Date: September 8, 2026

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Landrum Library

Speakers: Rick Huffman, Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architecture (FASLA) and SC Native Plant Society (SCNPS) Upstate Chapter President

Join us as Rick Huffman highlights the unique geology of the Blue Ridge and how millions of years of time and space have shaped our botanical world. With some of the highest diversity of plants and wildlife anywhere in the world, our region and its natural history is truly a story that will inform and inspire. Mr. Huffman will present a lifetime of study and discovery of the region and present how we came to be.

Rick Huffman, American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), is the founder of Earth Design, an environmental design and landscape architecture firm with more than 30 years of experience integrating ecology, horticulture, and landscape architecture to create resilient, inspiring places. A nationally recognized conservation leader, Rick founded the South Carolina Native Plant Society and continues to serve as its Advocacy Chair and Upstate Chapter President. He is the co-author of Life at the Water’s Edge, recipient of numerous conservation and environmental education awards, including the Governor’s Award for Environmental Awareness and the 2024 Lifetime Achievement for Conservation Award from Conservation Voters of South Carolina. In 2025, he was elevated to Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the profession’s highest national honor. Throughout his career, Rick has been a passionate advocate for protecting native plants, restoring natural landscapes, and connecting people to the rich natural heritage of the Southern Appalachians. His lifelong study of the Blue Ridge Mountains has made him a sought-after speaker on the region’s remarkable geology, biodiversity, and the natural processes that have shaped one of the world’s most biologically diverse landscapes.

The Landrum Library Speaker Series programs are made possible thanks to our partnership with the Spartanburg County Public Libraries.

Contact Pam Torlina, pam@conservingcarolina.org, with questions or for more information.