PlantNebraska (formerly the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum) will offer the following seven free Plant Talk webinars this coming winter. All Plant Talks are open to the public. Registration is required online. All are available via Zoom.
The GreatPlants of 2026 — noon, Jan. 15, Bob Henrickson, PlantNebraska horticulture program coordinator, will talk about the GreatPlants 2026 selections: Perennial of the Year, Tree of the Year, Shrub of the Year and Grass of the Year.
Species Diversity, Selection and Proper Planting Practices for Western Nebraska — noon, Jan. 22, Western Nebraska has different soils, annual rainfall amounts and temperature ranges than eastern Nebraska, which means different tree species thrive best there. Amy Seiler, director of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services in Gering, and Lyle Minshull, North Platte Parks and Recreation director, discuss the importance of species diversity and offer advice and insights for tree selection and planting practices particular to western Nebraska.
How to Speak for the Trees — noon, Feb. 12, You can’t make people care about trees and landscapes, but you can lead them there. Sarah Buckley, PlantNebraska sustainable landscape specialist, explores practical strategies for convincing your community leaders and neighbors of the benefits of including trees in landscape projects.
Community Canopy Decline and How We Can Help — noon, Feb. 12, Christina Hoyt, Community Landscape and Forest Health Bureau Chief, explains how and where community tree canopy is declining in Nebraska and suggests ways to help reverse this trend.
Gardening for Pollinators — noon, Feb. 19, Bob Gittins and Stacey Coury from the non-profit organization Nebraska Monarchs offer tips and advice on successful gardening for pollinators. Whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned gardener, there’s always more to learn, so join us for what’s sure to be an informative and interesting presentation.
Poets and Plants — 7 p.m. Feb. 26, Twyla Hansen, former Nebraska State Poet (2013-2018), and Victoria Bogatz, current Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate (2025-2026), both share a love of nature and Nebraska landscapes in their writing. In this special Plant Talk, both poets will read a selection of their poems and discuss how nature and Nebraska
landscapes have inspired and influenced their work.
Herbicide Injury to Trees — noon, March 5, Widespread herbicide injury to trees has increased significantly in recent years as farmers ramp up efforts to control weeds in crop fields. At the same time, the battle to control weeds in lawns is also contributing to the problem. Tune in to learn more from PlantNebraska and Nebraska Forest Service experts Justin Evertson and Brad Kindler about herbicide injury to trees and non-target landscape plants including symptomology, the extent of the impact and how best to reduce potential harms.
All Plant Talks are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Each session will also be recorded, and the recordings will be emailed to registrants following the real time Zoom event. More information and registration details are available online.
