Polly Hill’s vision of growing an arboretum began in 1957 and the 70-acre garden that is her legacy first opened to the public 15 years ago. The mission of the Polly Hill Arboretum is simple; to share plant knowledge with students of all ages. Polly’s voice is still sometimes heard on the local NPR station saying, “Educate yourself. Learn. That’s the fun. The learning is the fun.”

Educational speakers at the arboretum this summer include Guy Sternberg, director of the Starhill Forest Arboretum in Petersburg, Ill.. He will be talking about his new book Trees in a Changing Climate.

The annual David H. Smith memorial lecture features Stephen Kellert, professor emeritus at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He will explore the need for human connection with nature as he discusses his book, Birthright: People and Nature in the Modern World.

Peter J. Hatch, director of the gardens and grounds at Monticello, rediscovers the past with his book talk, A Rich Spot of Earth: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello.

And Sheila Brady, a principal at the landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, will present a talk on her recent design project, the native plant garden at the New York Botanical Garden.

Other classes offered this season include drawing classes, plant propagation, an introduction to ferns and the botany of beer. For a complete list of speakers, events and dates visit pollyhillarboretum.org.