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The Flower Show

Know to Grow

fy25 q4 ticket evergreen

Grow Smarter with Monthly Gardening Insights

Know to Grow is a monthly webinar series that brings gardening knowledge straight to you. Whether you're an experienced grower or just getting started, each session is packed with expert insights and fresh inspiration moderated by PHS Vice President of Horticulture, Andrew Bunting. Join for just $20 per lecture or become a PHS member (starting at $5/month) and attend every session for free!

Become A Member

Upcoming Lectures

October 14, 2026 at 5:00pm
Jeff Epping - “The Gravel Garden: Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Designs"

Join Jeff Epping as he delves into the art of gravel gardening, a naturalistic movement offering beauty, resilience, and a promising future for ecological landscaping. Jeff’s new book, The Gravel Garden: Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Designs, co-authored with award-winning garden writer Teresa Woodard, features 20 stunningly photographed gardens by Bob Stefko, including Jeff’s own gravel garden in Madison, Wisconsin.

Get the details here

November 11, 2026 at 5:00pm
Tim Boland - “The World of Oaks: Diversity, Cultural History and Conservation"

Join oak enthusiast Tim Boland as he presents a snapshot of global oak diversity, worldwide cultural connections with oaks, and the pressing need for oak research and conservation. Tim will also share the mission of the International Oak Society and current programs involving the sustainable uses of oak, propagation, and the protection of endangered species and oak habitats. Additionally, he will review the naturally occurring oaks of the mid-Atlantic region and provide recommendations of smaller oaks for gardeners with limited space.

Get the details here

December 9, 2026 at 5:00pm
Michael P. Gibson  - “Know To Grow: Freedom in The Garden: Pearl Fryar, Michael P. Gibson and the Evolution of Topiary"

Freedom in the Garden explores the artistry and creative journeys of Pearl Fryar and Michael P. Gibson, two Black artists who have challenged traditional ideas of topiary and expanded its possibilities as living sculpture. Through personal stories and examples of their work, Gibson examines how freedom, individuality, and cultural expression have shaped their distinctive approaches while contributing to the continued evolution of the art form.

Get the details here

January 13, 2026 at 5:00pm
Summer Rayne Oakes  - “Know to Grow: Beyond Milkweed: Designing for All Pollinators with Summer Rayne Oakes"

In this eye-opening presentation, we’ll explore the remarkable diversity of pollinators at work in our landscapes, including some of the smaller, stranger, and far less charismatic insects that often go unnoticed. We’ll take a closer look at specialist pollinators—insects with remarkably specific relationships with particular plants—and discover how the plants we choose can invite these fascinating creatures into our gardens. Lastly, we'll explore how we can better support this unique group of insects through their entire lifecycle as well.

Get the details here
More lectures will be added throughout the year. Become a PHS member or sign up for our newsletter to get future updates.

Past Lectures 

Dr. Jared shares insights from his explorations of Southern flora while highlighting their adaptability and ecological benefits for Mid-Atlantic gardens. With climate change pushing Southern conditions further north, these resilient plants will become increasingly relevant beyond their native range. 

Jake Chalfin shares practical, easy-to-implement soil solutions for homeowners, applicable to both ornamental landscapes and vegetable gardens. He covers the fundamentals of soil science, exploring what healthy, balanced soil looks like through the lens of structure and biology. Jake also offers guidance on evaluating and purchasing high-quality soil and compost, along with tips for improving your own backyard compost. Finally, he introduces the basics of organic turf renovation, with a focus on preparing your lawn in the fall for a strong, healthy return in the spring.

In this session, Dr. Pham will share a practical guide to diagnosing and managing the most common challenges facing rose gardeners, from pests and diseases to environmental stressors. Drawing on her philosophy of prevention over intervention, she'll cover how healthy soil, targeted nutrition, and thoughtful plant selection build plant resilience from the ground up. She'll also take a deeper dive into the use of beneficial insects, going well beyond the ladybugs and praying mantis options you'll find at your local garden center. 


About the Speakers

Jared Barnes, Ph.D.

Presentation: “Flora with a Southern Flair: Natives from the South for Mid-
Atlantic Gardens”

Jared Barnes, Ph.D., who has spent his life cultivating plants and
cultivating minds, is an award-winning associate professor of horticulture at
Stephen F. Austin State University, author of The New York Times–featured
newsletter plant•ed, and host of The Plantastic Podcast. He gardens with his wife Karen and daughter Magnolia at their smallholding Ephemera Farm.

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Jared Barnes, Ph.D.

Jake Chalfin

Presentation: “Start with Soil: Building Healthier Gardens from the Ground Up"

Jake Chalfin is the Sales Manager and Horticulturist at Laurel Valley Soils. With
over 25 years of experience in commercial-scale compost and soil production, he remains deeply passionate about building healthy soils. He has supplied soils for a wide range of projects, including green infrastructure such as rain gardens and green roofs, amended soils for landscape construction and renovation, compost for organic vegetable production, and specialized soil blends for urban landscapes like Love Park and the planting media used in Longwood Gardens’ West Conservatory.

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Jake Chalfin

Dr. Van Pham

Presentation: “Troubleshooting Roses: Common Pests, Diseases & Natural Solutions”
Dr. Van Pham is the Head Grower at Heirloom and a horticultural expert with
more than 15 years of experience in plant health, nursery production, and high-tech, sustainable growing systems. Her expertise spans a wide range of crops, including fruit trees, shade trees, evergreen, ornamental plants, roses, and perennials. She is holding PhD in Agriculture from Ehime University, Japan and currently pursuing MBA in Business Analytics

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Dr. Van Pham

Jeff Epping

Presentation: “The Gravel Garden: Visionary, Drought-Defying, Naturalistic Designs"

Jeff Epping’s passion for plants and gardening is reflected in his 35-year career as an award-winning horticulturist and garden designer. During his 28 years as
Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, he transformed a lawn-
laden landscape into a nationally acclaimed public garden, known for its artistic and innovative, plant-driven designs and ecologically sound gardening
techniques. Alongside that role, he also ran his own design and consulting
business for 25 years and continues to do so today. Epping Design & Consulting specializes in eco-conscious gardening guidance and designs for projects ranging from small private gardens to large public landscapes and expansive business campuses. 

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Jeff Epping

Tim Boland

Presentation: “The World of Oaks: Diversity, Cultural History and Conservation"

Tim Boland is the former Executive Director of the Polly Hill Arboretum, located on the island of Martha's Vineyard in West Tisbury, Massachusetts. He holds an undergraduate degree in Horticulture and a master's in Botany, Plant Ecology, and Systematics from Michigan State University. Tim specializes in oaks from all over the world. He is involved in various plant conservation projects to preserve threatened oaks in North America, Europe, and Asia. He is a member of the Board of the International Oak Society (IOS) and chair of the Oak Conservation and Research Committee. He helped develop a special fund that has thus far supported 28 research projects worldwide where oak species are vulnerable to extinction.

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Tim Bolland

Michael P. Gibson

Presentation: “Freedom in The Garden: Pearl Fryar, Michael P. Gibson and the Evolution of Topiary”

Michael P. Gibson is a topiary artist, educator, and creator of the Gibson Method, a contemporary approach to creative pruning that transforms plants into living sculpture. With more than 30 years of horticultural experience and over 700 living sculptures created across the United States, he is recognized as one of the nation's leading voices in contemporary topiary.

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Michael P. Gibson

Summer Rayne Oakes

Presentation: “Beyond Milkweed: Designing for All Pollinators with Summer Rayne Oakes”

Summer Rayne Oakes is the producer and host of two botanically-oriented YouTube channels, including Plant One On Me and Flock Finger Lakes. She is also the author of How to Make A Plant Love You: Cultivate Green Space in Your Home & Heart. Her mission is to bring people closer to plants by bringing plants closer to them, and she is currently in the process of revitalizing 90 acres in the Finger Lakes region of New York to eventually host Garden & Creative Residencies. She is a graduate of Cornell University with degrees in Environmental Science and Entomology.

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Summer Rayne Oakes