Wild Ones St. Louis uses chapter funds to sponsor the work of three organizations that share our mission: St. Louis Audubon Society’s Bring Conservation Home, Missouri Prairie Foundation’s GrowNative!, and the Native Plant School at Shaw Nature Reserve. Check out the monthly, Thursday offerings of the Native Plant School, and how to access them. Space is limited and they sell out quickly. Of course, there are lots of additional relevant classes in the MOBOT catalog.
Native Plant School is a year-round series of classes taught by the horticulture staff and other experts at Shaw Nature Reserve and covers various aspects of native landscaping.
Native Plant School classes are supported by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the St. Louis Wild Ones Chapter. Thanks to the generous support of both organizations hundreds of people learn more about gardening with native plants each year. Class participants learn strategies to increase biodiversity and improve habitat for wildlife, so supporting Native Plant School classes helps Missouri’s native species. We are so thankful for your continued support!
View Classes and Register for Native Plant School
Happy Gardening in 2023!
Here are some classes that will be offered this year:
May 18th Container Gardening with Native Plants – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Location: Carriage House
Instructor: Joan Klingensmith
Are you limited in space to do your gardening? Would you like to beautify a porch, balcony, or other corner of your yard? Or, do you simply love the idea of planting a combination of native plants in a creative way? If so, container planting may work for you. In this class, SNR horticulturist Joan Klingensmith will lead you through the basics of container gardening with native grasses, sedges, annuals and perennials. We will go over the advantages of container plantings and tips on container choices, placement, and soil preparation. We will discuss native plant options, the year-round maintenance of containers, and some design basics. Come prepared for a short walk around the Whitmire Wildflower Garden to check out its containers and the chance to get your hands dirty in helping to plant containers for the garden!
July 20th Ecological Gardening 101 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Location: Carriage House
Instructor: Vivian Bouse
We can play a role in the efforts to conserve our declining wildlife and resources through the art of ecological gardening. By shifting your perspective and prioritizing the need to coexist with nature, you’ll find satisfaction in creating a beautiful space that supports local wildlife, improves air quality, and absorbs and filters rainwater. The goal is to maintain an aesthetically pleasing yard that strikes interests and promotes sustainable living. This class provides an introduction on how to get started in the process of creating your eco-friendly garden. We will discuss how to begin thinking like an ecological gardener and the techniques and design considerations that will help you succeed.
