By James Faupel
Vice President, Wild Ones – St. Louis Chapter
James Faupel (right) and designer Rob May preparing for the 2017 Landscape Challenge
This year marks the St. Louis Chapter’s 20th anniversary. In celebration of this event, the 2018 Landscape Challenge pool of eligible homeowners is open exclusively to St. Louis Chapter Wild Ones members. We have received only a few entries thus far. If you would like a front-yard makeover using native plant design, PLEASE enter the challenge by clicking the link above.
Many members expressed interest in entering at last November’s gathering, but few have entered. Time is running out and the odds are in your favor!
You must be a current member who was a member at the end of 2017, and have an eligible front-yard location for the new garden. This year’s application period is open now and will be closed on May 10 (the day after our May meeting).
The traditional Landscape Challenge “dirty hands” photo after planting, showing volunteers
During May and June, submissions will be reviewed and visited, and a winner will be chosen in mid-June. The design process will occur in late June and July. The planting date will be in late September of this year.
Looking back over the past 11 years of Landscape Challenge winners, it is great to think about how each of the previous winners’ yards have impacted friends and family, who impact more friends and family… How many new native gardens exist because of this program? I can only imagine that a Wild Ones yard will shine brighter and be even more educational to the surrounding neighborhood.
Good luck to all applicants!
[Note: If you are not interested in entering the challenge but are interested in the challenge itself, I am looking for members who are available to be on the selection committee. You would need to meet one time with the rest of the committee to do a driving tour of the finalists’ yards. This will take a few hours. A flexible schedule would be preferred so we can agree on a date that works for all of us to meet.]
