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, July 19, in the Agriculture Building, Room 110, at 1924 Wilson Drive. Longtime Houston area horticulturist Linda Gay will present "The Life and Times of a Happy Horticulturist."

Before retiring, Gay served as director of the 325-acre Mercer Arboretum in Humble for 11 years. Prior to that, she was assistant director for three years, chief horticulturist for four years and horticulturist for seven years. Gay has long been a proponent of gingers, bamboo and other heat-tolerant tropical plants adapted to the coastal South. She can now be found working at the Arbor Gate Nursery in Tomball.

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. A rare plant raffle will be held after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series endowed fund are always appreciated.

For more information, call (936) 468-1832 or e-mail grantdamon@sfasu.edu.