On the QT | The Official Newsletter of GWA February-March 2016 | Page 11

REGIONAL NEWS & NOTES “This will allow me more time to focus all of my efforts on building Garden Solutions, LLC, which is the name of my breedingwholesale production company, and home SunSparkler Sedums, Chick Charms Hens & Chicks and Winter Thriller Hellebore breeding programs,” he said. A year ago, Hanson and crew completed a colorful 3,000 square foot rock garden, which is used as a showpiece and photography stage for all of Garden Solutions’ hardy introductions. Chris’ email also has changed to [email protected]. REGION IV CHEVAL OPP Katie Elzer-Peters is the new editor in chief of the APLD Journal, The Designer, effective Jan. 1. Jenks Farmer shares slides and stories from his book, Deep Rooted Wisdom: Stories and Lessons from Generations of Gardeners, around the country this winter and spring: Feb. 5, Horticulture Symposium, Greensboro, North Carolina; Feb. 29, Boca Grande, Florida; March 19, Memphis Master Gardeners; April 7, Denver Botanical Garden’s Bonfils Stanton Lecture Series. He presents a workshop on the history, culinary use, propagation and fanatical collectors of big bulbs, including Crinum lilies, at the Denver Botanical Garden, April 8. In April, he starts tours of his organically managed field nursery and 18th century farm near Augusta, Georgia. Tours are limited to horticulture and gardening groups. More information can be found on jenksfarmer.com/events. Plant Development Services Inc. is thrilled to announce the introduction of Encore® Autumn Fire azalea, available at retail this spring. In addition, PDSI’s Buddy Lee will speak at the Southern Springs Home and Garden Show in Charlotte, North Carolina, Feb. 26 and 27. For more information: southernshows.com. Buddy is also speaking at the Atlanta Home and Garden Show, March 18 to 20 (atlantahomeshow.com/ahs-index.html). On March 2, Brent Heath entertains the members of the Talbot Garden Club in Easton, Maryland, with his informative talk, “Bulbs for the Deep South”. Brent presents “Bulbs: Their Use, Planting and Maintenance” on March 9 for the James City County Master Gardener’s training in the Chesapeake Lounge. On March 12, Brent gives a presentation for the Williamsburg Home Show at William & Mary Hall. Brent is in Atlantic, Iowa on March 19 giving the keynote presentation for the Cass County Master Gardeners. On April 15, Brent gives a “Living Flower Arrangements” talk and workshop at the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury, Massachusetts. Various other clubs and organizations will be visiting Brent and Becky’s Bulbs for seminars, workshops and garden tours between mid February and mid April. Brienne Gluvna Arthur’s speaking schedule is full, too. She talks about “Foodscaping” at the Charlotte (North Carolina) Garden Club, March 21; the Farm Bureau Ag to School Conference, March 26 and the Georgia Perennial Plant Association in Atlanta, April 19. Brie speaks about “The Heritage Collection of Camellias & Heirloom Tomatoes” at Colonial Williamsburg, April 24. Teresa Watkins is the evening banquet speaker at the Florida Federation of Garden Club State Convention, April 18. The convention is at the Embassy Suites, Lake Buena Vista South, Kissimmee. Teresa’s talk, “Your Garden Muse: Transforming Your Garden Inspirations Into Landscape Realities,” highlights the convention’s theme of Inspired Gardening. The American Rhododendron Society and the Azalea Society of America present a joint convention in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, April 20 to 24. Tours are planned to public and private gardens in Richmond, Norfolk and Gloucester, including Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. GWA President Kirk R. Brown opens the meeting with his hilarious presentation as the early American plant explorer John Bartram. For more information: arsasaconvention2016.org. You must be a member of one of the societies to attend. REGION V BILL ADAMS Denny Schrock makes the rounds of the speaker’s circuit this winter and spring. On Feb. 11 at Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa, he presents “The Weird and Wonderful World of Orchids.” At Coe College on March 5 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he teaches classes on “Succulent Savvy: Easy-care Plants for the Garden” and “Plant Combinations That Work: Great Go-togethers.” At the West Pottawattamie Spring Gardening Conference in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on March 26, he talks on “Flower Gardening for Small Spaces” and at the Siouxland Garden Show at the Sioux City (Iowa) Convention Center on April 2, he reprises the class on plant combinations and also speaks on “Inspiration From Great Gardens Near and Far.” Jodi Torpey’s new book, Blue Ribbon Vegetable Gardening, kicks off the 2016 gardening season with presentations and book signings at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show in Seattle, Feb. 18 and 19; the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, March 16; the Western Landscape Symposium in Pueblo, Colorado, March 19 and the Wyoming Master Gardeners Conference, April 9, in Caspar. For more information: [email protected]. Pam Penick, award-winning blogger and author, presents, “Hold the Hose! How to Make Your Garden Water Thrifty and Beautiful,” Feb. 27, at the Natural Gardener Nursery in Austin, Texas. Pam is the author of Lawn Gone!, and her new book, The Water-Saving Garden, will be released in late February. Kelly Norris speaks at the Guilford Horticultural Society’s annual symposium in Greensboro, North Carolina, March 5, followed by an appearance at the Philadelphia Flower Show the following weekend, March 12. On April 1 he speaks at 11