Dr. Michael Dirr
A renowned plantsman, Dr.Michael Dirr has introduced dozens of tree and shrub cultivars during his time at the University of Georgia Plant Introduction Program and through his company, Plant Introductions, Inc. He has written seven books including the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, now in its sixth edition, which is the most widely used book in the United States about landscape trees and shrubs.
His Friday evening keynote presentation, “In Praise of Noble Trees,” at the 2016 Master Gardener Volunteer state conference, hosted by Summit County Master Gardeners, promises to enthrall his audience as he expresses the many valuable traits of what he considers the Noble Trees and then reveals some recent introductions of improved landscape trees for urban and suburban sites. Dr. Dirr is passionate about educating and inspiring enthusiasts and says he keeps hammering away to persuade contractors and landscapers to plant the best trees for the intended sites.
On Saturday, his presentation of “Flowering and Evergreen Shrubs: An Alphabet Soup” will enlighten and excite those seeking to hear of the newest in woody plant varieties. Learn what it takes to develop a new variety of plant. How about a Hydrangea that is guaranteed to bloom – or a Crape Myrtle for northern climates? How nice it would be to know about the plants that perform as promised. Dr. Dirr and his colleagues have spent many years developing superior plants that re-bloom and those that will be able to withstand the recent climate extremes.
Dr. Doug Tallamy
Dr. Doug Tallamy, professor and chair of the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware, is an evangelist for planting native species and eliminating non-native plants that can’t properly support native wildlife. It’s a lesson that was reinforced on his own property in southeastern Pennsylvania, where he and his wife worked diligently to eradicate the alien species that made up more than one-third of the plants when they bought the parcel in 2000.
Dr. Tallamy continues to spread his gospel through his lectures and books. He won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writers Association for his book Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife With Native Plants. More recently, he and Rick Darke co-authored The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden.
In his keynote presentation (Saturday afternoon), “Treasures Among Our Natives, Tallamy will describe some of the fascinating ways animals interact with the native plants they depend on and describe some of the most productive plants homeowners can use in their landscape to nurture these animals. Anticipating, observing, and understanding these relationships will enrich our lives and further justify the use of natives in our yards.