Exploring Central China by Sven Bronckaers

About this event

Presented by the New Mexico chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society. *Registration at the door only, cash or checks preferred. For more information contact: drarlek@yahoo.com Bronckaers comes to Santa Fe thanks to Panyoti Kelaidis of Denver Botanic Garden, as part of a U.S. tour, speaking with NARGS chapters and other organizations around the country. According to Kelaidis, “Sven is perhaps the most astonishing plantsman (when it comes to vast knowledge of trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants) I’ve ever known.” Exploring Central China Based on the 2025 International Dendrology Society expedition through the provinces of Shaanxi and Hubei, this talk explores one of the richest floras I have ever encountered. During this amazing journey, we visited a wide range of habitats and discovered an extraordinary diversity of rare plants in some of China’s most botanically rich mountain landscapes. Although the main focus of the expedition was woody plants, I couldn’t resist looking at the entire flora and fauna, from trees and shrubs to ferns, herbaceous plants, and the many other fascinating organisms we encountered along the way.Biography Sven Bronckaers has been passionate about plants and nature from a young age. His fascination began at the age of 12 when he joined the orchid association, igniting a lifelong interest in rare and extraordinary flora. Based in Belgium, a region with relatively limited plant diversity, he finds joy in traveling to explore remarkable regions and their distinct vegetation. His private garden, resembling a small arboretum, features a diverse collection of unique trees, shrubs, woodland plants, ferns, and winter-hardy orchids. Known for his broad botanical knowledge, Sven excels at identifying plant species in their natural environments. Since 2016, he has worked at the Bokrijk Arboretum, one of Belgium’s largest plant collections. This role provides him with daily opportunities to engage with exceptional plants, making it a…

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