The Gateway Gardener Winter 2022-23

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

St. Charles Convention Center St. Charles, MO

WINTER 2022-2023

November through February Volume 18 , Number 7

Founded in 2005

by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Diane Brueckman

Rosarian

Abby Lapides

Nursery Professional

Steffie Littlefield

Edg-Clif Winery

Jennifer Schamber

Nursery Professional Scott Woodbury

Native Plant Specialist

Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL

The Gateway Gardener® is published 9 times/year by Double Dig Communica tions, Inc. to promote enjoyable, suc cessful 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 equip ment rental, repair and sales establish ments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices.

Please send letters-to-the-editor, ques tions, 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.

From the Editor

There was much in the news back in early October about Christmas creep as the department stores started pulling out all the Holiday stops before many customers had even shopped for their Halloween candy. But I’m an old pro at pushing the Holiday season. Having been in some form of print publishing most of my adult life, the lead time required for the timely publication of seasonal material requires we cave people involved in such endeavors to work well ahead of the calendar. Humming Christmas carols in October is second nature to me.

It probably is to growers of poinsettias as well. For, in order to get these traditional Holiday plants to exhibit their bright red (and now pink, white, and (with the help of floral paints) all other colors under the sun, poinsettia growers have to treat their plants to specific light and temperature conditions well in advance of the selling season. So, the plants you see on our cover, from the Heimos family’s annual Poinsettia Wonderland Open House in Millstadt, Illinois, began getting special holiday treatment months ago. That open house is just one of many you’ll find in our holiday edition of our

upcoming events calendar on page 14.

Planning ahead is really second nature for most of the gardening world. The plants you’ll find in the greenhouses next spring are the results of years of growing, hybridizing and selecting. Like most of our garden center friends, Abby Lapides spends much of her time traveling around the country discovering the latest and greatest new plants being offered by growers, selecting those she thinks will have the best chance for success in our area’s challenging growing conditions. Check out her favorite picks for 2023 on page 4.

Of course if you really want to talk about planning ahead, think of the eons of time native plants have spent evolving in their particular surrounding,

On the Cover...

This Holiday season, get your spirit going at one of the many holiday open houses slated for November or December, such as this one at Heimos Greenhouses in Millstadt, Illinois. Acres and acres of poinsettias will put you in the spirit!

Photo by Robert Weaver.

while relating to the similarly evolving wildlife around them. Homeowner Krystal Coxon understands those relationships don’t develop quickly, but can be destroyed quickly if not encouraged and enabled. She tries to do so in her own home landscape, and is also using that backdrop to educate future gardeners and environmentalists about the connections between plants and wildlife. Find out more on page 6.

Finally, you don’t have eons of time to find that perfect gift for your gardening friends and family. So we want to help by once again offering our annual Holiday Gift Guide on page 10, highlighting ideas from our garden center friends to help you whittle away your shopping list.

Well, I’ve whittled away enough of your time here. Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Winter Holidays, Happy Valentines Day, and see you in March. It will be here before the last poinsettia wilts!

Good Gardening!

New Plants for 2023

by Abby Lapides

While we’re huddled inside waiting out winter let’s look at some new and exciting plants for the upcoming spring season.

I have been continually impressed by the unrelenting blue flowers of ‘Stand By Me’ bush Clematis in my garden. Thousands of

split bell-shaped flowers begin blooming in May. Once it begins to bloom there are always flowers to be seen until frost. ‘Stand By Me’ requires either a small trellis, arbor, or neighboring plants to give it support. Perfect for use as a smaller focal point and in containers.

Continually blooming spring until frost, the 2023 Missouri

Native of the Year rose verbena, Verbena or Gladularia canadensis, impresses with its waves of showy blossoms. In early spring rose-pink flowers begin blooming on sprawling plants. While its first flush is the most spectacular, it brings drift after drift of flowers until hard frost. Found naturally on hillsides and glades, plant rose verbena in well-drained soil where it can get plenty of sunshine.

Abby Lapides is owner and a speaker at Sugar Creek Gardens Nursery. She has degrees from the University of Missouri, and is a member of the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. You can reach her at (314) 965-3070.

HOLIDAY DECORATING

Fresh Greens, Wreaths, Pine Roping, Holy, Live & Cut Christmas Trees, Homegrown Poinsettias, Houseplants, Rosemary, Amaryillis, Grave Blankets & Pillows.

With showy red flowers that repeat bloom and a delightful small stature ‘Genie’ Magnolia is changing the way we think about magnolias. Fifteen years of breeding produced this special and compact magnolia. Loads of sensational black-red blossoms open to a deep velvety red with a slight eggplant hue. These showy tulipshaped flowers open in spring and, if kept well-watered, will rebloom into summer. This petite pyramidal tree matures to about 10-13′ tall, making it ideal for plantings near patios, flanking doors against homes, or tucked into mixed gardens. Winner of the Royal Boskoop Horticultural Society Gold Medal award for its outstanding qualities and ease of care.

A perennial sunflower that comes back year after year? Yes please! ‘Suncatcher’ sunflower, Helianthus, provides multitudes of sunny yellow flowers nonstop summer to frost. Charming 6” diameter flowers are held high on strong stems that attract bees,

birds, and particularly butterflies. It works well in the back or middle of the perennial border, in naturalized areas, and in cut flower gardens.

An intriguing shade-loving perennial, ‘Blue Ribbons’ Phlox deserves a home in the shady garden. A cultivar of our lovely Missouri native wild sweet William, Phlox divaricata, ‘Blue Ribbons’ features all the great attributes of the native, but with showy variegated foliage. In spring sweetly fragrant lilac blue flowers create that perfect wave of intense color that is so elusive in a shady spot. After flowering has passed the bright gold and green variegated foliage forms into a slowly creeping patch that glows in the shade. Perfect in the front of a border, in woodland gardens, or planted along steppingstones. Truly a blue-ribbon plant in my eyes.

With a name like ‘Frilly Knickers’ you expect a lot of a plant, and this Anemone

doesn’t disappoint. Flouncy white petals with a light purple airbrush effect begin to appear in August and continue until frost. Flowers are held on tall upright stems that sway in the wind giving them their common name – windflowers. A perennial that resists deer and rabbits, it makes a great cut flower and happily grows in sun to shade.

The game-changing arborvitae, ‘Sugar and Spice’ features a compact manageable size that we all crave in an arborvitae and claims much more heat and drought tolerance than the more commonly marketed arborvitae trees. Growing about 12’ tall, but only 3-4’ wide ‘Sugar and Spice’ makes an ideal evergreen choice for smaller accents, backdrops and privacy hedges.

Enjoy dreaming of gardening and the joyful flowers it brings while we wait for spring to come.

There are landscapes that we look at and enjoy for their beauty, and then there are the truly special landscapes that become a part of our lifestyle. These types of landscapes help define our dreams and intentions of our families and connect us to the natural world right outside our door. A native landscape has something to share every season, from the spring ephemerals to the glory days of summer and fall, to the winter harvest of seeds and berries. Teaching kids to anticipate and celebrate each of these wonderous seasons gives

Outdoor Lifestyles Profile:

Embracing The Native Way of Life

by Sue Leahy and Krystal Coxon

them a better appreciation for the amazingly diverse flora and fauna in our region. A great example of a family that has built and embraced the native way of life is the Coxon family of Ballwin.

Steve and Krystal Coxon were the winners of the 2019 Landscape Challenge, sponsored by Grow Native, Shaw Nature Reserve and Wild Ones St. Louis.

Steve had been a longtime gardener of edibles and ornamentals, while Krystal was a champion of environmental issues. Their passions came together after their Audubon “Bring Conservation Home” evaluation in March of 2015 and they immediately started implementing suggestions from the report they received.

According to Krystal, when they first moved in, they never saw monarchs, finches, or a variety of pollinators. They planted natives and these animals and many more became regular visitors. This helped them to share nature with their children and to begin a journey of nature exploration, citizen science, social responsibility and compassion.

The Coxons felt their front yard was under-utilized and that the Landscape Challenge front-yard makeover would not only increase support for wildlife and provide more opportunities for their children to interact with nature, but also to share their love of native plants with interested people walking in their busy subdivision.

After being notified that they were the winners, the homeowners prepared the area for planting. They outlined the area with stones, covered it with cardboard and then a thick layer of mulch to eradicate the grass. The landscape was designed and

The co-author’s daughter Mavis Coxon proudly displays rose mallow seed heads collected for future sowing.

Among lessons learned by studying nature is how seeds are dispersed: butterfly weed seeds, for example, “fly”!

planted by Wild Ones volunteers and funding for the plant material was provided by Grow Native!. The Coxon’s area is heavily impacted by a high deer population, so deer-resistant plants were used. The plant list included Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed, Shining Blue Star, Blue Sage, Blue Wild Indigo and Prairie Coreopsis.

The garden grew and the positive impact on the local ecology

became quite evident by the abundance of beneficial insects and birds that frequent the space. The family then decided it was time to widen their audience and engage a new type of beneficial creature to the garden… kids!

On September 28, 2022, Krystal hosted a group of 10 children in her yard to collect native seeds and explore their diversity in characteristics and methods of spreading. The children, ages 5-12 years old, walked around the yard on a Wednesday cont’d. on next page

NEED A SPEAKER for your Garden Club or Group?

Master Gardener Speakers Bureau volunteers are available to speak to garden clubs, church, civic and other groups.

Choose from 53 programs, including A Dark Side to Winter Damage, Backyard Composting, Soil Preparation, Daylilies, Orchids, and more.

Explore the complete list of topics at www.stlmg.org. Look for the Speakers Bureau tab in the top margin.

(A $50 fee funds Master Gardener programming in our community.)

in fall gathering seedheads and

each child worked in turns to open them and observe their size, shape, color and ways in which the seeds might spread.

The chaff on the common milkweed and butterfly weed surprised many of the kids who could see the seeds fly far away before landing in what may become their new growing spot. The rattlesnake master seeds fell out of the spiked seedheads with ease and the kids noted their large size. The blue wild indigo seedheads rattled like a rattlesnake and the bee balm seeds were very tiny. The feathery seeds on the little bluestem hinted at their possible flight and rose mallow with its many seedheads each filled with many seeds suggested that they spread easily. The children were quick to understand that birds help spread seeds like American beautyberry and native black raspberries with one child stating, “The birds poop the seeds out.”

A microscope was on hand for the children to see the seeds up close. The gathering culminated with the kids filling seed packets that they labeled and took

A boy studies rattlesnake master seeds he’s collected, comparing their relatively large size to other seeds he’d collected.

home to plant. Coxon provided parents with the seed identification, collection and stratification links listed on the Grow Native! website: grownative.org/learn/seeds.

The wonders of nature can be found right outside our door all seasons of the year. It might take time, but if you grow native, good things will engage with your garden space, be it bees, butterflies, birds or kids!

Photos by Krystal Coxon.

Sue Leahy (top) is the native plant manager of Greenscape Gardens and is an instructor for the Continuing Education Program for St. Louis Community College. She serves as the outreach coordinator for Wild Ones St. Louis and is an active committee member of Grow Native!. Krystal Coxon and her husband, Steve, have designed, installed and nourished a native yard and lifestyle over the past 15 years. Their yard is frequently featured on native garden tours and the Sustainable Backyard Tour.

Dormant Season Tree Pruning

When More is Less and Less is More...

By Wendell Phillips Berwick

We welcomed the majesty of a colorful Missouri fall, that moved into another generally short lived Missouri style winter, when our rich urban forest is ‘asleep’ and can’t feel a thing…such as chainsaws, hand saws and pole saws. But as forgiving as a tree can be, it’s best to not prune at all than to prune it wrong. No one likes to wake up in SHOCK, not even a TREE.

the pruning wound decays and a hollow eventually develops, leaving an opening in the tree’s defenses against pest and disease.

Start Early. It’s better for the health and longevity of the tree to ‘train’ trees earlier than later. That way, as the tree grows, it can be maintained with removal of smaller branches rather than cutting off large limbs and sections. Corrective pruning may include removal of crossing branches, training a single leader, and more. When thinking that ‘you get what you pay for’, consider that when it comes to trimming trees, more is less and less is more.

When removing a limb, look for the swollen area at the connection point, and make your cut just beyond that point.

Timing. Removal of live branches should be few and far between during growing season. All in all, trimming is best done during dormancy, when a tree’s life sustenance is in storage in the root zones, in layman’s term; “When the sap’s down”. (Hazard deadwood can be pruned anytime.) I want to stress that it’s a shock to the tree to remove lots of live limbs EXCEPT during wintertime. Plus, open wounds during the growing season invite potential for pests and disease.

No Tree Topping! As much as Gateway Gardener folks

are tree lovers, we would have our heads in the fallen leaves and snow if we didn’t recognize that our largest woody perennials can become hazardous if not properly maintained and periodically inspected. But if you’re concerned about trees hanging over structures, or simply want to let a little more sunlight reach the ground, please hang up on any arborists who suggest “tree topping” as a solution. (That’s when the

entire canopy is given a buzz job.) Long lateral limbs prone to breaking from wind or ice can be properly reduced with the tree still left looking like a tree.

Prune Properly. Tree branches are genetically designed to seal over properly placed pruning wounds. But when they are not trimmed accordingly, for example when a limb larger than 5 inches in diameter is ‘flush cut’ back to the trunk,

Hire a Pro. Finally, be safe! If trimming involves a ladder and a chain saw, it’s best to leave the job to the pros.

Wendell Phillips Berwick is an Arborist, Artist and selfproclaimed Abolitionist, and is founder of Living Tree Care.

Support Local Independent Small Businesses on

Homeowners often have trees “topped” in order to reduce the risk of large limbs falling on their homes. In fact the practice results in new limbs that are weakly attached and even more prone to breakage. Plus it destroys a tree’s natural form.

Holiday Gifts for Gardeners

Sugar Creek Gardens

1011 N. Woodlawn

Kirkwood, MO 314-965-3070

SugarCreekGardens.com

Shop local this season with gifts for home! We’re loving cozy candles from local brand Soft Shadow Candle Co. Now available in our store, Soft Shadow’s candles are smallbatch soy candles poured by hand in St. Louis. And better yet, their business is womanowned! Stop by the story for cozy winter scents like Homebody, Cashmere, White Pumpkin, A-Frame and more!

OK Hatchery

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

Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist

2601 E. 5th Street

Washington, MO 63090 636-239-6729

Hillermann.com

Rolling Ridge Nursery

60 N. Gore

Webster Groves, MO (314) 962-3311

Rolling RidgeNursery.com

Root Slayer Shovel

The Award Winning Root Slayer shovel eliminates the need for other tools as it easily slices through dirt, roots and other typical garden obstacles. With an indented tip to add pressure to roots and serrated edges to help rip through the sides, you’ll be reaching for this well-designed tool over and over. Use it to divide perennials, move shrubs and as your all-purpose shovel.

Garden Heights Nursery, Inc

1605 S Big Bend St. Louis, MO 314-645-7333

GardenHeights.com

Studio M Yard and Garden Art

St. Louis-headquartered Studio M, a division of MagnetWorks, specializes in artfully designed products for your yard and garden, including mailbox wraps, seasonal, holiday and special occasion flags, doormats and more. Support our local businesses! PLUS, Look for our new Christmas Shoppe, coming soon. It’s right next door!

Evergreen Sassafras Switch Mat Door Mats

Base Mats and Mat Inserts are made of polyester and durable rubber for a quality product that allows you to dress up their doorsteps in style. Choose from countless exclusive insert designs that are perfect to switch out for every season!

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

Bergs Pottery

We are excited to showcase Bergs Pottery! For 80 years these unique, high quality terracotta pots have been designed in Denmark, handmade in Tuscany and are loved by people and plants alike, often lasting for generations. Come find your special piece today!

Effinger Garden Center

720 South 11th St Belleville IL 62220 618-234-4600

www.effingergarden.com

Metal Floral Lamp

This beautiful metal floral lamp will brighten your room this winter.

Fresh Greens and More

Fresh greens, wreaths, pine roping, holly and poinsettias. Festive holiday planters.

Soft Shadow Co. HandPoured Candles

Looking for that special gift for your favorite gardener? We asked area garden centers and other related shops for some suggestions to make your shopping easier-or clip and leave conspicuously lying around as a not-so-subtle hint to your Santa.

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

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

Forrest Keeling

Nursery

88 Forrest Keeling Lane

Elsberry, MO 63343 800-356-2401

ForrestKeeling.com

gifts for the green thumbs in your life! They have been a symbol of beauty during the holiday season for centuries. The warmth from an amaryllis bloom will light up your home in the dull months of winter. Each bloom brings pops of joy and color to your space for weeks on end.

Passiglia Landscape, Nursery & Garden Center

Native Plants

Edg-Clif Winery Getaway

A weekend adventure in the country in a unique and authentic farmhouse will fit those special people on your list and a visit to the winery & brewery will match everyone’s style. Choose from 4 unique cottages. Airbnb gift cards available. Staying for the weekend in one of our charming cottages in the Ozarks. Hiking, biking, fishing, boating, riding and exploring are all here for you to experience or try sipping, listening, visiting, learning and gazing at your own pace. All houses have full kitchens, laundry rooms, new bathrooms and kitchens, BBQ’s and fire pits.

Make winter gardening dreams come true for your native plant fanatic with a gift card from Forrest Keeling Nursery. Forrest Keeling is naturally different. Family-owned for over seven decades. Innovator of the patented RPMproduction method for stronger, healthier, faster-growing plants. Order your gift card at bit.ly//ShopNatives. Card to be redeemed at our Elsberry location, just a short drive from St. Louis on Highway 79.

Chalily

14430 Manchester Rd. Manchester, MO 63011 (636) 527-2001

Chalily.com

1855 MO-109 Wildwood, MO 63038 (636) 458-9202

Design Plan for the DIY landscape project. Give the gift that keeps on growing! We can create a

design for a specific area of a home landscape, easy to follow and easy to install. Call, email, or visit our website for the list of details we need to create this design.

A Great Holiday Gift!

Why not give The Gateway Gardener to your favorite gardener this Holiday season? Just complete this form and mail it with $24 for postage and handling to the address below. Your friend or relative will receive 7 issues (a oneyear subscription) beginning with the next issue.

Gift From: Gift To: Address: City, State & Zip: Phone: Email: Please make your check payable to The Gateway Gardener and mail it with this form to:

Amaryllis

Amaryllis make wonderful

The Gateway Gardener • PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122

Naturally Natives

Autumnal Wonderland

My favorite time of year has arrived. I sense the calm of fall. It’s the time when the trunks and branches of oaks reveal themselves and crickets are gradually silenced. The absence of insect calls makes way for the sound of wind

blowing through switchgrass. It’s the time when sycamore leaves lay wet on the ground, smelling like ancient Ethiopian churches. When Ozark rivers run blue, rendering clear every sunken log, tire, boulder, and the critters they hide. And mostly, it’s the time when plants dole out their last few seeds to hungry birds, mammals, and people in need of nurturing. This is their last, but not least, act of the year. Be sure to take a moment and a closer look.

BEGINS IN WINTER, WITH A DREAM."

Right now, red-headed woodpeckers are gathering acorns on the ground and packing them away in tree crannies for later. Yellowbellied sapsuckers are devouring as much persimmon goo as they can, fattening up for winter. Mice are busy chopping coneflower seed heads down, like an agile coconut farmer. The evidence of their work lays chewed up on the ground and in footprints in the snow. Waxwings are munching black gum and cedar berries as if they were candy. Mockingbirds are hoarding holly berries, even at the Taco Bell drive-through. Juncos and white-throated sparrows have arrived for the winter and are scratching the ground for fallen seeds. Chickadees and titmice are pecking open swollen goldenrod stems, in search of fat larval morsels.

Goldfinches are still shredding Texas green eyes, Black-eyed Susans, and Silphium seed heads, though their bright yellow feathers have turned drab for the season. They will continue feeding through winter—I’m amazed how much seed remains on perennial and grass plants through the winter months. Plants in the aster family (goldenrod, aster, ironweed, blazing star, blackeyed Susan, etc.) may have 5 to 15% of their seeds still clinging to the stem in autumn. That’s a great reason to keep them standing all winter. They feed birds, especially when there is snow on the ground.

Many flowering perennials and grasses are beautiful in winter. The seed pods of wild senna are strikingly shiny and black; the fluted pods of Missouri evening primrose are other-worldly. Both make great table decorations. Chocolate-brown sweet coneflower seed

Goldfinches gather in the autumn garden to collect seeds on prairie dock. Photo by Robert Weaver.

Text and Photos by Scott Woodbury except as noted

heads stand out amongst golden switchgrass leaves. The seed heads of wild bergamot, showy goldenrod, and hairy mountain mint are stunning, and are a great seed source for winter birds. So are those of Ohio horsemint, iron plant, joe pye, wingstem, Black-eyed Susan, aster, and wild indigo. They are also incredibly beautiful covered in snow, ice, or frost.

a small cedar branch to add a campfire smell. Speaking of campfires, I’ll end with my favorite fall activity: burning green giant cane stems. You need a section of fresh stem that includes two nodes (the swollen areas). Between the nodes, is a section of trapped air. Heat it up in the campfire and imagine what might happen...bam!

Happy autumn gardening y’all!

Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter

A bur oak’s craggy bark pro vides hiding places for winter nut storage and overwintering insects.

And don’t forget foliage. Some of the best fall and winter “tannery” (think greenery) can be found on compass plant. Their big bold leaves twist like earthy holiday ribbons, and are covered with scurfy resin dots that smell like turpentine. Prairie dock has somewhat similar leaves. White sage is one of my favorite foliage plants. In autumn I cut the stems, fold them in half, bundle them tightly with cotton thread, then burn them outdoors for the intoxicating aroma. It reminds me of the acrid smell of burning eucalyptus (used by rural people for cooking) in Ethiopia. Include

Scott Woodbury was the horticulturist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and stepped down from that position in June 2022. He continues to work on contract for Shaw Nature Reserve to carry out native landscaping education, and has launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding. Find suppliers of native plants, seeds, and services at the Grow Native! Resource Guide: www.moprairie.org.

~ LUTHER BURBANK

The seedheads of hairy mountain mint, New England aster and wild bergamot provide food resources for birds, mammals and insects in late fall and winter.

Native grasses such as switchgrass not only provide seeds and cover for wildlife, but winter interest for the gardener.

Upcoming Events

Fun for Kids

Nov. 5th

Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More

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

Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in March 2023 issue is February 1st.

How to reach us:

Mail: PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122 314-968-3740 Email: info@gatewaygardener.com

9am—St. Louis County Parks Children’s Garden Club: Fall Holiday Fun. FREE. Planthaven Farms Garden Center, 6703 Telegraph Rd., Oakville.

Dec. 3rd 9am—St. Louis County Parks Children’s Garden Club: Holiday Decorating. FREE. Sherwood Forest & Garden Center, 2651 Barrett Station Rd., Ballwin.

Feb. 4th

9am—St. Louis County Parks Children’s Garden Club. FREE. Rolling Ridge Nursery, 60 N. Gore, Webster Groves.

Mar. 4th 9am—St. Louis County Parks Children’s Garden Club. Baisch & Skinner, 2721 LaSalle St., St. Louis, MO.

Classes, Lectures and Events

Nov. 9th 6:30pm—The Art of Kokedama. Part of the Patio Garden Speakers Series hosted by the St. Louis Elks. Contact Doug Wolter at drwplants@ gmail.com with questions. Elks Lodge #9, 12481 Ladue Rd., St. Louis. This event is open to the public.

Nov. 13th Sat. 10am-4pm—Old Webster Winter Market. Visit small businesses and restaurants, including Rolling Ridge Nursery, where the Webster Groves Historical Society will host its Holiday Market with crafters and vendors. Rolling Ridge will also have refreshments and give away tree seedlings and bird seed samples. Trolleys take visitors all over the district. Free carriage rides, carolers and of course, Santa!

Nov 18, 19 & 20 Holiday Open House Our Elves create magical Holiday displays and decorated Christmas trees throughout the gardenc and greenhouse in preparation for your visit during this event! Feel the magic and spirit of Christmas awaken as you join us to browse through all our beautiful displays! (During regular hours: Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Sunday: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm). Hoffmann

Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636239-6729, www.hillermann.com.

Nov. 19th 10am—Christmas Wreath. Just in time to decorate for the Holiday Season! Learn how to make your own silk Holiday Wreath to dress up your door or wall. You will also learn how to make your own holiday ribbons to add a festive touch. $45.00. Class size limited. Please call 636-239-6729 to reserve a spot. Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann. com.

Nov. 19th-Jan. 7th Garden Glow. Celebrate the season with one million lights, fun new experiences, and traditional favorites. Enjoy photo opportunities, traditional holiday music and festivities, and delicious food and drinks as the Garden is transformed around you into a winter wonderland. Closed December 24th and 25th. Learn more at glow.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Advance tickets encouraged. Missouri Botanical Garden.

Nov. 20th

1-2pm—Holiday/Winter Planter Create your own Holiday/Winter Planter that will last through the Holiday Season. There is a fee for materials. Part of Passiglia’s Walk & Talk educational programs. Walks start at the nursery patio. Passiglia’s Nursery, 1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood. Call 636-431-4061 or visit passiglia.

Nov. 20th 9am-4pm—Poinsettia Wonderland Open House. See the largest display of poinsettias in the area. Self-guided tours of the greenhouses from 10am3pm. Enjoy Christmas carolers, holiday cookies and crafters. Proceeds benefit Millstadt Optimist Your Club. Millstadt Gardens and N.G. Heimos Greenhouses, 6667 Route 158, Millstadt, IL. (618) 476-9600.

Nov. 25th-Dec. 30th 10am-4pm—Winter Jewels: An Enchanted Celebration. The Butterfly House transforms into an enchanted land this winter. Escape the cold as the Butterfly House magically transforms during Winter Jewels! Enjoy the Tropical Conservatory filled with elaborate fairy gardens, home to the guardians of our jeweltoned butterflies. Discover the world of many colors that can be found in nature. Included with Butterfly House admission. Free for members, included with admission for non-members. Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, 12/24 and 12/25.

Nov. 26th Noon-4pm—Holiday Crawl Planthaven Farms, 6703 Telegraph Rd., Oakville. (314)-846-0078.

Nov. 30th

Missouri Green Industry Conference. Nationally acclaimed guest speakers plus 7 educational tracks. See details on inside front cover or at MoGIC.org. Early registration deadline Nov. 23rd. at noon!

Dec. 3rd

10am— Winter Porch Pot. Bring back your porch pot from fall and transform it into a festive Winter Porch Pot! Using the container you used in the fall, we will trim the plants down, and add fresh evergreens and winter accents to create a Winter Porch Pot. Place it back on your porch to decorate for another season! $25.00. Class size limited. Please call 636-239-6729 to reserve a spot. Hoffmann Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann. com.

Dec. 4th and 11th 11am-1pm--Holiday Open House. Two live reindeer, family photos and more. FREE. Dec. 4th at Planthaven Farms, 6703 Telegraph Rd., Oakville. Dec. 11th & 18th at Planthaven’s NEW Location at 9504 Olive Blvd. in Olivette. Call for details (314)-8460078.

Nov. 26th

Small Business Saturday. Support your local, independent garden centers and other small businesses. Your money spent locally stays in your community.

Dec. 4th 10am-4pm—Customer Appreciation Day. Rolling Ridge will host its annual Customer Appreciation Day, with complimentary food and drink. Rolling Ridge Nursery, 60 N. Gore, Webster Groves, MO.

Dec. 3rd-4th 9am-5pm—Garden Heights Holiday Open House. Join Garden Heights to kick off the holiday season with all your holiday favorites! Explore their hanging Christmas tree forest to snag the perfect tree, and deck it out with ornaments, garland, stems and so much more from their outdoor holiday marketplace! It’s the perfect way to start the season with a little outdoor holiday cheer! Garden Heights Nursery, 1605 Big Bend, Richmond Heights. (314) 645-7333, GardenHeights.com.

Dec. 10th, 11th, 17th &18th 5:30-7:30—Supper with Santa. Before making his big trip around the world, Santa is stopping by the Butterfly House! Enjoy a delicious

dinner and take night strolls through our Tropical Conservatory. Santa’s Workshop stations will offer children the chance to make fun crafts. After dinner, visit Mrs. Claus’ Cookie Kitchen for cookies and cocoa. The evening would not be complete without getting a souvenir picture with the guest of honor – Santa! Advance registration required. $20 Garden members, $25 nonmembers. Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, 15050 Faust Park, Chesterfield. MO. (314) 577-0888.

December 18th

1-2pm—Painting Class. Get creative! Join our very first Painting Class and enjoy a few holiday treats as well. There is a materials fee for this class. Part of Passiglia’s Walk & Talk educational programs. Walks start at

the nursery patio. Passiglia’s Nursery, 1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood. Call 636431-4061 or visit passiglia.com.

March 10th-11th

Midwestern Herb and Garden Show. For both the gardening experts and the gardening hopefuls, three days of demonstrations, classes, and seminars with nationally recognized speakers and unique displays by more than 40+ exhibitors. The Herb & Garden Show is an opportunity to learn from the experts during the free hourly educational classes where you can ask questions, share information and even participate in take-home activities. More details will be available closer to the date of the event. For more information call (800) 252-5464 or visit www. midwesternherbandgardenshow.com.