Embark on an enchanting spring cruise with the American Horticultural Society April 21 – 26, 2026, along picturesque Dutch waterways aboard the privately chartered river barge, Magnifique II, led by AHS Senior Director of Horticulture Matt Mattus. Amidst blooming season, visit public and private gardens on expert-guided tours and observe innovative horticultural techniques inspired by Wageningen University’s Foodvalley. While highlighting Holland’s botanical wonders, the journey also showcases world-class art museums that house masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age. This cruise promises a harmonious and fascinating exploration of natural beauty and human artistry. Additionally, there will be the opportunity to participate in an optional post-trip extension in Amsterdam, featuring private access to historic homes and gardens along the Vecht River. Click here for Program Brochure and Registration.
This American Horticultural Society online talk on June 11 at 7 Eastern covers everything you’ve ever wanted to know about plants and irrigation but were unsure how to ask. Nan starts with the basics of water conservation and why is it important, along with an overview of how plants use water, why some need more and some need less. She talks about how plants evolve and adapt to their growing conditions – arid or otherwise – to help you understand how often and how long to water plants growing in your garden. Nan then turns the focus to irrigation methods and technologies, especially the most effective and most efficient approaches to watering, managing water, capturing rainwater, using graywater, and much more.
Nan Sterman is a Southern California native and a trailblazer in water-efficient, sustainable gardening practices for dry, Mediterranean-type climates. As a plant expert, garden designer, botanist, speaker and journalist, Nan inspires gardeners with her wealth of knowledge and passion for plants. Her latest book, Hot Color, Dry Garden, is a vibrant guide to creating stunning, waterwise gardens bursting with color. You’ll find Nan’s engaging articles in top gardening publications, including The American Gardener.
Nan is a sought-after speaker, sharing her expertise with groups and organizations nationwide. Nan also created and hosts the award-winning public TV show A Growing Passion, which connects people, plants, and the planet in exciting and educational ways. Since its launch in 2010, Nan’s popular Easy Seed Starting Course has taught several thousand aspiring gardeners how to grow their own vegetables. During the COVID quarantine, she added Nan Sterman’s Garden School, a year-long program packed with classes, field trips, how-to videos, and a supportive community. It’s all designed to teach gardeners how to think critically and grow thriving, eco-friendly gardens using science-backed, practical techniques. She also offers Third Thursday webinars and leads international garden tours.
Author and horticulturist Teresa Speight will share about her bookBlack Flora, the first book to feature profiles of contemporary Black experts innovating in the world of flowers. This American Horticultural Society online talk on May 30 offers a beautiful intersection of flowers and community, unearthing the floral legacies of the past and present, while providing a source of inspiration for younger generations of plant-lovers seeking examples of successful Black floral artists and entrepreneurs.
Teresa J. Speight is the Urban Garden and Container Garden Chair, District 1, for National Garden Clubs, Inc., and the founder and president of the Jabali Amani Garden Collective, a garden club for Minority women who enjoy gardening. Through her blog and podcast, Cottage in the Court, she offers a unique perspective on connecting with the earth, as well as curated garden experiences for small groups. Teri also offers one-on-one garden coaching, specializing in earth-friendly practices. She is the author of Black Flora and the co-author of The Urban Garden.
Outdoor containers add so many possibilities and exciting solutions to enhance and extend our garden display. While many of us choose hanging baskets to brighten up gathering spaces, these are just the tip of the iceberg when choosing where and how to use containers. This American Horticultural Society online program on May 1 at 1 pm will cover opportunities to showcase color, texture and personal aesthetics in both sun and shade conditions, the many types of containers available, styling lush plant combinations, proper “soil” mixes, moisture and nutrient requirements, impact plants, and end of season care. Get ready for some container inspiration!
Cheryl Salatino is a New England based landscape designer, educator, and native plant enthusiast. She started Dancing Shadows Garden Design twenty years ago to offer clients a more thoughtful and purposeful design aesthetic. What continues to inspire this designer is how the beauty and value of nature endlessly challenge, surprise, and teach us. Salatino received her certificate in landscape design from the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program of Harvard University. She has earned the status of Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist by the MA Nursery & Landscape Association and completed the UMASS Green School program in Landscape Management. She has also earned an Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and Design as part of the Native Plant Trust educational certificate program.
This American Horticultural Society virtual presentation on May 8 at 7 pm Eastern is a fascinating journey showcasing the development of different flower types and the presentation of floral resources to pollinators. Exploring the types of insect pollinators, their foraging behavior, and the floral features that attract pollinators, Heather will provide many specific examples of how native plants are pollinated and what pollinator is most effective and why. Please note, this program will not be recorded.
Heather Holm is a pollinator conservationist and award-winning author of four books: Pollinators of Native Plants (2014), Bees(2017), Wasps (2021), and Common Native Bees of the Eastern United States (2022). Both Beesand Wasps have won multiple book awards including the American Horticultural Society Book Award (2018 and 2022 respectively). Heather’s expertise includes the interactions between native pollinators and native plants, and the natural history and biology of native bees and predatory wasps. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Minneapolis Star Tribune, and many local publications. Heather is also an accomplished photographer and her pollinator photos are frequently featured in print and electronic publications.
Heather serves on the boards of the following non-profits: Friends of Cullen Nature Preserve and Bird Sanctuary, Friends of Minnetonka Parks, and the new Minnesota Oak Savanna Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts. In her spare time, she is an active community supporter, writing grants, and coordinating and participating in volunteer ecological landscape restoration projects. The latest project is a 13-acre oak savanna restoration that will provide thriving habitat for pollinators, birds, mammals, and passive, nature-based opportunities for people. REGISTER NOW. $15 AHS members, $20 nonmembers.
Short native plants and low-growing groundcovers have the potential to form dense undergrowth, creating a lush floor for your garden and contributing to the local ecosystem. Join the American Horticultural Society online on April 24 at 2 pm Eastern to explore the dynamics of plant competition in the understory, the role of site preparation, and plants native plants that will enrich your garden. Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer who specializes in naturalized designs, low-impact landscape techniques, and native plants. She works with homeowners, municipalities, and organizations through her business, Speaking of Landscapes. She has a master’s degree in ecological landscape planning and design from the Conway School and is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. Connolly has received award and recognition for her communications efforts on the topic of invasive plants.
REGISTER NOW $15 for AHS members, $20 for nonmembers.
In this American Horticultural Society online talk on April 17 at 2 pm Eastern, Dr. Douglas Tallamy shares his new book to address questions about ecological landscaping and further motivate people to help restore ecosystem function where they live, work, play, worship, and farm. Tallamy will offer insight on topics such as ecology and evolution, biodiversity, invasive species, insect declines, native and non-native plants, conservation and restoration, residential and city landscapes, urban issues, oak biology, keystone plants, Homegrown National Park, monarchs, supporting wildlife at home, and more.
Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 114 research publications and has taught insect related courses for 45 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His books include Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke; Nature’s Best Hope, a New York Times Best Seller; andThe Nature of Oaks, winner of the American Horticultural Society’s 2022 book award. In 2021 he co-founded Homegrown National Park with Michelle Alfandari (HomegrownNationalPark.org). His awards include recognition from The Garden Writer’s Association, Audubon, The National Wildlife Federation, Allegheny College, Ecoforesters, The Garden Club of America, The Herb Society, and The American Horticultural Society.
REGISTER NOW. $15 for AHS members, $20 nonmembers.
Cool down in New England next summer and learn with colleagues in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley!
Save the Date for NCYGS 2025
The American Horticultural Society is excited to share that the 33rd annual National Children & Youth Garden Symposium will be held in Hartford, Connecticut from Tuesday, July 8 to Friday, July 11, 2025. The symposium will focus on “Science & History in Youth Gardening” and will be headquartered at the Connecticut Science Center. Full details and registration will become available in January. Mark your calendars now.
2025 NCYGS Call for Sessions
The American Horticultural Society is now accepting session proposals for the 33rd annual National Children & Youth Garden Symposium, “Science and History in Youth Gardening,” in Hartford, CT from Tuesday, July 8 to Friday, July 11, 2025. We encourage youth garden educators from across the fields to apply! Please review the proposal guidance and submit your session proposals by Friday, January 3, 2025. All submissions will be notified of decisions in January 2025. For further information and to submit a proposal, visit NCYGS 2025.
In this American Horticultural Society online talk on November 21 at 2 pm Eastern, we will explore why fallen leaves, sticks, and dead-head flowers are important to wildlife and soil fertility. Then, we will address practical concerns that arise when we keep autumn materials on home or community properties. How can careful plant selection, plant care, timing, and good landscape design help us to keep properties attractive at the same time as we practice good stewardship? This talk is accompanied by an extensive reference document. $15 for AHS members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at www.ahsgardening.org
Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer who specializes in naturalized designs, low-impact landscape techniques, and native plants. She works with homeowners, municipalities, and organizations through her business, Speaking of Landscapes. She has a master’s degree in ecological landscape planning and design from the Conway School and is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. Connolly has received award and recognition for her communications efforts on the topic of invasive plants.
Experience the breathtaking landscapes of South Africa on our immersive American Horticultural Society’s program designed to showcase the country’s rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and natural wonders. Set against the backdrop of wildflower season, explore the vibrant city of Cape Town and the Cape Floral Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its exceptional array of plant species and wildlife. Highlights include visits to the iconic Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, the lush oasis of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and a delightful visit with members of the Cape Horticultural Society at the enchanting Arderne Gardens. Discover the pristine landscapes of the Weylands Wildflower Reserve, Nieuwoudtville, and the majestic Kagga Kamma Reserve, where ancient rock formations and awe-inspiring vistas await. In the picturesque wine country surrounding Stellenbosch, enjoy the tranquility of its vineyards and gardens, including a guided tour of the renowned Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, the oldest university botanic garden in South Africa. At the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, delight in the harmonious interplay between art and the natural world. Extend your adventure with an optional program to Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park, or tailor your experience with personalized program extensions, ensuring your South African adventure is truly unforgettable.Your AHS hosts are David and Janice Ellis. For complete information visit https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/travel-study/2024-travel-study-programs/south-africas-blooming-landscapes-wildflowers-nature-reserves-and-gardens/
Red Protea in Kirstenbosch, Cape Town against the backdrop of Table mountain, South Africa. Pincushion flower in Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa
