NARGS Traveling Speakers Program (updated May 2025)
The Traveling Speakers Program in 2025 is funded by donations from the New England, Piedmont, and Delaware Valley Chapters of NARGS. Some plans are still under development, so please check the NARGS website, chapter websites, or your local chapter leadership for updates and details as plans are developed and finalized.
Canada
Geir Moen, alpine plant expert and plant explorer from Norway.
- Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Victoria, British Columbia. Vancouver Island Rock Garden Society.
- Wednesday, September 10. Vancouver, British Columbia. Alpine Garden Club of British Columbia
- Thursday, September 11, Calgary, Alberta. Calgary Rock and Alpine Garden Society
- Saturday, September 13. Ottawa, Ontario. Ottawa Valley Rock Garden Society
- Sunday, September 14. Toronto, Ontario. Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society
- Wednesday, September 17. St. John’s, Newfoundland. Newfoundland Rock Garden Society
- Saturday, September 20. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Rock Garden Club
- Sunday, September 21, Montreal, Quebec. Quebec Alpine Rock Garden Society
Northeast Region
Paul Cumbleton, former head of the Alpine Section at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Wisley garden.
- Saturday, October 4, 2025. Littleton, Massachusetts. New England Chapter of NARGS. Alluring Alpines and Our Odyssey with Bulbs.
- Saturday, October 11. Ithaca, NY. Adirondack Chapter of NARGS. Alluring Alpines and Crevice Gardens
- Saturday, October 18. Berkshire Chapter of NARGS, West Stockbridge Massachusetts. Crevice Gardens and Alpines of the Wasatch and Ruby Mountains.
- Sunday, October 19. Tri-State meeting, New York City. Alluring Alpines and Our Odyssey with Bulbs.
Southeast/Mid-Atlantic Region
Julia Corden, horticultural consultant and botanical & garden tour guide.
- Friday, October 10, 2025. Raleigh, NC. Keynote speaker at 40th anniversary gala at Raulston Arboretum.
- Saturday, October 11. Raleigh, NC. Piedmont Chapter of NARGS
- Sunday, October 12. Potomac Chapter of NARGS
- Saturday, October 18. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Delaware Valley Chapter of NARGS,
- Sunday, October 19. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Allegheny Chapter of NARGS
Midwest Region
Paul Spriggs, rock gardener, crevice garden builder, and co-author of The Crevice Garden.
- Saturday, May 3, 2025. Roseville Minnesota. Minnesota Chapter of NARGS
- Sunday, May 4. Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin-Illinois chapter of NARGS.
- Saturday, May 10. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Great Lakes Chapter of NARGS
Western Region
Amy Schneider, Horticulturist at Denver Botanic Gardens.
- Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Vail, Colorado.
- Monday or Tuesday, September 29 or 30. Santa Fe, New Mexico. New Mexico Chapter of NARGS
- Saturday, October 11, 2025. Bay Area/Oakland, California. Western Chapter of NARGS.
- Wednesday, October 15, 2025. Sonora, California. Sierra Chapter of NARGS
- Dates to be announced: El Paso, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah
Pacific Northwest Region
Peter Zale, Associate Director of Conservation Horticulture and Plant Breeding at Longwood Gardens.
- Thursday, September 4, 2025. Portland, Oregon. Columbia-Willamette Chapter of NARGS
- Thursday, September 11, 2025. Seattle, Washington. Northwestern Chapter of NARGS.
- Sunday, September 14, 2025. Medford, Oregon. Siskiyou Chapter of NARGS.
Overall Chair
- Rosemary Monahan, New England Chapter
Regional Chairs:
- Northeast: Elisabeth Zander, Berkshire Chapter
- Southeast/Mid-Atlantic: Cyndy Cromwell, Piedmont Chapter
- Midwest/Central: Bonnie Ion, Great Lakes Chapter
- West: Panayoti Kelaidis and Steve Aegerter, Rocky Mountain Chapter
- Pacific Northwest: Christine Ebrahimi, Columbia-Willamette and Northwestern Chapters
- Eastern and Central Canada: Bella Seiden and Barbara Cooper, Ontario Rock Garden & Hardy Plant Society