MU Extension in St. Charles County

Those tall plants with delicate white flowers popping up along roadsides and field edges may look harmless. They are not. Poison hemlock is a toxic plants in Missouri and every part of it is poisonous, whether green or dried. This plant spreads aggressively, with a single plant producing up to 38,000 seeds.

How to identify poison hemlock:
• Height: Can reach 6 feet or taller
• Stems: Smooth, hollow, hairless with distinctive purple blotches or streaks
• Leaves: Fern-like, finely divided, with a strong unpleasant odor when crushed
• Flowers: Small white flowers in umbrella-shaped clusters
• Growth cycle: Low rosette the first year, tall flowering plant the second year
• Poison hemlock is often confused with Queen Anne’s lace, but that plant is shorter, hairy and not toxic

How to get rid of it safely:
• Hand removal: Only for small infestations and with full protective clothing
• Mowing or tillage: Can help reduce spread
• Herbicides: Most effective in the early rosette stage before flowering

Safety tips:
• Wear gloves, long sleeves and eye protection when handling
• Avoid inhaling plant material during removal
• Never burn poison hemlock — inhalation can be dangerous
• If unsure, do not touch the plant

Get more info: https://brnw.ch/21x3mqp

Consult the W**d ID Guide for additonal photo of Poison Hemlock and Queen Anne's Lace: https://brnw.ch/21x3mqq

Want to stay independent, active, and confident as you age?

Join the next online session of Stay Strong, Stay Healthy — Level 2, starting June 22 at 3 p.m. This course builds on the progress you made in Level 1, helping you continue to build muscle, strengthen bone density and feel more confident in everyday movements, all guided by MU Extension specialists from the comfort of your home.

Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays, June 22–August 12, from 3 – 4 p.m.

Keep moving forward this summer with a practical, supportive program that delivers real results.

Register and learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x3iHL

I'm looking forward to this concert, hosting a Christmas Card signing opportunity, and spending time with Weldon Spring people!

Join us Wednesday, June 17th at 6 PM for Live Music by Decades Apart! They play crowd-pleasing tunes from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, delivering a fun, high-energy mix that’s perfect for a summer evening.

During the concert, we will be collecting donations for The Care Service at Sts. Joachim & Ann Food Pantry. A donation bin will be available near the Red Barn, and all donations are greatly appreciated.

Concession food will be available while supplies last, and Kona Ice will be on site. Feel free to bring your own food or pack a picnic (please no glass containers).

MU Extension in St. Charles County will also be joining us with Christmas Cards for Soldiers, giving attendees the opportunity to create cards and send support to service members. Some cards will be provided but if you can bring your own that would be greatly appreciated.

Location: 5401 Independence Road, Weldon Spring, MO 63304

🍅Purchased at the April spring plant sale. 💚💚💚💚

Join us Wednesday, June 17th at 6 PM for Live Music by Decades Apart! They play crowd-pleasing tunes from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond, delivering a fun, high-energy mix that’s perfect for a summer evening.

During the concert, we will be collecting donations for The Care Service at Sts. Joachim & Ann Food Pantry. A donation bin will be available near the Red Barn, and all donations are greatly appreciated.

Concession food will be available while supplies last, and Kona Ice will be on site. Feel free to bring your own food or pack a picnic (please no glass containers).

MU Extension in St. Charles County will also be joining us with Christmas Cards for Soldiers, giving attendees the opportunity to create cards and send support to service members. Some cards will be provided but if you can bring your own that would be greatly appreciated.

Location: 5401 Independence Road, Weldon Spring, MO 63304

Meet Patrick Smith: St. Charles County Extension Council Member

We are very excited to welcome Patrick Smith, who was recently elected to serve on the MU Extension Council! Patrick brings a great amount of life experiences, dedication, and purpose to his new role in Extension. Patrick has lived in O'Fallon for the past 25 years, where he and his wife have raised their children who were educated through the Fort Zumwalt School District. His children are now grown. He also has a new granddaughter.

Raised in a military family, Patrick learned discipline and a strong work ethic early in life. Those same values have carried on with him throughout his experiences as an Eagle Scout, student, parent, husband, and career. Patrick has built a career working in sales, marketing, management, and security for several large corporations and government institutions. Now retired, he is applying the discipline that he gained from his background to give back to the community he loves. When not volunteering or serving on council, you may see Patrick walking his two golden retrievers, grabbing lunch at B. Hall’s on Fridays, or working out at the YMCA.

Patrick is incredibly passionate about supporting our military, being a prominent figure at the Christmas Cards For Soldiers Serving Overseas signing event in March, personally signing over 30 cards that helped reach the goal of 6,000 cards. Through Extension, he hopes to further assist active service members through care packages and events such as the Christmas Card Signing. Beyond his passion for giving back to service members, Patrick finds a purpose in providing assistance to our community through Extension.

Patrick’s message to the community is plain and simple, “I will do my best to advance the programs of Extension in our community and try to make a positive productive difference for everyone!”

Welcome to the Council Patrick!

Written by Sanya Suri, MU Extension intern & Mizzou MPH Grad Student

Japanese beetles are beginning to emerge in Missouri.

Populations are low now but activity is expected to increase over the next two to four weeks. Early scouting helps guide timely management decisions.

What to look for:
• In soybeans, check multiple areas and estimate overall defoliation. Beetles often feed in the upper canopy, leaving a skeletonized look where only leaf veins remain.
• In corn, watch for beetles feeding on silks during pollination. Pay attention if silks are clipped very short, especially when beetle numbers are high and pollination is not complete.

Learn more and sign up to receive pest alerts: https://brnw.ch/21x3eQJ

St. Charles County Park Rangers are ready to take you on a hiking experience at Klondike Park!

Hear about park history, plant and animal life, and learn fun nature facts as we hike for about an hour through our scenic park. Each hike is easy to moderate and is less than 2 miles. Meet at the Klondike Meeting Facility at the front of the park. The hike will take place on both paved and natural surface trails. Pre-registration is required.

Upcoming Dates and Times:
12-2 p.m., Sunday, July 12
9-11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 7
9-11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 9

Sign up online: https://tinyurl.com/4xusdzb2

BECOMING AN ENGAGED NEIGHBOR IN WARREN COUNTY
You are invited to attend a 1-hour presentation on the value of getting to know your neighbors, gaining ideas to connect with neighbors, and strategies to overcome neighboring challenges. This is a free event. Please register and consider inviting YOUR NEIGHBOR!!
Becoming an Engaged Neighbor is presented by MU Extension. Tonight's event is sponsored by T. McCoy Agency, LLC, American Family Insurance, Wright City, MO.
T. McCoy, American Family Insurance
Join us June 10, 2026, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Location:
Diekroeger Park
13410 Veterans Memorial Parkway
Wright City, MO 63390
Register: https://pears.io/events/mu/7185/