Annual flower and garden expo draws flower lovers, gardeners, vendors, and big interest from surrounding communities
June 17, 2025
minute read time
Flowers, and gardens, and displays, oh my!
Wedged between some serious weather issues, the second annual Plant America Garden Expo that took place May 17 at the Weldon Spring Site captured a day full of clear skies and sunshine and brought community members from the surrounding communities, flower and gardening vendors, gardening and craft experts, and Weldon Spring Site staff together to celebrate the joys of the garden.
Building on the success of last year’s event, the 2025 Garden Expo was hosted at the Weldon Spring Site in St. Charles, Missouri, in partnership with MOGreen Future, Boone Country Garden Club, the O’Fallon MO Garden Club, and Jardin du Lac Garden Club, among others.
More than 500 people spent time at the site during the five-hour event, shopping with the more than 25 vendors, attending gardening and horticultural activities, and listening to expert guest speakers. Weldon Spring Site staff members interacted with visitors and supported the event, handling everything from visitor parking to kids’ activities, as well as assisting the garden clubs with set-up and coordination.
From flower and garden shopping to kid-sized activities, attendees could also visit the food truck, walk through the natural prairie grass area, or even trek their way up the more than 90 steps to the top of the 75-foot-tall disposal cell – one of Weldon Spring Site’s most recognizable features.
Kids, kids, and more kids … the younger members of the crowd enjoyed activities and games with learning and fun in mind – from building seed balls for planting at home and creating a watering planter to rock art, a water cycle game and more. A home-made butterfly “house” added some interactive insect fun to the day.
“It’s been a great day – a lot of people coming through,” said vendor Jason Chadwell of Frisella’s Nursery. “And Weldon Spring is right in our backyard since our business is right down the road. Seems like a good turnout and a great event.”
Along with the outdoor activities, guest speakers included James Faupel of Bellefontaine Formal Landscaping who discussed the benefit and beauty of adding native plants to your current landscaping, and Jennifer “The Crazy Snake Lady” Rodriguez who showcased her live snakes and their important role in controlling rodent populations.
“Well, that wind was chilly to start off,” said Dawn Martin, an area Scentsy vendor, “but the day turned out nice. The site is a great place for an event like this.”
Martin related that her father-in-law was one of the original townspeople relocated when the ordnance factory was built. “He was excited when he found his home [site] on one of the maps inside the center,” Martin noted. “It turned out to be a very interesting day!”
A spring complement to the annual fall Pollinator Palooza event, the annual Plant America Garden Expo attracts community members from the Chesterfield and St. Charles, Missouri, communities, as well as visitors from surrounding areas.
