More species of plants exist in the Ozark Highlands (one of the oldest mountain ranges on the planet) than anywhere in the lower Mid-west. Why? By Scott Woodbury (This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener April 2021 issue.) It is said that blues musician Robert Johnson (Tommy Johnson in the movie, O Brother Where Art Thou) sold his
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For many of us, there’s nothing like the joy of holding a packet of seeds in the winter. Seeds are little morsels of hope that have such potential, especially on cold, wintery days. By Jennifer Schamber [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener Winter 2019 issue.] For many of us, there’s nothing like the joy of holding a
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From bald eagles to pelicans, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area located in Columbia, Missouri, is a haven for many of Missouri’s waterfowl. By Abby Lapides [This article was first published in the September 2019 issue of The Gateway Gardener.] From bald eagles to pelicans, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area located in Columbia, Missouri, is a haven for many of Missouri’s waterfowl. Eagle
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There is perhaps no native plant more ubiquitous than willow, especially black willow (Salix nigra). It comes up in house gutters, garden beds, low farmers’ fields, roadside ditches, pond margins and every creek-side gravel bar in the eastern half of the United States. By Scott Woodbury [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener March 2020 issue.] “Between the
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The foundational success of our country can be primarily attributed to the vast richness of our natural resources. From fertile farmlands to plentiful hardwood forests to diverse wildlife, the list goes on and on. By Jennifer Schamber [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener March 2019 issue.] The foundational success of our country can be primarily attributed to
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I took my first steps in horticulture walking down a narrow path of age-old gardening traditions. I learned to care for vegetable gardens, a rose garden, a lilac screen and perennial borders each with squarely trimmed hedges and edges. The lawn was cut in a diamond pattern using an old-style reel mower. By Scott Woodbury [This article was first published
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Annual plants sprout from a seed, grow and die in the same growing season. Red-whisker clammyweed (Polanisia dodecandra) is a native annual that blooms for two to three months in late summer. By Scott Woodbury [This article was originally published in The Gateway Gardener March 2018 issue.] Annual plants sprout from a seed, grow and die in the same growing
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In St Louis we can be outside enjoying our gardens and landscapes at any month in the year. If you add some of these plants to your list there will be a whole new season of interest in your own backyard. By Steffie Littlefield [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener Nov/Dec 2017.] Everyone has a different answer
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As a family with an active child, our most successful place to watch birds is through windows. Birds tolerate us that way and we see amazing things while munching granola in our PJs. By Scott Woodbury [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener September 2017 issue.] As a family with an active child, our most successful place to
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When the red buckeye and columbine bloom in April, it signals the time to start looking for the ruby-throated hummingbirds. By Scott Woodbury [This article was first published in The Gateway Gardener April 2016 issue.] When the red buckeye and columbine bloom in April, it signals the time to start looking for the ruby-throated hummingbirds. It pays to look in
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