Inspiring and educating San Francisco South Bay and Peninsula plant enthusiasts since 1963
UPCOMING SPEAKERS & EVENTS
Join us for monthly Western Hort programs designed to inform, educate and inspire the dedicated plant lover.
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Meetings are held 9 times a year on the second Wednesday of the month and feature a lecture and slide presentation by a guest horticultural specialist. Each program also includes a member-led discussion and photos of unusual plants.
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In-person meetings, will be held at the Garden House in Shoup Park, 400 University Ave, Los Altos.
Located near Lincoln Ave.
In-person meetings often include a sale of diverse plant varieties donated by members and local nurseries as well as books, seeds, tools and other horticultural items on occasion. The meetings are free for members, non-member attendees are $10. All are welcome!
Our Upcoming September Meeting will be In-Person in the Garden House at Shoup Park .
400 University Ave., Los Altos.
If you enjoy the talks given at our meetings and want to help the Western Horticultural Society sustain our program, you might like to sponsor one of our speakers! Your donation helps cover the costs of hosting a speaker and we will note your name as sponsor in our newsletter. You can choose the month or speaker of your choice or perhaps you have a speaker you would like to propose? Contact Leslie Dean lesliekdean@sonic.net about donations or questions.
September 10th, 2025, 7:00pm
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Wild by Design: The Evolution of the High Line Gardens
by Richard Hayden, Senior Director of Horticulture, Friends of the High Line
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The High Line gardens are world famous for their unique ability to evoke a natural beauty and four season interest in a very challenging urban environment. This talk will highlight the plants, techniques and planning – including recent input and new garden designs from High Line designer, Piet Oudolf – that allow the gardens to evolve, succeed and continually inspire.
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Since 2022, Richard Hayden has been the senior director of horticulture at the High Line, an historic, elevated rail line on the west side of Manhattan. Richard began his career with 20+ years as a Los Angeles-based landscape designer. Following that he was director of horticulture at Gamble Gardens in Palo Alto and project manager at the La Brea Tar Pits Museum. He also found time to serve as board chair of the Pacific Horticulture Society, on the board of WHS, president of the LA District of the APLD and vice president of the Metro Hort Group.