Chile's diverse flora to be discussed at Kampong

The Kampong’s 2011/2012 Lecture Series continues on Thursday, April 19 when Scott Zona takes visitors on a fascinating tour of Chile’s remarkably diverse flora, many of which are ancestors to today’s most popular flowers used by florists. His talk will also describe an ancient and iconic conifer, a variety of extraordinary parasitic plants, and a remarkable endemic palm in Chile.

Currently FIU’s Conservatory and Greenhouse Curator, Zona has explored for plants in Florida, California, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Pacific islands, Indonesia, Malaysia and Madagascar. His interests lie in horticulture and the taxonomic diversity of tropical plants, especially palms, salvias and woody ornamentals. He has contributed to over 130 publications, both scientific and popular, on palms and other tropical plants. He is coauthor of the forthcoming revised edition of the Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms (Timber Press, 2012). Zona is also co-editor of the International Palm Society’s quarterly journal, PALMS. He gardens in South Miami, where, ironically, his favorite palm, Jubaea chilensis, will not grow.

“We are pleased to welcome Scott Zona to The Kampong. He is a dynamic speaker, sure to engage novice and seasoned gardeners alike,” said Ann Parsons, Director of The Kampong.

The Kampong opens at 6:30 pm with a dessert reception, and the lecture begins at 7 pm.
Attendance is free to Kampong Fellows and Members; tickets for the public are $10.
Reservations required: 305.442.7169 or email kampong@ntbg.org

The Kampong is located at 4013 S. Douglas Road.