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September Perennial of the Month-Trumpet Creeper
Do you know that scene in horror movies where the crazy vines grab the main character’s ankles and drag him, kicking and screaming, out of sight? I’m convinced those vines were based on…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Danielle Meert and James Thurow
Danielle Meert is changing the world, starting with her own yard. Visitors who made the garden in St. Louis Hills a stop on the Sustainable Backyard Tour in June were greeted by a…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights Elizabeth Fichter of Queen Bee Blooms
“I’ve had amazing jobs in my life. I was the director of City Museum and had the joy of helping revitalize it after a low point in early days. I’ve been the director…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Steve Souder & Peggy Eng
We’ve seen the magic that can happen when garden and artist meet. From Monet and his garden, Giverny in France, to our local Marcella Hawley and her painter’s palette of bulbs on the…
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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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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…
