Community Resource Fair & Disability Expo coming to Mount Vernon Sept. 25
Families, caregivers, educators and community members are invited to the Community Resource Fair & Disability Expo on Sept. 25 in Mount Vernon. The free event brings together organizations offering services for individuals with disabilities, their families and anyone seeking support in southwestern Missouri.
Increase flower power by dividing overgrown perennials
As clump-forming perennials mature, they often become overcrowded, competing among themselves for light, water and nutrients. This typically results in fewer blooms. Dividing them restores vigor and lets gardeners expand their beds or share plants with others.
Lycoris: An intriguing flower that brings color at summer's end
When most garden flowers show the attrition of having endured the heat and humidity of a typical Missouri summer, lycoris adds beauty and intrigue to beleaguered landscapes. The pink, lily-like flowers seem to come out of nowhere to adorn gardens.
Ozark Prairie Master Gardeners host free field day
The Ozark Prairie Master Gardeners and University of Missouri Extension will hold a free field day Sept. 20. The event is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Britton Farm, 22125 Old Five Road, Versailles.
Crape myrtle: Colorful southern shrub that's moving north
In southern states, crape myrtle can add brilliant color to the landscape when few other trees or shrubs are in bloom. New cultivars of this flowering shrub that are better-suited to Midwestern winters are now available.
When it rains, it pours mopheads and lacecaps
Fall is an ideal time to establish hydrangeas in the landscape. Several species grow well in Missouri.
Too much moisture can hinder root development
Heavy or prolonged wet soil can drown deep roots and weaken plants, leaving them vulnerable when dry spells follow.
MU Extension gardens cultivate connections
Community gardens help grow connections and tackle food insecurity. That’s why MU Extension is committed to supporting communities across Missouri as they plant seeds of connection — one garden at a time.
July 25 is Turnip Day in Missouri
Learn about Missouri's Turnip Day tradition, its historical roots, and tips for planting turnips in late July for a fall harvest.
Daisies bring sunshine and blooms year after year
Daisies brighten gardens and roadsides from summer to fall. These easy-to-grow perennials offer cheerful blooms year after year.
Time to head out and sow some Chinese cabbage
Sow Chinese cabbage in well-drained soil, keep it moist and shaded, transplant in summer, and harvest firm heads in fall.
Survey of St. Louis gardeners shapes MU Extension programs
St. Louis residents are invited to participate in a brief, anonymous gardening survey available in English and Spanish until September 30.
Use caution when hiring tree care professionals
Learn key tips for safely hiring tree care professionals to protect your property and avoid costly mistakes.
The great okra divide
Discover how to grow okra: from planting tips to harvesting young, tender pods rich in nutrients.
When your garden becomes a drive-thru for wildlife
Most gardeners know the frustration of having a beautiful garden decimated by wildlife. Just like people, deer and other critters are drawn to food that is tasty and convenient. A garden is wildlife’s equivalent of a fast food drive-thru.
Sweeten the Fourth with juicy watermelon
Celebrate National Watermelon Month with tips on selecting ripe, juicy melons for your summer gatherings.
Peppers: Easter eggs of the garden
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Bearing fruit ranging in color from red, orange and yellow to purple, white and chocolate-black, sweet peppers are the Easter eggs of the vegetable garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Jefferson Farm & Garden provides bedding plants to nonprofits statewide
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s Jefferson Farm and Garden in Columbia has raised about 5,000 spring bedding plants so far this year and supplied them to hundreds of gardens throughout the state.
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Callie, petunia's upstart cousin, bursts with floral fireworks
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Most flowering annuals in gardens around the U.S. have stood the test of time, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For example, geraniums were planted in Europe in the 17th century and have been an American favorite for more than 200 years. Petunia, as we know it today, appeared in gardens in the 1800s.
Volunteer Master Gardeners help others learn to grow
Volunteer Master Gardeners share gardening knowledge through workshops and projects, creating more than $5 million in annual economic value.
Red, white and blue for the green thumb
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Plan now to use basic design principals to create a patriotic garden this summer, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk. “Designing your outdoor living space comes with many opportunities for creativity,” says Funk. “One might be thinking about themed garden beds, pots and hanging baskets,” she adds. “Using a red, white and blue color scheme around your patio or deck could add a festive…
![Beets are nutritious and easy to grow.Photo by Evan Amos [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons](/sites/default/files/styles/flexslider_full_no_crop/public/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2025/20250415-beets-1.jpg?itok=J5SBJi8C)
Beets: Well-rooted in nutrition
Few vegetables elicit less excitement from the average gardener than beets. Once relegated to pickling or making borscht, beet is enjoying greater respect due to its reported health benefits.
Don't plant seeds you didn't order
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension horticulturists ask the public not to plant unsolicited seeds received in the mail. MU Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan says she has had recent reports from Springfield-area residents who have been mailed seeds they did not order.
Happy 70th birthday to Missouri's state tree
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The flowering dogwood tree celebrates its 70th birthday as the Missouri state tree in 2025. There is no better place to celebrate than Missouri’s Ozark woodlands from mid-April to early May when the dogwood is in bloom, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
Clematis, Queen of the Vines
Clematis vines offer vibrant blooms and support pollinators. Native and hybrid varieties thrive in Missouri gardens. Proper care ensures seasonal beauty.