Chris Wiesinger, owner of The Southern Bulb Company near Tyler, Texas, and a speaker at the 5th Annual Ag Expo Gardening Seminar in West Monroe on Jan. 17, discusses how he built his business by collecting bulbs from one of the most unlikely places—abandoned home sites. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

Peter J. Hatch, retired director of gardens and grounds at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, signs books before his talk at the 5th Annual Ag Expo Gardening Seminar in West Monroe on Jan. 17. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

Attendees at the 5th Annual Ag Expo Gardening Seminar in West Monroe discuss plants with vendors at the Jan. 17 event. (Photo by Johnny Morgan)

WEST MONROE, La. – Northeast Louisiana Master Gardeners continued their record of bringing in national gardening experts as speakers at the 5th Annual Ag Expo Gardening Seminar on Jan. 17.

Keynote speaker this year was Peter J. Hatch, a professional gardener and historian with 38 years of experience in the restoration, care and interpretation of historic landscapes.

Hatch has authored four books on the gardens of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, where he served as director of gardens and grounds for 35 years. Now he gardens at his home in Virginia and travels extensively to promote his latest book, “A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Gardens at Monticello.”

Hatch currently consults on the installation and maintenance of public gardens and private estate landscapes, said LSU AgCenter horticulture agent Kerry Heafner.

“While at Monticello, we tried to recreate Thomas Jefferson’s landscape and his gardens,” Hatch said. “He left a wealth of documentary evidence, and we did years of archeology to recreate his flower gardens, his vegetable gardens, his fruit gardens and his road system.”

William Welch, professor and Texas AgriLife Extension Service landscape horticultural sciences professional, discussed old garden roses, which date back to 1867, when the first hybrid tea rose was made available commercially.

“Welch sees the plants grown by our ancestors as living antiques because they are symbols of success for generations of gardeners,” Heafner said. “In addition to his books, he also is a regular contributor to Southern Living magazine.”

Welch said the roses that he discussed are currently available through mail order sources and they will grow throughout Louisiana.

Chris Wiesinger, owner of The Southern Bulb Company near Tyler, Texas, said after years of being called the “Bulb Boy,” a New York Times writer dubbed him “The Bulb Hunter” in a 2005 feature story, and the name stuck.

What started as a personal passion and college project turned into a lifestyle and profitable business, he said. He now travels around the country visiting old abandoned home sites in search of bulbs that may have been forgotten.

“There are actually three things I want them to take away from here today,” Wiesinger said. “First, I want them to know that beauty is all around us. Two, get rid of the thought process that bulbs take a lot of work. And three, to name something is to know something.”

“Since 2011, this gardening seminar has grown, and we try to have national and local speakers,” Heafner said. “I think people have come to look forward to the program because it breaks up the monotony of not being able to get outside and work in their gardens this time of the year.”

“This year the theme is ‘Gardening through the Ages.’ he said. “Therefore, we brought in Hatch, Welch and Wiesinger to share their experiences.”

Joe Rolfe, founder of Star Home Place, a heritage museum creativity center in Oak Ridge, Louisiana, said the seminar was well-planned and provided a wealth of information.

AgCenter retiree Steve Hotard, who led this Master Gardener group until his retirement in December, was recognized for his many years of hard work and leadership in the northeast Louisiana horticulture industry.

Johnny Morgan