Speakers

 Mark Akimoff is the owner of illahe Rare Plants, a specialty nursery grower of flower bulbs, geophytes, alpines and rock garden plants from around the world.

Over his 25-year career as a professional horticulturist, Mark has worked in many sectors of the industry, from plant propagation at Botanical Gardens to Historical Garden management, large scale wetlands, riparian and environmental restoration projects for government, and teaching Horticulture at the Community College level. He holds a bachelor's degree in Horticultural science from Oregon State University and studied biotechnology at Montana State University

While his personal interest in plants runs wide, a particular fondness for rock gardens and alpine plants often has him exploring the high country for wildflowers. At the nursery in Salem, Oregon Mark trials many different dryland and xeric plants to better help gardeners adapt gardens to changing climate conditions we are seeing especially in the drought stricken Western North America. The flower bulb catalog that is published every summer offers an amazing array of diverse geophytes from around the world and one of the largest collections of Fritillaria in North America.

Mark is the current vice president of the Pacific Bulb Society and a long time member of the Columbia-Willamette Chapter of NARGS. With a passion for travel and photography, Mark loves to share pictures of his botanical adventures with garden clubs and groups. Check out the website to see the amazing array of plants that he grows at illahe rare plants online at www.illaherareplants.com.