Brian Jorg

Presentations

• Going Green – Leading by Example (Feature Presentation)
• Native Wildflowers for Eastern Gardens (Breakout Session)

Presentation Descriptions:

Going Green Going “Green” is currently one of the strongest movements worldwide, but what measures are being incorporated in new commercial landscapes? The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, which is known as the Greenest Zoo in the United States, is making strides to become an even better environmental steward. See the efforts of a major Zoo, from the use of rain gardens and green roofs, to reducing utilities and solid waste, solar panels and rain gardens, permeable pavements and geothermal power and plant selection for sustainable landscape. See the latest and greatest ideas being put into practice for sustainable infrastructure and landscapes, and learn ideas you can take back to implement into your own home landscape.

Native Wildflowers for Eastern Gardens Session will cover the best commercially available native plants that can be grown in home landscapes. Developing the soil for native gardens, propagation, even conservation can be covered as well. Handouts of the species covered will accompany the talk.

Bio:

Brian F. Jorg, Manager of Horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, joined the organization in 2004. Prior to joining the Zoo, Brian was a horticulturist at Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, a national historic landmark, for 15 years.

Brian’s responsibilities include managing the Native Plant Program. This program includes the conservation, education, and promotion of native flora. Finding more efficient manners of propagation and cultivation are a prime goal of this program. These protocols can then be used on rare and endangered plants in conservation efforts. Another of Brian’s responsibilities includes the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens Annual Trial Program. This program includes growing and trialing 200 varieties of the newest annuals available to the industry. Brian also manages the tulip display, in which over 93,000 bulbs are planted seasonally.

Brian’s passion is outdoor photography. To date, Brian has had his photographs published in various books, magazines, field guides, calendars, advertisements and greeting cards. Numerous institutions also use Brian’s images in their educational displays. Brian often travels more than 20,000 miles a year on photographic trips, including such destinations as Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Alaska, and the Yucatan. Brian has also led a safari to Kenya, East Africa,the Peruvian Amazon,and the Galapagos Islands.

Brian teaches various educational seminars, workshops, and classes to the general public, as well as professional organizations. Some of these speaking engagements include the Cincinnati Flower Show, Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, The Ohio State University Nursery Short Course, The Perennial Plant Association, Southern Ohio Wildflower Pilgrimage and the Grounds Industry Expo. Brian leads native wildflower workshops and tours of the Great Smoky Mountains. Brian appears regularly on both TV and radio as a regional horticulture expert.

Active in professional organizations in the greater Cincinnati community, Brian is the past president of the Cincinnati Rose Society, and is a member of the Garden Writers Association. Brian is also on the board of directors at the Civic Garden Center.

Whether he is trekking the glaciers of Alaska or the plains of East Africa, he is constantly learning, observing and documenting nature.