Native Gardening Resource Guide

Here is a link for the Grow Native Resource Guide.

Resource GuideDownload

April Committee Meeting Canceled

Because of the Coronavirus, the April Beautify Crestwood meeting has been canceled.

We will make a decision on the May meeting at a later date.

Keep gardening in your yard and send in any pictures you’d like to show how you are Beautifying Crestwood. Send your pictures to beautifycrestwood@gmail.com.

Here is one of my favorite native perennials – Virginia Bluebells.

Not yet in full bloom.

Gardening with Kids

Monarch on Salvia – Lady in Red

If your kids are home and you’re looking for an activity to not only keep them busy, but also learn about plants and nature – start your own seeds.

You can buy seeds for as little as $1.00/packet from DollarSeed.com or also find deals on Amazon.

Note – Whitecliff Recreation Center has free seeds for Crestwood residents.

If you prefer not to go to the store to get supplies, you can buy them from Amazon or just use with what you have around the house. I have used old yogurt containers for seeds, just punch in holes in the bottom for drainage. You may need some slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote, depending on the type of soil you have.

If it’s warm enough in your area of the country, you may be able to plant directly into the soil. In St. Louis, I usually wait until May 1st to plant.

Here is the process I use. The main point is to keep the seeds warm and moist so that they will germinate.

Beautification Grants in 2020

The Crestwood Beautification Committee wants to help Crestwood citizens make their neighborhoods more beautiful. We are offering to help neighborhood volunteers fund their projects.

If you would like to beautify the entrances or common areas or islands in your neighborhood, the Beautification Committee will assist you by paying 50% of the total costs up to a maximum of $500.00 per project. For example – if your total anticipated project cost is $400.00, you could receive $200.00 from the grant. If you have higher project costs expected, such as $1400.00 you would only receive the maximum grant amount of $500.00.

This grant program is not intended to be the sole source of funding for your project, rather it is to supplement other resources you have secured for the project. These resources might include raising funds through fundraising, in-kind donations or cash contributions.

Previous projects may apply again to help with replacement plants and supplies.

If you are interested, fill out an application. You don’t have to be a member of any committee to do this. All you have to do is organize some of your neighbors to contribute their effort to get the project done. This can be a way to make new friends or have some fun working together with old friends to improve your neighborhood (and its property value)!

In addition to the funding, The Beautification Committee will help you with getting started, designing the project and ideas for fundraising. However, the neighborhood volunteers will be in charge of their project. We encourage groups to use native plants if possible. https://www.moprairie.org/GrowNative

For all projects, the Beautification Committee must approve designs in order for neighborhoods to receive funds. Designs also must comply with city ordinances. (A list of city ordinances can be found on our website.)

If you’re interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please fill out the application. When complete, please email it to BeautifyCrestwood@gmail.com or you can mail it to:

Beautify Crestwood
9009 Parkshire Ct.
Crestwood, MO 63126

Applications must be received by May 1, 2020. 
Only fully completed applications will be considered.

Grant recipients will be notified by May 12, 2020.

In order to receive funds from the Beautification Committee, projects must be substantially completed by October 1, 2020

Please note that the Beautification Committee can commit to contributing only $2000.00 in total for all these Crestwood projects in 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Email: BeautifyCrestwood@gmail.com

Free Magazine

Missouri residents can get the Missouri Conservationist magazine mailed to their house, just for the asking. It not only has great articles about nature in general, but also nice articles on butterflies and native gardens. You can subscribe at mdc.mo.gov/conmag.

You can also view the current and past issues by going to the same link.

Free Seeds and Native Plant Brochure

There are free marigold seeds available at the Whitecliff Recreation Center starting March 1st. Two hundred seed packets are available for Crestwood residents.

You can also pick up a 2020 Grow Native brochure which includes lots of information on growing native plants.

Plant Sales in the Area

This group has donated many plants to Beautify Crestwood in the past.

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The best place to get native plants.

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Get there early – good assortment and good prices.