We are very pleased that James Locklear has agreed to be part of the Speakers Tour and present programs to the Western Chapters the first 3 weeks of March 2013.

Jim has had a love of plants since childhood, and has been fortunate to work in the field of public horticulture for most of his career. Formerly director of the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Kansas and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, he is currently Director of Conservation for Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Nebraska.

Jim has worked with plants in the wild and in the garden. He received a B.S. in biology from the University of Central Missouri and M.S. in plant and soil science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. As a botanist, he has conducted field studies of imperiled plants for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy and has published papers on taxonomy and nomenclature in the genus Phlox. As a horticulturist, he has introduced several Great Plains native wildflowers into the nursery trade.

Jim has published articles in gardening and nature magazines including American Gardener, American Nurseryman, Fine Gardening, Horticulture, NEBRASKAland and Wyoming Wildlife. He contributed two chapters to Rock Garden Plants of North America (Timber Press 1996). His first book, Phlox: A Natural History and Gardener's Guide (Timber Press 2011), is the result of 15 years of research and writing that took Jim all across America to study Phlox species in their natural habitats. Jim's Phlox book was funded, in part, by NARGS's Norman Singer Endowment Grants.

Topics:

"The View from Phlox Mountain"

Phlox is a genus of 60 species that includes many of America's most beloved wildflowers, and has yielded plants that are cultivated by gardeners around the world. This illustrated presentation will explore the ecology of these beautiful plants and the remarkable wild places in which they occur all across America.

"Naming and Taming the Flame"

"Flowers the color of glowing flame" is the meaning behind the Linnaean name Phlox. The botanical and horticultural history of the genus Phlox stretches over three centuries and is rich in adventure and colorful personalities. This illustrated presentation will examine the stream of characters engaged in discovering, describing, and bringing the flame into cultivation.

"Jewels of the Plains Rediscovered"

Claude Barr's 1983 classic, Jewels of the Plains, opened the eyes of gardeners around the world to the beauty and horticultural attributes of the flora of the Great Plains. This illustrated presentation will take the audience on a journey across the prairies and plains of America to rediscover the garden-worthy plants that won Barr's affection.
 

We are pleased to announce that J. Ian Young will travel to the United States during the last three weeks of October, 2013 to present programs to the Eastern Chapters of NARGS.

Ian is an accomplished Artist, Photographer, Writer, Lecturer and Plantsman Extraordinaire. Along with his wife, Margaret, he has gardened for forty years in Aberdeen, Scotland. He has concentrated his attention on the study of bulb cultivation (but not to the exclusion of other plants) for the past twenty years and has written a Bulb Log Diary, for the Scottish Rock Garden Club web site, since 2003. He is also part of the editorial team (including his wife Margaret) who created the much looked forward to monthly e-magazine "International Rock Gardener"

He is a popular speaker, and has lectured widely throughout Europe, including the U.K. and Scandinavia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. He is a member of the SRGC Council and served as President from 2000-2003. He led the development of the SRGC web site and continues as its Chairman.

He is widely known for developing the method of turning polystyrene (Styrofoam) fish boxes into troughs that mimic the appearance of real stone and has often given demonstrations to groups.

Topics:

"HIGHLAND GATHERING"
Talk for the 2011 International Conference looking at the development and philosophy of our garden.

"HIGH RISE AND TIME SHARE"
A look at our garden, some of the plants we grow and how we make maximium use of all the planting space.

"INSPIRED TO ROCK"
The gardens and places that inspired me to grow rock garden plants and how I interpreted them into our garden.

"TROUGHS: A FISHY TALE"
Showing a number of ways to make troughs including using Styrofoam fish boxes, paint and cement. It also includes how to plant and maintain troughs and raised beds.

"OFF THE WALL"
A very different talk comparing my work as an artist how I view things and how it fits in with my gardening. I created this talk as a one off for a Scottish Groups Christmas meeting where they wanted something different - off the wall-. Originally it was intended as a once only but I have given it a number of times now by popular request.

"AROUND 'ERICACEOUS'"
A look at the ERICACEOUS plants we have grown and associated plants in our garden.

"BULB LOG LIVE"
A selection of bulbs that have featured and tips given in my weekly bulb log.

"BULBS FROM SEED"
A detailed look at how we grow bulbs in pots.

"BULBS IN THE GARDEN"
How we use bulbs in the garden to create interest and colour for as many months as possible - concentrates on the use of bulbs rather than their botany.

"WOODLAND BULBS"
A look at the range of woodland bulbs we grow.

"FRITILLARIA ARE THEY ALL WEE BROWN BELLS?"
A look at the variation within this fascinating genus.

"DWARF NARCISSUS" A look at the dwarf Narcissus we have grown and pot culture.

"ERYTHRONIUM IN CULTIVATION"
A look at the genus and cultivation methods based on my own experience.

"NATURE - THE GARDENERS TUTOR."
Looking at the lessons that I have learned from both visiting plants in the wild and observing them in the garden.

Any Group wishing two talks should check with Ian Young first as some have a degree of overlap which is best avoided.