AMES, Iowa -Iowa State University Extension's Herbaceous Perennial Weekend will be at Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha on Friday, Nov.11 and at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus on Saturday, Nov. 12. Each day-long session features a modern plant hunter, a prolific garden writer, a researcher, a designer and an educator.

Dan Heims, president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., a company noted for its new introductions, loves to show the newest perennials and those of the future. His job description dictates that he 'travel the world and seek the newest perennials.' He has several awards for the many perennials that he has introduced. His new book is "Heucheras and Heucherellas: Coral Bells and Foamy Bells." Dan will give two talks each day, one about Heuchera, Tiarella and their allies and another on his fascination with Asian plants.

Elvin McDonald, senior gardening editor for Better Homes and Gardens, has been gardening and writing about gardening for more than 50 years. McDonald's forthcoming book "The Gardening Husband" refers to his relationship with C.Z. Guest and is the topic of his talk. Lucy Douglas Cochrane (1920-2003), better known as C. Z. Guest, was an American socialite who wrote a gardening column for the New York Post. Ernest Hemingway was best man at her wedding. Truman Capote wrote the profile in her first garden book. She called McDonald her gardening husband for 30 years.

Nancy Rose, horticulturist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, will talk about small shrubs for the mixed border. She writes a gardening column for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Nancy is co-author of "Growing Shrubs and Small Trees in Cold Climates."

Charlene Harris, Michigan Advanced Master Gardener with an artistic background, will present "fun-damentals" of garden design. Charlene lives in southeastern Michigan in the middle of a state forest. Her 2.5-acre lakeside garden includes conifers, perennials, hostas, native woodland plants, bonsai and trough gardens.

Lois Girton, outreach coordinator for the Schnable Laboratory Plant Genomics at Iowa State University, will share her ideas and passion for Siberian iris in the landscape. She is on the board of directors of the Iowa Arboretum and chair of the arboretum plant collections management committee.

Each day's session begins at 8:15 a.m. and concludes at 4:30 p.m. To register online or for more information, see http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/herbaceous/home.html.

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