FEATURED SPEAKERS

Paul Cappiello, Ph.D. 
Executive Director, Yew Dell Botanical Gardens 

Dr. Paul Cappiello is widely known as one of the nation’s foremost plantsmen. With a background that spans academic research, extensive public and private garden design, new plant evaluation and introduction, and distinguished industry service, he has published more than 600 academic and popular press articles, books and digital offerings. For the last 20 years he has served as the founding executive director of Yew Dell Botanical Gardens that has rapidly grown from one part-time employee to a staff of nearly 30 and a collection of plants and gardens that attracts visitors from across the globe. Dr. Cappiello is recipient of numerous honors and awards including the American Horticultural Society’s highest recognition, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award. 

Session Title:  Woody Workhorses 
Drawing on more than 40 years of collecting, evaluating, growing and killing plants (both woody and herbaceous!) from across the globe, Paul will take us along on some of his adventures in gardening with woody plants. So much more than just the “bones of the garden”, woody plants can serve just about every  purpose in the garden. Indeed, if you ask Paul (and even if you don’t ask him!) he’d tell you that it’s simply impossible to build a proper garden without a woody plant. So bring your best throwing darts and get ready for a fun and spirited discussion . . . 

Laura Deeter, Ph.D. 
Professor and Coordinator, Ohio State University 

Laura Deeter received her PhD in horticulture from The Ohio  State University after studying road-salt tolerance in herbaceous perennials under Dr. Steve Still. She is currently a Professor of Horticulture at The Ohio State University in Horticulture and Crop Science and the Sandy and Andy Ross Endowed Director of the Chadwick Arboretum. She has taught a multitude of horticulture classes including: Woody and Herbaceous Plant Identification, Landscape Design, Sustainable Landscaping, Plant Health Management, Landscape Construction, and Ecology, to name a few. She was awarded the ATI Distinguished Teaching Award three times, the OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Perennial Plant Association Teaching Award the American Horticulture Society Teaching Award, Perennial Plant Association Service Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Landscape Association and Professor of the Year from 
Instructure.  She travels extensively speaking on a variety of topics ranging from taxonomy and nomenclature to shade gardens, design, color, and specialty gardens and plants. At home she gardens on her tenth of an acre with her hubby, four dogs, 100 pink plastic flamingos and counts her 300+ species of perennials as dear friends. 

Session Title:  Shady Characters 
Hosta la vista, baby! Shade gardening doesn’t have to be just Hosta. There are dozens of plants for shady situations. Shade gardening is cooler (literally) than full sun gardening. Learn some new plants for various shady situations. 

Irvin Etienne 
Curator of Herbaceous Plants and Seasonal Garden Design, Newfields 

Irvin is the Curator of Herbaceous Plants and Seasonal Garden Design for The Garden at Newfields, where he has worked for over 30 years. In that position he helps the Horticulturists with their plant selection and garden design as well as designing and maintaining his own areas. While working in the 152 acres of 
Newfields’ gardens and grounds, which requires knowledge and skill with all manner of woody and herbaceous plants, Irvin lusts for and loves the tropical species most of all. He is a semi-regular contributor to Fine Gardening Magazine and was the recipient of Gold and Silver awards from GardenComm for his blogging at Newfields. In his own garden everything from cannas to eggplants to Magnolias coexist in a lush jungle fed by manure from his own rabbits and chickens. Obviously, a product of the Midwest, Irvin could be considered, well, a simple farm boy that likes shiny, sparkly things. And is easily distracted. 

Session Title:  Getting Beyond the Bloom 
We all have a strong tendency to select plants for our gardens based on their flower power. And there is nothing wrong with that. However, it limits the possibilities available to us. With most plants the flowering time is very short, maybe only a couple weeks, a month or two with the best. That same plant's foliage on the other hand can be on display for six months or longer. It would be wiser to choose plants based on their foliage power. Plants with gorgeous foliage range from the most tender tropicals to the hardiest perennials and woodies. Colors range from brightest yellow to darkest black, plus all the variegated options. You just may forget about the flowers. We'll be getting beyond the bloom.