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NARGS SPEAKERS' TOUR PROGRAM - 2008

In October 1993, then President Norman Singer and the NARGS Board of Directors conceived the idea of bringing internationally known speakers to all local chapters, giving all chapters, regardless of size, the opportunity to hear world-class speakers on alpine gardening and various horticultural topics. Joyce Fingerut took on the planning responsibilities and in October 1994, Dr. Christopher Grey-Wilson, Editor of the Alpine Garden Society Bulletin and world plant explorer, inaugurated the tour. Since that time, three tours per year have been planned of up to six chapters each. NARGS pays travel expenses and plans the tour, and local chapters pay the speaker's honorarium, host the speaker during their time in their area, and show them interesting local gardens, wild places, and local attractions. This provides a chance for local chapters to hear outstanding plantspeople, meet and visit with them, and publicize their chapter activities to non-members. The Committee is currently under the leadership of Maria Galletti assisted by Harvey Wrightman and Eva Gallagher

Here are the outlines of the speakers' tours, brief biographical sketches and proposed lecture topics for the coming year:


Speaker Harry Jans is a rock gardener for more than 25-years, founder member of the Dutch Rock Garden Society and its president for 6 years. Member of 4 AGS Expeditions, ACE 1994, SQAE 2000, Iran Expedition 2003 & Tibet in 2005. AGS tour leader to various provinces in China in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2006, Tibet 2005 & Ethiopia and Kenya in 2006. He organized and led tours to China, Italy, the Czech Republic and Sweden. He is a regular lecturer at conferences and Study Weekends in Holland, Germany, England, Scotland, USA and Canada.
For more information visit: www.jansalpines.com
(Note: All slots on the tour are filled. No more chapters can be added.)

April 6th-April 26th 2008: Maria Galletti responsible

Harry Jans' Tour Schedule
DateChapter
Sun, April 6-8Eugene, OR (Emerald Ch.)
Wed, April 9Vancouver, BC
Thur, April 10Calgary
Sat, April 12-14Denver, CO (RMC)
Tues, April 15-16Portland, OR (Columbia Willamette)
Thur, April 17-19Seattle, WA (Northwestern Ch.)
Sun, April 20-22Salt Lake City, UT (Wasatch Ch.)
Wed, April 23-26Alaska (ARGS & Homer Garden Club)

Lecture topics
Growing Alpines in the "hills" of HollandMy own Rock Garden, Alpine House, Tufa Wall, etc. This includes building information and growing techniques.
The Cream of the European AlpsA mixture of the best alpine plants from the various corners of Europe.
The best of North-West Yunnan alpinesSpring & autumn flowers, places, and people.
A botanical tour through the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and SichuanAn account of the SQAE 2000 Expedition and a tour in 2001.
A closer look at the rich alpine flora in Sichuan provinceRegions of Wolong, Balang Shan, Huanglong & Guilin with many super plants such as Meconopsis punicea.
Plant hunting on the Roof of the WorldAn account of an AGS expedition to locations such as Lhasa, the Tibetan Plateau, and the Kangshung valley,
which is very close to Mount Everest; and with new exciting discoveries such as Meconopsis tibetica
and many such plants that will grow up to 5350m.
Iran in focusPlants, places and people in and around middle, eastern, and Western Iran.
High Alpines on the EquatorMany endemic alpines on the Bale Mountains in Ethiopia and on Mount Kenya. Highlights are the giant Lobelias
which can reach over 6m! These are areas not often visited by plant hunters.



Speaker Peter Korn: is a young, plant-obsessed, enthusiastic person from Sweden. He grows just about any plant imaginable in his garden, much in pure sand, including cacti. In addition, he has bog gardens and a pit alpine garden, as well as peat gardens. He has installed peat gardens at other locations in Scotland. He runs a nursery in Sweden.
For more information visit: www.peterkornstradgard.se
View or download Peter Korn's biography
(Note: All slots on the tour are filled. No more chapters can be added.)

March 22nd-April 13th 2008: Eva Gallagher responsible

Peter Korn's Tour Schedule
DateChapter
Sat, March 22Piedmont Chapter
Sun, March 24Manhattan Chapter
Wed, March 29Southern Appalachian Chapter
Sat, March 30Wisconsin Illinois Chapter
Tues, April 1Nova Scotia Rhododendron Society
Thur, April 3Newfoundland Chapter
Sat, April 5Nova Scotia Chapter
Sat, April 12Ottawa Chapter
Sun, April 13Montreal Chapter

Lecture topics
Building for growingA talk about my garden. How I do to create all different environments to be able to grow everything from Cacti to Orchids.
Including crevices, sand beds, peat walls, a jungle and other things that you need to have in a garden.
Rockgarden, my wayBuilding and designing a rock garden, my way. All kinds of beds from really hot and dry to cold and wet.
Raised beds and crevices. Also about growing in sand.
ArmeniaA country very rich in species. Amazing basalt cliffs, dry areas and alpine meadows.



Speaker Josef Halda is a noted botanist and seed collector from the Czech Republic, who has travelled the world to many obscure and botanically significant places to bring back unique collections of seed for sale. He is an expert and has written monographs on Primula, Daphne, Gentiana and Paeonia. His lectures are filled with exquisite, artistic and rare photos of plants in their native habitat.

April 12th-May 9th 2009: Harvey Wrightman responsible

Josef Halda's Tour Schedule
DateChapter
Sun, April 12ORGS Chapter, Toronto
Wed, April 15AGCBC Chapter, Toronto
Thur, April 16-18CRAGS Chapter, Calgary
Mon, April 20Shasta Chapter, Etna, CA
Tue, April 21Siskiyou Chapter, Medford, OR
Wed, April 29Western Chapter, San Francisco, CA
Thur, April 30Sierra Chapter, Sonora, CA
Sat, May 2Minnesota Chapter, Minneapolis, MN
Sun, May 3Ohio Chapter, Dayton, OH
Sat, May 9New England Chapter, Boston, MA

Lecture topics (partial list...)
Plants of Central Asia
Plants of China and Upper Burma
Plants of Siberia and Mongolia
Plants of the Balkans
Witches' Brooms (dwarf conifers)



View or download Etiquette suggestions for speakers' tour hosts.

In the planning stage for 2009, Josef Halda will visit the West Coast, and Pam Eveleigh will tour the East Coast.

In the planning stage for 2010, John Watson will visit the East Coast, and Beryl Bland will tour the West Coast.
If anyone is unfamiliar with John Watson, they can read up on him in Bobby Ward's book entitled "The Plant Hunter's Garden".

The Speakers' Tour is arranged by Maria Galletti, who can be reached by email or Phone: 1 450 243 5354