PRESENTERS

Find experts in a wide range of gardening and environmental topics for your next garden club meeting or special event. See our list of suggested presenters below.

Speakers are listed alphabetically by last name with areas of expertise highlighted below. Click on any name to learn more. Interested in being featured on this list? Submit this online application and we will follow up with you.

Matthew Alfs
Edible and medicinal weeds and wild plants

 

Faith Applequist
Pruning, fruit trees, trees for MN, climate change and steps to sustainability

 

Marty Bergland
Growing, preserving, drying and cooking with MN produce

 

Julia Brokaw
Pollinators, native bees, nesting habitat for bees, tallgrass prairie seed mixes and management, prescribed burns, science and conservation policy

 

Paul Buck
Tree pruning and maintenance, community gardens, greening projects, landscaping for wildlife and energy conservation, prairie gardens

 

Meg Cowden
Pushing the growing season; Season-extending strategies for spring and fall; Succession planting; Creating beautiful and functional food gardens with interplanting; Growing unique, novel, and unusual foods in cold climates; Adapting our gardening to climate change

 

Cheryl Culbreth
Restoration of native plant habitats to benefit pollinators and other wildlife, and effective strategies to control buckthorn, garlic mustard and other non-native invasive plants

 

Bob Dahm
Organic lawncare, alternative turf, biological buckthorn remediation, soil health, season extension for northern gardens

 

William Dougherty
Water iris, low-maintenance landscapes, tubers and corms, lilies, rock gardens

 

Elaine Evans
Pollinators 

 

Thea Evans
stem and wood nesting bee ecology and conservation, pollinator conservation in gardens and landscapes, native plants for pollinators

 

Soni Forsman
Water gardening in containers, pondless waterfalls, growing lotus and waterlilies

 

Kiley Friedrich
Habitat, monarch conservation, pollinator research and habitat

Philippe Gallandat
Fearless pruning, garden art, plant propagation, container gardening, backyard berry growing, herbs, rock gardens, repairing shrub and tree injuries

 

Chad Giblin
Tree and shrub identification, developmental pruning of young trees, tree preservation techniques, advanced tree risk assessment technology and techniques, recreational tree climbing

 

Heidi Heiland
Container gardening, edible landscapes, perennials, horticultural therapy, future of gardenscaping, environmental trends

 

Russ Henry
Soil health, planting for pollinators, ecosystem heroes, avoiding pesticides, food forests

 

Heather Holm
Pollinators, native bee biology and natural history, beneficial insects, native plants, ecological landscape restoration, pollination ecology

 

Jane Horn 
Shade gardening, ornamental plant selection and design tips, containers for shade and sun

 

Mimi Hottinger
Urban forestry, invasive plant issues, pruning, choosing trees and shrubs

 

Jenn Hovland
Gardening, houseplants and floral design

 

Gail Hudson
Any topic concerning the home gardener! Spring bulbs, bulb-sprinkling technique & how to mix spring bulbs with perennials; how to choose the best perennials for your yard, best perennial combinations, beautiful entry gardens, shrubs with pizazz, shrubs for containers, the right small tree for your garden, ornamental grasses, native plants for sun & shade, pollinator gardens for sun and shade, landscape design for bee-friendly, earth friendly landscapes, designing an Asian-inspired garden, vegetable gardening.

 

Rick Juliusson
MSHS strategic plan, expanding the society's reach over next five years and impact in the Minnesota (and beyond) horticultural movement

 

Joel Karsten
Straw bale gardening, landscape lighting, composting, building an outdoor room, year-round container gardening

Jennifer Knutson
Cutting garden, peonies, clematis, miniature gardens, shade gardens, moon gardens, houseplants, lilies, hostas, flowering shrubs, spring-blooming bulbds, attracting birds and butterflies, vines, outdoor entertaining

 

Vera Krischik
Pest management, Japanese beetles, pollinator conservation, native bees and pesticides, rose pests, climate change and insects, exotic insects

 

Debbie Lonnee
New perennials and woody plants, evolution of Bailey Nurseries brands

 

Jim Lovestar
Food dehydration, growing microgreens and sprouts, composting

 

Peter MacDonagh
Urban trees, greenroofs, trees and stormwater, green infrastructure, soil analysis, wetland and shore restoration, landscaping for wildlife

 

Diane McGann
Garden design rules, creating curb appeal, front entry gardening, therapeutic horticulture, art in the garden

 

Peggy Nerdahl
Lilies: jewels in the garden, examples of lily divisions in the genus lilium, planting, care and propagation of lilies, MN Hybridizers and their lilies, Lilies in New Zealand

 

Gail Nozal
Pruning trees and shrubs, landscaping for energy conservation, urban trees, evergreens, pests and diseases of urban trees, bur oak blight, oak wilt and Dutch elm disease

 

Lee Olson
Growing sprouts

 

Forrest Peiper
Lilies—general overview, trumpets and aurelians, and Adventures of a Backyard Hybridizer

 

Lisa Philander
Ethnobotanical talks, healing, South African medicinal plants

 

Vickie Pondell
Trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, nursery production practices

 

Ramsey County Master Gardeners
Climate Change in MN, Growing from Seeds, Home Composting, Houseplant Success, Pest Identification & Control, Pruning Trees & Shrubs, Physical Benefits of Being in Nature, Pollinator Support, Vegetable Gardening, Herb Gardening, Growing Microgreens, Food Preservation

Michelle Mero Riedel
Winter sowing, garden photography, cool-weather containers, best annuals and perennials, mixing veggies and herbs and flowers, container garden trends, adding adventurous color to the garden

 

Barbara Ronningen
Lilies 101, martagon lilies, plants for shade (not hosta), groundcovers, overwintering tender perennials

 

Theresa Rooney
Vegetable garden, sustainable/lazy permaculture, fall yard and garden care, hardy bulbs, critter control, garden in the shade

 

Kait Ryan
Public Horticulture Management, Integrated Pest Management Strategies and Challenges, Gardening with Sculpture/Art, Front Yard Gardening, Beyond the Tulip! Gardening with bulbs, Bare Branch Blooms! Adding early spring interest to the landscape, Minneapolis Park Gardens, Gardens of Seattle/Washington, Garden Travel Destinations

 

Stephen Saupe
Trees or shrubs of central MN, natural history of spring wildflowers, woodland flowers, edible wild plants

 

Susannah Shmurak
Eco-friendly yard practices, permaculture, growing natural remedies, foraging edible and medicinal plants, edible landscaping

 

Courtney Tchida
Planning your garden, starting seeds, growing vegetables and fruits, seed saving, organic and sustainable growing practices

 

Pete Widin
Perennial Vegetables, Perennial Medicinal Herbs/Plants, Intro to Ecological Landscaping, Edible Natives of the Midwest

 

James Wolfin
Pollinators, native plant gardening, bee lawns, sustainability, and turfgrass science

 

Benjamin Vogt
Garden ethics, landscaping for climate change, using natural plant layers for low maintenance design, gardening for winter interest, converting lawn to meadow, working with weed ordinances, seeding the garden

 

Amanda Yadav
Microgreens, growing microgreens at home