August 19, 2016
The 64th Alumni Educational Conference is part of the “Rooted in the Garden” special event activities at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and Botanical Gardens.
 

Saturday, September 10, 2016
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $80/person, $65 for spouses
Dinner: $75

NPC School of Horticulture
2565 Niagara Parkway,
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 2S7

Seating is limited
Registration now open


 

Keynote speaker: Dr. Allan Armitage
Stories from the Garden

Dr. Armitage (Dr. A) is an Emeritus Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia (UGA). He is well known as a writer, speaker and researcher throughout the world and has written over 70 academic papers and 500 industry papers. He has written 14 books that serve as classroom texts, reference books and gardeners’ companions. His newest book “It’s Not Just About The Hat” describes his journey from a boy in Canada to an internationally known horticulturist. Dr. A holds academic degrees from McGill University, Canada, University of Guelph, Canada and Michigan State University, USA. His company, Garden Vistas, has organized tours to the great gardens of the world every year for over 25 years. His photos have been published widely in books, and are sold online for use on labels, bench tags or books. He has introduced over 20 plants to the gardening community, including Verbena 'Homestead Purple’ and ‘Margarita’ ornamental sweet potato. He also developed and maintained The Trial Gardens at UGA where new plants from breeders throughout the world are evaluated for heat and humidity performance.
 

Alex Henderson
The Value of Royal Botanical Gardens in the 21st Century

Alex Henderson has studied horticulture, curatorial practices for botanic gardens, plant sciences and museological studies in the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States. He worked in the School of Horticulture at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in the UK before becoming Curator of Living collections at TheRoyal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. He additionally serves as the Chair of the Plant Collections Professional section for the American Public Gardens Association.
 

Steven Biggs
Edibles in Urban Landscapes

Steven Biggs is a journalist and author specializing in gardening, farming, and food production. A life-long gardener, one of his earliest garden memories is stealing a carrot from his Baba’s prized vegetable garden.
He encourages his three young children to steal as many carrots as they want from his own garden.
With a degree in horticultural science from the University of Guelph, he has worked in greenhouse and nursery production, plant propagation, biological controls, horticultural supplies, and farm marketing. Steven peppers his talks and writing with personal anecdotes. Just ask him about his parsnip wine! He believes the best way to grow non-gardeners into avid gardeners is for them to see how fun gardening really is. Steven’s book, No Guff Vegetable Gardening, co-authored with Donna Balzer, is a Canadian bestseller. His award-winning book, Grow Figs Where You Think You Can’t is full of ideas for growing figs in cold climates. He wrote his latest book, Grow Gardeners. Kidtested Gardening with Children, with his nine-year-old daughter, Emma.
 

Marion Jarvie
True Diversity in Small Gardens

Marion Jarvie is a passionate plantswoman who has been gardening in Thornhill for over 40 years. She loves plants and invites any and all to her garden where you will find the hardiest of varieties side by side withplants from all over the world. Marion has been involved with both the Toronto and International gardening communities. Marion is an accomplished photographer and enthusiastic educator. She teaches regularly at the Toronto Botanical Garden and has lectured all over North America and in the UK.  
 
The 64th Alumni Association Educational Conference is part of the “Rooted in the Garden” special event activities at the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture and Botanical Gardens on Sat. Sept. 10, 2016.
Also enjoy an indoor exhibition by the Parkway Artists' Guild and the Garden Club of Niagara presenting an
original Fine Art and Floral Sale and Show. For the first time ever, the creative talents of the Parkway
Artists' Guild and the Garden Club of Niagara join together for an exciting indoor exhibition. Selected fine
artists and floral artists use broad themes to link their art together in vignettes. Fill your senses with sculptural floral designs and beautiful original paintings. This is a one day special event at the School of Horticulture, with many other activities elsewhere in the Botanical Gardens to celebrate 80 years of growth.