SFA Gardens Lecture Series to feature university's horticulture professor

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - SFA Gardens at Stephen F. Austin State University will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, 2900 Raguet St. in Nacogdoches.

Dr. Jared Barnes, assistant professor of horticulture in SFA's Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, will present "Headed Down South from the Land of the Pines: Reflections on the Plants, People, and Places of North Carolina."

At SFA, Barnes pursues how to best cultivate plants and connect students with horticulture. He manages the Sprout Garden along Starr Ave., a trial ground for edibles and perennials in East Texas.

Barnes, who began gardening at age 5, joined the SFA faculty in September 2014. Prior to his arrival, he participated in a summer internship at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, in 2008, and also has traveled around the U.S., as well as to 10 countries to gain a national and global perspective of horticulture.

After receiving his doctorate in horticultural science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh in 2013, Barnes' work has been recognized in Organic Gardening, Greenhouse Grower, AmericanHort Connect, and Ken Druse's Real Dirt. Additionally, his love of teaching extends beyond the classroom. Barnes delights in giving gardening talks around the country, and his articles have been published in Fine Gardening and Carolina Gardener.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month at SFA's Pineywoods Native Plant Center. 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 fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at the nearby Raguet Elementary School, 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Ina Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

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