The Nebraska Statewide Arboretum will offer eight free Plant Talk webinars this coming winter. All Plant Talks are free and open to the public. Registration is required and can be done online. Each session will also be recorded, and the recordings will be emailed to registrants following the real-time Zoom event. All webinars will be at noon on Zoom.
The Great Plants of 2025
Jan. 16. Arboretum Horticulture Program Coordinator Bob Henrickson will talk about the Great Plants 2025 selections: Perennial of the Year, Tree of the Year, Shrub of the Year and Grass of the Year.
Native Trees, Invasive Species & Controlled Burns
Jan. 23. Lewis & Clark Visitor Center curator Doug Friedli and volunteer Dan Kostka will talk about the Center's new native tree trail, plus offer information on dealing with invasive species and using controlled burning.
The State of the Forest with Nebraska State Forester John Erixson
Jan. 30. Erixson will talk about recent fires, the effects of climate change on Nebraska's forests, conservation and reforestation efforts and other topics.
How Can NSA Help You Plan and Plant a Landscape Project?
Feb. 6. The arboretum's longstanding grant programs support a variety of community landscape projects. Arboretum Sustainable Landscape Specialists Sarah Buckley and Brad Kindler work with communities, nonprofits, businesses and homeowners to plan and plant sustainable landscapes. Join to explore all the ways the arboretum can assist with landscape projects.
The Importance of Greenspaces in Healthcare Facilities — A Panel Discussion with Nebraska Experts
Feb. 13. Hear from healthcare experts at Syracuse Area Health and Florence Home Healthcare/Royale Oaks Assisted Living in Omaha about the benefits of integrating greenspaces into healthcare facilities. The administrators behind these green infrastructure projects will also offer insights into why and how they supported these green infrastructure projects.
A Conversation with Nebraska Native Plant Photographer Drew Granville
Feb. 27. Drew Granville, photographer for the Nebraska Native Plant Society, will talk about — and share photos of — some of the interesting plants he's come across in his field work and what he's learning about native plants from his up-close encounters with them.
Planting Around Trees
March 6. Plant communities under trees provide a living mulch that protects trees from mower damage and over-mulching and benefits wildlife. In this Plant Talk with arboretum's Sustainable Landscape Specialist Sarah Buckley, you'll learn how to transition fading turf grass to plantings that will thrive. We'll also give you tips for how to successfully plant in existing mulch beds around mature trees and how to establish plantings that can grow with newly planted trees.
Oaks, Willows and Prunus
March 13. Oak, willow and cherry trees are all keystone species that support native insects. NSA staff Justin Evertson, Bob Henrickson and Brad Kindler will discuss examples of each and will explore what planting them could look like in your landscape.
More information on the Plant Talks and registration details are available online.
