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April Perennial of the Month-Virginia bluebells
I like to think of Virginia bluebells-Mertensia virginica, as misguided college kids who spend their spring break in St. Louis instead of Florida. Most of the year, they are off somewhere else (brushing…
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April Shrub of the Month-Tree peony
Most gardeners are familiar with the old-fashion herbaceous peonies, but once most newbie gardeners meet a tree peony, there is no going back. The name is misleading since tree peonies are not a…
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A Spring Visit to Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum
What is spring in St. Louis without daffodils? (Narcissus) The cheery flowers that don’t seem like such a big deal displayed in a vase or lining our walkways. However, when planted by the thousands well,…
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March Perennial of the Month-Hellebores
The weather is warming up. Days are growing longer … we are STARVED to see something blooming by this time of year! Hellebores, also known as Lenten rose, are shy flowers that like…
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March Shrub of the Month-Hino Crimson Azalea
Oh, how St. Louis gardeners LOVE azaleas! We see those colorful photos in magazines and declare how wonderful our gardens will be next spring, full of colorful azaleas the size of a minivan.…
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Missouri Botanical Garden Orchid Show Flashback!
As St. Louis eagerly awaits the opening of Missouri Botanical Garden’s Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center, we are deprived yet another year without the annual MBG Orchid Show. How can we possibly survive…
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November Perennial of the Month-Prairie dropseed
Summer has finally released us from its sweaty grip, and we face the long winter ahead without any perennials to admire, right? Not so much. Winter gives us time to admire and respect…
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November Tree of the Month-Sassafras
This month, we celebrate the sassiest of the Missouri trees, Sassafras albidumNot often found in the trade due to the difficulty in propagation, if you hike or live near the woods, you’ve probably…
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November Shrub of the Month-Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana, or beautyberry is one of those shrubs that never gets noticed…until fall. Come October, beautyberry lives up to its name with “Barbie-purple” berries lining the stems in clusters. The berries last…
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A Conversation with Gina Houska
When Gina Houska was a kid, she knew she not only wanted to be a mom but also an entrepreneur.Fast forward to 2021, and this mom of 2 has started her entrepreneurial adventure…
