Ackert Plaza, a contemporary green space on the Loop. Five years after the installation of the eight feet tall bronze statue of the world’s most influential rock and roller Chuck Berry, Ackert Plaza finally has trees and a garden. U City in Bloom staff and volunteers...
THE OLIVE CHALLENGE In our 2015 November year end giving letter we announced the new initiative to beautify the Olive Boulevard corridor and look what we have been able to do with your help! Last week, Mayor Shelley Welsch, along with U City in BloomExecutive...
Check it out! The beautification efforts have begun! The first phase of planters are in and plants are in place! The Background: Olive Blvd. stretches four miles through the center of University City, from the light industrial district on our eastern border, along...
Spring is the time of flowering trees. We have Magnolias and Redbuds and Crabapples all competing for our attention…well at least for the attention of their pollinators, but we like to think those displays are for us. Certainly we have bred many of those colors and...
University City's newly formed Community Foundation held its first Volunteer Appreciation Reception and awards ceremony at Centennial Commons, on Sunday February 28th. Mayor Shelley Welsch expressed her thanks to all University City volunteers who work to make...
Frost Flowers…Rare Winter Delights! The first cold mornings we experience as winter sets in hold a lot of energy in the crisp silent air. There is magic out there if you know where to look. When the conditions are right and your eyes are searching you may just find...
The Beauty and Benefits of Ornamental Grasses When I first began gardening, I thought of ornamental grasses as giants and bullies in the garden. As I began to appreciate the diversity in size, texture, form, color and vigor these plants have to offer, I realized how...
Imagine University City without flowers. Imagine entering our historic City Hall without walking past masses of flowers in the Centennial Gardens. Think of the children entering their school and not being greeted by blooming, vibrant beds of flowers. And how many...
To celebrate U City in Bloom's 30th year anniversary, the Arts and Letters' annual photo contest was based on the theme of U City Gardens. The subject of the photographs were gardens of University City, especially the gardens maintained and created by U City in...
One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “what are your favorite annuals?” I have many favorites for so many different reasons. Some annuals are easy to grow and don’t require much care or water. Other annuals fill in a large space nicely or match a color...
U City in Bloom held its bi-annual garden tour on Sunday, Sept. 20th, 2015. The theme of the tour was "History and the Gardens". The tour allowed ticket holders access to a dozen gardens of private homes in University City's oldest neighborhoods including...
We at U City in Bloom get lots of positive comments on the beds we create and maintain in University City and we love to hear your comments and questions. Often people want to know what plants are there so we decided to share some information about the bed in front...
It’s hot out there. Watch your plants for heat stress. We gardeners, can walk under a shade tree or into the air conditioning and drink a cool glass of water, but our plants don’t have these conveniences. The effects of heat on plants can be manipulated to some degree...
Thanks to the U City in Bloom volunteers who came out to the “Adopt-A-Block” project on Saturday, June 13th. The project was started by SHED volunteers (safe housing for elderly and disabled) and funded with an award won by the city for their outstanding...
What's in bloom? Look up! Pink and magenta petunias all along Olive Blvd. in University City are now in place in the hanging baskets. Floral and hanging baskets brighten and improve the ambiance of streets in many cities and the 76 baskets that stretch from Midland...
U City in Bloom Volunteers get ready to lend a hand. U City Received National Community Award USA Today and Newman's Own honor the efforts of outstanding people who lead Make a Difference Day projects. Only three Community Awards are given each year, and winners are...
The annual University City Photo Show will celebrate U City in Bloom’s thirty-year anniversary with a call for photos that reflect its efforts to beautify our community. Sponsored by the Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters of University City, the show is open...
I buy a lot of plants…lots, and this is the time of the year I find myself in garden centers and at plant sales looking for annuals and perennials. I buy plants for work and home and as favors for other people. When shopping I take it for granted that I know exactly...