Tag: AHS

  • Monday, March 11, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – What We Sow: The Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seeds, Online

    In her American Horticultural Society online presentation on March 11 at 2 pm Eastern, Jennifer Jewell will explore the philosophy of Cultivating Place, her national, public radio program and international podcast, based on the belief that gardens/gardeners are powerful agents and spaces for potentially positive change in our world, helping to address challenges as wide ranging as climate change, habitat loss, cultural polarization, and individual and communal health and being. She will explore how this power of gardens and gardeners can be viewed through a lens of seeds, and the general state of seeds in our gardened lives: how they grow, where they grow, who grows them, who sells and/or controls them, and their care up and down the seedsheds of our world. Jewell will walk us through examples taken from her daily life, her research, and interviews over the past decade with seed keepers as synthesized in her newest book What We Sow, On the Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seeds (2023). Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning-2/what-we-sow-the-personal-ecological-and-cultural-significance-of-seeds/

    Jennifer Jewell is the host of the national award-winning weekly public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden. She is the author of The Earth in Her Hands, 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants (Timber Press in 2020), and Under Western Skies, Visionary Gardens from the Rockies to the Pacific Coast (Timber Press, May 2021). Her third book, What We Sow: On the Personal, Ecological, and Cultural Significance of Seedswas published by Timber Press in 2023. Jewell’s greatest passion is elevating the way we think and talk about gardening, the empowerment of gardeners, and the possibility inherent in the intersection between places, environments, cultures, individuals, and the gardens that bring them together beautifully – for the better of all the lives on this generous planet.

  • Friday, January 19, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – New Nature for a Climate Change Future

    The American Horticultural Society invites you to hear a virtual presentation on January 19 at 2 pm Eastern with Noel Kingsbury, PhD, author and garden designer, on New Nature for a Climate Change Future.

    In a world of dramatically changing climate, garden and landscape design must conserve biodiversity as well as provide habitat for humans. Renowned author and garden designer Noel Kingsbury will guide participants in discovering models and approaches to accomplish these gardening goals. We will look at the range of nature-inspired planting created in recent years, captured in powerful images by leading photographer Claire Takacs, while examining how and why these designs and plant choices support nature.

    Noel Kingsbury is an internationally known innovator, writer, and teacher in the fields of gardening and planting design. His doctoral scholarship analyzes the long-term performance of perennials, which he continues to research and disseminate in practitioner workshops. Kingsbury has published 25 books, including New Perennial Design that launched a movement in naturalistic planting design, and four publications with Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.

    $10 for AHS members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/new-nature-for-a-climate-change-future/

  • Friday, January 12, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – North American Regional Gardening Approaches, Online

    Native plants are hot right now, and for good reason! Many gardeners recognize the importance of weighing aesthetics with ecological value in their horticultural practice, and they see the use of native plants as crucial to benefiting wildlife and humans alike. This American Horticultural Society talk explores the underlying concepts and approaches to using regionally appropriate native plants and how you can welcome native plants into your garden no matter where you live in North America. A recording will be made available to registrants for a limited time following the talk. $10 AHS members, $15 nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/north-american-regional-gardening-approaches/

    UIi Lorimer is the Director of Horticulture for Native Plant Trust. He oversees the facilities and operations at Garden in the Woods and at Nasami Farm. Uli brings 20 years of experience working with native plants in public gardens with previous positions at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Wave Hill Garden and the US National Arboretum. He is a tireless advocate for the use of native plants in designed spaces through his public speaking, writing, lectures and media appearances. Uli feels most grounded with his hands in the soil.

  • Friday, January 19, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – New Nature for a Climate Change Future, Online

    In a world of dramatically changing climate, garden and landscape design must conserve biodiversity as well as provide habitat for humans. Renowned author and garden designer Noel Kingsbury will guide American Horticultural Society participants in discovering models and approaches to accomplish these gardening goals. We will look at the range of nature-inspired planting created in recent years, captured in powerful images by leading photographer Claire Takacs, while examining how and why these designs and plant choices support nature. $10 for AHS members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/new-nature-for-a-climate-change-future/

    Noel Kingsbury is an internationally known innovator, writer, and teacher in the fields of gardening and planting design. His doctoral scholarship analyzes the long-term performance of perennials, which he continues to research and disseminate in practitioner workshops. Kingsbury has published 25 books, including New Perennial Design that launched a movement in naturalistic planting design, and four publications with Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.

  • Friday, December 7, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Site Preparation for Landscape Transformation, Online

    Many people consider reducing lawns, converting hayfields, cleaning out weed patches, and otherwise transforming landscapes into pollinator gardens or meadows with native plants. Site preparation is critical, but it is often overlooked in the quest for a finished appearance. This American Horticultural Society online primer on December 7 at 1 pm covers planning, timelines, and online sources of site information. You will also learn some tips on how to do critical chores, including a comparison of weed removal methods. $30 for AHS members, $36 for nonmembers. Kathy Connolly is the instructor, and you may register online at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/site-preparation-for-landscape-transformation/

  • Wednesday, December 6, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Holidays at the White House, Online

    Join the American Horticultural Society and Laura Dowling, former White House Chief Floral Designer, on December 6 at 7 pm Eastern for a virtual talk on Holidays at the White House.

    As Chief Floral Designer during the Obama administration, Laura Dowling was responsible for the dazzling floral pieces that made the holiday season so memorable. Join her for a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the innovative plant-centered decorations, including intricate hydrangea-covered archways, gilded maple leaf rosette panels, and sugar paste floral vases. In addition to her White House experiences, Dowling will share tips and techniques for planning holiday displays at home, including suggestions for re-creating some of the most popular and original White House holiday designs.

    Laura Dowling served as Chief Floral Design at the White House from 2009 to 2015, where she managed White House floral design for thousands of officials, private events, and large-scale installations including the iconic White House Christmas. She has authored four books and her work is featured across the country, from flower shows to design magazines to HGTV to U.S. postal stamps. Dowling is an AHS board member as well as an AHS Great American Gardener Award recipient and a Royal Horticultural Society Distinguished Flower Ambassador.  $10 for AHS members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/holidays-at-the-white-house/

  • Friday, December 1, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Around the World in 80 Plants: A Botanical Journey of Beauty and Science, Myth and Mayhem, Online

    The American Horticultural Society invites you to hear Jonathan Drori, author and board member, Cambridge University Botanic Garden, in a virtual presentation on Friday, December 1 at 2 pm Eastern time.

    In his follow-up to Around the World in 80 Trees, bestselling author Jonathan Drori takes another gloriously illustrated trip across the globe, bringing to life the science of plants by revealing how their worlds are intricately entwined with our own history, culture and folklore. From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and Spanish ‘moss’ of Louisiana, his stories are full of surprises. Some plants have a troubling past, while others have ignited human creativity or enabled civilizations to flourish.

    Jonathan Drori lives in London, England. He is on the Board of Cambridge University Botanic Garden and the Eden Project, and was formerly Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. As a documentary film maker for the BBC he was responsible for more than 50 prime-time science shows and documentaries.  His books are bestsellers in more than twenty languages worldwide, available from Amazon (Around the World in 80 Trees and Around the World in 80 Plants) and all good indie bookstores. $10 for AHS members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/around-the-world-in-80-plants/

  • Wednesday, November 15, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Closing the Loop in Landscapes: Enhanced Sustainability with Roots, Wildlife, and Healthy Soil, Online

    Traditionally, many resources are used to keep landscapes looking lush and healthy. Tremendous amounts of water are used to irrigate lawns and garden beds. Every year we cover our landscapes with yards of mulch to keep weeds at bay and retain soil moisture. However, we can lower our water bills, stop the annual mulch delivery, and have gorgeous healthy gardens by creating an ecosystem that ultimately cares for itself. The incorporation of native plants attracts wildlife and feeds the soil, the foundation of healthy plants. In this session, you will learn how to identify plants to enhance sustainability; how to naturally enhance soil health; and how to design with techniques that encourage wildlife and minimize water use. This American Horticultural Society online lecture takes place Wednesday, November 15, at 7 pm Eastern. $10 AHS members, $15 nonmembers. Register at www.ahsgardening.org

    Marie Chieppo is a landscape designer who works with nature and interconnecting systems to enhance biodiversity and the overall health of the environment. With an initial background in public health policy and research, she has designed beautiful resilient landscapes for over twenty years through her business, EcoPlantPlans. Her most recent work focuses on sustainable solutions for plastic plant containers. Chieppo is an Ecological Landscape Designer and Accredited Organic Land Care Professional.

  • Thursday, October 12, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Eastern – Land Development and Landscape Stewardship, Online

    Plant and landscape enthusiasts come from a wide range of backgrounds and variety of expertise. A land developer, a conservationist, and a gardener have a mutual goal: to steward healthy, beautiful landscapes for public enjoyment. Join American Horticultural Society board chair, land developer and preservationist, and native plant nursery founder Scott Plein for a conversation about the history and role of land development in landscape stewardship. We will discover some beloved plants along the way! The online talk will take place October 12 at 1 pm Eastern time, and is $10 for AHS members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.ahsgardening.org

    Scott Plein is the founding principal of Equinox Investments, LLC, a real estate investment, development, and management firm specializing in community planning, entitlements, and project development in the Northern Virginia area. He established the White House Farm Foundation, a nonprofit environmental educational foundation, and is principal owner of White House Natives, a landscape-quality tree nursery that propagates only plants native to Virginia. Plein also founded KT Enterprises Inc., a leading landscape management company in the Washington Metropolitan area for over 45 years. He currently serves as Board Chair for AHS.

  • Wednesday, September 27, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Rose Discoveries and Innovations, Online

    Join Tom Carruth, Rose Collection Curator at The Huntington and American Horticultural Society’s 2011 Luther Burbank Award winner, for a history of the famed California rose industry. The virtual take will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at 7 pm Eastern. Starting with innovative rose breeding of the 1950s, this talk will illuminate how rose species are improved through several generations of hybridizing. Carruth will share about his discovery of a lost seedling that, when brought into his rose breeding, led to some of the best rose introductions of his career. Together we will trace succeeding generations of offspring, noting their improvements along the way.

    Tom Carruth is the Rose Collection Curator at The Huntington, where he showcases over 1,300 rose cultivars. Previous to his work at The Huntington, Carruth served as Director of Research, Licensing & Marketing at Weeks Roses, where introduced over 150 roses and invented over 100 plant patents. His award-winning roses include DICK CLARK, CINCO DE MAYO, STRIKE IT RICH, JULIA CHILD, and many more. Carruth is AHS’s 2011 Luther Burbank Award winner for extraordinary achievement in the field of plant breeding. Register HERE. $10 AHS members, $15 nonmembers.