ARBORETUM ADVENTURES EVENING EVENT: FEATURING DR. KEVIN PARRIS
This event is open to sponsors, ticket holders, and current students. There will be food and drinks prior to the event being held in the Tracy Gaines Auditorium.
5:30 – 6:15 | refreshments
6:30 | presentation begins
“Parris in France: Revelations about the Intensive Cultivation of Plants.”
SCC’s Horticulture Department has hosted their annual event known as Arboretum Adventures for 16 years. It all began with a synopsis of Arboretum Director Kevin Parris’s 2009 trip to China with Magnolia Society International. Over the years SCC has welcomed many guest presenters to Arboretum Adventures, but this year Kevin returned from a Magnolia Society meeting in France and Belgium with inspiration from an array of impressive gardens.
In his presentation, Kevin will share scenes of applied horticulture that are engaging and intelligent. From the heart of Paris to the gardens of Nantes near the western coast, to the shores of Normandy and into the heavenly gardens of Belgium, highly curated plant collections resembling our own abound. Given that horticulture is “the intensive cultivation of plants”, Kevin will reflect on what he specifically learned from this recent adventure, and what the SCC Horticulture team has learned these past 16 years.
$50 per person | $75 per couple
BIO for Kevin Parris:
Kevin Parris, PhD is an instructor in the SCC Horticulture Department and the Campus Arboretum Director. He first came to SCC in 1990 as an adjunct instructor, also taking part in landscape improvement projects with then Department Chair, Jimmy Painter. In 2007 when Jimmy retired, new Department Chair Jason Bagwell, brought Kevin on as a full-time faculty member. This started a journey of graduate school experiences, research into the genetic variation in Magnolias, and a plant breeding hobby which has helped him build friendships within the horticulture industry here and abroad.
Kevin is a Spartanburg native with 2 daughters, Katie and Sarah. When he is not immersed in plants, he is often on a pickleball court.
CULTIVATING CONVERSATIONS LUNCHEON: FEATURING DAN WHITEHEAD
This event is primarily for students, but sponsors are also encouraged to attend. This will be held in the HSB community room 115 from 11:00-1:00 with a light lunch being served at noon. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
“Change is Coming to the Landscape”
Bio for Dan Whitehead
Dan Whitehead is the owner of HortSource LLC, a horticultural consulting and procurement firm based in Lincolnton, Georgia. He graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design. The first part of his 43 years in the industry gave him practical knowledge in landscape design, maintenance, construction, and irrigation.
Career paths then led him into management roles in horticultural distribution and procurement. In the summer of 2000, he shifted his focus toward the nursery industry, where he developed a passion for research and marketing of improved urban-tolerant tree selections. Dan currently has two new patented trees with several others in different stages of development.
This career path created a passion to invest in environmental concerns through the support of multiple nonprofit urban forestry organizations. Dan served as a board member of the Georgia Urban Forest Council from 2003 -2007 and is a past president. He is a supporter of Urban Forestry in Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Dan’s passions include teaching a weekly Bible study class, hiking, woodworking, jazz, and nature photography.
The SCC Arboretum Adventures, hosted by the Horticulture Program at Spartanburg Community College, offer an engaging opportunity for community members, students, and nature enthusiasts to explore the wonders of the natural world. These seasonal events take place in the college’s stunning Arboretum, a living classroom that showcases the beauty and diversity of plant life. As part of SCC’s comprehensive Horticulture program, Arboretum Adventures provide hands-on learning experiences, promote environmental awareness, and inspire a deeper appreciation for landscape design, plant care, and sustainable gardening practices.
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