April 2, 2026

Cultivate knowledge: Events in Spring AHS LIVE Series

We are excited to announce the Spring 2026 AHS LIVE series! Join the American Horticultural Society for virtual talks hosted by horticultural leaders and behind-the-scenes tours of remarkable gardens across the country. Our programs offer something for everyone and for every stage of gardening.

Topics include common garden mistakes, naturalistic gardening in the south, designing resilient gardens and more. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, a few virtual programs (noted below with an *) showcase landscapes and horticultural traditions that are unique to the U.S.

All programs are virtual for easy access.

April 9, 7 p.m. – “Poppy State” with Myriam Gurba*

“Poppy State: A Labyrinth of Plants & Beginnings” is both a love letter to California and a literary tour de force that tells the story of resilience and reclamation through a relationship with plants, memory, myth and indigenous knowledge. Author Myriam Gurba meditates on susto, a spiritual sickness specific to Latin America, and its culturally specific treatments such as herbalism, botanical spirits and soil.

April 16, 7 p.m. – “Future Nature: Cultivating Resilience Amid Ecological Change” with Thomas Rainer

Vegetation is shifting in response to intensifying environmental pressures, from invasive species and habitat fragmentation to rising nutrient loads and imbalanced herbivore populations. Drawing from his firm Phyto Studio’s experience with high-visibility public projects, landscape architect Thomas Rainer shares actionable strategies for designing resilient plantings. Learn how to work with competitive dynamics, select vigorous native species, introduce designed stress through soil manipulation and embrace adaptive management models that favor abundance. This talk offers a grounded path forward for planting in a rapidly changing world.

May 7, 2 p.m. – “Black in the Garden” with Colah Tawkin*

Join Colah B. Tawkin, creator of podcast “Black in the Garden,” for a conversation reflecting on the podcast’s highlights and impact, the future of horticultural communication, insights on land stewardship and farming heritage and all things Black and botanical.

May 8, 2 p.m. – “The Modern Professional Planting Designer” with Andrew Fischer Tomlin

There are many different approaches we can take to filling our gardens, landscapes and lives with plants. In this talk based on his new book, “The Modern Professional Planting Designer,” Andrew Fisher Tomlin will reveal some of the tools that will help you achieve professional-level solutions in planting. He will explore the difference between ornamental, naturalistic and nature-based planting design and discuss a guiding framework to support the development of your own planting design choices. With examples of real-life projects in Europe and the U.S., he will finish with a preview of the 2026 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

May 21, 7 p.m. – “Naturalistic Gardening in the American South” with Dr. Jared Barnes*

While the American South houses incredible plant diversity, its gardens rarely reflect that richness. Join Dr. Jared Barnes as he shares his approach to naturalistic plantings that are both ecologically grounded and beautiful. In this spirited presentation, we’ll cover ecological principles and planting strategies for crafting sustainable gardens that are suited to the Southern landscape and some of his favorite heat tolerant plants.

May 28, 2 p.m. – “Eschewing Perfection for Natural Beauty” with Melissa Ozawa

Through the nature-embracing lens of Perfect Earth Project, renowned garden writer and editor Melissa Ozawa will reflect on how her career has shifted her perspective on the purposes of landscape cultivation. Part presentation and part conversation, this contemplative program will serve as a catalyst to reconsider what and why beauty can mean in the garden.

May 29, 2 p.m. – “Flora Culture” with Christin Geall

Our love of flowers and desire to be close to them has, across cultures and for millennia, created both landscapes and livelihoods. In this talk, “Flora Culture” author Christin Geall will take us on a journey across continents to explore the origins of some familiar garden favorites. By weaving her narrative between art, ecology, science and history, Geall will get you thinking about your relationships to flowers, fashion, gardens and design.

June 12, 2 p.m. – “Common Garden Mistakes” with Kerry Mendez

Whether beginner gardeners or seasoned gardeners, we all make mistakes! This eye-opening presentation features frequent misunderstandings or errors made by well-intentioned gardeners. Topics include plant care, pruning flowering shrubs, smart plant selection (including avoiding enticing plants that will become nightmares!), garden myths and more.