'Great Plants for the Great Plains' set for June 28 at CSC

Bob Henrickson, horticulture program coordinator with the Nebraska State Arboretum, and Justin Evertson, green infrastructure coordinator with the Nebraska Forest Service and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, will team up to lead the free planting workshop and presentation.

CSC horticulturist Lucinda Mays said interested gardeners are invited to attend the free event and should dress accordingly for the hands-on workshop at 10 a.m. at the Coffee Agriculture Pavilion. No registration is necessary.

Henrickson and Evertson will focus on plant species that can tolerate occasional inundation from storm water but can also withstand drought. They intend to showcase underutilized species with native species emphasized and important non-natives also included.

The "Great Plants" presentation by Henrickson and Evertson will begin at 2 p.m. in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center . Members of the community may attend either the morning or afternoon session, or both.

Evertson will speak about the purpose of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and the importance of community landscape plant selection. Henrickson will highlight some of the best plants for landscapes on the Great Plains.

Chadron has officially completed the Greener Nebraska Towns two and a half year grant. A plaque in honor of the accomplishment will be presented to Chadron GNT leaders during the afternoon session by Amy Seiler of the Nebraska Forest Service.

Henrickson, a Nebraska Certified Nurseryman and former certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, was the area supervisor with University of Nebraska-Lincoln Botanical Garden and Arboretum for seven years.

He was also the curator of the State Fair Park Arboretum in Lincoln for eight years and has co-hosted a live gardening talk show on a Lincoln radio station for 13 years.

Evertson oversees programs that provide funding, technical assistance and educational outreach for sustainable landscape enhancements in Nebraska communities.

Before joining NFS, Evertson coordinated community programs for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum for nearly 20 years. He has authored many publications including “The Guide to Woody Landscape Plants for Nebraska.”