Authors’ Reception with Doug Tallamy and Michael Dirr and Dinner with Program by Dr. Dirr 

Please join us for our Authors' Reception (cash bar) and book signing with Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Doug Tallamy as well as Stacey Hirvela and Pam Bennett, all of whom will have books for sale.

Dr. Dirr, most famously known for his book Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, now in its sixth edition, has authored seven books and is widely considered the premier authority on growing and propagating woody plants.  His latest books include Hydrangeas for American Gardens (co-authored with Bonnie L. Dirr) and Viburnums: Flowering Shrubs for Every Season. 

Dr. Tallamy is at the forefront of the movement to create a wildlife-friendly and sustainable ecosystem – back yard by back yard.  His books include Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, which won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writers Association, and The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden (co-authored with Rick Darke). 

Garden designer, call-in radio host, and Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrub consultant Stacey Hirvela’s mission is to encourage and educate home gardeners.  Her first book is entitled Edible Spots & Pots. 

OSU Educator Pam Bennett lectures and writes on a variety of horticultural subjects, specializes in herbaceous ornamental plant trials, and provides leadership to the OSU Master Gardener program on a state level.  Her first book is entitled Garden-pedia, An A-to- Z Guide to Gardening Terms (co-authored with Maria Zampini).

The reception will be followed by a lovely sit-down dinner which will culminate with Dr. Dirr’s presentation: In Praise of Noble Trees.  Dr. Dirr’s after dinner presentation will illustrate the important traits he believes determine a “Noble Tree”, and take us on a journey to see these trees in all their splendor. He will also share recent introductions of improved landscape trees for urban and suburban sites.