Advance registration is required. Tickets are non-refundable.
Depart Hyatt Regency New Orleans 7:00 am
This tour will highlight nursery operations, tea production, and ongoing landscape and nursery research throughout southeast Louisiana. Tour stops will include visiting two major nurseries in southeast Louisiana (Bracy's and Windmill), a Tea producer (Fleur De Lis Tea Co.), and the Hammond Research Station (HRS). Departing from New Orleans, attendees will have the opportunity to tour two prominent nursery production facilities in the region, a local tea (Camellia sinensis) farm and processor, followed by a tour of the HRS facilities to observe ongoing green infrastructure research projects (raingardens, bioretention cells) and tour the HRS gardens. A catered lunch featuring Louisiana cuisine will be available at the tea farm. This tour will provide value to attendees by incorporating in-depth nursery production visits, tea production and processing, research discussions spanning a range of disciplines, and a synopsis of Louisiana ornamental horticulture history to provide a unique experience for guests.
Tour Stops Stop #1: Windmill Nursery Arrive: 8:30 am Depart: 10:00 am Stop #2: Bracy’s Nursery Arrive: 10:30 am Depart: 12:00 pm Stop #3: Fleur De Lis Tea Company Arrive: 12:20 pm Depart: 2:20 pm Tour and cup of tea. Lunch of Jambalaya, salad, veggies, water/iced tea. Gluten free/vegan option available upon request. Stop #4: LSU AgCenter Hammond Research Station Arrive: 2:40 pm Depart: 5:00 pm
5:00 pm Depart for Hotel
Sponsoring Professional Interest Groups: Ornamental/Landscape & Turf (OL/T); Water Utilization and Management (WUM); Nursery Crops (NUR); Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants (HSMP); Asian Horticulture Group (AH); Plant Biotechnology Interest Group (PBIG)
Tickets are non-refundable. Advance purchase required.
Depart Hyatt Regency at 8:30 am
Stop #1: Narrated journey down Old River Road Stop #2: Swamp Boat Tour of Bayour Segnette Swamp Stop #3: Segnette Landing Harbor Front Dining (lunch) Stop #4: Antebellum Plantation Tour
ASHS Professional Interest Group/Committee Sponsor: Invasive Plant Research (NPR)
Student/First Time Attendee Welcome: Conference Overview Session Curt Rom
This session will provide the essential information for how to get the most out of your attendance at the ASHS Annual Conference. Specific events, sessions, and competitions will be explained. ASHS staff and volunteers will be on hand to make sure that you are aware of all that ASHS and specifically the ASHS Conference has to offer.
Monday July 28, 2025 1:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Strand 11
Presentation Title: “Biotechnology, Genomics and Opportunities for Horticultural Science"
Dr. Jim Giovannoni is Director of the USDA-ARS research lab on the Cornell university campus. He was a leader of the international effort to sequence the tomato genome and his laboratory has worked for over 30 years on molecular and genetic analysis of fruit physiology, ripening, and related signal transduction systems. His lab identified critical genes associated with fruit development, nutrition, and quality traits including the first transcription factor regulating ripening. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Giovannoni is a Texas A&M Hagler Fellow and received the 2014 Award for Exemplary Service from the US Secretary of Agriculture, and the USDA-ARS North East Area Senior Research Scientist of the year Award in 2010 and 2017.
Tuesday July 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Empire A
Advance registration and ticket purchase required.
Speaker: Dr. Gary Bachman
Gary R. Bachman is well known as the host of Mississippi State University Extension Service's award-winning Southern Gardening television, newspaper, radio, and social media franchise. Through his personal, conversational style, Dr. Bachman has made a tremendous impact on consumers of horticultural products and services in Mississippi and across the Southeast/
Tickets are non-refundable. Advance registration is required. Tour is limited to 12 persons.
Depart Hyatt Regency at 8:00 am Mississippi State University CREC 1815 Popps Ferry Road Biloxi, MS
Immerse yourself in sustainable floristry. We will cover information about the topic, and why it is important in floriculture research, teaching, and outreach. Participants will gain knowledge, skills, and creative ideas on how to incorporate sustainable floral design into existing and future courses, and how to make the ideas adapt to their needs. This workshop includes brief lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice.
Faculty Presenters/Moderators: Dr. James DelPrince, Mississippi State University Dr. Teresita Amore, University of Hawaii Dr. Coleman Etheredge, Mississippi State University Dr. Alyssa Palmer, Utah State University
Arrive at 9:30 am 10:00 - Intro to Sustainability, Cole Etheredge 10:30 - Working with Sustainable Mechanics, James DelPrince 11:00 - Hands-on Workshop 12:30 - Lunch 1:30 - Roundtable: Wha We Learned and What We Want to Do, all attendees
