Conquer the Soil: Love Stories of Black History & Horticulture

Join us for a talk that celebrates Black innovations in the world of horticulture.

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Black Americans have always been trailblazers, leaders, and visionaries in the world of plants.

Join us as scholar and storyteller Abra Lee leads us on a journey through American history, celebrating these iconic plant people and their extraordinary achievements. Following the program, there will be time for a brief Q&A.

Admission is included in the ticket price, so be sure to check out our very own connection to this fascinating history by visiting the Paul Laurence Dunbar tree in the Western Reserve Herb Garden!

Time: 10:30 a.m. – noon

Location: Cleveland Botanical Garden | Woodland Hall

Conquer the Soil: Love Stories of Black History & Horticulture
Saturday, May 16, 2026
10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Price: $20 per person

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Abra Lee

Abra Lee

Abra Lee is the Director of Horticulture at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. She is a graduate of Auburn University, an alumna of the Longwood Gardens Society of Fellows, and a past Creative Resident at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, USA Today, Fine Gardening, and Veranda Magazine. Lee is the author of the forthcoming book “Conquer The Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers.”

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