Plant ID & Ecology: Conifers

What’s an evergreen, yet not always an evergreen? In this field-study class, Jeff O’Donal, nurseryman and conifer grower, will explore the extensive world of conifers, including native and non-native species, specimen plants, and those great for naturalizing into our native landscapes. We’ll explore the diverse shapes and sizes, variations of gold and blue, soft or coarse textures, varieties of needle lengths, deciduous or evergreen, fragrant or neutral—there’s something for every style and landscape.

Class level: Beginner-Intermediate.

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Instructor Bio:

To say Jeff O’Donal has lived as a nursery grower all his life is not an understatement. Jeff grew up on the premises of what is today’s O’Donal’s Nursery in Gorham, Maine. In 2005, Jeff bought the nursery from his father, Royce, who purchased the nursery in 1959 from what was Jackson Nursery and Landscaping (circa 1850). The nursery is a legacy and landmark for many thousands of New Englanders to procure plants annually. Jeff, a graduate of Stockbridge School of Agriculture, is incredibly passionate about growing plants, as you’ll see when you attend any of his workshops or lectures, particularly about daylilies and evergreens.