Photo by Tom Marks

Speaker: Riz Reyes, Horticulturist, Owner RHR Horticulture

Journey near and far through the eyes of a young plant nerd seeking out the best and most sought after garden plants for the Pacific Northwest. Discover new plant introductions; get reacquainted with reliable performers and hear memorable stories about botanizing Southwestern China and attending the Chelsea Flower show in London. As one of the next generation of gardeners, Riz will also discuss the emerging group of young horticultural professionals and their thoughts on the future of the horticulture industry.

Immigrating to the US from his native Philippines, Riz was fortunate to have been exposed to a climate that unveiled an overwhelming diversity of plants he felt compelled to learn about and grow on his own. This led him to start a small specialty nursery, get involved with various horticultural organizations around the country and then a Bachelor's in Environmental Horticulture from the University of Washington. Riz has worked at the UW Botanic Garden’s Center for Urban Horticulture and runs his own horticultural enterprise called RHR Horticulture, where he designs, consults, and maintains gardens he helped install. On the side, he dabbles as a floral designer emphasizing the use of local and American grown flowers. Riz has been featured in numerous publications such as Organic Gardening and Fine Gardening magazine and has won several awards for his design work, including the Best Show Garden at the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show and the People's Choice Award for a floral display in 2014. He is also a regular speaker and writer for various local and national organizations and publications.

Photo by Tom Marks