PLANT QUEST 2026

JOIN US ON THIS YEAR'S QUEST TO FIND AMAZING PLANTS, NEW GARDENING TECHNIQUES, EXCITING DESIGN IDEAS, AND THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL BEST PRACTICES TO TAKE HOME TO OUR OWN GARDENS!

Cost: $40 - Early registration until Jan. 4^th or
$50 - Regular registration from Jan. 5^th - Jan. 25^th  

This 4-part series will be presented 
VIA ZOOM

Attendance:  Can't attend all live webinars? Register and pay for the 4-part series to attend the webinars or view via the recordings which will be made available for you after each session. This series is easy to access when it is most CONVENIENT for you! And the ZOOM platform is user-friendly.

Sessions:  (All January sessions on Mondays from 6 - 7:15 p.m. ET)

Jan. 5, 2026 - Tempting Tropicals for Temperate Gardens
Presenter:  Marc Hachadourian, Director of Glasshouse Horticulture & Senior Curator of Orchids, New York Botanical Garden
Tropical plants offer gardeners a vast range of possibilities to expand their plant palette, adding bold color and fast-growing foliage to the summer garden. From Cannas to Bananas or the hummingbird favorite Salvias, these plants can add dramatic flair, sculptural accents, and exotic colors to a summer garden. Marc Hachadourian, who oversees the diverse glasshouse plant collections and much of the living content of the New York Botanical Garden’s seasonal exhibitions, will show us how to take advantage of tropical annuals to enhance our landscapes from spring until frost.

Jan. 12, 2026 - Working Together to Protect and Preserve Trees for the Future
Presenter: Kim Shearer, Director of Collections & Curator, The Morton Arboretum
At The Morton Arboretum, an institution with more than a century of experience, there is a long-established mission to collect and study trees and other plants from around the world to enhance the environment and quality of living for all humans while also preserving and conserving trees. In this webinar, Kim Shearer will share her experience and the work of the Arboretum in its efforts to collect, conserve, protect, and introduce trees through collaborative efforts both internally and externally. The world's woodland communities are vast and diverse. It will take more than just one individual, one institution, or even one nation to champion their survival when faced with the reality of climate change. Learn how The Morton Arboretum and their partners are working together to secure a greener, healthier, more resilient future. 

Jan. 19, 2026 - Gravel Gardens: Gardens for our Changing Climate
Presenter: Jeff Epping, founder of Epping Design & Consulting and former Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens
In these challenging times of climate change and global warming, environmentally conscious gardeners are looking for better ways to garden. Water guzzling, chemically dependent, pollution causing lawns are unsustainable and can be replaced with so many better alternatives. One great option is earth-friendly gravel gardens that require little water, no fertilizer or other chemicals, no organic mulches and require less time and money to maintain. Don’t be fooled by the name, these gardens are as beautiful as they are resilient and support a myriad of native fauna.

Jan. 26, 2026 - Adventure in Ecological Horticulture
Presenter: Rebecca McMackin, Ecological Horticulturist & Garden Designer, Lead Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society, and producer of the monthly newsletter and podcast ‘Grow Like Wild!’
Gone are the days when a garden could be ornamental alone. We now recognize the impact that our land care practices have on the ecosystems around us and can see the importance of encouraging biodiversity. Thankfully, we do not need to sacrifice beauty when we invite butterflies and songbirds into our gardens. Rebecca McMackin has cultivated gorgeous landscapes in the toughest environments possible: urban parks, school playgrounds, and the sidewalks of New York City. She will take lessons from her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and decades of research to share how those of us who are fortunate enough to care for land can do it beautifully and ecologically.

Technology Requirements: Below are recommendations for the optimal interactive online learning experience:

• A computer, laptop or tablet with the latest version of your browser
• A reliable, internet connection - broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
  
• Webcam or HD webcam - built-in or USP plug-in
  
• Speakers and a microphone - built-in or USB plug-in

Re-certified Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener and Trainee attendees will earn 1.25 continuing education hours for each session attended or viewed via recording.

Register early by Jan. 4^th at midnight for $40 (save $10!)
or register from Jan. 5^th to Jan. 25^th at midnight for $50
With registration and payment for the 4-part series you will receive the webinar invitations as well as the recordings of each session.

Payment by Credit Card only please (Debit cards requiring a PIN are not accepted) via this secure MSU payment site to expedite your reservation. To ensure your transaction is processed, please enter your personal information exactly as shown on the credit card and do not include dashes or spaces when entering your credit card number. You will receive confirmation of transaction approval upon completion of the payment process. 

Your registration is not reserved until your balance is paid in full. 

Refund Policy for the PLANT QUEST series

• A full refund, less a $10 processing fee, will be issued for any registration cancelled on or before Dec. 28, 2025.
• No refund will be issued for any registration cancelled on or after Dec. 29, 2025.