WVHPG Educational Speaker Program Tuesday, 10 November 2026
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Join us on Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 7:00 pm in the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene, 1685 W 13th Ave, Eugene OR 97402, to listen to Ryan Contreras, OSU Professor of Horticulture/Plant Breeding Program. He will be presenting "The Wonderful World of Woody Plant Breeding".
Program:
In western Oregon, we have the great fortune of living in a horticultural wonderland that allows us to grow and enjoy such a wealth of plants. It also provides the opportunity to breed an array of genera. Dr. Contreras will share his program’s work on projects ranging from the common to unique using methods including hybridization, ploidy manipulation, and mutagenesis.
His talk will also delve into the facts and fiction of breeding to solve the issue of weedy plants, to ground this topic in what is real and share some of the recent Oregon State University releases that you can find in garden centers now and in the near future.
Speaker Bio:
Ryan Contreras is a Professor of Horticulture at Oregon State University where he breeds new trees and shrubs for the temperate zone with a focus on sustainable cultivars that work for growers in production, are resilient in urban and suburban environments, and are low fertility such that they will not escape cultivation. He teaches courses in plant growth and development and plant propagation that helps him stay engaged with the next generation of horticulturists.
His biggest professional points of pride are his industry connections and watching former students become leaders.
Program Location:
The in-person meetings and speaker programs take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene at 1685 W 13th Ave, Eugene OR 97402.
Entrance is on the east side of the building and there is ample parking in the parking lots, which can be accessed from both Chambers St or W 13th Ave, with additional parking in the adjacent Looking Glass Center parking lot. Please do not park under their covered entry way. Overflow parking is also available in the first 20 spaces on the east and south side of Redeemer Fellowship Church just across Chambers St to the west. For location and parking information see our website at: www.thehardyplantgroup.org/contact
Meetings begin at 7:00 PM, but the doors open at 6:30 PM for botanical sample browsing, refreshments, and socializing. We meet the second Tuesday of the month, September through November, and January through May. The public is invited to attend our meetings. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members.
This program will also be broadcast live via a Zoom webinar, if you are unable to attend in person, to all members of WVHPG. If you are not a member and would like to view this webinar please see our "About" page on our website to learn how to join. www.thehardyplantgroup.org/about
Program:
In western Oregon, we have the great fortune of living in a horticultural wonderland that allows us to grow and enjoy such a wealth of plants. It also provides the opportunity to breed an array of genera. Dr. Contreras will share his program’s work on projects ranging from the common to unique using methods including hybridization, ploidy manipulation, and mutagenesis.
His talk will also delve into the facts and fiction of breeding to solve the issue of weedy plants, to ground this topic in what is real and share some of the recent Oregon State University releases that you can find in garden centers now and in the near future.
Speaker Bio:
Ryan Contreras is a Professor of Horticulture at Oregon State University where he breeds new trees and shrubs for the temperate zone with a focus on sustainable cultivars that work for growers in production, are resilient in urban and suburban environments, and are low fertility such that they will not escape cultivation. He teaches courses in plant growth and development and plant propagation that helps him stay engaged with the next generation of horticulturists.
His biggest professional points of pride are his industry connections and watching former students become leaders.
Program Location:
The in-person meetings and speaker programs take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene at 1685 W 13th Ave, Eugene OR 97402.
Entrance is on the east side of the building and there is ample parking in the parking lots, which can be accessed from both Chambers St or W 13th Ave, with additional parking in the adjacent Looking Glass Center parking lot. Please do not park under their covered entry way. Overflow parking is also available in the first 20 spaces on the east and south side of Redeemer Fellowship Church just across Chambers St to the west. For location and parking information see our website at: www.thehardyplantgroup.org/contact
Meetings begin at 7:00 PM, but the doors open at 6:30 PM for botanical sample browsing, refreshments, and socializing. We meet the second Tuesday of the month, September through November, and January through May. The public is invited to attend our meetings. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members.
This program will also be broadcast live via a Zoom webinar, if you are unable to attend in person, to all members of WVHPG. If you are not a member and would like to view this webinar please see our "About" page on our website to learn how to join. www.thehardyplantgroup.org/about
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Where is it happening?
Unitarian Universalist Church in Eugene, 1685 W 13th Ave, Eugene, OR 97402-3743, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherWillamette Valley Hardy Plant Group
