Landscape Challenge Application 2026

Does your front yard need an update?
Do you want to attract more birds and butterflies to your yard?
Do you want to landscape with native plants?

You’re in luck!

Landscape Challenge is a program sponsored by Wild Ones St. Louis and Grow Native!, in cooperation with St. Louis Audubon’s Bring Conservation Home program. We are again looking for a front yard that will showcase landscaping with native plants. Potential front yards should be highly visible and located in an area that will receive substantial foot or drive-by traffic. The size of the planting will be approximately 300 square feet.

One lucky homeowner will be selected for a front yard native landscape makeover. The sponsors will provide the native plants, services of a professional native landscape designer and volunteers to install the landscape. Site reviews and interviews of the finalists will be completed in December and the winner will be announced by late December. The designer will work with the winning homeowner(s) on a plan in January/February and planting will be late April – early May.

Wild Ones will not provide hardscaping or deal with drainage issues. Potential applicants’ yards should be fairly level or already terraced. Large front-yard trees present a problem for planting.

The 2026 Landscape Challenge application period is open as of Monday, October 27, 2025
The application period will close on Monday, November 24, 2025

The rules and agreement:

- If I have had a Bring Conservation Home evaluation of my property completed I will make the report available for the committee to review.

- I agree to maintain the planted area, keeping it free of weeds.

- I will prepare the site for planting as agreed upon with the designer.

- I will use only native plants in the project area.

- I will display the provided Wild Ones educational sign in the wildflower garden in a visible location.

- I will submit photos of the garden to the Chapter requested.

- I grant permission for the sponsors to use images of the project in educational efforts.

- I am willing to be interviewed on camera about the project

- Mentorship is available for new (or not-so-new) gardeners who have questions about their the planting and its stewardship.

- I agree to acknowledge this funding source in any project publicity or printed materials.

- A representative of the Chapter will be allowed to periodically observe the garden.

- I will allow visits by project partners and agree to host a Wild Ones monthly gathering within 2-3 years of the planting date.

- The Chapter shall have the right to supply others with a description of the project and disseminate its underlying concepts and/or ideas.

- The Chapter and sponsors and/or any of its agents, officials, or employees shall assume no responsibility or liability for claims of damage of any kind to property or for claims of injury to any person in connection with the garden installation.

The application questions:

- Are you a Wild Ones member?
- When was your Bring Conservation Home survey completed? (mo/yr please)
- Tell us about the BCH recommendations that you have followed up on or implemented
- Why would you like a front yard native landscape makeover?
- What is your experience/knowledge level with native plants?
- Describe your landscape dilemma
- Describe any drainage problems you have on the your property
- How do you currently use the space, and how would you use it differently if it was made over?

We ask that you upload up to 5 photos that represent the site you'd like us to consider. You are required to submit at least 2 photos of the site, with 1 of those being from the street. Individual files should be resized to 1024 kb or less.

About you

Name *

First

Last

Address *

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Phone *

Email *

Are you a Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter member? *

When was your Bring Conservation Home survey completed? (mo/yr please) *

Tell us about the BCH recommendations that you have followed up on or implemented *

Why would you like a front yard native landscape makeover? *

What is your experience/knowledge level with native plants? *

About your site

Describe your landscape dilemma *

Describe any drainage problems you have on your property (if none please specify "None") *

How do you currently use the space, and how would you use it differently if it was made over? *

Photos

Please upload up to 5 photos that represent the site you'd like us to consider. You are required to submit at least 2 photos of the site, with 1 of those being from the street. Individual files should be resized to 1024 kb or less. If you have trouble uploading files, please skip this and we will contact you after your application is submitted to get your photos.