Glen Pace
PaceGardens@charter.net
810-247-4582 (cell)
810-687-2512 (gardens)
989-244-4029 (home)
Bio: A Registered Nurse by trade and a botany enthusiast as a means of relaxation, Glen is an RN and Certified Trauma Nurse working in the ER /Trauma Department of an inner city hospital. He is also an instructor for the Emergency Nurses Association teaching the Trauma Nurse Core Course.
His gardening enthusiasm started more than 50 years ago, with a neighbor giving a 5-year-old child a bouquet of Salix discolor (Pussy willow) which rooted while he was enjoying their catkins. Since that first tree Glen has been propagating multiple plants by rooting, layering, and grafting.
He has written many Power Point Presentations on gardening subjects including: Side-Veneer Grafting, Cypripediums, Color and Texture in the Spring Garden, Fostering the Unconventional, and other subjects related to a Woodland Garden. He enjoys teaching others about his style of gardening and about the plants of which he holds great passion.
Glen is known for pushing the hardiness envelope with his unique collections of plants and enjoys the past time of working in his private woodland garden, Pace Gardens in Clio, MI.
Power Point Presentations
Color and Texture in the Spring Garden- New Spring growth and spring flowers add color and excitement to the garden after a long cold winter. Even though there is a lot of green, there are multiple shades and textures which gives dimension to the overall landscape. This presentation shows examples of plants to use for giving extra color and /or texture to the garden landscape.
Cypripedium Orchids- There are more than 40 species of the treasured Lady Slipper Orchid and the average gardener can grow certain species of these beautiful plants with some basic soil amendments or with a sunken pot filled with the medium the plants require. The presentation covers what is growing at Pace Gardens and a glimpse of some of the hybrids being produced for garden culture as well as how to grow a hardy Cypripedium in a sunken pot.
Fostering the Unconventional- Cultivation of plants that are rare, unusual, and some that are beyond explanation. Pictorial guide from Pace Gardens of many types of decorative trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials and their most common means of propagation.
Grafting the Japanese Maple- There are 12 steps to grafting a Japanese Maple. This presentation shows the technique of side-veneer grafting as taught to me by Harold Johnston of Tallassee, AL. Harold was the "Master Grafter” for the University of Alabama to propagate their collection of Japanese Maples. This presentation can be turned into a hands-on grafting class, but I must have a long advance notice to be able to acquire the rootstock for the class.
Hellebores; The Species, Some Hybrids, and Which Ones Grow Best in USDA zones 5b-6a- This Buttercup relative has a few common names including Christmas Rose, Lenten Rose, Snow Rose, Oracle Rose, and sneezewort. This Presentation covers the four Caulescent Species as well as the sixteen Acaulescent Species, part of the ten subspecies and some of the hybrids. Which ones are reliably hardy in the Mid-Michigan landscape is revealed. Also discussed is seed propagation and division.
Maples for the Small Garden-Maples, Acer palmatum, japonicum, and a few others that are garden sized, interesting, and self-controlled enough to be used in the typical smaller garden. This class covers a number of varieties of these beautiful small trees with pictures to show their spring, summer, and autumn interest as well as general cultural information.
Trillium; More Than Just the White One- A pictorial guide of more than forty of the accepted forty-nine species of Trillium, plus additional slides of specie selections, hybrids, and some unusual and rare double forms. Each specie's origin and habitat is covered. Propagation by seed and vegetative means is discussed. Handouts available for PowerPoint pictures, Trillium Sources, list of Accepted Species, and an Identification Key by Susan Farmer.
What is Hosta College- Presentation of the 2014 Great Lakes Regional Hosta College held in Piqua, OH every March. This presentation gives the audience a glimpse of what to expect at the annual event. Hosta College is: educational, interactive, lots of fun, a great place to find what's new for your garden, a place to buy Hosta, Companion Plants, Hosta Stones, Books, Garden Tools, Unique Art, Clothing, and where you see friends you only get to see once per year at Hosta College in Piqua, OH.
Wonderful Woodlanders- How can plants grow in the dense shade under mature trees. The spring ephemeral plants are some of the hardiest plants we can grow. They are some of the first plants that bloom in the spring and they sprout, grow, bloom, seed, and then go dormant just as the trees are coming into full leaf. This presentation covers a number of native and non-native spring ephemeral plants that can be grown in a USDA zone 5b garden.
Scheduling a presentation - I work weekends at a Trauma Center in Flint, MI so I am available to do presentations on Monday through Thursday only.
