Speakers
Make your next gathering entertaining and educational with a speaker from Holden Forests & Gardens! Our speakers are experts in their field and cover a variety of topics that are perfect for club meetings, community centers, and public libraries. Unless otherwise noted, talks are intended for an adult audience and last 45-60 minutes with Q&A.
To Book a Program
- Read through the program details and requirements
- Select your first and second choice topics
- Complete and submit the booking request form
- Once you submit your booking request, someone from our Education Department will contact you to confirm the date, time, and topic. Your booking is not complete until it has been reviewed and confirmed by our staff.
Quick Links
Program Details
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. We cannot fulfill requests with a roundtrip of over 130 miles at this time.
- Onsite programs will be charged an additional $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 speaker and the Holden Forests & Gardens Education Department.
- Payment can be made by check or credit card.
Location: We can accommodate onsite, offsite, and virtual programs. For virtual programs, the host is responsible for creating and providing the Zoom link.
Offsite Technology Requirements: HDMI cable, projector, and screen are required to host a speaker at an offsite venue. Reliable WiFi connection is preferred. The speaker will provide their own laptop.
Audience: Unless otherwise noted, programs are designed for a general adult audience.
Program Topics
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 from the options below, please fill out the speaker request form.
Caroline Watson
Horticulturist
Caroline began to learn the basics of gardening, design, and arranging as a child with her grandmother in the garden. After years of maintaining a small gardening business, when it came time to attend college, a major in Botany was a natural choice. Finding the world of public garden horticulture in 2018 has blended her passions for plant science and design while also providing the opportunity to share both of those aspects with the public. She now cares for the Japanese and Restorative Gardens as well as the Terrace and Perennial Boarder at the Cleveland Botanical Garden.
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. It also opens up the opportunity to incorporate some of these features or ideals into your life or garden.
**Please note this program is only available in our service area.**
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.
Speaker Request Form
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
Frequently Asked Questions:
Our service area is Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga counties. For those outside this area, additional mileage fees apply. Some programs are limited to specific locations. Please read the descriptions carefully.
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.
