Sonoma Botanical Garden’s Ribbit Exhibit (Glen Ellen, CA)

Sonoma Botanical Garden leaps into spring with Ribbit Exhibit, a whimsical, family-friendly presentation of more than 20 larger-than-life frog characters placed in vignettes throughout the Garden. Each with their own name and story, the enchanting human-sized sculptures by artist Andy Cobb include Zenny meditating on a leaf on the Garden’s Pond, Bentley and his tortoise friend Tortuga ambling along the California Oaks Trail, dapper Floyd and his elegant partner Grace cutting the rug amongst the flowers, and many others.

TROLLS: Save the Humans (Nashville, TN)

The imaginative exhibition Trolls: Save the Humans by artist Thomas Dambo blends art,
nature, and messages of sustainability. Six giant trolls are intertwined with Cheekwood’s
unique gardens, trees, and historic landscape for a one-of-a-kind storytelling
experience. Denmark-based recycle artist Thomas Dambo brings a creative approach to
his multifaceted installations. Dambo’s vision is to create art that inspires people to have
adventures in nature and demonstrate that trash can be turned into something
beautiful. Children and adults alike will enjoy imagining each of the six featured trolls’
tales while considering their messages to humankind.

Plant Amnesty/Prohort Master Pruner Series for Professionals (Virtual)

This lecture series, offered twice annually in partnership with PlantAmnesty, is designed for those who work in landscape maintenance. Each lecture provides information on tools and techniques for quality pruning with better long-term results and customer satisfaction.

Incognito Art Auction (Memphis, TN)

The Memphis Botanic Garden (MBG) is pleased to announce the Incognito Art Auction & Party
will return in 2024 after a year and a half hiatus. Incognito, now in its 14th year, was traditionally held in
January, but starting in 2024 this beloved event will take place in July. The artwork is on view July 8-28 in the
Garden’s Visitors Center and Grand Hallway with online bidding open July 15-28.
The in-person Party will take place on July 28 from 6-8 pm. Attendees will mix & mingle with the Incognito
artists at this exciting culmination of the art auction. Live music from Kenneth Jackson will delight while
attendees make their final bids on the diverse selection of artwork up for auction this year. Small bites & two
drinks are included with each ticket. Party tickets are $35 for MBG Members and $45 for non-members.

Perennial Plant Association National Symposium 2024 (Asheville, NC)

Get ready for an incredible experience at the 2024 National Symposium on July 29 – August 1! This event promises to be the ultimate gathering for perennial plant enthusiasts, featuring an array of exciting tours, educational sessions, and networking opportunities.

Pruning for Natural Areas Workshop (Seattle, WA)

Advance registration required.
Cost: $87

Natural area landscapes hold an important place and functions in the urban environment. Managing vegetation along trails, roads, and other edges can pose a variety of challenges for the available stewardship resources. This lecture and hands-on workshop will cover how to manage and prune native vegetation adjacent to trails, drives, and streets for optimal environmental functions, appearance, safety, & visibility. The lecture will include current best pruning practices and how they translate for the specific goals and functions of natural area plantings. Considerations for reducing long-term labor needs and how to lengthen the time between pruning cycles will be covered, along with common pruning techniques that are ineffective and why. After the lunch break, the class will students get practice using the best pruning techniques for the most effective results, working on a variety of native plants. Field session will be held in the Union Bay Natural Area at the Center for Urban Horticulture. This class is open to everyone, but geared towards public works, maintenance, and landscape crew members as well as community stewardship volunteers, supervisors, and field staff.

Summer Short Course (Pittsburgh, PA)

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Penn State Extension invite gardening enthusiasts to explore composting at this year’s annual Summer Short Course. With a robust line-up of local experts, attendees will learn about topics like composting principles, common contaminants in urban soils, using compost and so much more.

Summer Short Course sessions will include the following:
Composting Principles for Organic Plant Production | Lily Means and Jesse Barrett
Soil Texture, Soil Structure, and Compost | Margaret Sams
Community Composter School | Dora Walmsley
Digging into Common Contaminants in Urban Soils | Hayly Hoch
Using Compost | Dr. Elsa Sánchez

Summer Short Course, presented by Phipps and Penn State Extension, will be held in-person on Tues., July 30 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Registration costs $95. This event will be held in the Special Events Hall at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This conference counts for Master Gardener Continuing Education credit, and elective hours for Phipps certificate programs: Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape and Garden Design.

Lifelong Learning: Ecological Horticultural Techniques (Virtual)

With Anna Fialkoff, the Arboretum Horticulturist at Connecticut College, where she supervises the management of the 750-acre Arboretum, including a 30-acre native plant collection.

Santa Fe Iris Society Rhizome Sale (Santa Fe, NM)

The SFIS rhizome sale will be held on Saturday August 3 at 9 am – 12 pm (or until sold out) at the DeVargas Center on N. Guadalupe and Paseo de Peralta
These rhizomes are excess rhizomes from our members’ gardens and are proven growers in our climate. The rhizomes have been donated by our members and freshly dug from their own gardens. All rhizomes are cleaned, labeled and dipped in a disinfectant solution.

Lifelong Learning: Sustainable Gardens in a Changing Climate: Adapting Practices for Resilience (Virtual)

With Angelica Patterson, an environmental educator, plant ecophysiologist, and science communicator, who is known as “The Shotgun Scientist” for her work in studying how trees respond to climate change.