What to expect: 2018 Western

The Western Nursery & Landscape Association will celebrate Plants With Purpose at the 2018 Western. The event takes place Jan. 17-19 at the Crown Center Exhibit Hall in Kansas City, Mo. The "Plants With Purpose" theme will highlight the economic, environmental, and quality of life benefits of plants.

The 2018 Western kicks off on Wednesday evening at Boulevard Brewing Company and celebrates the many purposes of plants with a video introduction by Dr. Charlie Hall and a series of fast-paced presentations on the benefits of plants. Guests can enjoy unlimited Boulevard beer & KC barbecue compliments of Ball Horticultural Company, Greenleaf Nursery Company and Greenscape Gardens Nursery & Home Nursery.

The 2018 Western education will highlight the many benefits of plants with Rick Darke presenting “The Essential Layers of Living Landscapes” and a “Dynamic, Conservation-based Landscape Design Workshop.” Rebecca Lindenmeyr will present on “Nature Integration – The Future of Design.” Dr. Robert Lyons will present “The Color of the Native Plant Palette: Herbaceous Considerations and Other Related Thoughts.” Roundtable Discussions will include discussions on “Promoting Plants & Their Purposes at the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum,” “Designing with Native Plants in Residential Landscapes,” “Native Plant Stewardship Training” and a discussion led by Dr. Jennifer Reithel of the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory. Grow Native! will present an entire track of education.

Click here to view a complete, up-to-date version of the show's schedule.

Participants at the 2018 Western are also invited to stop by the new Demonstration Center to join hands-on education sessions.  The Demonstration Center will feature 30-minute sessions on products, plants and techniques important to the horticulture industry.  In addition, participants can visit the tabletop displays set up by each participating company to ask questions and learn more about the plants or products featured in the demonstrations.

The 2018 Western will be Jan. 17-19 in Kansas City, Mo. Details at wnla.org.