NARGS Traveling Speakers Program (updated August 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. UPDATE SEPTEMBER 9, 2025: PLEASE NOTE: GEIR'S TOUR HAS BEEN CANCELLED BECAUSE OF HEALTH REASONS; HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED NEXT SPRING 2026. CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL CHAPTER LEADERS ABOUT CHAPTER SEPTEMBER MEETINGS.
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
Western Region
Amy Schneider, Horticulturist at Denver Botanic Gardens.
- Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Vail, Colorado.
- Thursday, September 25. 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
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 and also Alaska Chapter via Zoom. Building a Plant Explorer’s Garden.
- Thursday, September 11, 2025. Medford, Oregon. Siskiyou Chapter of NARGS.. Building a Plant Explorer’s Garden.
- Sunday, September 14, 2025. Bellevue, Washington. Northwestern Chapter of NARGS. Plant Exploration in the Caucasus.
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
