Speakers
Make your next meeting entertaining and educational with a speaker from Holden Forests & Gardens!
When and Where
Your choice! Come to Cleveland Botanical Garden or Holden Arboretum, or we can come to you at your local community center or library. Unless otherwise noted, talks are 45-50 minutes with time for question and answers.
Pricing
Unless otherwise noted, there is a $150 flat fee for off-site programs within our service area. Mileage fees apply to any program outside our regular service area, see FAQ at bottom of page for details.
Onsite programs not connected to a rental event will be charged the flat fee + a $75 facility fee. Special onsite program rates are available to Affiliate Garden Clubs.
A $25 fee will be charged for programs that are cancelled without alerting the speaker and Holden Forests & Gardens Education.
Booking a Speaker
To request a speaker, please fill out the inquiry form below. Click here for detailed descriptions and speaker bios of available programs.
Speaker Request Form
What are we learning?
Our speakers are HF&G staff members with deep experience in horticulture, education, and conservation. Feel free to inquire about a different topic, but be aware we may not be able to accommodate off-menu requests. Once you have finished selecting your programs, click here to return to the booking form.
Rob Dzurec
Horticulturist
Dzurec has been with the Cleveland Botanical Garden since 2013 and oversees various gardens including the Gateway garden, East Boulevard garden and Potager garden. Dzurec earned his BS from Miami University and an associate degree in Horticulture from Kent State University.
Edible Gardening
Many food crops have ornamental value in addition to the practical foods they provide. This program focuses on incorporating edible plants into the residential landscape. Discussion will focus on plant selection, planning and practical considerations.
Lori Gogolin
Horticulturist
Gogolin earned an associate’s degree in horticulture from Kent State University. She is a horticulturist at the Holden Arboretum and is responsible for the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden.
Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden
Tour the Arlene and Arthur S. Holden Jr. Butterfly Garden to learn all about the best plants, cultural methods and design principals to attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees to your garden. This class is best taken in person at the Arboretum from June-September and takes place entirely in the garden.
Sharon Graper
Director of Education
Graper has a master’s degree in science education from the University of Delaware and received her undergraduate degree in environmental science from the University of Virginia.
How to Nurture a Child’s Sense of Wonder
This presentation complete with hands-on activities is designed for adults who want to be a companion in their child’s exploration of the natural world. Techniques and activities that encourage children to discover the world around them will be presented.
Ann Rzepka Budziak
Horticulturist
Rzepka Budziak started her relationship with Holden Forests and Gardens as a volunteer in 1997. She spent several years working as a conservation seasonal while earning her bachelors and was thrilled to be hired permanently in 2008 as the Horticulturist for the Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower Garden. In 2019, she was promoted to the position of Director of Arboretum Horticulture.
Rain Gardens – Working Hard While Looking Good
Rain gardens do double duty in our landscapes. They clean and infiltrate stormwater and can become an oasis for wildlife and beauty. This program discusses the benefits of rain gardens and how to properly site, select plants for, and install a rain garden on a residential lot.
Gardening with Native Plants
If you are thinking about starting or expanding a native plant garden, this presentation is for you. Discover what goes into the planning and maintenance of the Myrtle S. Holden Wildflower garden at the Holden Arboretum. We’ll cover recommended native plants for the home garden and how to combine and care for them.
Michael Watson
Conservation Biologist
Watson works on conservation issues involving wildlife. He also coordinates Holden Arboretum’s Bluebird Project, a volunteer-based program monitoring the nesting activity of bluebirds and other species using Holden’s 200+ nest boxes. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree from the University of Michigan.
Return of the Eastern Bluebird
Discover the basics of bluebird ecology and conservation as well as the Arboretum’s role in and process for the successful recovery of this species in Ohio. Tips for the homeowner on providing safe and attractive nesting options will also be shared.
Ohio’s Forests
This interesting presentation reveals how geology, glacial activity, human history, and ecological interactions shape Ohio’s forests. Past and present forest types across Ohio, as well as the Arboretum’s current dominant forest types and the plants and animals associated with these forests, will be highlighted.
Green Team Ambassadors
Green Team Ambassadors are dedicated, experienced Holden Forest & Gardens volunteers who share their enthusiasm and knowledge of our gardens and natural areas, programs, research, volunteering and our People for Trees initiative. Green Team Ambassador presentations are free of charge and can be given at locations in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties.
People for Trees in Northeast Ohio: Making a Difference
This program is a free, 30-minute introduction to the People for Trees initiative. Learn how the tree canopy has changed in northeast Ohio, how these changes are impacting our quality of life, and what Holden Forests & Gardens is doing to mitigate those changes. Find out how you can support our People for Trees movement by joining a vast community of concerned citizens across northeast Ohio who are working to restore our tree canopy, starting in their own backyard.
Coming Soon in 2025!
The History of Japanese Gardens
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Japanese Garden at Cleveland Botanical Garden with this special, limited-time program! Over one thousand years ago, the areas surrounding Shinto shires met the Chinese concept of a garden, and from it the Japanese Garden was born. Understanding the origin and historical development of Japanese Garden design helps one to see the significance of even the smallest of details in a Japanese Garden. It also opens up the opportunity to incorporate some of these features or ideals into your life or garden.
This program will be available to book beginning January 2025. Contact [email protected] with questions.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Our service area is Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga counties. For those outside this area, additional mileage fees apply.
What if I don’t see the topic that I want?
Groups are welcome to inquire about a special topic. However, off-menu requests often require creating a new program from scratch. Depending on season and staff availability, we may not be able to accommodate your request.
Please note that off-menu requests will take additional time to schedule, and there may be extra materials fees depending on the request.
What technology do I need to provide to host a speaker offiste?
HDMI cable, projector, and screen are required to host a speaker at your venue. Reliable WiFi connection is preferred. The speaker will provide their own laptop.
Can I add a speaker program to an existing onsite room rental?
Yes. If you would like to add a speaker to your existing rental, please reach out to the staff person coordinating your rental and they will get in touch with Education. You will be charged the $150 flat rate for the speaker.
If you do not have an existing rental and only need a room for the duration of the program, you will be charged the $150 flat rate + a $75 facility fee.
Can I pay the day of the program?
Payment should not be handed to the speaker on the day of the program.
Checks can be sent by mail to Holden Arboretum Attn: Education 9500 Sperry Road Kirtland, OH 44094.
Credit card payment can be taken over the phone.
What is the cancellation policy?
The program host will be notified as soon as possible if a Holden Forests & Gardens speaker needs to cancel their program due to illness, transportation issue, or other unforeseen circumstance.
Should the host choose to cancel the program, they are responsible for notifying the speaker and Holden Forests & Gardens Education ([email protected]). If no notice is given, a $25 fee will be charged to the host.
