SFA Gardens lecture series to feature colorful maples

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, in the Agriculture Building, Room 110, at 1924 Wilson Drive. Nurseryman Keith Johansson, owner of Metro Maples in Fort Worth, will present "A Maple for Every Spot."

His presentation will highlight his Shantung maple test-program cultivars, and Johansson speculates that the future use of these in varied climates will someday surpass that of Japanese maples.

Metro Maples is in its 17th year as a grower of Japanese and Shantung maples and has an inventory of more than 15,000 trees on six acres. The inventory encompasses more than 75 varieties that come in all sizes and colors and includes those that do well in the heat, for either sunny or shady locations.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series is normally held the third Thursday of each month at the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture's SFA Mast Arboretum. Refreshments are served by the SFA Gardens volunteers before the lecture, with a rare plant raffle being held afterward. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves lecture series fund are always appreciated.

For more information, contact Greg Grant at (936) 468-1863 or grantdamon@sfasu.edu.