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Autumn and Thanksgiving decoration Pumpkins and Mums
Despite recent record-breaking temperatures in St. Louis that mandated additional waterings in the wee hours of the morning, as well as early afternoon closing times, local greenhouses and garden centers are ready to welcome fall with a fresh crop of mums for planting, porch decor, or as gifts for friends and neighbors.
“As avid gardeners, we know our customers aren’t just planting mums, they’re decorating their homes and gardens,” says Sandy Richter, owner of Sandy’s Back Porch Gardens in Belleville, Ill. “From start to finish, we keep a watchful eye on their progress. Summer heat can really turn up some problems and if we see anything going wrong, we quickly jump on it.”
Here’s a list of some growers and garden centers that battled the late summer heat to make sure that they were prepared to offer mums fit for fall foliage bragging rights.
Metro East
“This year we have more than 60 varieties because there are so many beautiful shades of fall,” says Richter, who's been growing mums for 18 years. “Doing so gives customers many choices and ways to complete their fall displays, however large or small that may be.” At Sandy's, look for mums in various pot sizes and styles, window boxes, and hanging baskets.
North County/St. Charles
“We grow more than 8,000 mums in several varieties and different colors,” says Fran Thies, noting that her mums average 15 to 18 inches across the head. “We do supply a handful of local shops, but the majority of these are only found at our two locations: 4215 North Hanley Road in St. Louis County and our newest location at 3200 Greens Bottom Road in St. Charles County. They’re available in three sizes and will be at peak bloom beginning mid-September through October.”
Central West End
“We have a wonderful selection of mums right now. We focus on mid-season blooming varieties so our mums are loaded with buds and will begin to start blooming in the next few weeks,” says owner Lizzy Rickard. Bowood offers three different sizes as well as tri-color mums, which include a combined three colors into one pot. Adds Rickard: "To complement the mums, we have a nice selection of pansies, celosia, and other fall favorites in stock.”
South County
Fendler Nursery & Garden Center
“Our inventory is locally grown with over 20 colors loaded with buds and multiple sizes from which to choose. The jumbo size comes in single and mixed colors,” says owner Larry Fendler. According to Fendler, the best time to buy mums is when the buds are just beginning to crack with color. This ensures that they’ll last long into the season. "Our peak inventory is between now and October 1,” he says.
Webster Groves
The mums at Rolling Ridge are all locally grown for the Webster Groves nursery, which offers 4.5-inch pots and 9-inch pots with a few larger sizes available. The selection currently showcases tight buds that will make for long-lasting fall displays of color. Peak will depend on temperatures, with most mums showing their best blooms in a couple of weeks.
Wildwood
Passiglia Nursery and Garden Center
“We just unloaded our first shipment of mums and fall flowers, and they are beautiful,” manager Julie Straatmann said shortly after Labor Day. "The nursery will be loaded with many colors and sizes, including Monster Mums. They are huge again this year.”
Kirkwood
Sugar Creek is known for its locally grown plants and carefully curated selection that also offers a variety of fall annuals and decor. As for its mums, the flowers began arriving in late August.
West County and South County
Mums are one of the specialties here with two locations that open seasonally and kick off fall hours with a selection of perennial Belgian mums and other veggies and flowers that flourish in cooler temperatures. The website offers a great primer for beginners on how to care for their new fall flowers.
West County
Cost-conscious plant lovers can often find deals when they stock up on multiple mums at Sherwood’s. The garden center regularly refreshes its inventory and posts updates to its social media channels with information about upcoming sales.
Richmond Heights
Mums are available in a variety of colors and sizes alongside other fall favorites, including asters and ornamental kale and peppers. Owner Jack Cusumano says his plants are locally grown and zoned for Missouri, which lends itself to longevity.
“Between the abundance of mums and rich-jewel toned plants and the pumpkins and gourds, there is a fall photo op everywhere you look,” says store manager Denise DeGhelder. “We pride ourselves in having a large supply of mums in stock, at all times, and as late into the season as availability allows. Everything from small 4-inch ones that tuck into fall arrangements to giant ones."
