Here’s the full schedule for the American Gardening Lecture Series at the NY Botanical Garden. It’s always been one of my favorites—top-notch speakers every year. Ellen Zachos put this one together.

“The New York Botanical Garden presents its tenth annual Thursday morning lecture series this winter. A well-rounded garden includes diverse plants: native and exotic, woody and herbaceous, temperate and tropical. In this series, accomplished plant breeders, explorers, and horticulturists introduce you to their favorite plants, providing something for every niche in your garden.

“The fee for each day of lectures is $31 for non-members and $28 for members. Attend all three sessions and receive a 10% discount.

Out of Their Element: South African Plants in Northern Gardens
Thursday, January 15, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
South Africa is a half a world away from New York, yet many South African plants adapt wonderfully to our northern gardens. Ellen Hornig, owner of Seneca Hill Perennials Nursery, explains why these plants from distant and diverse habitats can be happy in our gardens, and suggests unusual and unfamiliar perennials to try at home.

Fashionably Late: The Well-Dressed Fall Garden
Thursday, January 15, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
How does your garden look during the dog-days of summer? Join Andrew Bunting, Curator at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College for tips on how to keep your garden alive with color and texture well into fall. Designing the College’s grounds for all-season interest with an emphasis on fall color, Mr. Bunting will discuss many late blooming perennials such as Cimicifugas and long-lasting foliar stand-outs such as Amsonia hubrictii and Chelone glabra. It’s easy to have a great looking garden in spring, but a lush and exciting fall garden is the mark of a truly accomplished gardener.

Don’t kill that bug!
Thursday, February 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
When you see a bug, is your first instinct to squash, spray, or destroy? Don’t make the mistake of killing the good guys in your garden. Suzanne Wainwright, owner of Buglady Consulting, shows you how to distinguish insect friend from insect foe with larger than life images. You can help battle the bad bugs by attracting beneficial insects to your garden and using environmentally sensitive sprays and biological controls.

Lots of Pots: Creating Memorable Container Plantings
Thursday, February 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
A well-designed container planting is a garden in miniature and may include annuals, perennials, woodies, vines, succulents, and tropicals. Container expert and author of Pots in the Garden, Ray Rogers, focuses on color, line, form, space, and texture, showing you how to create combinations that reflect your own personality and style.

Go Native with Bulbs!
Thursday, March 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Bulbs may be synonymous with Holland, but there are many wonderful, worthy, native North American bulbs that make excellent garden plants. Let author and bulb expert Judy Glattstein introduce you to a wide variety of native bulbs growing in our woodlands and meadows.

The Versatile Small Tree
Thursday, March 19, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Small trees serve many purposes in the landscape. Steven Kristoph, owner of Steven Kristoph Nursery, details the numerous species and cultivars of small trees appropriate for almost any landscape situation. He presents an array of common and uncommon small trees that emphasize functionality and maximize seasonal interest.

The New York Botanical Garden is at Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road in the Bronx. For more information, call 718-817-8700 or visit nybg.org.