February 2026

Rooted In Bexley:  Martin McAllister, Friends of Scioto Brush Creek

February 11, 2026 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern • Bexley Public Library,  2411 E. Main St, Bexley, OH

Scioto Brush Creek:  Watershed Conservation in a Rural Community

Scioto Brush Creek is a tributary to the lower Scioto River and drains portions of Adams and Scioto Counties.  Known for its exceptional warmwater habitat and virtually intact fish fauna, this stream has recently been designated as a State Scenic River in Ohio by the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves.  This presentation will tell the story of how the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek originated the actions they took to involve the community in the conservation of this fabulous stream which will now be protected.

Martin McAllister is a founding Board Member and Past President of the Friends of Scioto Brush Creek, Inc., and has worked in conservation for over 40 years.  Much of his career was with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a naturalist, land manager, and administrator.  Martin now serves as the Community Engagement Specialist for The Nature Conservancy’s 23,000-acre Edge of Appalachia Nature Preserve in Adams County.  

Thank you for your continued support of our programming and we hope to see many of you on February 11th.  As a reminder, there is construction taking place in front of the Library at this time.  The entrance can now be found in the alley, adjacent to the parking lot, which is still available for use.  

Lunch and Learn Webinar:  Seed Starting Basics

February 17, 2026 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link:  https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RkHjdpTVQWKX1W9Q9N4huw#/registration

Carri Brown has her Bachelors in Agriculture Education and Masters in Human Resources Management.  She's worked for over ten years in the Horticulture industry, in retail garden center sales and wholesale growing and sales of perennials and herbs. 

What to Consider before Selling Timber 

February 17, 2026 • 5:30pm - 7:30pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration by 2/16/26 at:  https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6txq6M218JQfanQ

Selling timber could be one of the biggest financial decisions in your lifetime!  Learn the keys to having a successful timber sale and understand the potential pitfalls that can cause you and your property serious long-term issues.

Witch-hazel Discovery 

February 20, 2026 • 1:00pm - 3:30pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/7556dd0f-5772-4e62-be4c-986ffda3645f/regProcessStep1

Witchhazels signal the arrival of spring at Secrest! Come discover the numerous witchhazels in the Secrest collection. Experience the beauty and fragrance of these fascinating plants.

The date of this workshop may be moved depending on weather conditions. In 2025, it was moved by four weeks in order to experience peak bloom. 

Meet Me In the Garden:  Beautiful Things with Wings

February 25, 2026 • 6:30pm - 7:30pm Eastern • Seiberling Nature Realm Visitor Center, 1828 Smith Rd, Akron, OH

Join Judy Semroc for Beautiful Things with Wings: Dragons, Damsels, Buterflies, and Hummers. Learn about their natural history, habitat preferences, and valuable roles they play in the home garden habitat, and strategies for inviting them to utilize your yards and gardens.

Bark & Branches:  A Textural Tour

February 27, 2026 • 1:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/7556dd0f-5772-4e62-be4c-986ffda3645f/regProcessStep1

Explore the quiet resilience and beauty of Secrest Arboretum in winter during this engaging workshop that blends science and seasonal observation. Led by Arboretum experts, this guided walk will highlight the ornamental textures of bark and branching structures, while also uncovering the ecological strategies plants use to survive cold, snow, and wind.

Learn how trees adapt to winter conditions—from insulating bark and bud protection to root survival and microclimate advantages. 

March 2026

The Saturday Gardening Seminar

March 7, 2026 • 8:00am - 1:00pm Eastern • Summit County Extension Office, 440 Vernon Odom Blvd, Akron, OH

Registration  fee:  $45, includes continental breakfast and boxed lunch

Registration link:  https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/t3w665c

Speakers include Danae Wolfe, conservation photographer; Adrianne Tanner, Barberton Tree Service; Jim McCormac, ODNR;  and Sharon Swaney, dahlia grower.

Pruning Workshop

March 5, 2026 • 9:00am - 2:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration fee:  $35

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/43046707-20fd-4229-9800-5cc8b7359f0b/summary

This introductory workshop provides a foundational overview of proper pruning practices. Instruction will cover key principles including appropriate timing, plant selection, essential tools, tool maintenance, and techniques for making correct pruning cuts. Participants will receive guidance from experienced professionals and will have the opportunity to develop hands‑on skills in a supervised setting.

Please note that fruit tree pruning will not be addressed in this session. Lunch will be provided.

The workshop will be led by Paul Snyder, Matt Shultzman, Shane Berner, and Phil Knopp of the CFAES Wooster Campus.

Lunch and Learn Webinar:  Planting Trees for Longevity

March 10, 2026 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link:  https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P0m8273ARUmyWzcudnBCzQ#/registration

Pam Bennett is an Associate Professor with The Ohio State University and serves as the State Master Gardener Volunteer Program Director and Horticulture Educator for OSU Extension in Clark County. She specializes in herbaceous ornamental plant trials and presents programs on annuals and perennials as well as other landscape topics locally, statewide, and nationally.  Pam has also lectured in South Korea, China, Greece and Turkey.  She is a Clark County Park District Commissioner and a Board member of the Hartman Rock Garden.  She is the past president of the Friends of the Ohio Governor's Residence and Heritage Garden. Pam is the co-author of an award-winning book, Garden-pedia, An A-to- Z Guide to Gardening Terms, writes a weekly gardening column for eight counties receiving the Cox Publishing brands, authors the bi-monthly Ask the Expert Column for Ohio Gardening magazine and is a frequent writer for popular gardening magazines as well as trade publications. 

Licking County Master Gardener's Four Seasons of Spring Conference

March 14, 2026 • 9:00am - 3:00pm Eastern •  J. Gilbert Reese Center, 1209 University Drive, Newark, Ohio

Fee:  $50 thru January 31; $60 February 1 and after

Registration link:  https://fourseasonsofgardening.org/2026-spring-conference

Speakers include Debra Knapke, Joseph Tychonievich, and Denise Schreiber.   Break-out session speakers Include Dawn Seymour on garden design  and Ryan Slaughter, Ross County Agriculture and Natural Resrouces Extension Educator, on growing berries. 

Rooted In Bexley:  Rebecca McMackin, American Horticultural Society

March 18, 2026 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern • Bexley Public Library,  2411 E. Main St, Bexley, OH

Rebecca McMackin is the lead horticulturist with the American Horticultural Society.

Woodland Stewards:  Ohio River Valley Woodland & Wildlife Landowners Workshop

March 21, 2026 • 10:00am - 11:00am Eastern • 

Registration will be available in early January  

Midwest Native Plant Society:  Living Landscapes:  Native Tree and Shrub Symposium

March 21, 2026 • 10:00am - 4:00pm Eastern • Cincinnati Zoo, Frisch's Theater

Registration fee $95, includes Zoo day-pass; free parking, and a sit-down buffet.

Registration link:  https://www.midwestnativeplants.org/other-events#LivingLandscapes-TreesandShrubs

Speakers include:  Jim McCormac, Tom Borgman, Sam Settlemyre, Greg Torres, and Brian Jorg. 

Lunch and Learn Webinar:  The Mental health Benefits of Plants

March 24, 2026 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link:  https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CBVm-odoQ4GTlz56OQsFxQ#/registration

Dr. Charlie Hall grew up in the industry on a nursery in Western North Carolina. Although an economist by training, he is currently a Professor in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at the Texas A&M University and also holder of the Ellison Chair in International Floriculture. His major areas of specialization include innovative management and marketing strategies, financial analysis and benchmarking, and the situation/outlook for nursery and greenhouse crops. He is an invited speaker at numerous regional, national, and international meetings of various industry-related associations and organizations. He is particularly known for the enthusiasm, passion, and intensity he exhibits when speaking. Dr. Hall is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association (TNLA) and has received TNLA’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Nursery Industry. He is also a member of the Hall of Fame and Honorary Lifetime Member of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

Home Hydroponics Gardening Program

March 26 2026 • 6:30pm - 8:00pm Eastern • Delaware County District Library, 84 E Winter St, Delaware, OH 

Registration link:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LQ91WXKRJKipiof_zjyLU4afUZoGeVeb/view?usp=drive_link

Learn the basics of home hydroponic gardening with Dr. Tim McDermott from OSU Extension.  Registration required (scan the QR code in the link above) 

Escape to the Forest Webinar Series:  Beyond Binoculars:  Following Birds and Birding Trails across Ohio

March 27 2026 • 10:00am - 12:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link:  https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZknLwVxFSmmeOQhTCOHiMA#/registration

Ohio is a hidden gem for nature lovers. This high-flying webinar will take you on an engaging journey along migratory pathways and the remarkable birds that depend on them.  We will also explore Ohio's birding trails and how they connect people to the Buckeye state's wild side.

April 2026

Rooted In Bexley:  Mike Tidwell, Author and Founder of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network

April 8, 2026 • 1:00pm - 2:00pm Eastern • Bexley Public Library,  2411 E. Main St, Bexley, OH

Mike Tidwell is the author of The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue and the founder of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

Lunch and Learn Webinar:  Perennial Lavendar:  Varieties Best for Ohio

April 14, 2026 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link:  https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vQc8nJpbQPyRvFzrrfS6pw#/registration

Sabrina Schirtzinger is one of two Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Educators in Knox County. Being in a two-educator county is gives Sabrina the opportunity to specialize in Horticulture.  Sabrina enjoys gardening and has numerous perennial gardens and helps to operate her daughters cut flower business called Piper’s Poises. Being an extension educator, wife, and mother of two doesn’t give Sabrina much time for gardening but she has helped Piper grow her business by using simple cut flower techniques to extend their growing season.

Lunch and Learn Webinar:  Medicine In Your Garden

April 28, 2026 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link: https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4YprsEA7Tt-lOXKy2XKIrw#/registration

Dr. Andrew King is an assistant professor of ornamental horticulture for Texas A&M AgriLife in Overton, Texas. Andrew’s research interests include ornamental plant improvement, ornamental plant trialing, medicinal plants and nursery/greenhouse production systems. Andrew is a fourth generation horticulturist whose family business, King’s Nursery in Tenaha, Texas, is well over 100 years old. Andrew has served on faculty in the Texas A&M Department of Horticultural Sciences in College Station, Texas and as the Assistant Director of SFA Gardens on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.

May 2026

Plant Discovery Day

May 9, 2026 • 9:00am - 1:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

The annual Friends of Secrest Arboretum sale features new and unique annuals, perennials, herbs and woody plants. Our annual, perennial, herb, and woody plant lists is listed below! Parking and admission are free.

Plant Sale List will be available in March 2026

Lunch and Learn Webinar:  Backyard Pond Plants:  Friend or Foe?

May 12, 2026 • 12:00pm - 1:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration link:  https://osu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SwT8nY6BRxq5Mt0xEbzP5Q#/registration

Eugene Braig is a fisheries biologist by training and applied-limnology jack of all trades in practice; Program Director for Aquatic Ecosystems with Ohio State University Extension; and charged with outreach, classroom teaching, and research.  He joined the Ohio Biological Survey Board of Trustees in 2018 and is active with several additional advisory committees and professional organizations.  Fully embracing nerd status, he moonlights as a classical musician and serves as Artistic Director of the Columbus Guitar Society’s concert series.

2026 Chadwick Arboretum Spring Plant Sale and Auction Fundraiser

May 15, 2026 • 12:00pm - 6:00pm Eastern  and May 16, 2026 • 9:00am - 3:00pm 

• Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr, Columbus, OH

Spring into greenery at Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens! Join us for our annual Spring Plant Sale Fundraiser and dive into a lush world of botanical delights. With over 16,000 fresh, exotic, and time-tested edible and ornamental plants, there's something for every green thumb!

Experience the thrill of our tree and shrub auctions, where you can bid on unique specimens to enhance your garden sanctuary. Step into our Learning Lab, where engaging educational demonstrations on various garden topics will unfold throughout the three-day sale, enriching your knowledge and inspiring your green endeavors. Take part in an exciting, live auction offered each day, as well as a silent auction on Thursday and Friday. Explore vendor booths brimming with gardening essentials and delightful treasures. And while you shop 'til you drop, indulge in delectable treats from a delicious, local food truck. Proceeds from this event go directly to The Ohio State Chadwick Arboretum, student organizations, and local businesses alike.

Escape to the Forest Webinar:  Where Do Logs Go after Harvest?

October 24, 2025 • 10:00am - 12:00pm Eastern • Webinar

Registration:  https://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/events/webinar-where-do-logs-go-after-harvest

There are a variety of possible end-uses for hardwood logs after harvest.  Join the US Forest Service's Matt Bumgardner for this webinar that will explore trends in current hardwood markets, what consumers are thinking, and discuss where the industry might be headed.

June 2026

Secrest Garden Fair

June 13, 2026 • 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Handcrafted birdhouses, custom metal art, recycled treasures, awesome pottery and much more will be featured at the Secrest Garden Fair on Saturday, June 7 at Secrest Arboretum in Wooster, Ohio. The free event will also feature local food vendors, activities for children, and Master Gardener-lead tours of the arboretum, gardening workshops, and a raffle. And don't forget to bring your plant and gardening questions for our Master Gardeners to answer. The Secrest Garden Fair will feature over 50 vendors in 2025. There will also be some surprising new vendors to discover!

Vendors' tents will line the paved walkway beginning at the Visitor Center and meandering up through the picturesque plantings to the children's garden and beyond. 

102nd Ohio Plant Diagnostic Workshop

June 17, 2026 • 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration fee:  $50 Includes lunch

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/f51da029-d377-4c41-ac24-0a2182b50080/summary

Hone your skills in plant diagnosis at this annual workshop. The event will feature a variety of speakers, sample reviews, and a walk through the arboretum. Horticultural, plant pathological, and entomological problems and opportunities will be discussed. The speakers to be announced. The workshop will include an extended period for examining and discussing samples. ONLA and Master Gardener credits are also eligible. Lunch and materials will be provided.

ODA credits available. ISA credits are self-reported. ONLA and Master Gardener credit eligible. Lunch and materials provided.

July 2026

Midwest Native Plant Conference

July 31 thru August 2, 2026  • Bergamo Center, 4400 Shakertown Road, Dayton, OH 45430

Registration Opens on March 15

This year, we're celebrating the beauty and impact of native trees and shrubs! While pollinator beds often steal the spotlight, these leafy giants and hidden gems are true heroes for insects and wildlife. Imagine songbirds feeding their hatchlings juicy caterpillars found on tree branches or under shrub leaves—nature's own buffet in action.

Hydrangea School

July 23, 2026 • 9:00am - 3:00pm Eastern • Jack and Deb Miller Pavilion, Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration fee:  $40 Includes lunch

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/284cf412-835b-4e65-af96-cde822d84f9e/summary

Discover the artistry of hydrangeas amidst the serene beauty of Secrest Arboretum. Join our immersive workshop and unlock the secrets to cultivating and caring for these exquisite plants. Under the guidance of Secrest Arboretum horticulturalists, delve into the fascinating world of hydrangea cultivation, from growing techniques to optimal soil conditions. Elevate your gardening skills and cultivate lasting memories in the picturesque setting of Secrest Arboretum's lush landscapes. We will also explore our hydrangea trial and discuss what we are seeing so far. Lunch  is included in the cost of registration.Register Her

August 2026

September 2026

October 2026

Autumn Discovery Day Plant Sale

October 3, 2026 • 9:00am - 12:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Friends of Secrest Arboretum is excited to host our annual fall plant sale. Stop by the Welcome Center to talk to the experts and shop for unique plants. Check out the sale list and plan to arrive early for best selection! Friends of Secrest members enjoy a 10% discount at our members-only presale on October 2nd.gister Her

ArborEatum

October 25, 2026 • 5:00pm - 7:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

A Smorgasbord of landscape delights; edible landscaping at its most personal. A fun evening of sampling creative landscape (food) design. Past standouts include pawpaw crème brulee and trifle, ramp soup, the multiple creations of Lois Rose from medlar jam to crème de cassis, from bitter orange marmalade to kousa dogwood jam, aronia thumbprint cookies, autumn olive pate de fruits, Dolgo crabapple butter, and fringetree olives. 

Show up and enjoy. No fee. Bring items or just be a consumer horticulturist.

Plant Families IX

October 29, 2026 • 9:00am - 3:00pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration fee:  $40 includes lunch

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/f7bcea15-86a4-48ba-890e-8ff295dd4ca5/regProcessStep1

This event is a great way to learn more about the relatedness of plants within selected plant families and their importance. Plant Families TBD. Presenters include Paul Snyder, Jason Veil, Jim Chatfield, and other family members. 

November 2026

Plant Families IX

November 4, 2026 • 9:00am - 3:30pm Eastern • Secrest Welcome Center, 2122 Williams Rd, Wooster, OH 

Registration link:  https://web.cvent.com/event/2b89d792-6da3-4a36-904d-28d9e236f095/registrationDeclinePage:838444d5-b676-48bf-a8c8-0477538a8352

Learn all about Maples. From the roles they play in Ohio's forests, to maple syrup production, and the maples in Secrest Arboretum. You will learn about this interesting group of trees. Time will be spent exploring the arboretum. Paul Snyder, Jason Veil, and others presenting. Meal included.

December 2026