Two plant enthusiasts will headline the Davidson County Gardeners’ Conference, which will be held on Feb. 8.

Keynote speaker Tony Avent, owner of Plant Delights Nursery and Juniper Level Botanical Garden near Raleigh, is known for his passion for discovering new plant varieties.

He has traveled the world looking for such plants and loves to share his favorite discoveries with fellow gardeners.

A plant lover since childhood, Avent entertains his audiences with landscape ideas, interesting plant pairings and tips for good cultural practices.

Also featured will be topiarist Pearl Fryar. Known for his artistry and creativity with plants, Fryar’s property in Bishopville, South Carolina, attracts visitors from all over the world. His interest in plants did not develop until adulthood, when he wanted to compete for the local garden club’s Yard of the Month award.

In 2006, the Pearl Fryar Topiary Garden was selected by the Garden Conservancy to be kept and maintained. The garden also received the National Garden Club’s 2017 Award of Excellence.

The conference will also include five concurrent sessions from which registrants can choose. Topics  include:

• The Truth About Garden Remedies.

• Better Composting for Busy Gardeners.

• The Veiled Life of Trees and Their Communities.

•  Site Analysis for Landscape Design.

•  So You Think You Can Prune?

Registration for the conference opens today.

The annual conference, sponsored by the Davidson County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Association, has grown from 47 registrants in 2011 to almost 200 in 2017. Seating is limited to 200.

Registration forms can be picked up at the Davidson County Cooperative Extension Office, 301 E. Center St. in Lexington, or online at go.ncsu.edu/gardenersconference2018. The cost is $35 and includes lunch.

The conference will be held at Center United Methodist Church in Welcome. This will be the third year at this site. In case of bad weather, it wil be rescheduled for Feb. 15.

Additional information can be obtained at the Davidson Cooperative Extension Office, 336-242-2080.