One of the world’s leading authorities on boxwood will be our speaker on July 7. Lynn Batdorf, retired Curator for the National Boxwood Collection at the U.S. National Arboretum and author of numerous authoritative texts on boxwood, will discuss the “Culture, Pests and Diseases of Boxwood”. Grown for centuries, boxwood is a familiar shrub in many regions of the United States and Europe. Yet boxwood is not always well understood. Gardeners know of its reputation, but would find it difficult to identify any of the hundreds of cultivars or describe good growing practices. Professionals search for accurate and detailed information to make appropriate horticultural decisions. This fun and informative presentation has all history, lore, landscape use, cultural information, pest and disease information for everyone to successfully enjoy and grow boxwood.

Lynn will also have his latest book available for purchase.  Boxwood: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Second Edition) is the definitive reference for the Buxus genus. Published by the American Boxwood Society, this comprehensive 668-page, hardcover volume identifies and details characteristics for 1,507 cultivated and wild boxwood taxa. For more information, click here. For more about Lynn, check out his website here. 

The meeting is free for Memphis Horticulture members, but guests are asked to make a $5 donation at the door. Join us at 5:30 p.m. for refreshments and visiting with friends. We always appreciate contributions to the refreshment table.