Robby will discuss what the science says about pollinator needs and how to meet those needs using herbaceous and woody perennials. He will talk about the native question, how flower structure affects pollinators, seasonality, and more.

About Robby Brockman: 
Robby Brockman is a horticulture extension agent for the University of Kentucky. His research and professional interests include sustainable specialty crop production, alternative specialty crops, plants and insect interactions, native plants, and urban forests.

Get a behind the scenes look at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens largest garden renovation and installation project to date! Designed in collaboration with Land Morphology, this project was planted with thousands of new perennials all grown onsite  and planted by their small but mighty team of horticulturists. From discovering the true meaning of a "public horticulturist" to the best way to dig a hole, you're in for a treat while we explore the project start to finish. Many things were learned and many more will never be done again.

About Sayde Heckman: Sayde Heckman is the Garden and Arboretum Manager at Yew Dell Botanical Gardens, a 64 acre public garden east of Louisville Kentucky. A hidden gem known for its mature tree specimens, planted by Theodore Klein and his family starting in the 1940's, and collectors style display gardens covering shade, sun, natives, and seasonal designs. She has a Bachelors of Science in Plant Science from the University of Missouri and a plant lover through and through as an active member of the Perennial Plant Association and Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association. Sayde strives to get people excited about the horticulture industry through whatever avenue possible; houseplants, annuals, perennials, trees, hands-on workshops, you name it. Plants are her passion!

Have you ever wondered what it takes to create the world-renowned conservatory displays at Longwood Gardens? Karl Gercens has been involved in the design, installation, and maintenance of Longwood’s glasshouse wonders for half his life. With over 30 countries and 3,000+ gardens visited, he has seen some of the best components of what makes a great garden. Join Karl as he shares his most exciting floral finds and marvel at the end results at Longwood’s Grand Conservatory; hear how Karl juggles his schedule; be inspired and pick up tips on maximizing your time and cash to get out and enjoy a few of these places yourself!

About Karl Gercens: Karl Gercens is a nationally recognized horticulturist whose passion for plants began on a 10,000-acre cotton plantation in Mississippi and led to a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from Mississippi State University. His career includes hands-on experience at world-class institutions such as Longwood Gardens, Filoli Estate, and Walt Disney World, where he refined a design approach that blends innovation with time-tested perennial gardening practices. Known for his expert use of colorful foliage trees, shrubs, and perennials, Karl is a sought-after lecturer whose visually rich presentations draw on garden visits across all 50 states and more than 20 countries.

Tropicals make a big splash in any garden, and mix beautifully with perennials and shrubs. Their bold foliage and exotic blooms stand out whether they are incorporated in large landscape displays or everyday backyard gardens and containers. Get a refresher on tried and true varieties, as well as some hot new selections that will make any perennial purist think twice.

About Jason Reeves: Jason Reeves grew up on a farm in West Tennessee, where he fell in love with the plant world. He received his Master’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 2002, he became a research horticulturist and curator of the University of Tennessee Gardens located at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee. Jason’s colorful plant combinations and unique garden art, made by recycling everyday objects, draws several thousand people to the Center's annual lawn and garden show, Summer Celebration. His past experiences include work at the Opryland Conservatories in Nashville, Missouri Botanical Garden, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, and in private gardens in New Zealand. When he’s not bringing the grounds to life with his imaginative garden displays, he’s evaluating hundreds of new and unique plants for the state’s green industry; speaking at gardening symposiums or traveling the world leading gardening tours, and serving as a contributing editor to Fine Gardening magazine. He is also a landscape designer and consultant whose influence may be seen in landscapes across Tennessee in the form of distinct plant combinations. You can follow him on Facebook at Jason Reeves – in the garden.

Let’s face it: some plants are just better than others! In the plant world, new is not always better. With his extensive experience in gardens and landscapes Jason focuses on dependable new and older, but underutilized, good garden performers may of which attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your domain. This talk will have you racing to the nursery to try out these champions of the garden.

About Jason Reeves: Jason Reeves grew up on a farm in West Tennessee, where he fell in love with the plant world. He received his Master’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. In 2002, he became a research horticulturist and curator of the University of Tennessee Gardens located at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee. Jason’s colorful plant combinations and unique garden art, made by recycling everyday objects, draws several thousand people to the Center's annual lawn and garden show, Summer Celebration. His past experiences include work at the Opryland Conservatories in Nashville, Missouri Botanical Garden, Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, and in private gardens in New Zealand. When he’s not bringing the grounds to life with his imaginative garden displays, he’s evaluating hundreds of new and unique plants for the state’s green industry; speaking at gardening symposiums or traveling the world leading gardening tours, and serving as a contributing editor to Fine Gardening magazine. He is also a landscape designer and consultant whose influence may be seen in landscapes across Tennessee in the form of distinct plant combinations. You can follow him on Facebook at Jason Reeves – in the garden.

This talk will take you down a path of design discovery and offer a list of recommended pairings of annuals and perennial plants that have been tested and proven over time to be the best sustainable plant selections for our urban areas.

About Kyra Back: I have been in the horticulture industry for 40 years. I am a graduate of Temple University and have been at the Cincinnati Botanical Garden and Zoo since 1992. Over time I have touched my toes in many parts of the industry including lawn care, garden center management, the floral business, nursery growing and management, annual/ perennial design and installment. My career passions include inspiring people to garden sustainably and creating designs that invite wildlife to the garden. My life passions include introducing and inspiring others to be interested in the fascinating world of plants; hiking and discovering all the plants along the hike, travel, biking and generally enjoying the outdoors; getting down and dirty creative…mostly with glass and fiber arts. And I hold a special place in my heart for trees.