Four years ago, the first Salvia Summit – a gathering for botanists, horticulturists and home gardeners -- occurred at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. From March 7 to 10, Salvia Summit II will be held at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. The not-for-profit conference is designed for Salvia experts and enthusiasts to share information. Registration, which costs $230, will be limited to 90 people due to facility limitations.

Speakers will include Rolando Uria (www.salvias.com.ar), Sue Templeton (salviaspecialist.com), Panayoti Kelaidis (Denver Botanic Garden), Jesus Gonzalez (Mexico), Frank Fischer (Germany), Bart O'Brien (Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden), John Whittlesey (California), Mark Porter (Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Flora of North America), Scott Zona (Florida), Jack Hurd (Alaska Crime Lab), Aaron Jenks, and Ernst van Jaarsveld (Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, South Africa).

An informal group of Salvia friends organizes the summits. The group includes:
• Betsy Clebsch, author of The New Book of Salvias;
• Kathe Navarez and Ernie Wasson, of Cabrillo College in Aptos, which has one of the largest collections of Salvias in the nation;
• Bart O'Brien of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden;
• Kathy Musial of the Huntington Botanical Gardens;
• Ginny Hunt of the Seedhunt website; and
• Jessie Schilling, Summit coordinator.