Keynote Speaker – Saturday evening
Liz and Jared Hughes
Topic: Groovy Plants Ranch, Welcome
Description: A visual display of the ranch and their growth and offerings.
Liz and Jared Hughes are the passionate plant duo behind Groovy Plants Ranch. Jared started Groovy Plants Ranch when he was 19, and Liz joined him in 2015. Together with an amazing team of plant professionals, they have built a unique destination with a singular vision: to create an eternally inviting, supportive, and inspirational space for all plant lovers. They’re dedicated to cultivating healthy plants in an amazing environment, sharing their passion, and fostering a space for people of all skill levels and abilities.
Thursday Speaker #1
Don Rawson
Topic: Jazzing Up The Garden
Description: Is your garden looking tired and old? Is it rather dull and boring? Well then, it’s time to get out of the gardening rut and add some eye-popping street appeal to your landscape. This is a lighthearted (downright humorous!) presentation covering eight simple steps to spiff up your lawn and garden including the addition of garden art…all in order to make your gardening paradise unique, appealing, and memorable. Let’s jazz up the garden!
Don and his wife Pam live on four country acres near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Together, they grow over 400 hosta cultivars and an assortment of other companion plants. Don hybridizes on the side, growing a few thousand hosta seedings each year. His introductions include ‘Rhino Hide’ and ‘Gabriel’s Wing’, with more on the way.
Don has a liking for rocks…big rocks! One area of the landscape is covered extensively by large boulders- some weighing 30,000# and 9 ft. across. The rocks and boulders were all brought in and put in place by Don and his family since the house was built about 30 years ago. It is no surprise that visitors to the Rawson garden often find themselves perusing rock specimens rather than looking at flowers.
Don served as president of the West Michigan Hosta Society and was the co-chair of the 2021 AHS National Convention. In addition, he is co-chairman of the Nomenclature Committee and compiles the list of miniature hostas for the AHS website.
He is responsible for two publications- The Hosta Lists and the Hosta Hybridizer’s Manual. The Hosta Lists is a compilation of over 100 individual lists of hostas based upon various characteristics. This resource represents two decades of work on Don’s part and currently includes over 29,000 entries. The second booklet- the Hosta Hybridizer’s Manual– is a collection of articles from various authors and well-known hybridizers.