Shifts in attitudes toward native plants, ecological landscapes, and progressive planting design are making grasses and sedges more popular than ever. They play many roles, from low-key groundcover to seasonal superstar. They lessen the need for maintenance, fertilizer, and pesticides. Their ability to anchor the soil and help manage stormwater gives them a workhorse reputation, but their aesthetic qualities make them essential for looks as well. With a focus on functionality, learn about native grasses and sedges and discover where they do their best work.

$5 / Free PJCBG Members. Bring your lunch, the Garden will provide drinks. Advance registration required. Registration closes on February 27 at 5:00pm. To register, call 336-996-3062.

About the Speaker

Shannon Currey is a horticultural educator and consultant with Izel Native Plants. She began her work life as a social scientist and changed careers to pursue horticulture at North Carolina State University. After school, she worked short stints at a landscape design firm and at Niche Gardens, a pioneering native plant nursery in North Carolina. In 2007 Shannon joined Hoffman Nursery, a wholesale grower specializing in grasses, sedges, and other graminoids. This was the start of a 15-year journey during which she developed a deep understanding of these specialized plants. She has shared her advanced knowledge of graminoids in nationally published articles and has traveled throughout the country speaking to professional organizations, community groups, and at public gardens. Shannon currently serves on the Perennial Plant Association’s Board of Directors and the North Carolina Plant Conservation Scientific Committee. She was honored in 2020 with the Libby Wilder Award from the North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association. In 2022 she joined Izel Native Plants to expand their education and outreach efforts. Izel’s unique model within the industry consolidates the inventories of wholesale-only growers and makes their native plants available directly to the end consumer.