Dr. Patrick McMillan, Juniper Level Botanic Garden, "Underutilized Native Plants and Their Role in Creating a Healthy Garden Ecosystem.”

Dr. Patrick McMillan, Juniper Level Botanic Garden, “Underutilized Native Plants and Their Role in Creating a Healthy Garden Ecosystem.”

Where: Dunwoody Nature Center, North Woods Pavilion,  5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody GA 30338. Link to Special Notes for Driving to Dunwoody Nature Center

When: October 17, 2022, 6:30 social time, 7:30 speaker

October finds many of us slogging back into our garden to slap at mosquitoes as we rip out the tired remnants of our May and June plant buying sprees.  GPPA offers the perfect insect-free alternative activity: to hear one of the most engaging horticultural speakers around who is guaranteed to teach you something you didn't know.

Dr. Patrick McMillan, the Director of the Juniper Level Botanic Garden will join us to speak on “Underutilized Native Plants and Their Role in Creating a Healthy Garden Ecosystem.” Not that there is anything wrong with pansies, but it is time to hear about potentially saner alternatives or companion plantings for our impulse buys.

Bio:  Patrick is Director at Juniper Level Botanic Garden (also home of Plant Delights Nursery) in Raleigh, NC.  He was formerly the director of Heronswood Garden in Kingston, WA. He is the Emmy Award-winning host, co-creator and writer of the popular PBS nature program Expeditions with Patrick McMillan.

For over 20 years, Patrick has worked as a professional naturalist, biologist and educator. His range of experience has concentrated on botany, though he is also well-respected through his work in ichthyology, herpetology and mammalogy. Patrick is a professional naturalist, and served as the Glenn and Heather Hilliard Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Clemson University, where he was also a faculty member in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, the Director of the South Carolina Botanical Garden, the Bob Campbell Geology Museum and the Clemson Experimental Forest and an honorary member of the Clemson University Class of 1939.  

Dr. McMillan is the lead author in the new Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina, co-authored with Dr. Richard Porcher, Dr. Doug Rayner and David White. 

For a teaser of Dr. McMillan's amazing ability to teach a great deal in just a few minutes and to learn some surprising things you might not know about fragrance and pollinators:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdVsd5oVV_c.  

Note:  Non-members will be charged $10 admission for the speaker.  If visitors decide to join after the lecture (provided they sign in with  their name, email and mailing address when they enter), we will apply the fee against a membership.  This policy is necessary to allow us to continue to provide high quality and engaging speakers who we think you will find well worth the price of admission and membership.

Admission may be purchased in advance here or at the door.