Mark Weathington

Mark Weathington, director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University, will be guest speaker for Stephen F. Austin State University SFA Gardens’ monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series, slated for 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.

Mark Weathington, director of the JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, will present, “Beyond Tire Planters: Gardening in the South.”

Weathington is passionate in his work to connect people with plants. His latest book, “Gardening in the South: The Complete Homeowner’s Guide,” takes his common sense approach — and a bit of humor — and makes gardening accessible for any level of gardener.

He travels extensively searching for new plants to diversify the American landscape and lectures on a variety of topics in horticulture to further the JC Raulston Arboretum’s vision of “Planning and Planting a Better World.” His explorations and speaking engagements have taken him to China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Ecuador, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand and throughout the U.S.

Weathington has revised and updated the “Propagation Guide for Woody Plants at the JC Raulston Arboretum" and has been published in Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Carolina Gardener, American Nurseryman, VA Gardener and HortScience magazines, as well as The Mid-Altlantic Gardener’s Book of Lists.

He previously served as director of horticulture and facilities at the Norfolk Botanical Garden and as horticulturist for the Atlanta Botanical Garden. He currently lives and gardens in Raleigh, North Carolina, the city of oaks, with his wife and two boxers.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle 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 PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.