SFA Gardens lecture series to feature North Carolina garden writer

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host its monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 21, in Room 110 of the Agriculture Building located at 1924 Wilson Dr. Bobby Ward of Raleigh, N.C., will present a talk based on his most recent book, "Chlorophyll in His Veins - J.C. Raulston, Horticultural Ambassador."

Raulston founded the North Carolina State University Arboretum in 1976 and was one of the most influential horticulturists in America, a prolific public speaker, and a popular professor. After his death in 1996, the NCSU Arboretum was renamed the J.C. Raulston Arboretum in his honor.

"Raulston's work had a profound influence on the development and mission of the SFA Mast Arboretum and many other public gardens in America," said Greg Grant, Pineywoods Native Plant Center research associate.

A native of North Carolina, Ward lives in Raleigh and received an undergraduate degree in biology from East Carolina University. His master's and doctorate degrees in botany and plant physiology are from North Carolina State University. Ward worked for 25 years as an environmental scientist with Carolina Power & Light Company and is now retired.

Ward is also the author of "The Plant Hunters Garden," and "A Contemplation upon Flowers: Garden Plants in Myth and Literature." He is executive secretary and past president of the North American Rock Garden Society. He earned the society's Award of Merit in 2004 for his contributions to the group.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Garden Lecture Series is generally held the third Thursday of each month at the 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.

A meeting of the SFA Gardens Volunteers at 6:15 p.m. in Room 118 of the Ag Building prior to the lecture is open to the public. The volunteers will exchange gardening ideas and tips and discuss volunteer opportunities at SFA Gardens, including hands-on gardening, propagation, irrigation, children's educational activities, plant sale participation and azalea trail activities.

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