Permission granted for reprint and redistribution
May 8, 2023
Plant lovers, leading experts, and rare plant auction coming to North Carolina June 16-17, 2023
(In-person and online registration available)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – The Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction – one of the nation’s largest annual gatherings of plant lovers, expert speakers, and rare plants – returns to Raleigh on June 16 and 17.
Organized by NC State University’s JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden, this year’s gathering features 13 top speakers from around the world, including Emma Allen, with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden Wisely in the United Kingdom, plus an international cast of trailblazing plant experts representing leading institutions across the United States.
“Southeastern Plant Symposium is a who’s who of horticulture allowing plant lovers, educators, researchers, nurseries, plant breeders, and industry leaders to connect and share cutting edge information and research,” said Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum.
Now in its 5th year, the Symposium and Auction has attracted attendees from over 31 US states, DC, and eight nations.
“The Symposium’s Rare Plant Auction is an opportunity for people to acquire plants that, for the most part, simply aren’t available commercially,” said Tony Avent, Proprietor of Juniper Level Botanic Garden. “We start the auction online about a week before the symposium, adding plants every day or two, ending with between 300 and 400 different plants on the final day. Even the hardest core plant lovers will find plants they’ve never seen for their gardens.”
Hosted by JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Friday, June 16, 2023 – 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Friday, June 16, 2023 – 6:00 pm–8:30 pm – Optional Evening Dinner and Presentation
Saturday, June 17, 2023 – 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Friday, June 16, 2023 – 6:00 pm–8:30 pm – Optional Evening Dinner and Presentation
Saturday, June 17, 2023 – 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Schedule
Friday, June 16
8:00 AM
Registration
Friday, June 16
9:00 AM
Welcome — Symposium hosts
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden – Mark Weathington, NCSU's JC Raulston Arboretum
Courtesy Robert B Butler
Tony Avent, Contrarian Plantsman, Writer, and Founder of Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Tony Avent is the owner of Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanical Gardens in Raleigh, North Carolina, both being based on extensive field research, educational outreach, and conservation. Not only has Tony completed 60 international and southeastern United States botanical expeditions, but he is a popular freelance garden writer and lecturer (over 640 lectures since 1990). He is also a prolific hosta breeder. Tony serves on many committees, including the USDA-ARS Hardiness Zone Map Revision Advisory Committee, North Carolina Department of Agriculture Plant Conservation Scientific Committee, and the Woody Plant Advisory Committee. He's a contributing editor for Horticulture magazine and was an invited participant in the St. Louis Summit, a workshop on linking ecology and horticulture to prevent plant invasions.
Mark Weathington, Director, JC Raulston Arboretum
Mark is the director of NC State University's JC Raulston Arboretum where he is passionate in his work to connect people with plants. His latest book, Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner's Guide, takes his common sense approach and a bit of humor and makes gardening accessible for any level of gardener.
Mark travels extensively searching for new plants to diversify the American landscape and lecturing on a variety of topics in horticulture to further the JC Raulston Arboretum's vision of "Planning and Planting a Better World." His explorations and speaking engagements have taken him to China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Ecuador, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and throughout the United States.
Friday, June 16
9:15 AM
Richard Olsen, U. S. National Arboretum
"Where the Wild Things Are: The Role of Cultivation in Plant Conservation"
Morning Keynote Sponsored by First Editions | Shrubs and Trees
"Where the Wild Things Are: The Role of Cultivation in Plant Conservation"
Morning Keynote Sponsored by First Editions | Shrubs and Trees
Richard Olsen, PhD, Director, U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC
"Where the Wild Things Are: The Role of Cultivation in Plant Conservation"
Through history, gardeners have served as a vast contingent of citizen scientists preserving plant diversity. Cultivating a plant is, more and more, an act of conservation. As such, this talk will celebrate the role gardeners play in ensuring future generations experience the wonders of the plant kingdom.
Dr. Richard T. Olsen serves as the seventh Director of the United States National Arboretum. But he was not always an administrator. In 2006, he joined the arboretum plant breeding team, whose combined efforts have transformed American landscapes with disease-tolerant and improved woody ornamentals, either directly or through enabling industry and academic partners. Projects of note involved ash, boxwood, catalpa, elm, fringe trees, hemlock, and winterhazel, among other endeavors. Since 2015, he lives vicariously through gardeners and scientists, while working to enhance and strengthen partnerships enabling the National Arboretum to thrive in the 21st century.
Friday, June 16
10:30 AM
Scott McMahan, Atlanta Botanical Garden
"Tales of Success from ABG’s Test Grounds"
"Tales of Success from ABG’s Test Grounds"
Scott McMahan, Manager of International Plant Exploration, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, GA
"Tales of Success from ABG’s Test Grounds"
In 2001, Scott McMahan began traveling to Asia for the Atlanta Botanical Garden with the purpose of collecting new ornamental germplasm for the Garden. Since then, he has made dozens of scouting, collecting and meeting trips to China, India and Vietnam primarily to further the work of the International Plant Exploration Program (IPEP) at ABG. In 2016, the Plant Exploration Program was officially created and since then Scott and Tim Marchlik (IPEP Coordinator) have been working hard to plant and properly evaluate the material that has been collected over the past 21 years. Scott's talk will focus on the woody plants that have been the true standouts in their evaluation field at ABG's Gainesville location.
Scott McMahan is the manager of the International Plant Exploration Program (IPEP) at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. IPEP focuses on plant exploration and plant evaluation and sponsors a visiting scholar program aimed at the exchange of information and germplasm with our international collaborators. Over the past 20 years, Scott has made nearly 30 exploration trips to China, Vietnam, India, Bhutan, Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico.
Friday, June 16
11:30 AMLunch
Friday, June 16
1:00 PM
Nina Bassuk, Cornell University, Urban Horticulture Institute, School of Integrative Plant Science
"Selecting Great Plants and Their Limitations: Focus on Hybrid Oaks"
"Selecting Great Plants and Their Limitations: Focus on Hybrid Oaks"
Nina Bassuk, PhD, Emeritus Professor, The Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
"Selecting Great Plants and Their Limitations: Focus on Hybrid Oaks"
This presentation will focus on the important issues of plant selection and where great plant selection is limited in the process of creating a sustainable landscape. Primary among these limitations is soil degradation and remediation. Plant selection can deal with varying nutrient availability, wet and dry soil, insects and disease infestation, solar exposure and climate variables. However, soil compaction must be addressed if the landscape will be successful. In addition, research on new hybrid oaks will be presented to address these environmental and production challenges. Tools and techniques to address plant selection and soil remediation will be presented.
Dr. Nina Bassuk has been a professor and program leader of the Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University for the past 42 years. She is on the Board of Directors of the New York State Urban Forestry Council and is co-author of Trees in the Urban Landscape, a text for landscape architects and horticultural practitioners on establishing trees in disturbed and urban landscapes. She works closely with municipalities to help implement best practices in urban forestry management. Now retired, Nina continues to conduct research on woody plants, especially hybrid oaks, and engages in outreach activities.
Friday, June 16
2:15 PM
Tom Ranney, NC State University, Department of Horticultural Science
"Garden Innovations: The Golden Age of Plant Breeding"
Afternoon Keynote Sponsored by Plant Development Services
"Garden Innovations: The Golden Age of Plant Breeding"
Afternoon Keynote Sponsored by Plant Development Services
Tom Ranney, PhD, JC Raulston Distinguished Professor, Horticultural Science, NC State University, Raleigh
"Garden Innovations: The Golden Age of Plant Breeding
The golden age of plant breeding is upon us. With access to the world's flora and advanced plant breeding techniques, the opportunity for new plant innovations is boundless. Never before has there been such a groundswell of exciting new plant developments and we have barely scratched the surface. Tom will touch on diverse genera, recent introductions, and the future of plant breeding.
Tom Ranney has been a faculty member at North Carolina State University since 1989 and is currently the JC Raulston Distinguished Professor of Horticultural Science. He lives, works, and gardens in the Mountains of Western North Carolina where he has the good fortune to lead a plant breeding program at the Mountain Crop Improvement Lab in Mills River, NC. He and his team have introduced 79 new cultivars including mainstream crops like rhododendron/azalea, dogwood, flowering quince, hydrangea, deutzia, spiraea, and miscanthus to more obscure hybrids like desert orchid and mountain schimlinia 'Schima Lina Ding Dong'.
Friday, June 16
3:30 PM
Anthony Aiello, Longwood Gardens
"Japanese Flowering Cherries in America: A Long Love Affair"
"Japanese Flowering Cherries in America: A Long Love Affair"
Antony Aiello, Associate Director of Collections, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
"Japanese Flowering Cherries in America: A Long Love Affair"
Japanese flowering cherries are among the most heralded aspects of spring. This talk will discuss the introduction of flowering cherries into the United States, their description and promotion in the early 20th century, and efforts to preserve cultivar diversity. It will provide insight into arboricultural practices to help preserve and extend the life of these beloved trees. Tony will also discuss the role of botanic gardens in introducing, developing, and preserving, cultivated genetic diversity.
Anthony Aiello is Associate Director, Collections at Longwood Gardens, where he participates in tree conservation, plant exploration and evaluation, and collections development. Previously, he served for 22 years as the Gayle E. Maloney Director of Horticulture and Curator at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, where he managed the historic gardens and living collections. These positions allowed him to travel throughout the United States, Europe, China, and Japan to find novel plants suitable for growing in the Delaware Valley. He has a BS from Cornell University and MS from Purdue University and chaired the North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium (NACPEC) and participated in the APGA's taxonomy and plant collections committees.
Friday, June 16
7:30 PM
Emma Allen, RHS Garden Wisley
"RHS Trials and the Award of Garden Merit"
"RHS Trials and the Award of Garden Merit"
Emma Allen, Head of Horticultural Relations for the Royal Horticultural Society, London, England
"RHS Trials and the Award of Garden Merit"
Take a tour of the plant trials at the RHS and hear a brief history of the trails including the trials process, round tables and the value of the Award of Garden Merit.
Emma Allen studied at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and over the years have worked at Borde Hill Garden, Inner Temple and Walpole Park before moving to RHS Garden Wisley in 2016 as Garden Manager responsible for The Glasshouse, Rock Garden, Alpine collections and the Formal Ornamental areas. She is now turning her attention outwards to the wider world of horticulture as Head of Horticultural Relations.
Saturday, June 17
8:00 AM
Registration
Saturday, June 17
9:00 AM
Welcome
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Saturday, June 17
9:15 AM
Gary Knox, University of Florida/IFAS, North Florida Research and Education Center
"Magnolias for the Deep South"
"Magnolias for the Deep South"
Gary Knox, PhD, Professor Emeritus, North Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Quincy, FL
"Magnolias for the Deep South"
Dr. Knox's presentation will showcase some exciting new magnolia species and hybrids, as well as highlight native rarities that are worth seeking to plant, conserve, and enjoy.
Dr. Gary Knox recently retired after a 38-year career as Professor of Environmental Horticulture with the University of Florida at the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC). Dr. Knox is best known for his work with Magnolias, serving as president of Magnolia Society International and co-organizer of the Third International Symposium on Magnoliaceae in 2016. Dr. Knox's early passion for magnolia was rewarded by Dr. J.C. Raulston with a generous gift of 12 Magnolia taxa. These plants formed the foundation of the Magnolia Garden, now a part of Gardens of the Big Bend, a botanical, teaching, and evaluation garden located on the grounds of the NFREC. As a result of Dr. Knox's efforts, it now contains 112 cultivars, 24 hybrids, and 40 species, of which 8 are categorized as vulnerable or endangered.
Saturday, June 17
10:00 AM
Jenny Xiang, NC State University, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology
"Cornus, Benthamidia, and Swida, Oh My — Making Taxonomy Less Taxing"
"Cornus, Benthamidia, and Swida, Oh My — Making Taxonomy Less Taxing"
Jenny Xiang, PhD, Professor, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, NC State University, Raleigh, NC
"Cornus, Benthamidia, and Swida, Oh My — Making Taxonomy Less Taxing"
New plant classification systems which are resilient to name changes resulting from the splitting of large genera or families are needed instead of new names being proposed accepted and then rejected seemingly on a weekly basis. Examining the taxonomy and classification history of dogwoods presents an ideal introduction to a classification system based on PhyloCode which aims to make taxonomy more stable.
Dr. Jenny Xiang grew up in a small town in southern China. At age 15, she was admitted to Zhongshan University (Zhongda) to study plant genetics in the biology department. During her studies, she discovered her passion for plant systematics which continued to grow while working in the Department of Taxonomy of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing. Dr. Xiang earned her PhD in Botany-Plant Molecular Systematics from Washington State University. She has been running a research lab on Plant Molecular Systematics and Evolution at NC State University since 2001 where her focus has been largely on the dogwood family Cornaceae and the North Carolina's state flower, Cornus florida L.,. She is a world authority on the family and is the lead author for the treatment of Cornaceae in the Flora of China.
Saturday, June 17
10:45 AM
Judson LeCompte, Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc.
"Into the Oven: How Spring Meadow Nursery Develops the Next Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub"
"Into the Oven: How Spring Meadow Nursery Develops the Next Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub"
Judson LeCompte, PhD, Product Development Assistant Manager, Spring Meadow Nursery, Inc., Grand Haven, MI
"Into the Oven: How Spring Meadow Nursery Develops the Next Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub"
Dr. LeCompte will highlight how the Research and Development Department at Spring Meadow Nursery has spent the past 30 years introducing some of the industry's most beloved plants and how they plan to continue woody plant improvement in the future.
Dr. Judson LeCompte is an internationally known nurseryman, researcher, speaker, teacher and plant hunter. Based in Grand Haven, Michigan, Dr. LeCompte and the team at Spring Meadow Nursery are developing, selecting, and introducing superior woody plant genetics for the world's leading shrub brand Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs. Hailing from Alabama's "loveliest village on the plain," Dr. LeCompte earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in horticulture at his hometown Auburn University, and his Ph.D. from Mississippi State University. A self-described plant nerd, Judson keeps an extensive plant collection at home and enjoys gardening, "Pure Michigan" summers, and good eating in his down time.
Saturday, June 1711:30 AM
Mengmeng Gu, Colorado State University, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
"Noteworthy Plants from Southeast China"
"Noteworthy Plants from Southeast China"
Mengmeng Gu, PhD, Professor and Department Head, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
"Noteworthy Plants from Southeast China"
Although the Southeastern U.S. is no stranger to plants from China, there are still so many more that deserve our attention. Having lived and worked in the Southeastern U.S. for 20+ years, Dr. Gu has a renewed appreciation of many plants she encountered (or missed) when traveling in China with both her Chinese and American colleagues. Many of them agree, “why don’t we have this in the U.S.?” Let’s take a plant tour and see if you agree with us.
Dr. Mengmeng Gu is professor and department head of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University. She graduated with her PhD in Plant Science from the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas. She started at Mississippi State University before moving to Texas A&M University. Her research and extension focused on solving problems in the green industry, such as Japanese beetle, alternative potting mixes, sensor-controlled nursery irrigation and crape myrtle bark scale. She is Vice President of the International Division of ASHS, serves on the ASHS Board, and was inducted as ASHS Fellow in 2022. She is a self-claimed plant geek and has always been eager to learn more.
Saturday, June 17
12:00 PMLunch
Saturday, June 17
1:30 PM
Ross Bayton, Heronswood Garden
"Patience is a Prerequisite: New Trees for Your Garden"
"Patience is a Prerequisite: New Trees for Your Garden"
Ross Bayton, PhD, Director, Heronswood Garden, Kingston, WA
"Patience is a Prerequisite: New Trees for Your Garden"
For gardeners who love trees, patience is a prerequisite! 14 years on from the publication of New Trees, join its co-author, Dr. Ross Bayton, to find out how those trees have fared, which are still worth growing, and how hardy tree selection and cultivation at Heronswood differs from down south.
London-born botanist and gardener Dr. Ross Bayton gained his PhD at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, studying the classification of tropical palms. He's the author of several books on horticulture including New Trees: Introductions to Cultivation (with John Grimshaw), Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists (with Simon Maugham), and most recently The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names, as featured in the New York Times. Formerly the Gardening Editor of the UK’s best-selling gardening periodical, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, he is now the Director of the world-renowned Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Wa., and is developing a 5-acre garden at home in nearby Bremerton.
Saturday, June 173:00 PM
David Roberts, Bailey Innovations
"Bailey's Plant Breeding: It's a Wonderful Life"
"Bailey's Plant Breeding: It's a Wonderful Life"
David Roberts, Director of Plant Breeding, Bailey Innovations, Bailey Nurseries, Inc., Athens, GA
"Bailey's Plant Breeding: It's a Wonderful Life"
Hydrangea and Lagerstroemia, two genera that are very well represented on the market today. With such a crowded playing field, creating innovative and exciting new cultivars can be a challenge for any plant breeder. How does one create plants that stand out when everyone is working towards the same goal? Join David as he discusses how the plant breeding team at Bailey Innovations tackle popular yet challenging plant groups and see how they trial their selections to learn which ones are truly unique and which ones are just too familiar for their own good.
David Roberts acquired his master’s degree in horticultural science from North Carolina State University (Dec 2015) with a concentration in ornamental plant breeding. David worked as a graduate student for Dr. Dennis Werner and Dr. Tom Ranney, where he developed a passion for plant breeding and propagation. Bailey Nurseries, Inc. hired David in 2015 to act as the general manager and head plant breeder for Bailey Innovations. David currently serves as the Director of Plant Breeding for Bailey Innovations where he leads breeding direction and coordinates plant trials from their nursery located in Winterville, GA.
Saturday, June 17
3:45 PM
Greg Paige, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University
"Shrubs: The Neglected, Often Forgotten Stepchild of the Garden!"
"Shrubs: The Neglected, Often Forgotten Stepchild of the Garden!"
Greg Paige, Director of Horticulture, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, Raleigh, NC
"Shrubs: The Neglected, Often Forgotten Stepchild of the Garden!"
The diversity and majestic nature of trees cannot be denied. However shrubs are as diverse and are crucial components to any garden and urban landscapes. Let's talk about all things shrub and their better utilization in these important environments.
Greg Paige discovered his career goal early—creating and working in beautiful public gardens and sharing and teaching this passion with others. Prior to joining the JC Raulston Arboretum, Greg was the Director of Horticulture and Arboretum Curator for Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory in Charlotte, NC. His 25-year career in public horticulture has involved work at some of the finest gardens in the country—Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden in Belmont, North Carolina; the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College; the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina; the Holden Arboretum outside Cleveland, Ohio; and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.
Saturday, June 17
4:15 PM
Concluding remarks
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
Tony Avent, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Mark Weathington, JC Raulston Arboretum
4:30 PM Adjourn — Auction checkout
“Everyone will have opportunities to share their thoughts and questions with the experts,” said Weathington. “That’s what I find exciting – the cross-pollination of every field of landscape horticulture.”
“The day before and after the symposium, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and JC Raulston Arboretum will be open for attendees,” added Avent. “This is a great chance for plant lovers to combine a tour of both gardens and attend the symposium.”
Registration is available for in-person or online attendance. The host hotel is Hilton Raleigh at North Hills on Wake Forest Road. All presentations, including Friday’s dinner and presentation, will occur at this location. Continuing education credits may apply to professionals. See the symposium website for details.
Auction proceeds benefit the JC Raulston Arboretum (tax ID 56-6049304) and the Tony & Anita Avent Juniper Level Botanic Garden Endowment (tax ID 56-6000756). Funds are managed by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
Contacts:
Mark Weathington, Director
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
919-513-7006
Mark_Weathington@NCSU.edu
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
919-513-7006
Mark_Weathington@NCSU.edu
Tony Avent, Proprietor
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Raleigh, North Carolina
919-772-4794
Tony@PlantsDelight.com
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Raleigh, North Carolina
919-772-4794
Tony@PlantsDelight.com
Robert B Butler
www.RBButler.com
www.NCPressRelease.org
www.RBButler.com
www.NCPressRelease.org
Permission granted for reprint and redistribution –
#JCRaulstonArboretum #NCStateUniversity #Raleigh #NorthCarolina #PlantSymposium #RarePlantAuction #MarkWeathington #JuniperLevelBotanicGarden #TonyAvent #Horticulture #Botany #PlantDelightsNursery #RichardOlsen #USNationalArboretum #ScottMcMahan #AtlantaBotanicalGarden #NinaBassuk #CornellUniversity #TomRanney #NCSU #AnthonyAiello #LongwoodGardens #EmmaAllen #RoyalHorticulturalSociety #GardenWisley #GaryKnox #UniversityFlorida #JennyXiang #JudsonLeCompte #SpringMeadowsNursery #MengmengGu #CSU #RossBayton #HeronswoodGarden #DavidRoberts #BaileyInnovations #GregPaige #JCRA
Sponsorships
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the annual Southeastern Plant Symposium hosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden.
Events like this innovative symposium are only possible through the support of our fellow horticulturists. We hope that you will consider sponsoring the symposium so that we can continue sharing the endlessly exciting discoveries in the world of plants. Proceeds support the mission of the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Juniper Level Botanic Garden Endowment.
Hotel
The host hotel for the Southeastern Plant Symposium is the Hilton Raleigh North Hills, located at 3415 Wake Forest Road. All presentations on Friday and Saturday will take place at the hotel as well as the Friday evening dinner and presentation.
To make your reservation, please visit Hilton Raleigh North Hills Hotel's Web site. The host hotel is located at 3415 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609. When making a reservation please reference the group code "SEPS" to receive the group rate. Please note that our group rate expires on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
Continuing Education Credits
We plan to apply for Continuing Education Credits with the NC Landscape Contractors' Licensing Board and the North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects. Once approved, information about the credits will be updated here.
Rare Plant Auction
The accompanying rare plant auction has already reached legend status in the industry.
Auction proceeds benefit the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Tony & Anita Avent Juniper Level Botanic Garden Endowment. Funds supporting the JC Raulston Arboretum are managed by the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit, Tax ID 56-6049304.
Cost
Registration fees include Friday and Saturday presentations, networking breaks, and lunch on Friday and Saturday.
The Friday evening dinner presentation is optional and requires an additional registration fee. To attend the Friday dinner presentation, select the dinner and presentation option during registration. Additional guests can be added for only the Friday dinner presentation during registration.
Early Registration (ends Sunday, May 14, 2023): $250.00.
Regular Registration (Monday, May 15 through Sunday, June 11, 2023): $300.00.
Late Registration (Monday, June 12 through Thursday, June 15, 2023): $350.00.
Optional Friday Evening Dinner Presentation: $80.00.
Registration
Advance registration is required. Please register online using our registration e-store (in-person program and online program).
Registration is limited and is considered complete when payment is received.
Cancellation
Program cancellations can be made up to two weeks before the program's start date. A 15% cancellation fee applies.
Location
Hilton Raleigh North Hills, 3415 Wake Forest Road Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
Directions
Location details and directions can be found on the hotel's website.
Questions
Please write jcraprograms@ncsu.edu for more information about this symposium.
May 12, 2022
Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction June 10-11, 2022
NCSU's JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC – Courtesy Robert B Butler
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, USA – Attention all plant-aholics, plant nerds, nurserymen, nurserywomen, gardeners, and horticulturists! NC State University's JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden extend an invitation to the fourth annual Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction on June 10 and 11. This year's program is live and in-person in Raleigh's vibrant downtown and available online.
The Southeastern Plant Symposium presents two full days of plant lust featuring the best-of-the-best to discuss cutting-edge plants. Plant explorers, plant breeders, nurserymen, nurserywomen, and other experts will dive deep into what is new and exciting in the plant world.
What could be better than great lectures and mingling with fellow horti-thusiasts? How about a chance to bid on some of the most exciting plants during the completely mind-numbing, fever-inducing silent auction? Southeastern Plant Symposium is the one garden event not to miss in 2022.
The Southeastern Plant Symposium is organized by NC State University's JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden. The Symposium is presented by Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs.
Friday, June 10, 2022 – 9:00 am–4:30 pm
Friday, June 10, 2022 – 6:00 pm–8:30 pm
Saturday, June 11, 2022 – 9:00 am–4:45 pm
Speakers: (see photos, presentation topics and bios below)
Friday, June 10:
Eleftherios Dariotis, the Greek plantsman, aka Liberto Dario on Facebook, horticultural genius, Plant Biology, UC Davis, Horticulture, HAS University, Netherlands, lives in Athens, Greece
Adam Black, Assistant Curator and Head of Propagation, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum
Dan Hinkley, Plantsman and Owner, Windcliff and Director Emeritus, Heronswood
Patrick McMillan, Ph.D., Horticulturist, naturalist, television personality, and conservation biologist, Horticultural Manager, Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
Kelly D. Norris, Gardener, Curator, Artist, and Owner, Three Oaks Garden
Peter Zale, Ph.D., Associate Director of Conservation, Plant Breeding, and Collections, Longwood Gardens
Saturday, June 11:
Tony Avent, Co-owner, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery
Ian Caton, Co-owner, Wood Thrush Natives
Shannon Currey, Marketing Director, Hoffman Nursery
Richard Hawke, Director of Ornamental Plant Research, Chicago Botanic Garden
Hayes Jackson, Urban Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama A&M University
Adrienne Roethling, Director, Paul J. Ciener Botanic Garden
Mark Weathington, Director, JC Raulston Arboretum
Registration Links:
Advance registration is required. Please register online using our registration e-store (in-person program and online program). Registration is limited and is considered complete when payment is received.
Friday Presentations:
"The Botanical Riches of Texas: A Gold Mine for Southeastern Horticulture"
Adam Black, Assistant Curator and Propagator, The Bartlett Arboretum
Adam Black, Assistant Curator and Propagator, The Bartlett Arboretum
From the Pineywoods of east Texas to the Chihuahuan Deserts of the Trans-Pecos, Texas offers a dizzying array of exciting native perennials, ferns, grasses, etc., unknown to horticulture, many of which often prove remarkably adaptable to cultivation elsewhere. Attractive endemic rarities abound, mixing with exotic Mexican plants barely ranging across the southern border, while westernmost representatives of familiar southeastern flora are often tougher than their eastern counterparts—built to withstand the hostile nature of the Texas environment—and therefore your garden as well!
Adam Black – Courtesy of Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum
Adam Black
Assistant Curator and Head of Propagation, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum
Assistant Curator and Head of Propagation, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum
Adam Black is a lifelong plant enthusiast with a passion for the rare, unusual, and esoteric. He combines his experience in the fields of botany and horticulture by promoting diverse landscapes while also collaborating with various gardens and universities documenting and collecting imperiled plant species for the purposes of research and conservation. Currently assistant curator and head of propagation at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories and Arboretum in Charlotte, North Carolina, he previously was a botanical/horticultural consultant and also served as director of The John Fairey Garden (formerly Peckerwood Garden) in Hempstead, Texas.
"Perennial Pleasures from a Pacific Northwest Garden"
Dan Hinkley, Plantsman and Owner, Windcliff and Director Emeritus, Heronswood
Dan Hinkley, Plantsman and Owner, Windcliff and Director Emeritus, Heronswood
Dan will discuss some recent and not so recent introductions from abroad and his own backyard that has him transfixed in his gardens of Windcliff and Heronswood near Kingston, Washington.
Dan Hinkley – Courtesy of Heronswood
Dan Hinkley
Plantsman and Owner, Windcliff and Director Emeritus, Heronswood
Plantsman and Owner, Windcliff and Director Emeritus, Heronswood
Dan is a renowned teacher, writer, plant explorer and winner of several awards, including the prestigious Liberty Hyde Bailey Award and the Veitch Memorial Medal from the Royal Horticulture Society. Known for international plant exploration, he is just as famous for starting the garden Heronswood which became world renowned for its mail order catalog of rare and unusual plants. He serves on the boards of the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden Trust and the Elisabeth C. Miller Botanical Garden Endowment Trust. Dan is the author of two books and has a third one in progress. Currently, he lives in Indianola, Washington, and is realizing his latest endeavor, the gardens of Windcliff.
"Palmetto State Perennials for Southeastern Gardens"
Patrick McMillan, Ph.D., Horticultural Manager, Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
Patrick McMillan, Ph.D., Horticultural Manager, Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
Though it is often ignored as a source of great plants, South Carolina, with 4050 species of plants growing wild enjoys one of the richest and most glorious floras of any state. Numerous plants from this region can enhance your garden both visually and environmentally. South Carolina’s flora includes plant species adapted to environments ranging from cool mountain coves to desert-like outcrops and hot, humid savannas and swamps. Drought and heat-adapted ecotypes, pollinator magnets and simply spectacular new introductions such as Ravenel's Eryngo have resulted from selections made from South Carolina Natives. Join, horticulturist, naturalist, television personality, and conservation biologist, Patrick McMillan, the lead author of A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina (USC Press, 2022) for a tour de force of the unique and garden-worthy plants that call the Palmetto State home.
Patrick McMillan, Ph.D. – Courtesy of Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Patrick McMillan, Ph.D.
Horticultural Manager, Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
Horticultural Manager, Juniper Level Botanic Gardens
Patrick is a lifelong gardener and the horticultural manager at Juniper Level Botanic Garden. Patrick received his BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and his Ph.D. in biological sciences from Clemson University. He is perhaps best known as the Emmy Award-winning host, co-creator and writer of the popular ETV nature program Expeditions with Patrick McMillan. For over 30 years, Patrick has worked as a professional naturalist, biologist and educator. His range of experience has concentrated on botany, though he is also well-respected through his work in ichthyology, herpetology and mammalogy. Patrick is a professional naturalist, the Glenn and Heather Hilliard Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Clemson University, where he is also a faculty member in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, the director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden, the Bob Campbell Geology Museum and the Clemson Experimental Forest and an honorary member of the Clemson University Class of 1939. Before joining the staff of JLBG he was director of Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Washington.
Consilience: At the Intersections of Horticulture, Ecology, Design, and Curation
Kelly D. Norris, Gardener, Curator, Artist, and Owner, Three Oaks Garden
Kelly D. Norris, Gardener, Curator, Artist, and Owner, Three Oaks Garden
My life's work orbits the world of plants, tracing an arc that intersects multiple disciplines. On any given day, I'm as likely to be puttering in my garden as I am to be traipsing about a prairie or modeling plant communities in my studio. The richness of perspectives offered by each of these disciplines leads to diverse plantings that celebrate biodiversity and the legacy of landscapes while offering a template for how to plant the world a more beautiful, ecologically connected place. Through consilience, I believe we can discover a desirable address at the intersections of horticulture, ecology, design, and curation.
Kelly Norris – Courtesy of Three Oaks Garden
Kelly D. Norris
Gardener, Curator, Artist, and Owner, Three Oaks Garden
Gardener, Curator, Artist, and Owner, Three Oaks Garden
Kelly D. Norris is one of the leading horticulturists of his generation. An award-winning author and plantsman, Kelly’s work in gardens has been featured in The New York Times, Organic Gardening, Better Homes and Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, Fine Gardening, Garden Design, and in numerous local and regional media appearances. His passion for planting at the intersections of horticulture and ecology has culminated in a new book New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden which debuted in 2021 from Cool Springs Press. Kelly also presents plants for Cottage Farms Direct on QVC and lectures widely to consumer and industry audiences. Kelly holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in horticulture from Iowa State University.
Courtesy of Longwood Gardens
"Noteworthy Plants from the Research and Conservation Program at Longwood Gardens"
Peter Zale, Ph.D., Associate Director of Conservation, Plant Breeding, and Collections, Longwood Gardens
Peter Zale, Ph.D., Associate Director of Conservation, Plant Breeding, and Collections, Longwood Gardens
At Longwood gardens, we use a variety of methods to obtain, develop, and introduce new plants for use in the gardens and beyond. This presentation will cover the roles that plant exploration, plant breeding, plant conservation, and strategic plant collections development play in this process and highlight some of the most exciting new introductions currently growing in our Research Nursery and in the gardens. Although we work broadly across a variety of plant groups, some of the focal groups highlighted in this presentation include Bletilla, Cypripedium and hardy orchids in general, Phlox, Arisaema, and many others.
Peter Zale, Ph.D. – Courtesy of Longwood Gardens
Peter Zale, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Conservation, Plant Breeding, and Collection, Longwood Gardens
Associate Director of Conservation, Plant Breeding, and Collection, Longwood Gardens
Peter Zale, Ph.D., holds a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in plant breeding and genetics (2009, 2014) from The Ohio State University and is currently associate director, Conservation, Plant Breeding, and Collections, at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. In this position, he leads curatorial activities, the plant breeding programs, the plant exploration program, the plant conservation program, and plant collections curation efforts. He has participated in over 25 plant exploration expeditions throughout the United States, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, the Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and China. In his spare time, he has been building his own "private botanical garden" rich in collections of hardy geophytes, woodland plants, trees, shrubs, and a variety of other plants that reflect personal interests in a wide variety of plant groups.
"Rare Plants and Plant Communities of the Appalachian Region"
Ian Caton, Co-owner, Wood Thrush Natives
Ian Caton, Co-owner, Wood Thrush Natives
This lecture is an introduction to some of the rare species and the communities from which they are found that I have had the pleasure to work with over the years, both growing and introducing them into the horticultural trade. Some may by now be familiar, but others are still quite unknown. Many have broad applications to gardening in challenging areas such as green-roofs, urban brownfields, city hell-strips, and salted roadsides. Others are curiosities that may be easily grown in a typical garden.
Ian Caton – Courtesy of Wood Thrush Natives
Ian Caton
Co-owner, Wood Thrush Natives
Co-owner, Wood Thrush Natives
Ian Caton has been the owner/operator of Wood Thrush Natives (formerly Enchanters Garden) since March of 2013. Wood Thrush Natives is a nursery specializing in native plants of the Appalachian region including West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and North Carolina. A focus of the nursery is the introduction of new and rare native plants which are little known or underappreciated in the nursery trade. Previously, Ian had been an employee of Larry Weaner Landscape Associates (a landscape firm specializing in the use and promotion of native plants in landscaping) since 2001 and has an ongoing relationship with the firm and its educational arm: The New Directions in the Landscape program.
"Sedges Step Into the Spotlight"
Shannon Currey, Marketing Director, Hoffman Nursery
Shannon Currey, Marketing Director, Hoffman Nursery
Sedges may be backup singers in the plant world, but they're beginning to steal the show. This group of herbaceous perennials is diverse in colors, textures, and cultural adaptations. Asian varieties shine with beautiful habits, variegation, and color. North American natives are getting attention for their versatility in layered plantings and as alternatives to mulch and traditional lawns. The Southeast has a wealth of native Carex that are well-adapted to our conditions and support pollinators, birds, and small mammals. Awaken your inner sedge head as we bring Carex out of the background and into the spotlight.
Shannon Currey – Courtesy of Hoffman Nursery
Shannon Currey
Marketing Director, Hoffman Nursery
Marketing Director, Hoffman Nursery
Shannon Currey has been with Hoffman Nursery for 15 years, where she's been learning, writing, and talking about grasses and sedges. She started her career as a social scientist but changed fields in 2003 to pursue horticulture at NC State University. At Hoffman Nursery, she had a range of responsibilities, including coordinating the trial program and managing the sales team. She leaves the nursery at the end of June and plans to continue working in horticulture. Shannon is currently Southern Region director for the Perennial Plant Association and chairs its Education Advisory Committee. She represents the North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association on the NC Plant Conservation Scientific Committee and was honored with the 2020 Libby Wilder Award for outstanding contribution to the nursery industry by a female.
Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden
"Proving Their Worth: Plant Evaluation Trials at Chicago Botanic Garden
Richard Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manager, Chicago Botanic Garden
Richard Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manager, Chicago Botanic Garden
Hundreds of new perennials are introduced every year, and whether gardeners are excited or disappointed by the plants depends in part on a rigorous evaluation to determine their cultural adaptability, disease and pest resistance, and winter hardiness. Richard Hawke will share information on perennials that are proving to be beautiful, reliable, and hardy in the Chicago Botanic Garden’s evaluation trials.
Richard Hawke – Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden
Richard Hawke
Director of Ornamental Plant Research, Chicago Botanic Garden
Director of Ornamental Plant Research, Chicago Botanic Garden
Richard Hawke is director of ornamental plant research at the Chicago Botanic Garden and responsible for the breeding, evaluation, and introduction programs. He previously managed the plant evaluation program from 1985 to 2022. Richard has a horticulture degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is an instructor for the School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the author of Plant Evaluation Notes, and is an author and contributing editor for Fine Gardening. In 2005, Richard received the Perennial Plant Association's Academic Award for teaching excellence. The Plant Evaluation Program received the Award for Program Excellence from the American Public Garden Association in 2008. Richard is currently president-elect on the board of directors for the Perennial Plant Association.
"Welcome to the Jungle … Creating a Tropical Oasis Beyond the Tropics"
Hayes Jackson, Urban Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama A&M University
Hayes Jackson, Urban Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama A&M University
Everyone loves the feeling of tropics … the swaying palm trees, exotic flowers in vibrant colors, and fabulous foliage of various shades of green. Tropical landscapes in colder climates of the South can be easy when using the hardiest palms, bold textured perennials, and a few hardier selections of other warm climate plants. Join Hayes as he highlights some of his selections of plants that he has utilized in creating the Tropical Courtyard planting at Longleaf Botanical Gardens in Anniston, Alabama. Hayes will also delve into some of the latest trials and successes of pushing the limits in horticulture in the upper reaches of zone 8 in central Alabama.
Hayes Jackson – Courtesy of Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Hayes Jackson
Urban Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama A&M University
Urban Regional Extension Agent, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama A&M University
Hayes Jackson graduated from Auburn University with a degree in landscape design and ornamental horticulture and a Master's in environmental biology at Jacksonville State University. Hayes is the urban regional Extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Alabama A&M University. He works in Anniston with community-based programs in urban horticulture. Hayes also serves as the liaison to Longleaf Botanical Gardens in Anniston in collaboration with the city of Anniston and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
"Tied Up and Twisted: Plants That Weave, Scramble, and Meander"
Adrienne Roethling, Director, Paul J. Ciener Botanic Garden
Adrienne Roethling, Director, Paul J. Ciener Botanic Garden
Vines is not a scary word. There are many worthy vines that belong in the garden. Vines can interlace like yarn on a stark wall, connect elements together, extend the height of a border, or wander aimlessly. The choice is yours to make. Let's take a look at some garden worthy vines that offer pizzazz without the burden of aggressiveness.
Adrienne Roethling – Courtesy of Paul J. Ceiner Botanic Garden
Adrienne Roethling
Director, Paul J. Ciener Botanic Garden
Director, Paul J. Ciener Botanic Garden
Adrienne Roethling was appointed director of the Paul J. Ceiner Botanical Garden (PJCBG) in Kernersville, North Carolina, in 2021. Prior to her appointment, her active, hands-on participation in the management of the gardens and its public activities since 2008 have won her scholarships from Chanticleer Gardens and American Public Gardens Association for further training in professional development. Adrienne trained at Longwood Gardens and previously worked for eight years as garden curator for Juniper Level Botanic Gardens at Plant Delights Nursery prior to going to the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden which she joined as curator of PJCBG. Adrienne is a public speaker and writes for national and local publications as well as Martha Steward Living online blog.
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor:
Proven Winners – Color Choice Flowering Shrubs
Student Scholarships Sponsor
Ball
Break Sponsors
Friday Morning
Leaf & Limb – Health Trees. Happy People.
Saturday Morning
PermaTill One Time
Sponsorship
Become a SponsorSponsorship opportunities are available for the annual Southeastern Plant Symposium hosted by the JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden. Events like this innovative symposium are only possible through the support of our fellow horticulturists. We hope that you will consider sponsoring the symposium so that we can continue sharing the endlessly exciting discoveries in the world of plants. Proceeds support the mission of the JC Raulston Arboretum and the Juniper Level Botanic Garden Endowment.
Hotel
The host hotel for the Southeastern Plant Symposium is the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. The Sheraton is located at 421 South Salisbury Street.
Highlights
Located in downtown Raleigh
Onsite cafe and restaurant
Indoor, modern fitness center
Within walking distance of restaurants, breweries, amphitheaters, and museums
Within walking distance of a few R-LINE bus stops – the R-LINE is Raleigh's free circulator bus service with destinations throughout much of downtown
Book Your Room
Hotel Reservations To make your reservation, please visit Sheraton Raleigh Hotel's Web site. The host hotel is located at 421 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. When making a reservation using the link above, our group name is already applied. If you call in your registration, please mention "North Carolina State University Southeastern Plant Symposium." Please note that our group rate expires on Tuesday, May 12.
Cost
Early: $250.00 (ends Sunday, May 29); late registration: $300.00 (starts, Monday, May 30); and $80.00 for optional Friday dinner and evening presentation.
Registration
Advance registration is required. Please register online using our registration e-store (in-person program and online program). Registration is limited and is considered complete when payment is received.
Cancellation
Program cancellations can be made up to two weeks before the program's start date. A 15% cancellation fee applies.
Location
Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, 421 South Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27601
Questions
Please write jcraprograms@ncsu.edu for more information about this symposium.
April 14, 2022
NCSU’s Raulston Arboretum announces Garden Festival, Southeastern Plant Symposium, Rare Plant Auction
JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC – Courtesy Robert B Butler
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – Saturday, April 30, following a two-year hiatus, JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University reintroduces Raulston Blooms! – a springtime garden festival and plant sale for all ages.
“Especially exciting for staff right now is seeing the truly eye-popping, mouth-watering selection of plants coming out of our greenhouses and from nurseries around the country,” said Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum (JCRA).
Rain or shine, the garden gates open at 10 AM and close at 4 PM. Exhibits and activities include:
–JCRA’s Spring Plant Sale – including Superior Plants Nursery, Pine Knot Farms, DirtBag Gardens, and Raleigh PawPaws Urban Farm
–The 20th Annual Birdhouse Competition – competitive categories from Serious to Flights of Fancy plus four age groups 4 to 16
–Fun, hands-on activities for children and adults
–Invited artists and crafters – Cedar Works by Frank, Katie Brooks’ paintings on dried leaves, Elisabeth Wheeler’s wood pattern scarves, Bonsai Bottles Terrariums, and more
–Four food trucks plus NC State Howling Cow ice cream
–Gardening talks with the experts, including Danielle Hochstetter’s Tea 101; Bryce Lane’s Spring Gardening Tips; Danesha Seth Carley, Ph.D. discusses Pollinator Gardening, and the Horticulture Hour (to answer all your burning gardening questions) with JCRA Staff and Friends
–Educational displays and demonstrations, including Bluebirders of Wake County, Five County Beekeepers, Wake Audubon, Entomology Student Association and Herpetology Club at NCSU, North American Rock Garden Society, and more
–Family scavenger hunt
–Used gardening book sale
Raulston Blooms! proceeds help fund the daily operations of the Arboretum.
A prelude to Raulston Blooms! in-person plant sale, the Arboretum’s online plant sale concludes Friday, April 15, 2022.
On June 10 and 11, JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden combine resources to host the 4th Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction. This year’s program is live and in-person in Raleigh’s vibrant downtown and internationally online.
“Southeastern Plant Symposium is designed for serious gardeners, people who love plants, nurserymen, nurserywomen, horticulturalists, botanists, plant nerds and plantaholics,” said Weathington. “It’s high-level, featuring many of the world’s top botanical and horticultural experts. If you want to learn about plants, we want you there.”
Expert presenters include:
–Eleftherios Dariotis (aka Liberto Dario on social media), Horticultural genius, Athens, Greece
–Dan Hinkley, Plantsman and founder, Gardens of Windcliff, and Director Emeritus and founder, Heronswood, Indianola and Kingston, WA
–Kelly D. Norris, Gardener, Curator, Artist, and Owner, Three Oaks Garden, nationally renowned garden designer, Des Moines, IA
–Peter Zale, Ph.D., Associate Director of Conservation, international plant explorer, Plant Breeding and Collections, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
–Tony Avent, Founder and Co-owner, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery, Raleigh, NC
–Ian Caton, Co-owner, Wood Thrush Natives, Floyd, VA
–Shannon Currey, Marketing Manager, Hoffman Nursery, Rougemont, NC
–Janet Draper, Lead Horticulturist, Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
–Richard Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manager, Chicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, IL
–Hayes Jackson, Urban Regional Extension Agent, Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, AL
–Adrienne Roethling, Executive Director, Paul J. Ciener Botanic Garden, Kernersville, NC
“We hope you’ll join us for two intense days of talks and the chance to visit both JC Raulston Arboretum and Juniper Level Botanic Garden,” said Tony Avent, Founder and Proprietor of Juniper Level Botanic Garden (JLBG). “You’ll have a chance to chat with the speakers and participate in the now famous, Rare Plant Auction.
“Many of the plants in the auction will not be found anywhere else in the world. We want to get plants out wherever we can, conserving them for science and for the benefit of all people.
“We promise you’ll leave with a head full of gardening and new plant information you’ve never imagined,” added Avent.
Southeastern Plant Symposium is presented by Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs.
Fundraising efforts operate under the auspices of The Endowment Fund of North Carolina State University, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Proceeds from the Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction benefit the endowments of Juniper Level Botanic Garden (tax ID 56-6000756) and JC Raulston Arboretum (tax ID 56-6049304). Donors receive official receipts for contributions to the fund.
The Gathering Lawn – JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, NC – Courtesy Robert B Butler
Contact:
Mark Weathington, Director
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
919-513-7006
Mark_Weathington@NCSU.edu
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
919-513-7006
Mark_Weathington@NCSU.edu
Tony Avent, Founder
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Raleigh, North Carolina
919-772-4794
Tony@PlantsDelight.com
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Raleigh, North Carolina
919-772-4794
Tony@PlantsDelight.com
Permission granted for reprint and redistribution
#JCRaulstonArboretum #NCStateUniversity #Raleigh #NorthCarolina #RaulstonBlooms #SoutheasternPlantSymposium #RarePlantAuction #MarkWeathington #JuniperLevelBotanicGarden #Horticulture #TonyAvent #Botany #PeterZale #LongwoodGardens #AaronFloden #MissouriBotanicGarden #EleftheriosDariotis #LibertoDario #DanHinkley #GardensofWindcliff #Heronswood #PatrickMcMillan #KellyNorris #ThreeOaksGarden #IanCanton #WoodThrushNatives #ShannonCurrey #HoffmanNursery #JanetDraper #LivingstonRipleyGarden #Smithsonian #RichardHawke #ChicagoBotanicGarden #HayesJackson #AAMU #AdrienneRoethling #CienerBotanicGarden
2021
Southeastern Plant Symposium presents world’s top experts and Rare Plant Auction
Great Dixter House & Gardens – Courtesy Claire Takacs Photography
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – Seven of the world’s top botanical and horticultural experts will speak at the 2021 Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction, according to event organizers Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University, and Tony Avent, Founder of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery.
Southeastern Plant Symposium will be online worldwide and available to registered attendees on Saturday, June 12, from 9 AM–5 PM. The registration fee is $75. This live presentation will be recorded and made available to all registrants. The Rare Plant Auction is free and opens online to attendees and the public June 3, at 3 PM, ending June 12, at 5 PM (all times are Eastern Daylight Time USA).
Featured speakers include:
–Fergus Garrett, one of the greatest garden designers and garden makers in the world, CEO and Head Gardener, Great Dixter House and Gardens, United Kingdom.
–Stephen Barstow, Extreme Salad Man, global expert on ornamental edibles, inventor of the term edimentals, author of Around the World in 80 Plants, leader of the Norwegian Seed Saver organization.
–Peter Zale, Ph.D., Associate Director, Conservation, Plant Breeding and Collections, Longwood Gardens, PA, USA.
–Kevin Conrad, Botanist, US National Arboretum, Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository, National Plant Germplasm System, Beltsville, MD, USA.
–Irene Palmer, Research Specialist with Tom Ranney, Ph.D., North Carolina State University, experienced in a wide range of plant breeding with a focus on hydrangeas, camellias, crepe myrtles, azaleas, and more, NC, USA.
–Aaron Floden, Ph.D., Botanist, Missouri Botanic Garden, a world expert on plants with a focus on native American flora, MO, USA.
–Hans Hansen, Director, New Plant Development, Walters Gardens, Zeeland, MI, USA.
“The symposium is for horticulturalists, botanists, garden and nursery staff, serious gardeners, and those who want to learn more about plants,” said Weathington. “The presentations will be filled with information and beautiful visuals. Attendees can ask questions during the presentations.”
“The Rare Plant Auction will feature a collection of plants not found anywhere else in the world,” added Avent. “Even the most rabid plant collector will find many things in the auction they’ve never seen or heard of before. There is no other source for many of these plants. People may have searched for years and never found these plants – it is that rare.”
“This is an amazing opportunity to hear many top experts in a single event,” said Weathington. “One of our speakers is Fergus Garrett, CEO and Head Gardner at Great Dixter House & Gardens in the United Kingdom. Fergus is one of the best garden designers and garden makers in the world and will talk about the importance of color, foliage, texture, repetition, structure, experimentation, as well as informality and movement in putting plants together.”
“Known as the Extreme Salad Man, Stephen Barstow is a world authority on ornamental edibles and invented the term edimentals,” added Avent. “Barstow authored the book Around the World in 80 Plants and will make you look at your garden differently – thinking about the ornamentals you can grow, enjoy, cook, and eat.”
“Peter Zale of Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania is a true genius. He is destined to have a huge impact on both the science of botany and the art of horticulture,” said Weathington. “His work with orchids has been significant to JC Raulston Arboretum, as he has grown out most of the JC Raulston Arboretum Asian orchid seed collections for us.
“Kevin Conrad, a botanist with the US National Arboretum and USDA in Maryland, is responsible for the conservation of over 5,000 taxa of woody landscape plants and the development of the Woody Landscape Plant Germplasm Repository. Their focus is long-term preservation and technology transfer for use in research and crop improvement. Kevin works closely with botanic gardens to help conserve genetics. JC Raulston Arboretum holds two national collections – redbuds and magnolia.
“Irene Palmer is a North Carolina State University researcher working with Tom Ranney, Ph.D., on breeding a wide variety of plants. Irene also focuses on hydrangeas, camellias, crepe myrtles, azaleas, and other southeastern garden favorites to help set new standards.
“Aaron Floden, a botanist for the Missouri Botanic Garden, focuses heavily on native American flora. He is also a world expert in other plants such as Polygonatum and its relatives. Much like Peter Zale, Aaron is a keen scientist, a field researcher, and a great gardener. No matter how often I hear him speak, I am always astounded by something new – often something growing in my own state,” said Weathington.
“Hans Hansen, Director of New Plant Development at Walters Gardens in Michigan, is the top perennial breeder in the world today in my opinion,” added Avent. “His plants are found in almost every garden center in the country. Hans breeds for Proven Winners. So, pretty much every Proven Winners perennial grown in the last decade was probably his breeding.”
Proceeds from the Southeastern Plant Symposium and Rare Plant Auction benefit the endowments of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and JC Raulston Arboretum at NC State University. “We have parallel missions and visions of what gardens and plants are for,” said Weathington. “Plants are critical assets. We are growing them and conserving them for science and for the benefit of all people. In our home state, ornamental plants are one of the biggest agricultural products.”
Edimentals – Courtesy of The Extreme Salad Man, Stephen Barstow
Fundraising efforts for Juniper Level Botanic Garden (tax ID 56-6000756) and JC Raulston Arboretum (tax ID 56-6049304) operate under the auspices of The Endowment Fund of North Carolina State University, a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donors receive official receipts for contributions to the fund.
Contact:
Mark Weathington, Director
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
919-513-7006
Tony Avent, Founder
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Raleigh, North Carolina
919-772-4794
Robert B Butler – Communications & Public Relations
Permission granted for reprint and redistribution
#SoutheasternPlantSymposium #JuniperLevelBotanicGarden #JCRaulstonArboretum #NCStateUniversity #Horticulture #MarkWeathington #TonyAvent #Botany #Horticulture #GreatDixter #FergusGarrett #StephenBarstow #Edimentals #PeterZale #LongwoodGardens #KevinConrad #USNationalArboretum #IrenePalmer #TomRanney #AaronFloden #MissouriBotanicGarden #HansHansen #WaltersGardens
First Southeastern Plant Symposium to launch in North Carolina June 7-8, 2019
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – Colleagues Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum at NCSU, and Tony Avent, Founder of Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery, will launch the first Southeastern Plant Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 7 and 8.
“The Southeastern Plant Symposium is an incredible opportunity for professionals and non-professionals to hear many of the world’s renown plant speakers in a single event,” said Avent. “We are bringing in the most knowledgeable and most passionate plant lovers to speak.”
“There are many great new plants entering the market from plant breeders, from explorations around the world, and from collections of botanic gardens,” added Weathington. “We’ll be talking about cutting edge plants at the forefront of new trends in gardening and new plant selections that reinvent how we think about gardening.”
“The Symposium will provide accurate information from people who know and grow the plants, as opposed to the frequently incorrect information that’s perpetuated online,” said Avent. “Our speakers will cut through the new plant clutter to expose attendees to what is truly exceptional.”
Southeastern Plant Symposium speakers include:
John Grimshaw, Director, The Yorkshire Arboretum, Castle Howard, York, UK
Scott McMahan, Manager, International Plant Exploration, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia
Ted Stephens, Owner, Nurseries Caroliniana, Augusta, South Carolina
David Creech, Professor Emeritus, SFA State University, and Director of Stephen F. Austin Gardens. Nacogdoches, Texas
Julie Moore, Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, DC
Tony Avent, Founder, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina
Adam Black, Director of Horticulture, Peckerwood Gardens, Hempstead, Texas
Leanne Kenealy, Plant Breeding and Nursery Technician, JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, North Carolina
Buddy Lee, Director of Plant Innovations, Plant Development Services (PDSI), Loxley, Alabama
Guy Meacham, New Plant Development Manager, J. Frank Schmidt & Son Company, Boring, Oregon
Tom Ranney, JC Raulston Distinguished Professor and Mountain Crop Improvement Lab, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, NC State University, Fletcher, North Carolina
Kim Shearer, Tree and Shrub Breeder and Manager of New Plant Development Program, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Illinois
Tim Wood, Product Development & Marketing Manager, Spring Meadow Nursery, Grand Haven, Michigan
Donglin Zhang, Professor, Institute of Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
“Targeted attendees include, private plant collectors, landscape architects and designers, nursery and botanic garden staff, members of HOA landscape design committees, city and county horticulturists, parks staff, new homeowners who want to create a distinctive landscape design, and members of the public who are passionate about new and different plants,” according to Avent.
“Horticulture and landscape plants are among our most basic needs after food and shelter,” Weathington said. “Study after study shows that stress levels go down when we are surrounded by plants, and concentration goes up. Nature Deficit Disorder and Plant Blindness are climbing because we are increasingly disconnected from the natural world. Gardening is one of the best ways to combat these modern problems.”
“Plants are great at sequestering carbon, so more plants in the world are always better,” added Avent. “The New York Times recently reprinted one of Oliver Sacks’ great articles on why ornamental plants are essential.”
“North Carolina’s Triangle is one of the greatest centers for horticulture in the country,” said Weathington. “Juniper Level Botanic Garden and JC Raulston Arboretum will be open for Symposium attendees. Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham is a great place to visit as is the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill.”
The host hotel for the Southeastern Plant Symposium is the Embassy Suites by Hilton near Research Triangle Park in Cary, North Carolina.
Leanne Kenealy, Plant Breeding and Nursery Technician, JC Raulston Arboretum, Raleigh, North Carolina
Scott McMahan, Manager, International Plant Exploration, Atlanta Botanical Garden, Atlanta, Georgia
Julie Moore, Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Washington, DC
Tom Ranney, JC Raulston Distinguished Professor and Mountain Crop Improvement Lab, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center, NC State University, Fletcher, North Carolina
Tim Wood, Product Development & Marketing Manager, Spring Meadow Nursery, Grand Haven, Michigan
Tony Avent, Founder, Juniper Level Botanic Garden and Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina
Mark Weathington, Director, JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University
Contact:
Mark Weathington, Director
JC Raulston Arboretum
NC State University
919-513-7006
Tony Avent, Founder
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
Raleigh, North Carolina
919-772-4794
Robert B Butler
Permission granted for reprint and redistribution
#SoutheasternPlantSymposium #JuniperLevelBotanicGarden #JCRaulstonArboretum #Raleigh #NorthCarolina #DukeGardens #NCBotanicalGarden #Horticulture #MarkWeathington #TonyAvent
#YorkshireArboretum #AtlantaBotanicalGarden #NurseriesCaroliniana #SFAGardens #USFishandWildlife #PeckerwoodGardens #PlantDevelopmentServices #JFrankSchmidt #TheMortonArboretum #SpringMeadowNursery #UniversityofGeorgia #EmbassySuitesHilton
#Cary
