U City in Bloom

U City in Bloom U City in Bloom's mission is to enhance University City through artfully designed public gardens, com

Beautiful well-maintained public spaces provide a positive environment, appreciation for nature, and an opportunity to cultivate pride in our community. To these ends, U City in Bloom designs, plants, and maintains approximately 125 public gardens, from significant landscapes around major civic buildings to small pocket parks in neighborhoods, and over 75 large street planters throughout Universit

y City, Missouri. U City in Bloom was founded in 1985 by three visionary citizens who planted several hundred spring bulbs along a city road. From this small seed, it has grown from a volunteer organization to a 501(c) 3 nonprofit guided by a board of directors and executive director. It employs a full-time horticulturist who supervises a staff of gardening experts assisted by a loyal band of volunteers. In addition to maintaining our gardens, U City in Bloom hosts a biennial Garden Tour, an annual Plein Air art competition, a Spring Plant Sale, and helps organize and benefits from the annual University City Memorial Day Run. U City in Bloom works closely with the City of University City and is committed to environmental education in partnership with our public schools. U City in Bloom’s gardens are located throughout University City…in the Civic Plaza, the Delmar Loop, at our public schools, in parks, along major streets and in the quiet neighborhoods all over our municipality.

Evidently, our horticulturalist, Jesse Gilbertson, just can’t help himself. A few years ago, the University Park Subdiv...
05/30/2026

Evidently, our horticulturalist, Jesse Gilbertson, just can’t help himself. A few years ago, the University Park Subdivision offered U City in Bloom their under-used neighborhood garage for storage of tools and equipment. It sits on the bank of the River des Peres east of the bridge on Pennsylvania near the Dog Park. Uphill from it was a scruffy vacant lot where a derelict house was removed years ago. The 2022 flood didn’t improve its appearance either. It was not an attractive location. But look at it now – beautifully laid out beds of shrubs and small trees, mulched paths, an inviting bench under the mature trees, a rustic fence, an improved driveway, and so forth. What was once an eyesore is now an attractive landscape. Thanks, Jesse!

Almost 1,600 registered for the 52nd University City Memorial Day Run, and perfect weather brought most of them to the s...
05/26/2026

Almost 1,600 registered for the 52nd University City Memorial Day Run, and perfect weather brought most of them to the start line early Monday morning. They came in patriotic dress, in tutus, and dressed as a hotdog and ketchup, with many wearing their new race t-shirts designed, as always, by 501creative. With the help of our generous sponsors, this fundraiser for U City in Bloom, the Green Center, and the Library was a financial success as well. We couldn’t have done it without the help of a hundred volunteers, board members, and the City’s Police, Fire, Public Works, and Parks Departments, who keep our runners safe while on the course. After the presentation of the flag by UCHS’s MCJROTC, led by Lt. Col. Jackson, Mayor Terry Crow gave the signal for the 10K race to begin with a blast of the Fire Department’s newly acquired antique firetruck’s siren. And they were off! The race is a fun and beloved U City tradition for over half a century. And it’s a USA Track & Field certified course, great for serious runners as well as recreational ones. We were informed that Jen Daugherty and Ray Mohrmann both set single age records in the 10k and Darren Washington set a single age 52 record in the 5K. See you next year!

05/20/2026

Only one week left! Your participation helps support the University City Public Library, The Green Center, and U City in Bloom! Reserve your spot or volunteer today: https://www.ucitymemorialdayrun.org/

The Mannequins Project, which began 17 years ago as “Mannequins in the Loop,” has expanded its range beyond the Delmar L...
05/20/2026

The Mannequins Project, which began 17 years ago as “Mannequins in the Loop,” has expanded its range beyond the Delmar Loop to many other locations throughout University City. Three of the Mannequins are linked to U City in Bloom. Participate in their Scavenger Hunt and one lucky winner will receive $500 in gift cards to participating businesses. Take a selfie with all 25 mannequins and email to [email protected] Check out their website for a map of locations: www.mannequinsproject.com

What a beautiful weekend we had between the storms on Friday morning and today. U City in Bloom’s evening “Party with th...
04/27/2026

What a beautiful weekend we had between the storms on Friday morning and today. U City in Bloom’s evening “Party with the Plants” preview event was lively and well attended, and when the doors opened for the public Plant Sale Saturday morning, people steamed into the Community Center, grabbed boxes, and filled them up with pots. Bees buzzed around, in the shape of Brittany Woods Middle School and UCHS students They cheerfully helped out by holding plants while customers shopped for more, then carried their laden containers out to their cars. The Brittany pop-up shop offered delicious student-made jams, syrups, fresh basil, honey, of course, and other botanical products from their gardens. We thank Anne Cummings, the middle school Sustainability teacher, for bringing this energetic and helpful crew. We also thank YOU for coming and supporting UCB, and our wonderful volunteers and staff for this culmination of months of work. Linda Fried and Dalene Tiers did their usual bang-up job of supervising potting up the perennial plants for sale in the weeks preceding the event. We couldn’t have done it without U City Parks’ Mike Warmbold and his workers, who moved hundreds of heavy plants from the Vernon Nursery to the Community Center and Lynda Euell-Taylor, who arranged to have scores of tables set up for our use. Thank you to the City of University City for allowing us the use their facilities and workers – we couldn’t have done it without them. All funds raised for this successful sale will be used to further U City in Bloom’s mission and continue our work in the community. Thank you all!

The U City in Bloom Plant Sale is here! Volunteers and staff moved thousands of perennials, annuals, native plants, veg...
04/23/2026

The U City in Bloom Plant Sale is here! Volunteers and staff moved thousands of perennials, annuals, native plants, vegetables, herbs, hosta, iris, and daylilies into the Heman Park Community Center (975 Pennsylvania) on Thursday. Work will continue Friday morning for the opening of our “Party with the Plants” preview event from 5 – 7 PM on April 24 ($25 admission donation at the door). On Saturday, April 24, 9 AM – 2 PM, and Sunday, April 25, 11 AM – 1 PM, the sale is free and open to the public. There is an amazing array of beautiful additions to your garden, specially selected to thrive in our often challenging climate here in St. Louis. See you there!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PLANT SALE WEEKEND. U City in Bloom’s annual Spring Plant Sale is next weekend, April 24 – 26, an...
04/16/2026

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PLANT SALE WEEKEND. U City in Bloom’s annual Spring Plant Sale is next weekend, April 24 – 26, and we could use YOUR help to make it a success. Thousands of plants have been potted and readied for sale, and masses of beautiful annuals will be delivered the day before the sale. We need people on Thursday, April 23, from 9 AM until early afternoon, to cover tables, receive the plants as they arrive, arrange them on the tables, label them, and get sale items ready. Friday, April 24, from 9 AM – noon, volunteers will complete work not finished on Thursday. Late Friday afternoon, from 4:30 – 7 PM, volunteers will work at our Preview Party to help with sales and direct guests. Saturday, April 25, and Sunday April 26, we need help during the Plant Sale hours. If you are interested, click this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EA9A623A7F5C52-62974504-ucity #/. It will take you to UCB’s “Sign Up Genius” page to view more information and register for one or more of the slots. If you have already received an email from us on Sign Up Genius and have put off sending it in, please do so today! PLEASE also share this post on your page and send this information to your friend groups. All activities take place at the Heman Park Community Center, 975 Pennsylvania. Join us! It's fun!

Forest Park’s Kennedy Forest is filled with wildflowers right now. Most of the bluebells are past, but there are fields...
04/12/2026

Forest Park’s Kennedy Forest is filled with wildflowers right now. Most of the bluebells are past, but there are fields of blue and purple wild phlox, meadows of golden Alexander, wild geraniums, celandine poppies, and a bumper crop of gleaming white mayflower blooms hiding beneath the broad umbrellas of their leaves. All of the above mentioned native plants can be found at U City in Bloom’s Spring Plant Sale April 24 – 26. More sunlight reached the forest this spring after the tornado hit it hard last May. The pine forest that stood on a hill has more stumps than trees, but nearby the open area has been planted with an assortment of native flowers marked by colorful flags and a description of what may be in bloom next spring. The restoration of our beloved Park continues.

PLANTS NEEDED! It’s been very busy at the Vernon Nursery as volunteers prepare donated perennial plants for the April 2...
04/06/2026

PLANTS NEEDED! It’s been very busy at the Vernon Nursery as volunteers prepare donated perennial plants for the April 24-26 U City in Bloom Plant sale. But we are running out of plants to pot up! If you are planning to dig some up to share, please do. We have plenty of Solomon’s seal and hellebores, but we love to have donations of the following: acanthus spinosus, bear's breeches; achillea , yarrow; maidenhair fern; amsonia; native columbine; milkweeds; astilbes; poppy mallow; canna; plumbago; turtleheads; hosta EXCEPT lancifolia; coreopsis(s); shooting star; coneflower(s); heuchera(s); shrubby St. John's wort; blackberry lily irises - with photos or description of flowers; bleeding heart; Shasta daisy; liatris(s); blue cardinal flower; trumpet honeysuckle; creeping Jenny; ferns ; mazus reptans; mint; monardas ; pachysandras ; beard tongue; phlox(s); may apple; Jacob’s ladder; lungwort; mountain mints; Mexican hat; cornflowers; golden current; black-eyed Susan; bloodroot; downy skullcap; stonecrop; blue-eyed grass; lamb’s ears; betony; celandine poppy; New-England aster; comfrey; lilacs; spiderwort; toad lily; bellwort; viburnums; zizia.

Please share this post with your friends. If you need help in digging your plants, or want to join our volunteer crew, contact Linda Fried at [email protected]. Thanks!!

On Arbor Day, April 3, a group from U City in Bloom, the University City Forestry Department and Forestry Commission, th...
04/03/2026

On Arbor Day, April 3, a group from U City in Bloom, the University City Forestry Department and Forestry Commission, the Green Center, students in UCHS’s Eco-Act group led by teacher Matt Tuths, and Mayor Terry Crow, met on Wilson Avenue next to the River des Peres. They were there to plant nine young trees along the bank, where houses were removed after years of flooding. Trees will beautify the area as well as help control future flooding as their roots develop underground and slow down and soak up excess rain running into the river. U City in Bloom’s horticulturalist, Jesse Gilbertson, demonstrated proper techniques, including finding the “flare” of the trunk to place above ground when planting, how to remove girdling roots that may grow around the new tree’s root system, and how to fill in the soil and mulch correctly around the tree afterwards. Celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree. Look into the many native trees you might add to your own landscape. Plant one, or more, for future generations.

Address

U City In Bloom, Box P. O. Box 50283
St. Louis, MO
63105

Telephone

+13147258243

Website

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