Handmade ceramics are unique functional pieces that double as art. Perhaps nobody knows this better than Molly Svoboda of Boda Clay, who has been making ceramics since the age of fifteen. “My first experience with clay was some open studio time with one of my best friends in high school,” recalls Svoboda.

Fashion-forward homeowner Sharlene wanted to create a home that felt like her in every single detail, so she commissioned a custom house within Castle Rock subdivision in St. Paul, MO. “I wanted a space that truly reflected my personality, lifestyle and values. I didn’t want to compromise,” she recalls. “Building a custom home allowed me to prioritize quality, function and longevity in ways a pre-built home just couldn’t offer.”

    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.