U City in Bloom Garden Tour and Plein Air Art Festival 2021

Garden-Lou takes you on the U. City in Bloom Garden Tour and Plein Air Art Festival.

September 26, 2021

This year’s tour featured the curving, tree-lined roads, triangular intersection parks, and private gardens of the historic University Hills neighborhood. (between Pershing, Delmar, and Jackson) From modest bungalows to sprawling Italian Renaissance and Tudor Revival homes designed by leading architects of the day, the neighborhood has come a long way from the Creveling farm when Cyrus Willmore purchased the 96 acres in 1922.

The 12 featured gardens this year offered something for everyone: plant lovers, train enthusiasts, fairy gardens, and peaceful retreats. Most St. Louis gardens look ragged and worn by the end of September, but University City seems to defy all Mother Nature’s odds leading to garden envy over the thriving late-season plantings.

Gardening and Art have been natural companions for centuries. What makes this tour unique is the pairing of local Plein Air artists capturing the tour neighborhood’s character. Artists positioned throughout the neighborhood during the tour had their works judged and available for purchase at the Flynn Park School reception after the tour.

For more information about U. City in Bloom, visit;