a collection of bald cypress genotypes and varieties.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the annual Wild About Woodies event at 9 a.m. June 30 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center. Pictured is a collection of bald cypress genotypes and varieties.


NACOGDOCHES Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the annual Wild About Woodies event at 9 a.m. June 30 in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center.
 
The event is meant to acquaint nursery professionals, landscapers and enthusiastic gardeners with an in-depth look at the woody ornamental collections at SFA Gardens, particularly new woody ornamentals for Texas and Louisiana. The garden is home to a vast collection of conifers, oaks, pines, taxodium, lagerstroemia, azaleas, camellias and more. 
 
“The last three years of crazy climatic events have seen record hard freezes, the third worst summer heat and drought ever, and a flood of epic proportions,” said Dr. David Creech, director of SFA Gardens. “This is the perfect time to see what died, what survived and what thrived.”
 
To help lead the industry day, Creech will be joined by Dr. Andrew King, a fourth-generation owner of King’s Nursery — the oldest nursery in Texas; and Dr. Tim Hartman, specialist with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, who will bring the world of fruit to the event.
 
Event sign-in will take place from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Lectures will follow, and a minibus will carry participants to the many themed gardens on SFA’s campus.
 
Participants will tour the PNPC, fruit research plots, crape myrtle collection, Lanana Creek taxodium collection, Mast Arboretum, Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden and Gayla Mize Garden.   
 
Parking is available at the PNPC, 2900 Raguet St., or Raguet Elementary School, 2708 Raguet St.
 
The event is $30 and open to all ages. For more information, call (936) 468-4404 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.