Think Tropical

As temperatures warm outside, many home gardeners are eager to get their summer gardens started. Spring is the perfect time to plan your summer garden, and once the final frost is out of the forecast, you can get to planting your annuals.  When you’re thinking about how to make your yard pop this summer, consider…

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Purple Martins Resume Seasonal Residence at the Garden

Perhaps you have seen them while visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden’s William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening — large white, multi-compartment birdhouses on poles about 14 feet high. In spring and summer, the housing is fully occupied by purple martins (Progne subis), a swallow species. St. Louis today is possibly home to the largest…

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Plastic Pot Recycling: Update and Perspective 

With regret, the Garden reports that the St. Louis-area Plastic Pot Recycling program remains suspended going into this spring’s growing season. We are answering many emails and calls about this program. We know that gardeners are sustainability minded! We hope this summary of issues and some options will be useful, even while our region cannot…

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All About Easter Lillies

In springtime, Easter lilies are a common sight in grocery stores, churches, and on dining room tables. With their large, white, trumpet-shaped blooms and delicate fragrance, they are a true symbol of the Easter season. But did you know that spring isn’t the only time these plants can be enjoyed?  If you want to keep…

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The Plight of the Monarch and What You Can Do to Help

A welcome visitor to gardens, and sure sign summer is coming to an end when seen in large groups, monarch butterflies are a staple of St. Louis scenery and landscapes across the country. But their numbers are dwindling, scientists say. Shrinking Numbers and the Endangered Species Act Recently, the monarch butterfly has been in the…

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Spotlight on Science: Tariq Stevart

Tariq StevartAssociate Scientist, Africa and Madagascar Program When Tariq Stevart was around 10 years old, his grandfather took him on a trip to Switzerland, where they climbed mountains and discovered alpine flora, in particular orchids. It sparked a lifelong interest for Stevart, who grew up in Belgium and always admired the beautiful orchids of Europe….

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Top 10 Plants for a Sensory Experience

From the enticing scent of lemon verbena to the smooth texture of a pansy petal, there are so many possibilities for sensory exploration in your garden. The Therapeutic Horticulture team at the Missouri Botanical Garden has compiled their top ten plants for a sensory experience. Click on the scientific names below to learn how to…

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The History of the Shamrock in Ireland (and How to Grow Your Own American Version)

Every March, many storefronts, restaurants, and homes turn green as Irish Americans celebrate their heritage through St. Patrick’s Day. Of course, many without Irish ancestry join in the celebration, too. During the St. Patrick’s season, the shamrock becomes a universal symbol of all things Irish. And rightfully so—the shamrock is the national plant of Ireland…

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In Praise of Parsley

As the St. Louis Herb Society prepares its first-ever online herb sale, the group sings the praises of parsley, its herb of the year.  “My goal is to bring parsley back as a valued and important herb in cooking. It is too easily dismissed,” says Anne Cori, Herb Society member and owner of Kitchen Conservatory….

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The St. Louis Herb Society Celebrates 80 Years with First-ever Online Herb Sale

The St. Louis Herb Society marks its 80th birthday in 2021 in a way its founders could have never imagined back in early 1941—with an online sale of more than 8,000 herbs and pollinator plants.  The St. Louis Herb Society Online-Only Herb Salestlouisherbsociety.orgMarch 26–April 2 | Online shopping for Garden membersApril 9–16 | Online shopping…

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