Introduction to North American Trilliums
Frederick W. Case, Jr.
Thursday, April 17 9:15 am – 10:15 am

Join Fred Case, world renowned trillium expert, as he shares his expertise on trillium morphology, classification and distribution. Fred will discuss the biology of 38 North American species, including both Western and Eastern Groups. Fred will also talk about hybridization in the Trillium erectum alliance.

Fred Case is a teacher, botanist, author, and an Arthur Hoyt Scott Medal Award recipient. He is responsible for the book Trillium (Timber Press, 1997) which he co-authored with his wife Roberta Case. This book is considered by many to be the authoritative work on this genus. Other publications by Fred Case include Orchids of the Western Great Lakes Region and Wild Flowers of the Northeastern States.

Systematics, Evolution, and Relationships of Trillium
Alan S. Weakley, Ph.D.
Thursday, April 17 10:45 am – 11:30 am

For centuries the taxonomy of Trillium has been challenging and controversial at all levels from family to variety, and challenges and controversies remain.Trillium and its relatives Kinugasa, Paris, Daiswa, and Pseudotrillium are plants of the North Temperate forests, with a fragmented and relictual distribution in North America and Eurasia. The relationships of these genera to one another and to more distantly related groups have been the subject of recent phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular data.Within Trillium, ongoing taxonomic issues have led to the recent and pending naming of additional taxa, in the Trillium pusillum complex, the pedicellate trilliums, and the sessile-flowered trilliums. These recent and current developments will be reviewed.

Dr. Alan Weakley is the Herbarium Curator at the North Carolina Botanical Garden and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Curriculum of Ecology and Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He holds a B.A. in Botany and Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina, and a Ph.D. from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke University. Dr. Weakley serves on the Flora of North America board and is a cofounder of the Carolina Vegetation Survey. Dr. Weakley is the author of The Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, Georgia and Surrounding Areas.

Ecology and Biogeography of Trillium in Eastern North America: Where Are the Trilliums and Why Are They There?
Alan S. Weakley, Ph.D.
Thursday, April 17 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

The greatest diversity of Trillium is in eastern North America, and specifically in the Southeastern U.S. Though thought of as generally montane, many southeastern Trillium taxa are distributed strictly or mainly in the Coastal Plain. In the Southeastern United States, species and varieties of Trillium have notably local endemic distributions, suggesting relictual fragmentation and restriction, and/or local differentiation of species. The distribution and habitats of eastern North American Trillium taxa will be compared with those of the rest of the regional flora.

The Conservation of Trilliums: A Georgia Sampling
Thomas S. Patrick
Thursday, April 17 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

The American Southeast provides habitat for the vast majority of Trillium species. In Georgia, where 22 taxa have been documented, rare trilliums are under threat from habitat destruction caused by the encroachment of industrial and housing developments. Additional threats include poaching, overabundance of game animals, invasive exotic plants, and lack of funding for land acquisition. Conservation activities are diverse, require many disciplines and are essential to perpetuate wild populations.

Tom Patrick received his B.S. degree from Syracuse University and M.S. from Cornell in plant taxonomy. After nearly a decade working on rare plant inventories and taxonomy of the “Trillium erectum complex,” he accepted a position as botanist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in 1986. He has studied the flora of Georgia extensively, especially monitoring sites for two rarities, Trillium reliquum and Trillium persistens.

What Do You Mean, 7 Years!?!
William Cullina
Friday, April 18 8:30 am – 9:15 am

Even for propagators used to germinating and growing slow or recalcitrant species from seeds, Trillium species are particularly daunting. William (Bill) Cullina, who has worked with trilliums for twenty years, will present the unique challenges of seed and vegetative propagation of this genus. He will also highlight some of the progress made at the New England Wild Flower Society Nurseries.

Bill Cullina is the Director of Horticultural Research at the New England Wild Flower Society and a freelance author, teacher, photographer, and consultant. He holds degrees in plant science and psychology and has been working in plant propagation and nursery production for over twenty years. Bill has authored a number of horticultural references including: The New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada; Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines; and Understanding Orchids.

Commercial Trillium Propagation
Tony Avent
Friday, April 18 9:15 am – 10:00 am

Trilliums are one of the most coveted wildflowers by gardeners. Yet this beloved wildflower has truly been an illusive beauty for the nursery trade, often taking years to reach blooming size. How can the commercial nursery meet a growing public demand? Tony Avent, owner of the very successful mail order business, Plant Delights Nursery, will discuss his work with commercial trillium production from seed.

Tony Avent is the owner of Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, North Carolina (the home of plants with an attitude) specializing in rare and unusual perennials. Tony has also founded the Juniper Level Botanical Gardens, a display and research garden with 17,000+ accessions. His focus is to determine and showcase the diversity of ornamental plants that will thrive in USDA Zone 7b. He has devoted much effort to the collecting and growing of the genus Trillium and currently has 30 species in cultivation.

Trial and Error with Trillium Micropropagation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Ron Gagliardo
Friday, April 18 10:30 am – 11:15 am

The Atlanta Botanical Garden has been working to find new ways to propagate native plants such as trilliums in their plant tissue culture lab. Ron began informal experiments with nearly a dozen Trillium species in 2001 and after several years of laboratory trial, and with the hard work of several volunteers, is growing many in vitro propagated plants in the nursery. He will present a synopsis of their work in successful multiplication, rooting, and soil acclimation.

Ron Gagliardo is Tissue Culture Lab Manager at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. After receiving a M.S. degree in Botany at North Carolina State University, he joined the staff at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in 1993. He is using micropropagation techniques as a commercial tool to produce threatened carnivorous plants and take collection pressure off natural populations.

International Perspective on Gardening with Trilliums
Carl Denton
Friday, April 18 11:15 am – 11:45 am

Carl will discuss the nature of the National Trillium Collection, its content, management and, accessibility to the public. His method of growing trilliums in pots will also be described along with a disease problem he has encountered.

Carl Denton is the holder of the Scientific National Trillium Collections in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He is a trillium enthusiast who grows many of his plants in pots and also in a glasshouse. Over the past 20 years, he has kept card and computer records on every trillium plant or seed sown.

A Different Approach to Woodland Gardening
James B. McClements, M.D. (retired)
Friday, April 18 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Providing favorable conditions such as soil, light, moisture, and pH is crucial to the successful cultivation of trilliums and their companions. Join Dr. James (Jim) McClements as he discusses the use of an innovative type of bed system that provides the proper habitat and eliminates some of the problems of competition.

Dr. Jim McClements has been an avid woodland gardener for the past 25 years. He has traveled extensively from his home in Dover, Delaware to visit Trillium habitats from New England to Florida, several areas of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the private gardens of several National Collection holders in the United Kingdom. Together with Mike Slater, he co-founded Trillium-L in 1997, an Internet listserv which has grown to 300 subscribers.

Trilliums –Cultivation and Companion Plants in a Pennsylvania Garden
John T. Lonsdale, Ph.D.
Friday, April 18 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm

Dr. John Lonsdale will discuss the methods he uses to cultivate and propagate trilliums native to the eastern US in his USDA Zone 6b garden. He will describe siting as well as natural and artificial methods used to grow the early-rising sessile species from the Deep South and the pedicellate species that favor cooler, higher mountain habitats. He will also highlight companion plants such as Hepatica, Erythronium, Arisaema, and Cypripedium; discussing cultivation and propagation.

A transplant from the United Kingdom, Dr. John Lonsdale now gardens in Exton, Pennsylvania where he specializes in woodland plants. His extensive plantings include Trillium, Helleborus, Fritillaria, and Erythronium species. He regularly lectures and is an active member of many horticultural groups including: North American Rock Garden Society; Alpine Garden Society; and The Crocus Group as well as others. He holds B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Microbiology and a Ph.D. in Microbiology.

Keen Field Observation – 99% of Successful Trillium Culture
R. Mark Rose
Friday, April 18 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Good field observations can help you successfully cultivate trilliums in your garden. Mark Rose will share his many years of paying attention to slope position, soil pH, moisture needs, elevation preferences, light preferences, and rhizome needs. He will also discuss seed propagation of the genus.

A Royal Horticultural Society of London Fellow, Mark Rose is the director of Flannery Fork Botanical Garden in Greensboro, North Carolina and a member of the North Carolina Plant Conservation Board. Mark operated a commercial tropical orchid nursery for over forty years. He has been cultivating native orchids, trilliums, lilies, and Hexastylis since 1957. His primary interest is in shade gardening and spring ephemerals.

Trilliums are Skotomorphogenic
John Gyer
Friday, April 18 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Are trilliums truly dormant? Just because we do not see life on top of the soil does not mean our illusive beauty is not active. In fact, during the summer, rhizome apical buds are growing. John Gyer calls this skotomorphogenic – growth that happens in the dark. He will discuss how understanding this characteristic will allow us to tackle propagation and cultivation of Trillium species.

John Gyer and his late wife, Janet, have spent over 38 years collecting and growing plants on their farm in New Jersey. They have contributed to many journals including: The Bulletin of the North American Rock Garden Society; the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; the Appalachian Mountain Club; and the International Plant Propagators’ Society. John received a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Rochester and worked for 30 years in Mobil Oil’s research laboratory.

Obsession and Exploitation: The Cultural History of Trilliums
C. Cole Burrell
Friday, April 18 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm

Connections between trilliums and humans have existed since indigenous peoples employed their medicinal powers. Today, trilliums are valued more for ornament than for ointment. They are celebrated in song and rhyme, featured on stamps, and their perfect symmetry has been abstracted into logos, symbols and art. Their name is exploited to sell products and housing developments. Join C. Colston Burrell for an exploration of our shifting and often obsessive relationship with the showiest of spring ephemeral wildflowers.

C. Colston Burrell is a garden designer, photographer, naturalist, and award- winning author. His published works includes the newly released Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide, Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants, and A Gardener’s Encyclopedia of Wildflowers. Cole is principal of Native Landscape Design and Restoration, which specializes in blending nature and culture through artistic design.

Field Trip to Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve (optional)
Saturday, April 19 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Now that you’ve enjoyed two days of “everything trillium,” register for a day of botanizing along the Susquehanna River at one of the region’s most impressive wildflower areas, Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve. Space is limited to the first 40 registrants.

Shenk’s Ferry Wildflower Preserve is owned and protected by Pennsylvania Power & Light (PPL) for the enjoyment of the public. In this small, 50-acre sanctuary in southern Lancaster County, the wooded, streamside glens of the preserve are host to a vast array of spring wildflowers blooming in profusion from late March until the end of May. Join our wildflower experts to observe the spectacular spring displays, as well as discuss and debate the unusual trillium complex that covers the hillsides of the Preserve, known to many as “flex-erect” hybrids.

Fees for this field trip include transportation and lunch. Conditions at the Preserve can be moist to muddy depending upon weather, so come prepared for any conditions. Be sure to bring your camera!