Renee Racette, PhD
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stl-educator.bsky.social
Renee Racette, PhD
@stl-educator.bsky.social
190 followers 180 following 210 posts
I'm here for gardening, #STL politics (and accountability), nature, science, and the like. I did not go to HS here but have been a resident since 2005. My skeets are my own.
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stl-educator.bsky.social
Large and fluffy celosia bouquet 🤩

#gardensunday
Red white and pink celosia in a large vase on a small white table Red white and pink celosia in a large vase on a small white table
November 1, 2025 at 8:40 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
My garden is still giving!

#gardensunday

Doing a harvest before cooler temps hit tonight. I don't think we will see a frost, I needed to start reaping my bounty!

The white mums and eucalyptus are @urbanbuds.bsky.social , the big rain celosia is mine 😍
White woman wearing a red shirt w red rimed glasses proudly holding an orange pie pumpkin she grew on a vertical wall. Her hair is messy but her smile is big. A large bowl holding a variety of tomatoes, large and small, red and green, on top of a red table. A flower bouquet of white mums, red celosia on a counter with wood cabinets and floor.
November 1, 2025 at 6:53 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Late planting of okra is starting to pay off! Will I get to harvest any to eat before frost comes?

This season I have successfully grown pie pumpkins! I at least 8 still growing including 2 that have become snacking stations for critters.

#gardensunday
#okra
#pumpkins
A small okra plant with 4 tiny okra pods growing. A small green pumpkin growing in a vine on a concrete parking pad. The pumpkin has been eaten by something and a patch of its insides can be seen contrasting its green exterior.
October 20, 2025 at 3:50 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Bouquet #1
All from my garden, taking a similar bunch into work tomorrow as well.

#gardensunday
A mix of black eyed susans, yellow Dahlia pi k and orange zinnia, purple verbena, and hot pink celosia, set against a dark green wall held by Renee's left hand.
September 1, 2025 at 8:48 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Second flush of yellow dinner plate dahlias coming on strong! Thanks to the advising of @urbanbuds.bsky.social on a full cut back.

#gardensunday

PS I'll be continuing to post to this hashtag and welcome other gardeners to join me in the next iteration of what @stateofstlouis.bsky.social started!
Renee, a white woman wearing a sun hat, is pictured here in her house in st louis (city) holding 6 stems of large yellow dinner plate dahlias and smiling proudly.
September 1, 2025 at 8:17 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Pictured are
1- orange creeping zinnia seen at @mobotgarden.bsky.social
2 swallowtail (?) caterpillar eating through my parsley
3 - squash loving the sun and growing vertically
4 - turtle Head in my front is starting to bloom

#gardensunday
Orange creeping zinnia Green and black striped caterpillar eating parsley Giant squash leaves and yellow squash blossoms enjoying growing in the sun Purple turtle Head against a red brick house
August 31, 2025 at 12:54 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
For 2 of them (for dinner tonight), it was a cucumber+apple salad with a balsamic + olive oil + chili oil + s&p

#gardensunday
Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, chili oil and lemon pictured near salt and pepper shakers Mandolin was used to thinly slice cucumbers and apples. They are in a green bowl on a table w blue and white checkered tablecloth.
August 26, 2025 at 1:55 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Today's haul. Harvesting only sporadically.

Pictured are about 4 cups of tomatoes in various sizes and 10+ cucumbers of different lengths, yellow and green.

#gardensunday
Pictured are about 4 cups of tomatoes in various sizes and 10+ cucumbers of different lengths, yellow and green.
August 26, 2025 at 12:38 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Scenes from @urbanbuds.bsky.social and one aerial view of my garden.

#gardensunday

❤️
Open hoop house white bars framing a colorful patch of zinnias ranging in color, orange and pink dominate Deep burgundy Dahlia Bright hot pink celosia Overhead view of backyard garden showing massive rudebekia and celosia plus a wall of tomatoes and a wall of cucumbers and green beans.
August 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Some better pics of the purple flower.
Purple flowers with lots of texture in the petals Same purple flower but more of it
August 17, 2025 at 4:48 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Last round of pics for #gardensunday

I think the white ones are aster?
Not sure about that purple one.
Small purple flowers Beautiful white flowers w yellow centers A view from inside a cabin looking out to the beautiful Northwoods of MN, a lake can be seen in the background A sunset over a lake
August 17, 2025 at 4:46 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Another round of flowers from Boundary Waters Canoe Area in MN.
Small purple buds at the end of long stems White turtle Head flowers Small clusters of white flowers at the end of a stem, looks like a firework and similar to queen Anne's lace Bright yellow mullein stalk with buds just starting to bloom
August 17, 2025 at 4:43 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
#gardensunday
Entry 8/17/25
Cucumbers that grew while I was gone plus a mix of wildflowers seen up by Ely, MN.
8 long green and 4 short & thick yellow cucumbers on a kitchen counter. White flowers w yellow centers mixed with golden rod flowers next to a trail going off to the top right of the pic Buzz button flowers Native purple flox flower
August 17, 2025 at 4:39 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Seems to allow my like to stay!
Screenshot showing a like and reply by the same person.
August 9, 2025 at 8:52 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Getting a jumpstart on #gardensunday.
Pics highlighting some of my first cucumbers and black beauty tomatoes. Flowers from St. Paul farmers market.
A group of buckets filled with multi colored flowers. Each one is huge and sells for $20. Contain gladiolus, zinnia, sunflowers and more. Buckets of flowers on a brick walk. The bouquets are Lizzieanthus of peach and white colors with zinnias to match. A bucket of giant orange zinnias is seen on the right. 2 cucumbers, both new to me Japanese variety plus a 4 black beauty tomatoes, one is less ripe and more green A close up shot of a small cucumber on the vine. White netting can be seen in the background that is helping the cucumbers grow vertically up a wood fence.
August 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
I saw a ton of swallowtails on the float I did on St. Frances river last weekend. Like, hundreds of them!
Multiple swallowtail on a bush w spiky balls.
August 3, 2025 at 7:53 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
I humbly submit my #gardensunday entry for 7/27/25
A backyard bouquet, my first big tomato of the season, unidentified purple (maybe Clematis) & pink flowers (maybe flox) found near Sam Baker State Park. Spent weekend in Fredricktown MO, floating & checking out shut ins.
@stateofstlouis.bsky.social
Bouquet of pink and orange zinnia, yellow Dahlia, purple verbena, and pink strawflower. Cherokee purple tomato w a big split from recent rain down the center. Small light purple flower seen near Sam Baker State Park Fushia flower, maybe a wild or native flox. I'm unsure.
July 27, 2025 at 3:07 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
I did an analysis in 2019, so take them w a grain of salt. I'd be so curious about 2025 figures.
A table showing different school building students ratios of slps, Rockwood, Springfield, and Kansas City.
July 5, 2025 at 11:26 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
I'll admit, tardiness on #gardensunday is something I struggle with; I'm often busy in the garden.🤷🏼‍♀️

🐰 proofing the vertical trellis 🤞🏼, flox almost to full bloom, project no grass started in earnest in front yard (first step in Lilly removal), & seeds I started for fall flowers (🌻, zinnia + others).
Green beans starting to vine up white netting that is reinforced with chicken wire at the bottom in an attempt to prevent rabbits from eating it. White flox blooming in front of a stone path lined w red bricks. A path cut through a patch of lilles, a black Prius sits on the road, parked in front of the house. A bunch of different seeds on a blue and white checkered table cloth. A bag of potting soil sits next to them.
June 30, 2025 at 12:10 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Yellow Dahlias going strong, white flox almost to bloom, and magenta bee balm doing its thing.

#gardensunday
Yellow Dahlias and a yellow sunflower in front of a brick wall. White flox buds Magenta bee balm and pink hollyhocks, zinnias, forget me nots, and other wildflowers are surrounded by mulch and a fench
June 23, 2025 at 2:01 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Dang, I missed the early call time today. I humbly submit a #gardensunday entry.

A few of my current blooms:
Birdseed sunflower blooming, pink hydrangea hasn't bloomed for like 2-3 years but this year conditions have been right, green beans starting to sprout, red gladiolus and peach hollyhocks.
Bright yellow sunflower head w line shadows across it. Bright pink hydrangeas next to a neon green hosta. Sprouts of green beans emerging Cherry red gladiolus blooming next to some peach hollyhocks.
June 23, 2025 at 1:58 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Love the swirl! These were also a rescue.
Peach lilles with purple centers, green foliage is around the flowers.
June 22, 2025 at 1:36 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Great turnout at @steveshotdogs.bsky.social on Delmar. Kudos to the team who brought this event together!

@stldanni.bsky.social

#stl
#stltornado
Blue sky juxtaposed a bunch of people having a stage and dancing.
June 18, 2025 at 1:35 AM
stl-educator.bsky.social
In honor of Mr. @stateofstlouis.bsky.social 's birthday, I humbly submit my largest bloom to date.

Happy birthday! 🥳🎂✨

#gardensunday
A blonde woman with red rimmed glasses smiles next to a giant pale yellow Dahlia. A tattoo on her bicep is slightly visible, showing pine trees.
June 15, 2025 at 9:46 PM
stl-educator.bsky.social
Progress pics of the yard, mulch down in 2 main beds, harvested ~5 cups of black raspberries, tried a new recipe for bars that was a big hit.
Dahlias beginning to bloom, overwintering in ground works!
Spent night at cabin near Annapolis MO last night. Floating on Black River today. #gardensunday
Aerial view of my backyard, seating area with rocks, border by bricks, with several beds with small plant babies and dark brown mulch. Black raspberry bars. Crumble on top, in a glass pan sitting on table with a blue and white checkered tablecloth. Yellow dinner plate Dahlias beginning to bloom. Staked up with green string and bamboo poles. View from the cabin porch overlooking a rapidly flowing creek near Annapolis MO. A Brightly colored blanket lays over my lap.
June 8, 2025 at 1:18 PM