limited. Call 636-532-9307 to sign up. Chesterfield Valley Nursery 16825 N Outer 40 Rd., Chesterfield. FREE. May 5th, 6th and 9th—International Compost Awareness Week. St. Louis Composting. See page 24 for details.
9am—Irrigation Basics Class. Topics include concepts, appropriate watering, difference in sprinkler heads, controller operations, hands-on instruction of operating controller and setting heads. Water conservation topics on soil sensors, rain sensors etc. will also be discussed. Hillermann Nursery & Florist. Dress weather appropriately, a portion of our class will be outdoors! Please call 636-239-6729 to RSVP. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com. 10am-3pm—Earth Day & Family Fun Day. Fun activities for all ages! Get a free tree seedling while supplies last, Up-Cycling activities for all ages will be available including a Plastic Bottle Seed Planting Project, and much more! Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-2396729, www.hillermann.com. April 26th 1-2:30pm--Birds in the Garden at Frisella Nursery. Join Evelyn Presley as she lays out a plan to keep your feathered friends healthy and happy while they remain a guest in your yard. Frisella Nursery, frisellanursery.com/events, 636.798.2555. 11am-6pm—St. Louis Earth Day Festival. Celebrate the 25th annual National Earth Day at Forest Park, See page 26 for details. Visit us at The Gateway Gardener Booth! April 28th or 30th Girls Night Out Planting Party. Ladies
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BE LOYAL TO YOUR SOIL- COMPOST! International Compost Awareness Week • May 3-9, 2015
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Visit St. Louis Composting on May 5, 6, & 9 for lunch and learning with the experts during International Compost Awareness Week! Lunch at Florissant Facility May 5 at 11am Lunch at Belleville Facility May 6 at 11am Lunch and Learning with the Experts at the Pacific Facility May 9 at 11-12:30pm Revive Your Soil workshop Above image is the 2015 ICAW Poster Contest Winner hosted by the USCC - more information at http://compostingcouncil.org/icaw/
BELLEVILLE, IL 5841 Mine Haul Road 618.233.2007
VALLEY PARK, MO 39 Old Elam Avenue 636.861.3344
PACIFIC, MO 18900 Franklin Road 636.271.3352
FLORISSANT, MO 13060 County Park Road 314.355.0052
ST. LOUIS, MO 560 Terminal Row 314.868.1612
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO (This is a drop off facility only) 11294 Schaefer Drive 314.423.9035 More details at www.stlcompost.com
ENRICHING THE SOIL NATURALLY SINCE 1992