Mark Akimoff, owner of Illahe Rare Plants in Salem Oregon, a specialty nursery grower of flower bulbs, geophytes, alpines and rock garden plants from around the world will be our guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Unitarian Universalist Church, 1685 W 13th Ave, Eugene OR

Mark’s talk covers many of the floristic wildflower wonders of Oregon and SW Washington, from the unique flora of SW Oregon's Kalmiopsis and Siskiyou Mountains, to the Wallowa Mountains, the Gorge, Steens Mountain, the Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Adams wilderness areas and many lesser-known spots in between. His talk discusses habitats, access and tips on the cultivation of some of Oregon and SW Washington’s unique botanical treasures.

Mark earned a bachelor's degree in Horticultural Science from Oregon State University and studied biotechnology at Montana State University. Over his 25-year career as a professional horticulturist, Mark has worked in many sectors of the industry: plant propagation, historical garden management, restoration projects, and teaching horticulture at the community college level. While his personal interest in plants runs wide, a particular fondness for rock gardens and alpine plants often has him exploring the high country for wildflowers. At his nursery in Salem, Mark trials many different dryland and xeric plants to better help gardeners adapt to the changing climate conditions we are seeing in drought stricken Western North America. With a passion for travel and photography, Mark loves to share pictures of his botanical adventures with garden clubs and groups

The flower bulb catalog that Illahe publishes every summer offers an amazing array of diverse geophytes from around the world and one of the largest collections of Fritillaria in North America. Check out the website to see the amazing array of plants that he grows at Illahe Rare Plants at http://www.illaherareplants.com/

For more information about the Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group or this event, visit our website at www.thehardyplantgroup.org/events or email us at info@thehardyplantgroup.org

Doors on the east side of the building open at 6:30 PM for botanical sample browsing, refreshments and socializing. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. Membership in the Hardy Plant Group is open to all and is $30 annually. There is ample parking in the parking lot which can be accessed from both Chambers St. or W 13th Ave, with additional parking in the adjacent Looking Glass Center parking lot to the north, but please do not park under their covered entry way. Overflow parking is also available in the first 20 spaces on the east and south side of Redeemer Fellowship Church just across Chambers St. to the west.

This in-person meeting will also be broadcast live over Zoom to members who are unable to attend in person. The Zoom broadcast will be recorded, with a viewing link sent to members to watch within two weeks of receiving the link. If you are interested in watching our Zoom broadcast, and not a member, please see the “About” page on our website at www.thehardyplantgroup.org/about to download our membership form to join.

The Willamette Valley Hardy Plant Group is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization for gardeners of all experience levels. The Group is dedicated to educating the community about perennials, shrubs, and other plants for use in the garden, sharing each other’s gardens, and fostering a love of gardening. For more information, visit www.thehardyplantgroup.org.

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