There’s no doubt that water is a precious natural resource but it can also be a tremendously destructive force as late July’s record-setting rainfall and flash floods demonstrated. As a NatureScaper helping to rid Ruth Park Woods of invasive plants, the recent floods...
This week’s focus is vine or Japanese honeysuckle Lonicera japonica. It smells lovely, tastes sweet, and can smother trees to death.
U City in Bloom staff have written plant profiles in the past focusing on a particular plant. I want to do something a little different this time and focus on a flower shape. I love globe-shaped flowers, I think there is something special about them. I don’t...
Are you the sort of gardener who likes each plant to have it’s own little space? Or maybe you’re the gardener who likes things to be ‘higgeldy piggeldy’ letting plants move and re-seed as they like. Do you have your vegetables on a strict schedule of planting...
By: Jessica Blessing-Patterson Fall is undoubtedly the most glorious time of year here in Saint Louis. With the early evenings and cool breezes we get a much needed break from the brutal summer heat. Missouri also has an exceptionally diverse population of deciduous...
Growing vegetables from seed Here we are in early May and while it’s unseasonably cold you might be asking yourself if you still have time to start a vegetable garden from seed. Lucky for you the answer is YES! While it may be a little late to start seedlings inside,...
Winter Sunscald in Trees As we head into the season where many of us wrap gifts I have another gift wrapping suggestion….wrap your trees. Well at least wrap the trunks of your young and thin barked species. This could be a crucial gift to many of your...
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...
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...
You may have seen U City in Bloom employees and volunteers out mulching during the past few weeks. We are so lucky in our community to have a resource of very clean and well-developed leaf –mold. Now you might think by looking at it that we are applying compost but...
Jesse Gilbertson's December garden tips. Jesse is U City in Bloom's horticultural director. “So, what do you do in the winter?” When ever someone finds out what I do for a living that is easily one of the first inquiries that comes up. When I begin to answer I never...