OLLI Gardening Symposium

OLLI Gardening Symposium

Event | Available

1200 Market Street (on UTMB Campus) Galveston, TX 77555-0972 United States
TBD
5/20/2025 (one day)
8:00 AM-3:45 PM CDT on Tue
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$30.00

OLLI Gardening Symposium

Event | Available


OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE (OLLI) at UTMB Health

3rd Annual Gardening Symposium

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

1200 Market Street, Galveston, Texas 77555

$30 All-Day Registration – Box Lunch and Parking Included

Visit: https://utmb.us/drh or call (409) 763-5604 to register



Welcome to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. This year’s program will provide a wealth of gardening knowledge and information on a variety of topics, presented by some of the area’s most knowledgeable gardening authorities. Whether you're a passionate backyard gardener or a seasoned professional, the symposium offers a day filled with engaging presentations and networking opportunities. Highlights include eco-friendly gardening practices tailored to the unique needs of our coastal environment. Don't miss this chance to grow your knowledge and connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts!

 

Agenda of Events (schedule subject to change):

8:00 a.m. Registration and networking, light breakfast provided

9:00 a.m. Welcome and introductions

Session 1: Grow Your Knowledge

Gardening on the Upper Texas Gulf Coast offers endless possibilities for beautiful landscapes and abundant fruit and vegetable harvests. This three-part presentation series will focus on well-adapted plants for our region and share gardening techniques tailored to our unique climatic conditions.

9:15 a.m. Low Hanging Fruit | Boone Holladay

10:15 a.m. Coastal Vegetable Gardening | Keaton Argubright

11:15 a.m. Native Texas Plants for Coastal Landscapes | Ricci Simmons

12:00 p.m. Lunch and open exhibition area

 

Session 2: Welcoming Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators to the Garden

Join us for an afternoon of learning as we explore gardening practices that support birds, butterflies and pollinators. Discover how to design and maintain landscapes that provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. Together, we can make a difference in preserving these species and the ecosystems they help sustain .

1:00 p.m. Blooms & Butterflies: Creating a Garden Haven | Soni Holladay

2:00 p.m. Garden Gone Batty | Brandi Keller

3:00 p.m. Bird City Texas for Galveston | Sara Belles

 
3:45 p.m. Closing remarks 


  • Presenters:

    Keaton Argubright is deeply involved in the Galveston Farmers Market gardening program, where he works to engage young people and adults in hands-on gardening experiences. His efforts focus on teaching the basics about plant growth, sustainability, and the importance of healthy food choices. Argubright’s dedication helps foster a love for gardening and environmental awareness within the Galveston community.

     

    Sara Belles is the Gulf Coast Avian Ecologist with the American Bird Conservancy working with to monitor and protect nesting shorebirds and seabirds, as well as migrating and wintering shorebirds. Sara also works closely with Bird City Texas – a community-focused certification program, created to help people protect birds and their habitats. Sara’s work is having a major impact on creating habitat, as well as reducing other harmful factors affecting our Gulf Coast bird population.

     

    Boone Holladay is the Galveston County Extension Horticulture Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife. He provides expert, research-based education on gardening, plant care, pest management, and sustainable horticultural practices. Through his efforts, Boone helps individuals within the community enhance landscapes, improve plant health, and promote environmentally responsible gardening.


    Soni Holladay is a dedicated educator at the Cockrell Butterfly Center, where she works to inspire visitors with a love for butterflies and the natural world. Through her efforts, she helps promote conservation and environmental education, sharing knowledge about native plants and butterfly species. Her passion for nature and wildlife have made her an integral part of the center's mission to connect people with the beauty of the environment.

     

    Brandi Keller is the Galveston County Extension Agent for Coastal & Marine Resources with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and former Harris County Horticulture Agent. Currently, she provides outreach on coastal resilience, sustainable fisheries, and responsible environmental stewardship. Brandi is also a member of the Houston Bat Team, educating on bats’ ecological role, insect control benefits and their importance to local ecosystems while promoting sustainable wildlife practices.

     

    Ricci Simmons joined the Galveston Bay Foundation in June 2019. Her primary interests are vegetation inventory and monitoring. Ricci works towards managing native vegetation to promote high species diversity, improving hydrologic function, and increasing wildlife habitat. Her love of gardening combined with her knowledgeable expertise makes Ricci one of the Gulf Coasts most valuable native plant authorities.


    Participating Organizations:

    • American Bird Conservancy
    • Galveston Garden Club
    • Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council
    • Galveston Island Tree Conservancy
    • Galveston’s Own Farmers Market
    • International Oleander Society
    • OLLI at UTMB Gardening Group
    • Seeding Galveston
    • Texas AgriLife Extension
    • Texas Native Plant Society