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Perennial of the Month-Purple coneflower
With a rainbow of colors available, my favorite coneflower is still the straight species, Echinacea purpurea. Purple coneflower is among our area’s top perennials, regardless of whether you are into natives or ornamentals. Native coneflowers…
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August Shrub of the Month-Possumhaw
The Missouri State Champion Possumhaw (Ilex decidua) lives just outside the wrought-iron fencing surrounding the Mausoleum of Henry Shaw, where it’s often passed unnoticed if not for the signage designating its champion status.…
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August Tree of the Month-Beech
St. Louis rests on the edge of hardiness for the native North American beech, Fagus grandifolia, which is only found naturally in the central, and southeast corner of Missouri. Whereas our neighbors to…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Belleville Heart Garden
The Belleville Heart Garden doesn’t like the word “NO.” Instead of posting a list of rules in the .4-acre community demonstration garden, the stewards encourage community involvement and sharing. This approach to community…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Albie and Andréa Mitchell
Let’s say you want to entertain family and friends in your backyard. You want space for your dogs to enjoy the yard too. You also want to be a habitat for pollinators. Privacy…
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July Tree of the Month-Kentucky Coffee Tree
The Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is considered rare by conservation standards regarding its native distribution. Although rare in the wild, as a domesticated species, it’s becoming more popular in parks, public gardens,…
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July Shrub of the Month-Annabelle Hydrangea
The smooth hydrangea cultivar ‘Annabelle’ was not named after one lady but two. Two “Belles” from Anna, Illinois, Harriet Kirkpatrick and her daughter Amy, found the original plant while horseback riding (We will…
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July Perennial of the Month-Blazing star
Surely, Dr. Suess was inspired by our native Liatris species, commonly called blazing star or gayfeather. The purple flowerheads are comprised of multiple flowers called florets, crammed together on one stem, each resembling…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Ed and Mary Dee Schmidt
You learn a lot about patience when you’ve lived in the same house for 52 years. Ed Schmidt and his wife Mary Dee moved into their University City home during the early 70’s…
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Highlights of the Sustainable Backyard Tour-2024
The Sustainable Backyard Network hosted its annual open-yard tour on June 30th with 55 hosts around the St. Louis metro area. The tour’s focus is on education, with the unique chance to see…
