by Erin Goss, Chapter Member and Chairperson, Landscape Challenge
Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 St. Louis Wild Ones Landscape Challenge, Jeanine Arrighi! Her yard in South County was chosen from 10 applicants and features a small front yard perfect for adding a native landscape.
Now active Wild Ones members, Jeanine and her husband, John, have been adding native plants to their property since 2021 after a Bring Conservation Home site visit. The Grant Committee appreciated the couple’s commitment to native plant gardening, volunteer service, and the location’s potential for community-garden interactions. Two schools are around the corner, Holy Cross Academy and Rogers Middle School, and their neighborhood is filled with families out walking together.
The designer for the garden will be Maureen Keaveny and a HUGE thank you to the rest of the committee – Kathy Bildner, Malon Argint, Kevin Mowery, Tessa Wasserman, and Sue Leahy – for all their hard work in the selection process. And thank you to Grow Native! for their continued financial support.
The plan is to plant the garden in early May. Please watch for an announcement – we will need planting help!
We look forward to the many interested pollinators, birds, and humans who will have a chance to admire the 2026 Wild Ones Landscape Challenge winning garden!
