At this watershed moment, we face a convergence of anthropogenic threats to the future of humanity and the diversity of our biosphere. Walker’s talk will make broad sense of the drivers of this polycrisis, what it all means for horticulture, and why gardens and gardening are a bigger part of the solution than it might first appear.
Walker is custodian of the Ruth Bancroft Garden aesthetics. He also propagates rare succulent plants from seed for use in the garden. He manages the collection of cycads which he uses throughout the garden to complement the garden’s collection of herbaceous perennials.
Depending on how you split or lump, California has over 125 species of Eriogonum. We will explore some of the most garden-worthy species, several of which are listed on the California Native Plant Society’s Inventory of Rare Plants.
Buckwheats make up the backbone of Rebecca’s Sierra Foothill garden, a phenomenon that happened completely by accident. She will outline the tale of her garden’s transformation through the years as she sought to create a native garden that would provide habitat for resident wildlife and pollinators. Eriogonums figure prominently in this drama.
This will show images, many taken in the wild, of some of the most important and interesting new introductions of Rhododendron species collected since 1980 when parts of China were re-opened to western plant exploration. Since then, many have been more thoroughly explored resulting in dozens of new species for our gardens and for scientific study. I will discuss their taxonomy and geography, their status in the wild, and their use in the garden.
Steve Hootman is the Executive Director & Curator of the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington.
Alpine plants have the misfortune of living in habitats that are among the most immediately and severely impacted by climate change. Rock gardens and rock gardeners play an increasingly pivotal role in conserving many of these little-known species which frequently are beyond the scope of most conservation programs. Crevice gardens are an excellent vehicle for this as well as providing a whole lotta fun while doing it.
The mission of the Conservancy is to facilitate the acquisition and introduction to North America of vulnerable ornamental plants of known wild provenance as well as from cultivated sources.
