About the Speakers

 Brief Biographies of our Keynote Speakers

In order of presentation

Dr. William Welch – Bill Welch received his B.S. degree in Landscape Architecture from Louisiana State University. After working several years as a landscape contractor in Houston, he returned to L.S.U. to earn his masters and doctoral degrees in Extension Education and Horticulture. He joined the Faculty at Texas A&M University in 1972. Dr. Welch is editor of The Southern Garden web site within Aggie Horticulture. He is also a contributing editor for the Horticulture Update newsletter. As Extension Horticulturist, Dr. Welch provides educational information and programs for county extension agents, nursery professionals, and civic groups, as well as the general

public. In November 1988, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service presented Dr. Welch with the Superior Service Award citing his successful educational programs.

Dr. Welch has been instrumental in developing the Texas Certified Nursery Professional program and currently serves on the Board of that organization within the Texas Association of Nurserymen. In 1986, he was presented the Arp Award by the Texas Association of Nurserymen for his contributions to the Texas nursery industry.

He has served on the Board of the Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. as Landscape Design Chairman for the past 24 years and has been awarded a Lifetime membership in that organization. In 1988, he was elected to the Board of Directors and currently serves as Publications Chairman for The Southern Garden History Society. From 1993 to 1995, he served as President, and in the fall of 2002, the Board of Directors presented Dr. Welch with permanent honorary membership on their board. In May, 1993, Dr. Welch was made a Member-at-large of the Garden Club of America in recognition of his programs and writings on exploring and interpreting our gardening heritage.

Dr. Welch will be presenting “Accessories in the Landscape” – Accessories may be planned from the beginning or added to the original design.  Webster defines an accessory as "an object or device not essential in itself, but adding to the beauty, convenience or effectiveness of something else."  Getting them to appear integral to the overall design is the objective we will pursue. 

Steve Owens - Steve is an Oklahoma Horticulturist and Plantsman with over 20 years of professional horticultural experience.  His love of gardening began early, inspired by his Father and Grandfather in rural Sequoyah County. Steve graduated from Vian High School and later earned both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University.  In 2001 Steve became, Writer, Producer and Host of Oklahoma Gardening, a 30 minute award winning television program that airs weekly on OETA (Oklahoma Educational Television Authority).  The program reaches an estimated 175,000 viewers throughout Oklahoma and portions of neighboring states.  In 2007 Steve started a specialty plant nursery, Bustani Plant Farm, (bustaniplantfarm.com).

 In 2006 Steve was bestowed the George J. Vaclavek Gold Medal from the Oklahoma Horticultural Society and in early 2007 his first book, “Best Garden Plants for Oklahoma”, co-authored with Laura Peters, was released.  Although he is interested in all aspects of gardening, he has a great love of garden design, native plants, perennials, and heat-tolerant flowering tropical plants and vines.  Steve gardens in Stillwater, OK, where his new nursery is located.

Steve will be presenting “Oklahoma Native Plant Safari” – We will take a slide-show safari through the diversity of Oklahoma's native flora.  Some of these plants will be familiar to most gardeners while others may be new acquaintances.  Steve will share information about how to grow native plants and explore the advantages of having these wild beauties in the home garden.

Steve Dobbs joined the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith as Director of Grounds and Landscape in April 2002. In 2005, Steve was appointed Plant Operations Director where he coordinates the maintenance efforts of some 34 buildings and 127 acres of grounds, which includes an arboretum with 1,122 inventoried trees, and preliminary work on a 10 acre proposed botanical garden. Under Steve’s direction, UA Fort Smith has been recognized numerous times for their beautification efforts. In the 2005 America in Bloom national competitions, UA Fort Smith received the award for the best Floral Display. In 2003, the Professional Grounds Management Society awarded the Grand Award to UA Fort Smith for the “Best Maintained Landscape” in the school or university category in the nation.

 Steve is the author of “The Southern Lawn Series” and the “Oklahoma Gardeners Guide.” From 1990-1995 Steve was host and producer of the popular television show “Oklahoma Gardening” which was selected as the Best TV Gardening Program in the Nation in 1992 by the Garden Writers Association of America. Steve received his bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He is currently serving as President of the Garden Writers Association which has over 1,800 garden communication members throughout the U.S, Canada and England.

Steve in will present “Landscape Like a Pro” – Are you in control of your landscape or does it control you? Get helpful tips on design and plant selection to make your landscape easier to maintain and enjoy.

Dr. Carl Whitcomb grew up on rented farms in Southeast Kansas. He received his BS degree at Kansas State University in 1964, MS at Iowa State in 1966 and PhD at Iowa State in 1969. He was assistant professor of Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Florida 1967 – 1972 and assistant to full professor at Oklahoma State University 1972-1985. He is the president of Lacebark Inc., Consultant, Author, Researcher, and Lecturer. He has written four books: Know It and Grow It III, a guide to the identification and use of landscape plants (1996); Plant Production in Containers II (2003); Production of Landscape Plants II (in the field) (2001); and Establishment and Maintenance of Landscape Plants II (2006). Dr. Whitcomb has published over 400 papers on an array of

 research topics and has presented hundreds of talks at professional meetings and currently holds 26 US Patents and has 7 pending along with 19 registered trademarks. Some of his most notable inventions are:

Micromax® micronutrients – licensed to the Scotts Co. and sold globally.

RootMaker® air-root-pruning containers – licensed to RootMaker Products Co.

RootBuilder® air-root-pruning containers – licensed to RootMaker Products Co.

RootTrapper® root-tip-trapping containers – licensed to RootMaker Products Co.

Dynamite® cherry red crapemyrtle

Red Rocket® cherry red crapemyrtle

Pink Velour® crapemyrtle

Tightwad Red® crapemyrtle, a sterile true dwarf

Easy Street® lacebark elm with exceptional wood strength.

City Slicker® river birch with white bark.

Dr. Whitcomb has received numerous awards, most notably: 1977 Award from Southern Nursery, Assoc. for Excellence in Research, 1983 Chadwick Award by Amer. Assoc. Nurserymen “To an Exceptional Educator”, 1986 Wight Memorial Award by Southern Nursery, Assoc. for Outstanding Contributions to the Nursery Industry, 1987 Outstanding Industry Person Award by Florida Nursery. Assoc., 1988 Award of Merit by Garden Writers Assoc. of Amer., 1993 named Fellow of Int. Plant Prop. Soc., 2000 Sidney Meadows Award of Merit by Int. Plant Propagators Society, 2003 Gold Medal Award by the Oklahoma Horticulture Society, and 2006 recipient of the Henry Wallace Award for Significant Contributions to Agriculture, by Iowa State University.

Dr. Whitcomb will present “Top 10 Planting Myths” – In this presentation Dr. Whitcomb will address the top 10 planting myths and explain why they are myths and the science behind them.

Dr. Mike Schnelle received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Horticulture at Kansas State University, Manhattan.  He went on and completed a PhD in Horticulture at Colorado State University, Fort Collins.  Since 1989, Schnelle has served as professor and extension specialist at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture.   He also serves as Conservator of Woody Plant Collections for the Oklahoma Botanical Garden and Arboretum Statewide System. Mike has interests in all areas of ornamental horticulture from flowers to trees.  Schnelle’s ideas and experiences with trees and

shrubs are regularly published in the two leading national trade magazines, NM PRO and American Nurseryman.   Schnelle has lectured on plant materials throughout the U.S. as well as Mexico, Canada, Japan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Libya.

Dr. Schnelle will present “Woody and Herbaceous Gems in the Landscape” - Both native and non-native plant materials will be discussed with applications for Oklahoma and surrounding environs.