All the pieces fell into place after Amanda Unanue bought her first two-family home in the charming Dutchtown neighborhood of South St. Louis. It was 2002, and the wisdom of her purchase was rooted in the idea that a renter could contribute to her mortgage payment while she lived there. But what happened was far more magical—an unpredictable destiny written in the stars.

“This is a gardener’s garden.” For Tom Phillips it was the ultimate compliment. Made by a visitor strolling through his landscape during the recent Frontenac Garden Tour, it provided a verbal acknowledgement of the constant harmonious interplay of plant colors and textures that line walkways and beds throughout the garden.

Spring through early summer is the season most commonly associated with blooming flowers, so designing flower beds that can flourish all year can feel like a difficult task. Luckily, Missouri has an array of native perennials that thrive in the late summer and early fall months that are relatively easy to plant and take care of and look great, too!

Sustainable Perennials  

    On September 19, join the Butterfly House for a special screening of "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly," a 56-minute narrated documentary that explores the life cycle of Monarchs. Witness every stage of this endangered butterfly's life along the shores of Cape Ann and journey thousands of miles as they migrate to the forested volcanic mountains of Mexico. 

    Following the screening, visitors will be treated to a virtual Q&A with the film's director, Kim Smith. Reservations are required for this event.

Purchased in 2017, this dated Lake Saint Louis home was in desperate need of a complete overhaul. Looking to incorporate an effortless sophistication while remaining grounded in comfort and livability, Tegethoff Homes, Link Architecture and Temple and Hentz Design

Taking inspiration from the homeowners’ visit to New Orleans, Dottie Eaton of Design Style transformed their dining room into an elegant homage to the birthplace of jazz. “My design idea was to create a space that brought those memories back to their St. Louis digs,” says Dottie. “I had seen Gwyneth Paltrow’s California dining room in Architectural Digest and used her painted wallpaper as an inspiration for the formal dining room, but made it more personal for my client.”