The Holly Society of America, Inc. is an active, nonprofit organization with members
in the United States and around the world.  Established 1947.

79th Annual Meeting 2026

October 26-30, 2026
Gettysburg, PA

Booking for the hotel is now open.
Hotel Gettysburg
1 Lincoln Square, Gettysburg, PA 17325

The Holly Society rate is avaliable for Sunday, October 25- Friday, October 30, 2026.
You do not need to stay all of the days, just book for the days you wish to join us.

Book Here

Schedule

Tuesday, October 27

Opening Remarks 6:00pm 

Sue Hunter, President and Carole Cossaboon, Executive Secretary

Welcome Dinner  6:15 – Gettysburg Hotel

Keynote Entertainer,  the Renowned Magician Marc Charisse (see below)

Sprig and Auction Room open beginning at 11:00am

Wednesday, October 28

6:30 am
Breakfast in Hotel

8:30 am
Depart for Union Mills Shriver Homestead

9:15 am
Tour at Shriver Homestead

11:30 am
Depart Homestead for Gettysburg

12:15 noon – 8:00 pm
Lunch and Dinner and Shopping in Downtown Gettysburg on your own

6:00 pm
Downtown Gettysburg Haunted Ghost Tour
(Guided, walking tour) Need to register separately using link for Gettysburg Ghost Tours

Sprig and Auction Room open for judging

Thursday, October 29

6:30 am
Breakfast in Hotel

9:00 am
Opening remarks and Welcome – Sue Hunter, President

9:30-10:30 am 
Speaker Harlan Svoboda, Ph.D. Curator, Herbarium Collections, US National Arboretum, US Dept. Agriculture (still working on details for this) 

10:30 am
Break

10:45 am – 12:00 pm
Speaker Jason Reeves; Curator of University of Tennessee Gardens located at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Jackson, TN 

12:15 – 1:00 pm  
Lunch in Hotel  

1:00 – 2:00 pm
Speaker Jason Reeves

2:00 – 4:30 pm 
Plant Auction and Sale

6:00 pm
Dinner at Hotel and back by popular demand…
the Still Limber Band

Friday, October 30

Breakfast in Hotel

Depart

Guests and Speakers

Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00pm - a performance featuring Magician Marc! 

Magic is the oldest of the performing arts, going all the way back to the shamans who used conjuring tricks to explain the impenetrable mysteries of the universe. The best magic is still timeless, mixing memory with illusion to conjure the experience of wonder.

Dr. Marc Charisse touches upon ageless mysteries in his performances, from the ghosts of the Gettysburg battlefield to role of chance and fate in all our lives. And like any good Victorian parlor magician, he can pull a coin from your ear or demonstrate the impossible with a wicked deck of cards.

The professor has been studying and performing magic for more than 50 years. 

Charisse, who holds a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Washington, said the role of “Professor of Prestidigitation” seemed a natural fit. 

“When I was in the classroom, I used magic and humor to illustrate the lessons, and that’s very much in keeping with authentic 19th century performances,” Charisse said.

But mostly, the show focuses on having fun.

Charisse grew up in a Hollywood show-business family — his father, Nico Charisse, was the teacher and first husband of dance legend Cyd Charisse. Charisse’s mother, Zita Charisse, was also a dancer. The family moved to Las Vegas when Marc was 8, and he was able to see and meet and learn from many of the world’s greatest magicians.

He has performed at countless private parties, public events and worked as a magic demonstrator in Las Vegas. But he recently decided to leave teaching and editing and devote himself full time to his magic.

I’ve always been excited by new things,” he said. “That’s the thrill of magic, opening us up to new impossibilities.”

Thrusday, October 29, 9:30-10:30 am
Dr. Harlan Svoboda 

Dr. Harlan Svoboda is the Curator of the Herbarium Collections at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. (part of USDA) and currently serving as the Acting Research Leader for the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit. He also supports the USDA more broadly as Senior Data Steward for Scientific Collections. Through these roles Dr. Svoboda works at the intersection of botany, data mobilization, archival science, and collections management to promote world-class research and further the mission of the USDA.

Dr. Harlan Svoboda is the Curator of the Herbarium Collections at the United States National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. (part of USDA) and currently serving as the Acting Research Leader for the Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit. He also supports the USDA more broadly as Senior Data Steward for Scientific Collections. Through these roles Dr. Svoboda works at the intersection of botany, data mobilization, archival science, and collections management to promote world-class research and further the mission of the USDA.

In his capacity as Herbarium Curator, Dr. Svoboda manages two large federal collections: the U.S. National Arboretum Herbarium and the U.S. National Seed Herbarium. Together these collections contain about 850,000 specimens of plant material preserved for future research use and documentation of botanical explorations, crop improvement, and novel plant introductions. The U.S. National Arboretum Herbarium houses over 10,500 specimens of Ilex representing 372 species and 1028 cultivars; it is also the designated repository for Ilex nomenclatural standards.

Dr. Svoboda earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX and a doctorate in plant systematics from Ohio University in Athens, OH. He is an active member of several professional societies including the Society of Herbarium Curators, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, and the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections. Within the federal government, Dr. Svoboda serves on the Interagency Working Group on Scientific Collections, the Interagency Committee on Invasive Terrestrial Animals and Pathogens, and the SCINet [Supercomputing] Scientific Advisory Committee.

Thrusday, October 29, 10:45 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Jason Reeves

Jason Reeves is a renowned horticulturist and the long-time curator of the University of Tennessee Gardensin Jackson, Tennessee. He is celebrated for his imaginative use of found-object garden art, extensive plant trials, and colorful plant combinations that draw thousands of visitors annually.

He has cultivated the grounds at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center since 2002. Highlights of his work include:

Signature Displays: Famous for using recycled, everyday objects—such as his massive, intricately built 40-foot hanging glass bottle wall and whimsical bottle trees.

Plant Trials & Education: Evaluates hundreds of new ornamental plants and trees annually, demonstrating what thrives in the southern climate.

Industry Influence: Serves as a contributing editor for Fine Gardening magazine, lectures at symposiums, and leads international gardening tours.

Background: Earned his Master's degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Design from the University of Tennessee and previously honed his skills at prestigious institutions like Longwood Gardens and the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Thrusday, October 29 Awards Banquet,
Special Musical Program by Still Limber

Still Limber plays Appalachian, Folk and Celtic music. 

Randy Cato banjo, harmonica, vocals and li.ber Jack's. Craig Zumbrun on guitar and vocals. (Missing is newest member Cian on fiddle.)