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Power of Plants Tour Hosts the First Lady of Missouri

from left to right: Ted Spaid, Principal, SWT Design; Francis G. Slay, Mayor, City of St. Louis; Mike Swoboda, Mayor, City of Kirkwood; Gwenne Hayes-Stewart, Executive Director, Gateway Greening; Bill Ruppert, Executive Director, Hort Co-op and Gateway Greening Board Member. Photo credit: Robert Weaver, Editor, The Gateway Gardener Magazine)

St. Louis Planter Celebration

An event to celebrate the realization of the St. Louis Planter was held on Friday, June 15, 2007 at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis.

An event to celebrate the realization of the St. Louis Planter was held on Friday, June 15, 2007 at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis. City of St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay highlighted a program to recognize all of the individuals, organizations and businesses who contributed talent, in-kind services and financial support. Among those recognized:

Gateway Greening and Bill Ruppert for project inspiration and coordination.

SWT Design and Ted Spaid for project design

Cassilly and Cassilly team for creating the custom mold and crafting the planter.

Gateway Foundation for initial financial support.

Macy's for providing the inaugural corporate sponsorship for a specific St. Louis Planter at Kiener Plaza.

Landscape and Nurserymen's Association of Greater St. Louis and four member companies for designing the 2007 plant combinations and arranging for the donation of the plant material see list of member companies below).

Gateway Professional Horticulturist Association members for providing professional plant care services.

St. Louis Master Gardeners for the many volunteer hours of plant installation and care at Market Street and Tucker Blvd landscape medians.

Horstmann Brothers Landscape Services for providing professional irrigation and landscape servies for Kiener Plaza, Market Street and Tucker Blvd landscape medians.

Special thanks was expressed to Charlie Brennan, KMOX 1120AM, for leading the fund raising campaign for supporting Gateway Greening's 2007 Urban Roots projects to enhance downtown St. Louis at Kiener Plaza, Market Street and Tucker Blvd landscape medians.

Landscape and Nurserymen's Association of Greater St. Louis member companies contributing the design talent and coordination of donated plant materials for the 2007 St. Louis Planter plant combinations include:

Bowood Farms, St. Louis (Central West End), MO Designers: Ellen Barredo and Leslie Sortino

Effinger Garden Center, Belleville, IL Designer: Rick Effinger

Garden Heights Nursery, Richmond Heights, MO Designers: Steffie Littlefield and Debbie Columbo

Hillermann Nursery and Florist, Washington, MO Designer: Judy Saintignon

A complete plant list for each of the St. Louis Planter combinations can be found in a brochure available at the link located at the bottom of this page.

About the St. Louis Planter:

The creation of the St. Louis Planter is intended to enhance and complement metropolitan St. Louis public landscapes. Design criteria for creating a planter unique to St. Louis include establishing a size appropriate for landscape settings of urban scale and durability to succeed in dynamic public spaces. The planters are conducive to healthy growth for large-scale seasonal plantings. The appearance of the planters is both clean and contemporary but sensitive to the rich history and heritage of St. Louis. The design proportion of the first planter allows for the ultimate creation of a 3-size set. The first planter measures 4' diameter and 3' tall and weighs approximately 2000 pounds. A second size, measuring 6' diameter and 3' tall, is now available for larger landscape spaces.

Urban Roots is a downtown St. Louis landscape enhancement initiative led by a variety of nonprofit organizations including Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Flora Conservancy of Forest Park, Gateway Greening, Gateway Professional Horticulturist Association, Operation Brightside, St. Louis Master Gardeners and St. Louis Parks, Recreation and Forestry.