About Ray Rogers
Ray Rogers has pursued an extensive horticultural career. Here are glimpses into some highlights.
Freelance Author, Speaker, and Editor
Ray authored three gardening books published by Timber Press:The Encyclopedia of Container Plants: More than 500 Outstanding Choices for Gardeners (2010)Coleus: Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gardens (2008)Pots in the Garden: Expert Design and Planting Techniques (2007)He also coauthored The Philadelphia Flower Show: Celebrating 175 Years (Harper Resource 2003), wrote for many gardening books and magazines, and was interviewed frequently for book reviews and articles.
Instructor
Ray was an instructor for eight college-level courses in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wisconsin. He also managed their 30’ x 60’ greenhouse and served as Steward for the Old Growth Forest (a State Natural Area on campus).Ray taught woody plant materials courses for the Barnes Arboretum Foundation School of Horticulture in Merion, Pennsylvania and for the George Washington University Landscape Design Program conducted at the US National Arboretum.
Independent Contractor
Ray served as an independent contractor at Atlock Farm in Somerset, New Jersey, an eclectic specialty nursery.
Editor and Americanizer
Ray edited and Americanized many books on gardening and other topics at Dorling Kindersley Publishing in New York City, most notable of which was the very well-received American Horticultural Society A – Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants.
Supervisor
Ray supervised the permanent and seasonal staff at two public gardens under the direction of the Somerset County Park Commission in Central New Jersey.During his time as the Education Supervisor/ Horticulturist for the American Horticultural Society in Alexandria, Virginia, Ray coordinated several national and local educational and horticultural programs.
Curatorial Intern / Assistant
As Curatorial Intern and then Curatorial Assistant at the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ray participated in a wide range of functions necessary for the operation of a major public garden.
Exhibitor
Since 1973, Ray has made thousands of entries at flower shows, from local plant-society events and county fairs to the Philadelphia Flower Show, in which he successfully exhibited from 1990 – 2012.
Early Career
Ray began his career maintaining and improving the restored landscapes surrounding Woodlawn Plantation and the Pope-Leighey House, both period houses in Alexandria, Virginia, owned and managed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Garden-club Activity
As a member of the Town and Country Garden Club, a member club of the Garden Club of America, Ray serves on several horticulture-related committees and has also been an award-winning exhibitor at several GCA flower shows.
Radio and TV Appearances
Ray Rogers appeared on a number of radio and television programs, including twice on Martha Stewart Living; Connecticut Public Television; WHYY Radio (Wilmington/Philadelphia); various media in Somerset County, New Jersey, the Washington, DC metropolitan area, and Madison, Wisconsin; and was interviewed for a Fine Gardening magazine podcast.
Lots of Pots Program
Already an accomplished speaker, Ray Rogers has presented his informative and entertaining program, Lots of Pots, at many venues and to a variety of audiences:
Presentations
California
California Horticultural Society Winter Symposium - San Francisco
Connecticut
Bristol Garden Club Connecticut Master Gardeners’ Symposium - East Hartford Glebe House and Garden - Woodbury Green Fingers Garden Club - Greenwich Westchester Fairfield Horticultural Society
Delaware
Delaware Center for Horticulture - Wilmington
Florida
Vero Beach Garden Group
Louisiana
Longue Vue House and Gardens - New Orleans
Maryland
Evergreen Garden Club - Bel Air Ladew Gardens - Monkton
New Jersey
Bartlett Tree Experts - Morristown Basking Ridge Garden Club Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum - Morristown Garden Club of Englewood Garden Club of Madison Garden Club of Trenton Greenfingers Garden Club Haddonfield Garden Club New Jersey Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects Annual Meeting New Jersey Flower and Garden Show - Edison New Vernon Garden Club Oceanport Garden Club Peapack and Gladstone Library - Peapack Princeton Adult School Rutgers Home Gardeners School - New Brunswick Springfest Flower and Garden Show - Sussex County Warren Garden Club
New York
East Hampton Garden Club Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons Little Garden Club of Rye Mountain Top Arboretum - Tannersville New York Botanical Garden - Bronx
Ohio
Miami Valley Gardening Conference - Dayton
Oregon
Yard, Garden & Patio Show - Portland
Pennsylvania
Garden Club of Philadelphia/Garden Club of America Zone V meeting The Garden Workers - Philadelphia The Gardeners - Philadelphia Morris Arboretum - Philadelphia Philadelphia Flower Show The Planters - Bryn Mawr Scott Arboretum - Swarthmore Squaw Run Garden Club - Fox Chapel West Chester Garden Club
Texas
Magnolia Garden Club - Beaumont
Virginia
Green Spring Gardens - Alexandria
Washington
Northwest Horticultural Society - Seattle
Washington DC
US Botanic Garden Design Symposium
Wisconsin
Town and Country Garden Club - Sheboygan Wisconsin Master Gardener Conference - Sheboygan