Author: Julie Rechtien

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Plan Your Visit: Chalily Is Open in Wildwood

🟢 Chalily is Open

Hours: 9am–5pm daily
Location: 18944 St. Albans Rd

More than fifteen years ago, Joe and Tonya Summers started Chalily with a love for ponds, plants and water gardening, and named it after their two kids, Chas and Lily. What started small grew one season at a time into a trusted source for aquatic plants and pond advice, both here in St. Louis and online.

This spring, Chalily took its biggest step yet.

A 5.5-acre property in Wildwood. The former Fahr Greenhouses site. A place a lot of local gardeners already know and love.

Now it’s Chalily’s turn to grow here.

Our new garden center at 18944 St. Albans Road in Wildwood, MO is officially open, and we’d love for you to come see it.

Chalily is open in Wildwood, MO with plants for the garden

Shop a wide range of annuals and perennials for the pond and garden! Plus, fountains, bird baths and ceramic bowls.

How to Find Us

Our new location is just 11 miles west of our first location on Manchester Road.

Address:
18944 St. Albans Road
Wildwood, MO 63038

Store Hours:
9am–5pm Daily

Phone Number:
636.527.2001

Rain or Shine, We’re Open

One of the best parts of the new Wildwood location? Everything is indoors.
Wander our 1950s greenhouse, browse water lilies, lotus, fountains and lots of flowers without worrying about the weather.

Lotus blooming at Chalily in Wildwood, MO
Water lily blooming at Chalily in Wildwood, MO

“Happy to see Chalily open and doing business in their new, huge space.”

— Mark J.

What You’ll Find Here

Pond Plants, Lotus & Water Gardening Favorites 

You’ll find all the great aquatic plants Chalily is known for:

  • Perennial and annual water lilies
  • Lotus
  • Floating plants
  • Shallow water plants
  • Pond supplies and treatments
  • Fountains and bird baths
  • Japanese Koi and more fish for the pond

And yes, we can install fountains, too.

Note: Our shipped plants may differ from what’s available in our Garden Center. We often have varieties in stock that are sold out online. For the most current in-store availability, please give us a call at 636.527.2001

Chalily is open in Wildwood, MO with fish for the pond

Explore our expanding fish department, with 20+ pools of pond favorites, including Japanese Koi, Goldfish and more!

More Plants Than Ever Before

For the first time, we’ve expanded beyond aquatic plants, and honestly, we’re having a lot of fun with it.

For 15+ years, Chalily focused almost entirely on water gardening. This new property finally gives us room to grow into something bigger.

You’ll find:

  • Hanging baskets
  • Annuals and perennials
  • Sun and shade plants
  • Blooming hibiscus
  • Deer-resistant plants
  • Fragrant herbs
  • New surprises every week

We’re still building, so the garden center changes fast!

Chalily is open in Wildwood, MO with plants for the garden

There’s tons to explore at the new Chalily! Open daily 9am–5pm.

Services for Local Pond Owners

Beyond plants and supplies, we offer a few services to St. Louis-area pond owners:

And if you’re looking for pond design and construction, check out the trusted local professionals we recommend →

Chalily is open in Wildwood, MO with pond supplies

Shop all the supplies you need for a happy, healthy pond this season.

What’s Coming

This is just the beginning for the new Chalily.

We’re continuing to expand the plant selection, improve the property and build out the space throughout the season. When you visit this year, you’re seeing a garden center in its very first season, and we think that makes it pretty special.

Got ideas for what we could do here? Add it to our virtual suggestion box →

We’re Hiring

Want to help build something from the ground up?

Check out open positions →

Can’t Make It In? We Ship Nationwide.

We ship plants to pond owners all across the country with free shipping on every order, no minimum required.

Aquatic plants, lotus tubers, pond supplies and seasonal favorites shipped right to your door.

Come Say Hello!

We’ve poured a lot of heart into this place, and we’re excited to share its first season with you.

18944 St. Albans Road, Wildwood, MO 63038
9am–5pm Daily
636.527.2001

Follow along on Facebook and Instagram as the season unfolds and the space continues to grow.

See you soon.

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Now Hiring: Garden Center Manager

Chalily
Garden Center Manager
Wildwood, Missouri
Full-Time, Year Round

Shape the future of a 5.5-acre destination garden center.

Chalily began more than 15 years ago with a simple focus: celebrating water in the garden.

What started as an aquatic plant and pond business has grown into a nationally recognized source for water lilies, lotus, pond plants and water-gardening expertise. Today, we serve customers in St. Louis and across the country while remaining proudly family-owned.

In April 2026, we opened our new home in Wildwood, Missouri, on the historic former Fahr Greenhouses property. The 5.5-acre site gives us the opportunity to create something we’ve dreamt of: a destination where gardeners can experience plants, water, education and nature in one place.

Our roots are in aquatic plants, but our vision is much bigger. We’re building a destination that celebrates every corner of the garden, from ponds and fountains to pollinator habitats, veggie gardens, seasonal blooms and beyond.

We’re looking for a creative Garden Center Manager who can lead our retail team and turn bright ideas into a living, growing destination.

Strong plant knowledge is required for this role, but aquatic plant experience is not.

This is a full-time, year-round position that requires weekend availability during the peak season.

The Garden Center Manager we’re looking for:

  • You want to build something new. You’ve worked in plant-focused retail, love creating displays and want people to feel like they discovered something special every time they visit.
  • You LOVE plants. Annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees and beyond, you’re genuinely excited by plant life in all its forms.
  • You think in experiences. Our 1950s greenhouse is coming back to life and we need someone who can shape that into something magical.
  • You connect with people. You’re just as comfortable helping customers as you are working with plants, and you enjoy teaching what you know.
  • You lead from the floor. You’re comfortable lifting, moving and working outdoors in all weather and you set the standard by doing the work.

In this role, you will:

  • Create a destination people talk about and bring their friends to
  • Design seasonal displays that stop people in their tracks
  • Shape a customer experience worth driving for
  • Lead day-to-day retail operations and seasonal staffing
  • Oversee inventory management and merchandising
  • Foster a culture of curiosity, hospitality and expertise

Required skills + experience:

  • Retail management experience (garden center, nursery, or similar)
  • Knowledge of terrestrial plants (annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, etc.)
  • Strong communication and people skills
  • Self-motivated, organized and calm under pressure

Work environment + physical demands:

  • Year-round indoor and outdoor work in all weather conditions, including hot summers and cold winters.
  • Greenhouse areas may exceed 100°F during warmer months.
  • Requires standing, walking, bending and reaching for extended periods.
  • Occasional lifting up to 40 lbs. (e.g., plants, boxes or display materials).
  • Frequent interaction with customers in a retail environment.

Ready to GROW SOMETHING?

We’d love to hear what you’d build here.

Send us your resume with a short note about your experience to apply.

Apply Today →

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St. Louis Events for Gardeners | June 2026

St. Louis gardening events

Your guide to events for gardeners this month in St. Louis. 

June in St. Louis is something special. The water lilies are blooming, the ponds are humming with life, and the St. Louis events calendar is full of things worth showing up for. From aquatic plant tours to native plant walks, community gardens to rainscaping workshops, there’s a lot going on for anyone who loves plants, ponds and the outdoors.

We’re especially excited about this month’s Pond-O-Rama on June 27 and 28. The St. Louis Water Garden Society’s annual pond tour is one of the best events of the year for water gardening enthusiasts, and Chalily is a featured stop on Sunday. Our new Wildwood garden center is open daily, and this is a great opportunity to see it in person, meet the team, and talk plants. More details below, but put it on the calendar now.

In the meantime, here’s everything else on our radar for June.

Sign up for our newsletter for more community events, pond tips and updates from the new Chalily garden center.

Women's gardening events St. Louis

Thursday, June 4
Spring Evening Weeding
Wildwood Farms Community Garden | 6:00 – 8:00 pm

A casual, community-focused workday dedicated to pulling spring weeds and getting the garden ready for the season ahead. A great excuse to get your hands in the dirt with your neighbors.

Register to join →

Frog Events St. Louis

Saturday, June 6
Reptiles and Amphibians of Missouri
Barr Library | 10:30 – 11:30 am

Animal experts Debbie and Steve Teson bring live Missouri reptiles and amphibians up close, displayed in aquariums that mimic their natural habitats. A fun, hands-on program best suited for ages 3–12, but let’s be honest: adults will enjoy this one too.

Reserve your spot →

Home tours St. Louis

Saturday – Sunday, June 6 – 7
Spring Home and Garden Tour 2026
Lafayette Square Park | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

One of St. Louis’s great annual traditions. This year’s tour features 11 homes and three gardens, with a Makers Market, Antique Fair, Art Fair, vintage baseball games, trolley rides and classic Packard cars from the 1940s and ’50s.

Get tickets →

Tower Grove Park Events

Tuesday, June 9
Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour
Stupp Center at Tower Grove Park | 10:00 – 11:00 pm

A guided walk along the recently daylighted East Stream in Tower Grove Park, a stormwater recovery project that incorporates large-scale rain gardens, native plantings, and elements honoring the ancestral Osage people who inhabited this land. A thoughtful, beautifully layered project worth seeing in person.

Learn more about the tour →

Floral Events St. Louis

Wednesday, June 10
Locally Sourced, Mindfully Made with Urban Buds: City Grown Flowers
Carpenter Library | 6:00 – 7:15 pm

Farmer-florist Mimo Davis of Urban Buds: City Grown Flowers leads a hands-on flower arranging workshop covering balance, texture, and technique. You’ll leave with a completed rainbow-themed arrangement and a vase to put it in. All flowers and supplies included.

Register today →

Thursday, June 11
Gateway Koi & Pond Club Member Meeting
First Unity Church

The Gateway Koi & Pond Club’s monthly members meeting. A great place to connect with fellow pond enthusiasts in the St. Louis area. Check the latest newsletter for time and agenda details.

Learn more →

Fish Events St. Louis

Friday – Sunday, June 12 – 14
American Killifish Association Convention
Holiday Inn Airport

The AKA convention is a full weekend for killifish enthusiasts, featuring five guest speakers, workshops, four field trips, a 16-class fish show, a vendor room, fish swap, fish auction and a hospitality room. Whether you’re a longtime killifish keeper or just curious, this is a well-organized event with a lot going on.

Learn more about the convention →

Cactus event St. Louis

Tuesday, June 16
Cactus Makes Perfect
Kingshighway Library | 10:30 – 11:30 am

Missouri Botanical Garden staff lead a free hands-on workshop for kids exploring what makes cacti thrive in the desert, then participants build their own cactus puppet to take home.

Sign up today →

Sunrise Events St. Louis

Wednesday, June 17
Wetland Sunrise Stroll
Shaw Nature Reserve | 6:30 – 8:30 am

An early morning 1.5-mile walk through Shaw Nature Reserve’s 32-acre wetland, including a 300-foot boardwalk with close-up views of water lilies and aquatic plants. Expect bald cypress, buttonbush, frogs, turtles, red-winged blackbirds and a genuinely beautiful start to the day.

Reserve your spot →

Aquarium Events St. Louis

Thursday, June 18
Talking Tanks: Five Aquarium Models
Jost Chemical Co. | 7:30 – 8:00 pm

The Missouri Aquarium Society’s monthly speaker series features Ben Van Dinther, owner of Watercolors Studio, presenting on his five favorite aquarium models. If you’re interested in the design and setup side of aquatics, this one’s worth attending.

Learn more →

Live music St. Louis

Friday, June 19
Music on Main Summer Concert
Wildwood Village Green | 6:45 – 9:15 pm

Live music at the new Village Green in Wildwood, right near City Hall. The Honky Tonk Heros take the stage. Bring a chair and some friends!

Learn more →

Water garden events St. Louis

Monday, June 22
Rain Gardening and Rainscaping
Missouri Botanical Garden | 5:00 – 7:00 pm

A practical evening workshop on planning and installing rainscaping features in your own yard, designed to reduce stormwater runoff while creating a garden with real multi-season appeal. Funding opportunities are also covered. A good one for anyone thinking seriously about sustainable water management at home.

Sign up to join →

Bug Events St. Louis

Thursday, June 25
Beneficial Bugs
Stupp Center at Tower Grove Park | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House leads a class on the beneficial insects you’re most likely to encounter in your garden: covering pollination, natural pest control and how to make your yard more welcoming to the bugs that are actually working in your favor.

Sign up today →

St. Louis Water Garden Society Events

Saturday – Sunday, June 27 – 28
26th Annual Pond-O-Rama
Ponds Across St. Louis | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

The St. Louis Water Garden Society’s premier annual event brings hundreds of visitors from across the country to tour some of the most beautiful water gardens in the area. Proceeds support the Society’s Lily Ponds at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. Chalily is a featured stop on Sunday, we’d love to see you!

Get your tickets →

Yoga Events St. Louis

Tuesday, June 30
Garden Yoga
Jamestown Bluffs Library | 6:30 pm

A gentle, garden-themed outdoor yoga class to close out the month. Bring a mat and dress for the weather. An indoor backup is available if the heat or rain calls for it.

Reserve your spot →

 

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St. Louis Events for Gardeners | May 2026

May 2026 Events St. Louis

Your guide to events for gardeners this month in St. Louis. 

May is the month when everything happens at once! The pond is waking up, the plants are blooming, St. Louis’s gardening community has a full calendar… and the new Chalily is officially open! Visit our new Wildwood, MO garden center! We’re here seven days a week, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at 18944 St. Albans Rd. 

Out in the St. Louis gardening community, You’ll find lots of workshops, fun volunteer opportunities and great outdoor events as the weather warms up.

Sign up for our newsletter for more community events, pond tips and updates from the new Chalily garden center.

Monarch event St. Louis

Wednesday, May 6
Growing A Pollinator Garden
Tower Grove Park | 2:00 – 3:00 pm

The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House walks you through nectar plants, host plants, and how to build a garden that supports butterflies and other pollinators at every life stage. Practical, inspiring and good for any garden size.

Reserve your spot →

Sale events for gardeners St. Louis

Saturday, May 9
Gateway Koi & Pond Club Plant Auction
Chesterfield | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm

The club’s annual members-only plant auction, with water plants, soil plants, planters, garden goodies, and a room full of people who really love their ponds. Bring donations if you have plants to spare! Check your inbox for more details in the club newsletter.

Learn more about the group →

Aquarium events St. Louis

Saturday, May 9
Missouri Aquarium Society Spring Swap
Jost Chemical Company | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Thousands of fish. Plants. Tanks. Miscellaneous Supplies. What could this mean? Time for the MASI Swap. Bring your friends, your wallet and get ready to find your next fish, plant, invertebrate or maybe a lifelong friend.

Learn more about the club →

Thursday, May 14
Gateway Koi & Pond Club Member Meeting
First Unity Church | 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Join the monthly meeting for St. Louis’s pond and koi community. Whether you’ve been keeping koi for years or you’re just getting started on a water garden, it’s one of the best rooms in St. Louis for learning and talking shop.

Learn more about the group →

Live music St. Louis

Friday, May 15
Music on Main Summer Concert
Wildwood Village Green | 6:45 – 9:15 pm

Summer kicks off right in our neighborhood! Griffin & the Gargoyles takes the stage at the new Village Green just west of City Hall. Bring a chair, bring friends and celebrate the season!

Learn more about the event →

Water Garden Society St. Louis

Saturday, May 16
Water Garden Society Member Meeting
Grace Episcopal Church | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

This month’s program digs into the invertebrates living in the pond, doing big work under the surface. If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually going on down there, you’ll enjoy this month’s presentation.

Learn more →

Cooking class St. Louis

Saturday, May 16
Spring into the Garden: Cooking with Herbs
Central Library | 1:00 – 2:00 pm

After all the work of taking care of and growing your own herbs, learn how to best use them enhance your favorite dishes! Get ready to up your garden game and your kitchen game with another excellent educational class by the St. Louis Herb Society.

Register for the class →

Iris events St. Louis

Monday, May 18
Photographing Iris Blooms
Missouri Botanical Garden | 5:00 – 7:30pm

Take advantage of evening light to photograph the iris in May bloom! Discover how to get better botanical images using wide angles and close-ups. You will learn tips on field photographing, subject selection, and how light plays a significant role in your photograph.

Sign up today →

Women's gardening events St. Louis

Friday, May 22
Volunteers Wanted: Invasive Species Removal
Laumeier Sculpture Park | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Laumeier is famous for its sculpture collection, but tucked behind it are native oak woodlands over 100 years old — and they need some help. Join St. Louis County Parks and the Open Space Council to pull invasive bush honeysuckle and give those oaks a fighting chance.

Register to volunteer →

Tomato event St. Louis

Saturday, May 23
From Garden to Table: Tomato Transplant Class
Central Library | 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Part one of a three-part series that takes you from seed to plate. In this class, you’ll plant basil seeds and transplant tomato seedlings into pots to take home. All materials provided, registration required.

Reserve your spot →

Climatron event St. Louis

Tuesday, May 26
Climatron Tour
Missouri Botanical Garden | 5:00 – 6:30 pm

View ancient plants, living history, and the kind of humidity that feels like a vacation at Missouri Botanical Garden’s Climatron. Great for anyone who loves plants and wants to go a little deeper than a self-guided stroll.

Secure your spot on the tour →

Sunday, May 31
Beginner Bird Walk
Tower Grove Park | 8:30 – 10:00 am

Enjoy a guided walk from the St. Louis Audubon Society covering basic bird ID and wildlife-spotting tips. Meet at the entrance to the Robert & Martha Gaddy Bird Garden on the west end of the park. Binoculars provided if you need them.

Sign up for the free walk →

 

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Storm Damages Chalily Greenhouses, But Our Garden Center is Open in Wildwood!

Chalily storm recovery

🟢 Chalily is Open

Hours: 9am–5pm daily
Location: 18944 St. Albans Rd
Status: Roof is repaired, plants are healthy and available

The night after our opening announcement, a storm hit. Here’s where things stand.

On April 17th, we sent a newsletter to our customers with news we’d been working toward for a long time: yes, we’re open.

That same night, Mother Nature had other plans.

60-mile-per-hour winds tore sections of the poly roof from our structures, leaving parts of our space exposed, shelves in disarray and products damaged.

It’s not something you expect to wake up to, especially in the middle of such an important season for us. But by early morning, we were out there, assessing the damage and getting to work.

“The good news: the plants made it through far better than we could have hoped.”

— Lily Summers, Chalily

Despite the storm damages Chalily sustained, the majority of our inventory is healthy, intact and continuing to grow.

Right now, our focus is simple: take care of the plants and keep moving forward!

Chalily is open.

When you visit, you’ll see a space that’s still in progress. Some areas are a little messy, some structures are temporarily patched and a lot is happening behind the scenes. But you’ll also see what matters most to us: plants that are alive and well, healthy Japanese Koi still swimming in circles, and a team committed to building something meaningful here.

Storm damage Chalily

Our online store and nationwide shipping are unaffected.

Orders are processing normally. Shop stg-chalilycom-staging.kinsta.cloud with free shipping on every order.

More than a greenhouse.

For the last 15 years, Chalily has been known for aquatic plants, water lilies, lotus and everything that brings a pond to life. This new location is our chance to grow beyond that. We’re expanding our selection, adding new types of plants and creating a garden center that goes beyond the pond.

This is the first phase of that vision. We’re just getting started, and what you see today is only a small part of what we’re working toward. There’s a lot more to come, and we’re building it step by step.

👉 Have ideas for the new space? Add to our virtual suggestion box!

Storm damages Chalily

A place with history.

We’re honored to be continuing the legacy of the former Fahr Greenhouses, a family-owned business that served this community for decades. Our goal is to carry that forward in a way that feels both familiar and new. Stepping into that legacy is something we take seriously, and moments like this are part of the reality of building something new.

The storm doesn’t change where we’re headed. If anything, it’s part of the story of building something new.

We’re incredibly grateful for the messages, support and patience we’ve received over the past 24 hours. It’s meant more than we can say.

We also couldn’t have gotten through it without our neighbors. Jodi and Ben from across the street and Valerie from up the hill were there when it counted. Pat Belrose, whose family’s legacy lives in this very space, took on the monumental task of repairing the gutters.

And the Fahr family showed up in the most generous way, making lunch for the crew. Larry brought his expertise to the gutter repair alongside Pat. The fact that the family who built this place came back to help us rebuild it. That’s not something we take lightly! We are so appreciative of their support.

If you’ve been thinking about stopping by, we’d love to see you. Supporting small businesses during moments like this makes a real difference, and we’re here, working and ready to welcome you in.

Come see the progress. Come see what’s growing. Become a part of what we’re building here.

🐸 If you’ve shopped with us before, leaving a Google review goes a long way. And if you want to spread the word, sharing our posts on Facebook or Instagram helps more than you might think.

About Chalily

Chalily is a 15-year-old family-owned pond and garden plant business, rooted in aquatic plants and expanding into a full retail garden center in Wildwood, Missouri.

Now open daily 9am–5pm at 18944 St. Albans Rd.

Press Contact: Julie Rechtien, Marketing Manager · jrechtien@chalily.com

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St. Louis Events for Gardeners | April 2026

March events for gardeners St. Louis

Your guide to events for gardeners this month in St. Louis. 

April is here, and so are we! We’re still putting the finishing touches on things, but you can visit our new Wildwood, MO garden center! We’re here seven days a week, 9 am to 5 pm. Call us at 636.527.2001 to make sure we have what you’re looking for. (We are closed Easter Sunday, April 5.)

The rest of St. Louis is gearing up for the season, too! From plant sales and pond club meetings to volunteer days and guided hikes, here’s your guide to St. Louis garden events in April 2026.

Sale events for gardeners St. Louis

Friday, April 4
Spring Seedling Sale
Seed St. Louis Carriage House | 9:00 – 11:00 am

Seed St. Louis has conducted years of variety trials in St. Louis conditions, so you don’t have to guess what will actually grow here! Their spring seedling sale features the winners, plus new additions and old favorites. Shop seedlings, seed packets, cover crops and Seed St. Louis’ signature Gettin’ Dirty tees. Go early, some varieties sell out fast!

Learn more about the sale →

Thursday, April 9
Gateway Koi & Pond Club Member Meeting
First Unity Church | 7:00 pm

The monthly gathering for St. Louis’s pond and koi community. Whether you’re deep into water chemistry or just starting out, it’s one of the best places in the area to learn, swap ideas and talk shop with people who get it.

Learn more about the group →

 

Stream event St. Louis

Friday, April 10
Sips, Souls, and Strolls: Sundials and Streams
Bellefontaine Cemetery | 5:30 – 7:30 pm

An after-hours cocktail stroll through the Valley, featuring three sundials, a meandering stream and some of the most striking monuments on the grounds. Beer, wine and light bites included. Gates close at 5:40 sharp, space is limited, and this one will sell out! Register before you forget.

Register today →

Volunteer gardening events St. Louis

Saturday, April 11
Wildwood Community Garden Season Prep
Wildwood Family Community Garden | 9:00 – 11:00 am

If you’ve ever wanted to get your hands dirty for a good cause, here’s a great event for gardeners! Help clear winter debris and get the community garden in our new neck of the woods ready for the season. Bring a wheelbarrow, shovel, pitchfork, or rake… and maybe a friend!

Learn more →

Aquarium events St. Louis

Thursday, April 16
Talking Tanks Speaker Series
Jost Chemical Company | 7:30 pm

Biologist Ingo Schlupp travels the world studying livebearing fish, and this month he’s bringing that research to MASI. If you’ve got an aquarium side to your water hobby, this is a rare chance to hear from someone who has spent a career in the field.

Learn more about the group →

Water Garden Society St. Louis

Saturday, April 18
Water Garden Society Member Meeting
Grace Episcopal Church | 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

This month’s meeting of St. Louis’s water garden club skips the slideshow and gets straight to work, potting donated plants and making signage for the Society’s Annual Plant Sale on April 25th.

Learn more about the meeting →

Herb and Garden events in St. Louis

Friday, April 24
The St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale
Missouri Botanical Garden | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Over 7,200 plants, 150+ herb and native pollinator varieties, and Society members on hand to answer every question you didn’t know you had. The sale is held under a large tent in the west parking lot in front of the new Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center. Missouri Botanical Garden members get early access on Thursday evening, worth keeping in mind!

Learn more about the sale →

Frog walk events

Friday, April 24
Amphibian Chorus Along Brush Creek Hike
Shaw Nature Reserve | 10:00 – 11:30 am

Spring peepers, cricket frogs, tree frogs… Brush Creek is loud this time of year, and that’s the point. This 2-mile guided hike follows the trail and visits the vernal pools in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden, with a naturalist on hand to explain what you’re hearing and why it matters. A genuinely fun one for anyone who loves water and wildlife.

Register today →

Sapling event St. Louis

Friday, April 24
Arbor Day Tree Sapling Giveaway
Wildwood City Hall | 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

The City of Wildwood marks Arbor Day the right way, by giving residents a tree! Stop by City Hall on Friday to pick up your free sapling (one per person, while supplies last). This year’s options include Shumard Oak, White Fringetree, Bald Cypress, and Blackgum. Wildwood has earned Tree City USA recognition 16 years running, which feels about right for our new neighborhood.

Learn more about the giveaway →

Water garden events for gardeners St. Louis

Saturday, April 25
Water Garden Society Annual Plant Sale
Grace Episcopal Church, Kirkwood | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Plants, pots, water garden décor, and the kind of crowd that knows and loves water lilies as much as we do! The Water Garden Society’s annual sale is free to attend, with proceeds supporting club events, the pond tour, and the Society’s ongoing care of the waterlily ponds at the Jewel Box in Forest Park. Worth the trip.

Learn more about the annual event →

Tulip event St. Louis

Thursday, April 30
Plant it Forward
Tower Grove Park | 9:00 – 11:00 am

Tower Grove’s bi-annual volunteer day puts community members to work in the display beds: digging tulips, clearing debris, and planting for the summer season. You’ll learn what’s growing, how to tend it, and leave with plants of your own. Location within the park TBD; check their site closer to the date.

Save your spot →

If you’re thinking of your spring water garden or planning a pond project in St. Louis this season, sign up for our newsletter for more community events, pond tips and updates from our new Wildwood, MO garden center.

Subscribe to Chalily's newsletter

 

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Amaryllis or Hippeastrum? The Surprising Story Behind Your Christmas Flower Bulbs

Amaryllis vs hippeastrum

Is that really an Amaryllis on your windowsill?

Every winter, Amaryllis bulbs fill windowsills and tabletops with color. Popular varieties such as Red Lion Amaryllis and Apple Blossom Amaryllis make perfect Christmas flowers, bringing bold red or soft pink blooms that open just in time for the holidays.

But here’s something most people don’t realize: the Christmas flower bulb you buy as “Amaryllis” isn’t technically Amaryllis at all.

The Original Sparkle

The name Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, meaning “to sparkle.” It first appeared over 2,000 years ago in the poems of the Roman writer Virgil. In his Eclogues, Amaryllis was a shepherdess admired for her beauty.

When European botanists named a striking pink flower from South Africa, they borrowed her name.

It seemed fitting.

And when early explorers discovered similar flowering bulbs in South America, they classified them as Amaryllis, too.

Amaryllis belladonna, the South African flower

Hippeastrum, aka Amaryllis from South America

Image credits: Amaryllis belladonna by Stan Shebs — CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons · Hippeastrum by Anders Lagerås — CC BY-SA 3.0

A New Star Appears

The more botanists compared the two, the more differences they noticed: different stems, different climates, different bloom times. Clearly, they weren’t meant to share the same name.

In 1837, English botanist Reverend William Herbert decided to set the record straight.

He created a new name for the South American group: Hippeastrum, which combines two Greek words: hippeus, meaning “horseman” or “knight,” and astron, meaning “star.”

Put together, it means “knight’s star,” possibly inspired by the star-like shape of the flowers

From then on, Amaryllis referred to the South African group, while Hippeastrum described the tropical American one, the same group that includes today’s popular Red Lion Amaryllis plants.

Red amaryllis in a pot

Bright blooms love a sunny spot

Apple blossom amaryllis

Red and white amaryllis

Striped, candy-cane blooms are perfect for the holidays

Image credits: Bright blooms by Dwight Sipler from Stow, MA, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Apple Blossom by Acabashi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Striped amaryllis by Valentin Hintikka — CC BY-SA 2.0.

Which One Is on Your Table?

The botanists may have renamed it, but gardeners didn’t.

Almost every “Amaryllis” sold during the holidays is actually a Hippeastrum, native to South America, not South Africa. But don’t worry, you don’t need to start calling it something new.

The common name “Amaryllis” became so beloved that it stayed, even after the scientists settled the debate.

So, when your next Amaryllis begins to bloom this winter, you’ll know the secret. You’re really growing a knight’s star: a flower with two names and one sparkling history.

Amaryllis bulb vase
Chalily bulb vases make a great gift

Chalily amaryllis vase kits
Ships free and fast from Chalily!

Grow Your Own this Winter ✨

Now that you know the secret history behind these holiday blooms, bring one home to brighten your season.

Shop our most reliable Christmas flower bulbs shipped fast and free! Get a three-bulb bundle, let us pot it for you or add a Chalily Glass Bulb Vase for easy, soil-free blooms in 6–8 weeks. Shop the full Amaryllis collection now →

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From Fahr Greenhouses to Chalily: Growing a New Chapter in Wildwood, Missouri

Fahr Greenhouse entrance in Wildwood, Missouri

The Legacy That Grew Here

For more than 70 years, our new property (now open 9am–5pm daily!) was home to Fahr Greenhouses, a family-run flower farm and garden center that helped Wildwood, Missouri bloom season after season.

A Family of Growers

The story begins with Leonard and Dorothy Fahr, German immigrants who settled in Des Peres, Missouri, an area once known for its many florists and greenhouses.

There, Leonard worked in the floral industry and dreamed of running his own business. In 1950, he purchased the St. Albans Road property where the family put down roots.

Here, they raised four children — Mary, Carin, Linda and Larry — and added a few chickens and cows to the family too. They lived and worked side by side, growing chrysanthemums, carnations, calla lilies, mums and more. Their blooms were sold on consignment along St. Louis’s famed Florists’ Row on LaSalle Street.

Dorothy and Leonard Fahr

Leonard and Dorothy Fahr

The Fahr children growing up at Fahr Greenhouses

The Fahr children (and cows!)

Leonard and Dorothy with the catch of the day

Leonard, Dorothy & the catch of the day

St. Louis’ Famous Florists’ Row

Florists’ Row is a historic section of LaSalle Street along the southern edge of downtown St. Louis, known since the 1920s as the city’s wholesale flower district.

The Fahrs’ flowers were part of that tradition, with their Wildwood-grown blooms finding their way into homes and celebrations throughout St. Louis and beyond.

The Woman Who Led the Way

When Leonard passed away in 1967 at age 57, Dorothy kept things running. It was a time when few women managed operations on their own, but she did. It was also a time when many companies simply wouldn’t sell supplies to women, and when no one else would sell her seeds, Ball Seed did and made it possible for the business to continue growing.

Through it all, Dorothy balanced ledgers, tended plants and showed that persistence could grow anything, even in tough seasons. Her determination shaped four generations and quietly expanded what her community believed women could do or even wear. Dorothy was the first woman in town to wear pants.

Dorothy and her cut flowers

Dorothy and her cut flowers

Mary and her mother Dorothy inside the greenhouse

Mary and her mother, Dorothy
Dorothy Fahr aboard her tractor

A New Generation Takes Root

Mary Fahr grew up watching her mother’s example. She went on to study horticulture at the University of Missouri, one of only two women in a class of nearly 200, where she met Pat Bellrose, a fellow student who shared her passion for plants and became her partner in both work and life.

Pat and Mary on their wedding day

Pat and Mary on their wedding day

Mary and Pat married and joined Dorothy in running Fahr Greenhouses, guiding the family business through new seasons of change.

When imported cut flowers began flooding the U.S. market in the 1970s, they adapted, shifting their focus to wholesale growing and houseplants. Later, they expanded again, opening a retail garden center that became a favorite stop for local gardeners and landscapers from spring through the holiday season, when they welcomed thousands (and thousands, and thousands!) of poinsettias, filling the homes and businesses with holiday spirit and bright blooms.

The Bellrose family during poinsettia season

The Bellrose family during poinsettia season

Bellrose family in the greenhouse surrounded by poinsettias

The Bellrose family in 2023

Innovation and Sustainability

Pat became known for his early commitment to sustainable growing practices, improving soil health with compost, reducing fertilizer and eliminating peat-based materials. His woodchip boiler helped cut energy use and made the greenhouses more efficient.

His forward-thinking ideas have been featured in horticultural publications, and his expertise continues to guide and inspire other growers.

A Beloved Local Landmark

Over the years, Fahr Greenhouses became more than a business. It was a landmark, a trusted name and a place people loved to visit. The greenhouse hosted events, workshops and seasonal festivals and grew thousands of varieties of flowers for gardeners and landscapers.

👉 Fun Fact: Dorothy’s mixed pot plantings became a local favorite. Pat credits her as one of the first to introduce these creative combinations.

The Fahr Greenhouses entrance sign with an American flag

The Fahr Greenhouse entrance

In 2019, the family’s decades of dedication were honored when Pat and Mary Bellrose were named St. Louis County’s Farm Family of the Year in recognition of their impact on Missouri agriculture and the many lives their work touched.

From One Family to Another

Fahr Greenhouses closed its doors in 2022, but its spirit hasn’t faded. We’re grateful to count Mary and Pat among our friends (and team members!) today.

Like Fahr Greenhouse, Chalily is a family business guided by curiosity, care and community. As we begin our next chapter here in Wildwood, we’re honored to build on their legacy, one rooted in honesty, hard work and the belief that when people and plants thrive together, great things grow. 🌱

Chalily’s new Wildwood location at the former home of Fahr Greenhouses is now open! Shop daily 9am–5pm at 18944 St. Albans Rd.
Our online store is also open with free shipping on every order. Shop now →