Speakers
Anna Leggatt
Bio: Anna has a BSc. in Botany from London University, a Diploma in Nature Interpretation from Humber College and a Diploma in Horticulture from Guelph.
Anne Spiegel
Anne Spiegel has gardened in New York State for more than 40 years in a dramatic natural setting.
Barbara Cooper & Bella Seiden
Barbara Cooper and Bella Seiden have been gardening together in Toronto for more than 25 years.
Bill McNamara
Carole and Ian Bainbridge
Drs Carole and Ian Bainbridge are both keen rock gardeners from southwest Scotland.
Chris Gardner
Cliff Booker
Cliff Booker has been utterly consumed with the study, cultivation, propagation, exhibition and photography of alpine plants since 1984 and, with his wife Sue, has travelled to many mountain locations around the world to feed his passion (addiction).
Colleen Cirillo
Colleen has spent many years in the world of nature interpretation, protection and restoration, including 12 years at Toronto and Region Conservation and 2.5 years at Ontario Nature.
Connor Smith
Connor Smith began his horticulture career working at a garden centre in Scotland. After completing his first year of study, he was accepted to work as an intern for the world-renowned conifer and maple grower Iseli Nursery – becoming one of the first non-American interns to be extended since the inception of the programme in 1987.
Returning to Scotland, Connor received an offer to work for Zu Jeddeloh nursery in Germany. A short spell with Kevock Garden followed, where he participated in one of their Gold Medal-winning displays at the Chelsea Flower Show. Then, it was on to Vannucci Piante in Pistoia, Italy – the largest growing area in Europe.
Connor gained an interest in alpine plants when working under alpine expert Elspeth MacKintosh at RBGE. Elspeth’s passion and knowledge inspired Connor to pursue a specialization in alpine plants. In 2019, he worked for the Schachen Alpine Garden high in the German mountains on a Merlin Trust placement.
Connor Smith is the the Head of the rock garden at Utrecht Botanic Garden in the Netherlands. It is one of the largest in Europe and has more than 3,000 different species.
2024-10 | Utrecht Botanic Garden |