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June Tree of the Month-Sweet bay magnolia
Native to the eastern half of the US, Magnolia virginiana, or sweet bay, does very well in St. Louis, sacrificing only a bit of height to live here compared to its east-coast siblings.…
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June Shrub of the Month-The rose
Is there ANY flower more seeped in history, art, or literature than the rose? The rose has inspired admirers, artists, and lovers for thousands of years. The name rose and its many variations…
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June Perennial of the Month-Prickly pear
Everyone has that one problem spot in their landscape. Maybe it’s a low spot where water doesn’t drain well in the backyard … or maybe, it’s a super-dry, hot, and gravely spot in…
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Lafayette Square 2023 Garden Tour
Lafayette Square is a premier neighborhood in St. Louis known for its history, architecture, and gardens surrounding the heart of the neighborhood; Lafayette Square Park. The annual tour brings visitors in for more…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Fred Ortlip
There are people with ‘green thumbs’… then there are the people with ‘magic thumbs.’ One glance at Fred Ortlip’s garden, and it’s apparent he is one of the latter-he’s created a botanical showpiece…
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May Tree of the Month-Yellowwood
Yellowwood, Cladrasis kentukea, is a blooming tree with a mind of its own when it comes to flowering. Maturity can take 8-10 years, and when it does start flowering, it’s not every year. Well worth…
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May Shrub of the Month-Ruby Slippers Hydrangea
You might have heard the term ‘Four-Season Interest’ when it comes to plants. The oak leaf hydrangeas set the bar for four-season interest, and one of my favorites to use is Hydrangea quercifolia…
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May Perennial of the Month-Allium
Every May, I get a lot of questions, but one of the most asked “What is that?” questions usually leads to the answer-Allium. I It’s impossible not to notice the fun, globe-shaped flower…
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Garden-Lou Spotlights the Garden of Marcella Hawley
If one could be like Alice in Wonderland and shrink down to a tiny size, the perfect place to do it would be a particular Webster Groves garden. Imagine wandering about under lush,…
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April Tree of the Month-Redbud
One of the easiest trees to identify in spring is our native redbud, Cercis canadensis. The long-lasting purple blooms stand out against the early flush of green along roadsides, the forest edge, in backyards,…
