Master Gardener’s Speakers Bureau
The St. Louis Master Gardener Speakers Bureau provides quality horticultural information as a public service. All speakers are Master Gardener volunteers who have completed the Master Gardener training under the direction of University of Missouri Extension.
Each year St. Louis Master Gardeners make over 100 presentations to garden clubs, schools, businesses, churches, neighborhood and civic organizations. Presentations are typically 50-60 minutes in length. Also available are three walking and teaching tours of Missouri Botanical Garden’s specialty gardens and the annual orchid display.
- Choose a talk from the Program Topics
- Call or email that speaker directly. The speaker will explain the booking process and provide you with the combined Confirmation/Invoice form.
On the lower invoice portion of the Confirmation/Invoice form are directions for payment to St. Louis Master Gardeners. Return both the form and a check to the address given
For any issues or concerns related to the Speakers Bureau, please contact Betsy Alexander at betsyace@earthlink.net or 314.961.8388.
PROGRAM TOPICS
A Dark Side to Your Garden
Plants that Prickle or Poison. There are villains lurking in the garden. Find out if you are harboring one.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
A Perfect Perennial – Daylily Magic for Your Garden
Go beyond Stella D’Oro! The modern daylily gives a spectacular display of color when other garden plants are wilting in the heat and humidity.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
ABC’s of Honeybees
An introductory frolic through the intriguing world of all things honeybee.
Speaker is Marc Hartstein
All About Orchids
Orchids, the largest of all plant families, are the most diverse, fascinating and exotic plants on earth.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Annuals & Perennials
This session gives you an opportunity to learn the differences between annuals and perennials and the care needed for each.
Speaker is Patrick McNulty
Autumn Spectacular
Travel in a photo journey to witness the spectacular changes of autumn.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Backyard Composting
Composting yard waste is one of the most environmentally sound things you can do.
Speaker is Patrick McNulty
Best Gardening Practices for a Sustainable Garden
This program offers an outline of sustainable/organic practices for use in your home garden.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
Botanic Garden Arm Chair Tours
Seventeen botanic gardens are available for your arm chair tour. Choose 3 or 4 for your personalized adventure. They are all sites that have been visited by Master Gardener, John Hensley.
Boxwood: the Oldest Garden Ornamental
This talk gives a comprehensive look at the ornamental, boxwood.
Bring the Natives Home
Learn how to include Missouri native plants in your home garden. This talk features photos of native wildflowers.
Speaker is Betty Struckhoff
Chocolate
Chocoholic? Better, yet, a chocoholic gardener? Learn the earliest history of chocolate, learn how it is cutivated and processed, and then consider ways to take your chocolate addiction into your garden with ‘chocolate’ plants.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
Companion Planting Revisited
Companion Planting covers the history, benefits, and implementation details, of using companion planting in your garden.
Speaker is Marsha H. Smith
Critical for Gardening – Get the Dirt on Soil
A critical aspect of gardening is creating the soil necessary for lush, healthy plants.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
Designing A Perennial Garden
A humorous look at designing her perennial garden includes the struggles encountered when putting in a new garden.
Speaker is Alice Mitchell
Designing with Nature in Mind
Attract more birds, butterflies, and pollinators to your yard by creating an appealing design to welcome the natural world.
Speaker is Betty Struckhoff
Elephant Ears and Other Aroids
This program covers the culture and garden use of Elephant Ears and other Ariods like Caladiums.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Extend Garden Interest into Late Summer, Fall
As we move through summer, days get shorter, fall starts, it is time to consider the steps we need to take to prolong the beauty of our gardens.
Speaker is Jack Lane
Fascinating Victorian Gardens
Gardening during the Victorian Period included a fern craze, orchid mania, lavish tropicals, intricate outdoor gardens.
The overall Victorian look is described as opulent. It included unique elements, several of which continue in use today as well as one that changed the the course of history.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
Flowering Shrubs
Would you like to add some color to your foundation plantings? Or add structure to a perennial garden? How about creating a focal point near the front door to welcome guests?
Speaker is Terry Milne
Forest Park from a Gardener’s Perspective
A history of Forest Park from the region’s shaping by glaciers to the present landscape renovation efforts on Government Hill, Pagoda Circle.
Speaker is Jack Lane
Gardening Dangers for Pets
Pets can get into trouble exploring our gardens, chewing and eating toxic items.
Speaker is Joanne Graham
Glades of Missouri
A picture program on the unique environment of Missouri’s glades, their magnificent plants and unique animals.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
History of Missouri Botanical Garden
Enjoy a history lesson on the growth and development of MBG.
Speaker is Jack Lane
Hydrangeas
A talk that covers growing hydrangeas in St. Louis.
Speaker is Anne Kirkpatrick
Landscape Design – two topics
Do you want to change your outdoor space? Revise or modify what you have? Increase your property value? 2 talks are available from Terry Milne.
Landscaping with Native Trees and Shrubs
Ready for low maintenance, plus more birds and butterflies in your garden? Incorporating native shrubs and trees into your landscaping will achieve both.
Speaker is Betty Struckhoff
Lawns
Lawns in the St. Louis area require specific care and maintenance.
They often develop barren patches, problem areas. Renovate or start new?
Speaker is John Hensley
Medium to Large Trees for St. Louis
Making the long-term investment of purchasing the right tree and placing it in the proper location can pose uncertainty and hesitation.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Missouri’s Wild Mushrooms Is It Edible?
There are many common, edible mushrooms in Missouri. This program gives information on finding mushrooms in the wild or even in your own backyard!
Speaker is Maxine Stone
Orchids of Missouri Botanical Garden: Behind the Scene of the Orchid Show and Greenhouses
Find out what it takes to ‘put on’ the annual orchid show at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Learn how the Botanical Garden’s world famous orchid collection is maintained.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Orchids: Lure and Legend
This program explores the history, magic, and beauty of orchids.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Organic Gardening
Organic gardening promotes a healthy, sustainable environment. Enhance your gardening, your plants, and your life with these simple and effective techniques.
Speaker is Cheryl Rafert
Photosynthesis – It’s not just about plants
Learn how nature figured out solar energy eons before man did.
Plants of the Bible
From Genesis to Revelations, there are numerous references to plants in the Bible. This is a presentation on plants that were important to the people of the Bible and are referenced in their stories.
Speaker is John Hensley
Plants that Changed the Course of History
This talk is on a subset of plants taken from Bill Laws’ book, Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of the History.
It includes plants that the speaker has identified as of special interest.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Plants, Pollen, and Allergies
Have you ever suffered from pollen allergies? This talk will take you through the plant physiology involved and how to select plants that minimize allergen occurrence and your exposure to them.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Problems Common to Perennials and Annuals
Trying to perfect your home garden to the Better Homes and Gardens ideal? It is frustrating to do all of the right things and then find insects and plant diseases challenging your best attempts. Learn about common garden pests and diseases and how to manage them using safe, sustainable tactics.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Pruning Basics
Ever wonder the best time to prune that favorite shrub? This basic primer will help you determine the right tool for the job, the type of cuts to make, and when to prune certain flowering plants to ensure lasting beauty.
Speaker is Patrick McNulty
Rain Gardening
What’s all the talk about ‘rain gardens’? The ‘Rain Gardening’ program gives an overview of the concept and outlines details for creating one in your home garden.
Speaker is Ned Siegel
Right-sizing Your Garden
Learn tips and tricks to make your garden less work and easier on your joints as you and your garden mature.
Speaker is Terry Milne
Safe, Ergonomic Gardening
Get information for easy ways to protect yourself while you are working in your garden, including general safety tips and safe ways to lift, turn, carry, operate garden tools.
Secrets to Growing Roses in St. Louis
Learn the information to successfully grow roses in the St. Louis metro area.
Speaker is John Lewis
Spring Wildflowers of Missouri
Go on a photo spring hike looking for Missouri wildflowers with advanced Master Gardener, Carol Gravens.
Ten Ways to Add Biodiversity to Your Garden
Learn specific ways to increase the biodiversity of your garden.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
The Art of Container Gardening
A step-by-step guide for creating a gorgeous container garden for your home.
Speaker is Kim Gamel
The Blooming Prairie
Using the speaker’s own photography, the program follows the succession of prairie plants from spring, summer, fall to winter.
The Fragrant Garden
Learn about adding the dimension of fragrance to your garden.
Speaker is Terry Milne
The Linnean House at Missouri Botanical Garden
Follow the history of the Linnean House from 1890 through the 2010-2011 renovation. This program is an archival photo tour, including recent photo’s of the new interior layout.
Top 10 Orchids for the Home
This talk discusses one orchid hobbyist’s favorites and how to grow them in the home, without a greenhouse or special equipment.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Understanding the Shade Environment
This presentation covers factors to consider for a successful shade garden, including degrees of shade, moisture, soil composition, and maintenance of trees.
Vertical Gardening
Expand your gardening space by incorporating vertical elements into your overall design.
Speaker is Terry Milne
Wildflowers of the High Sierra
This program is a naturalist hiker’s photo collection from exploring the High Sierras.
Speaker is Carol Gravens
Wildflowers of the Swiss Alps
Take an arm chair trek thru Switzerland to view Alpine wildflowers. Your guide is Master Gardener/Master Naturalist Carol Gravens.
Winter Damage
While you are snug in your home on a winter evening, there are several types of damage that can be happening outside in your garden.
Speaker is Betsy Alexander
Winter Preparation for Your Spring Garden
As you prepare your garden for winter, it is time to think ahead about the coming spring. This program is designed to help you determine the basic steps needed to prepare ornamentals, trees, shrubs, and overall garden for the spring.
Speaker is Jack Lane
Winter’s Natural Beauty
Take an alternate look at Missouri winter scenery. Things we take for granted as a gray, bleak season find an attractive, creative look thru the lense of Carol’s camera.
