In this talk, I embark my audience on a journey around the world. I first look at the history of plant hunting, which has brought us the plant diversity that we see on our gardens nowadays (over 60% of garden plants are in fact "foreign"!). I then try to discuss how and if, plant hunting is still relevant in today's world. Can we still introduce plants from abroad? Will the diversity of plants in our garden decrease as more legislation is introduced to protect natural resources?

As gardeners, we all have a love/hate relationship with variegated plants. Colourful and bringing interest to the garden, they can often be considered as sickly or garish. In this talk, I showcase a diversity of variegated plants, dwelve into the science of variegation and explain how variegated plants can make wonderful addition to any garden.

Pollens are often hated because of the allergies they cause, which make millions of people around the world suffer. But they are key to life on our planet. In this talk, I take a close look at a variety of pollens, look at the science and the myths surrounding them, and try to show that they can also be useful to humans, for example in helping to solve crimes.

As a gardener, are you frustrated with plants changing names? Ever despaired because asters are now called Symphyotrichum? You are not alone! In this talk, I try to explain why plants name are changing, and how this is done. I also hope to show you why name changes can actually be useful to the gardener!

In this talk, I try to challenge the perception that many of us gardeners have when it comes to insects. For example, slugs are hated because they nibble on seedlings and plants, but did you know that the Leopard slug is actually more of a friend as it eats other pests? I also talk about the importance of pollination in the garden, and on how you can, with simple actions, make you garden more friendly to insects.

We know that new plants are discovered every year, and that many plants have their name changed after "DNA studies". But how does it all work? In this talk, I go back to the basics of DNA, life's building blocks, and explain in simple terms how DNA can be used to identify and compare plants.

A journey into the Tien Shan mountains of Southern Kazakhstan, where I embark my audience in dry canyons, lush forests and spectacular mountain landscapes. I will show you a wide range of alpine flora, but also explore the history and culture of this amazing country.

Created in 1978, the charity Plant Heritage manages a network of over 650 National Plant Collections around the UK, held by amateur gardeners, botanic gardens, nurseries or even schools. But do you know what the work of a National Collection entails, and how they contribute to preserving the wonderful horticultural heritage for future generations?