Virtual or In Person Speaking Engagements

Having spent time in every corner of the horticulture industry, and gardening for over 30 years; Paul shares some of his, must have plants for any garden space. He will share why they are his favourite, there will be some you know, and some you didn’t know you needed... until now..

Learning to appreciate the garden day by day, daylily by daylily. An experienced Daylily hybridizer with 46 registrations to his name. Paul will share with you some of his hybridizing program and show you daylilies you didn’t know you needed. From Colour Changers to Giant Blooms, Toothy wonders, to striped beauties. With over 90,000 registered daylilies, discover the passion, the beauty, and ignite the love for a flower that only lasts one day. 

Most people think of zoos in terms of the rare, and interesting animals they encounter; and they are that; but they are so much more! Zoos are centres for conservation excellence, to connect people to the natural world around them. Paul will walk through his role as Curatorial Gardener for one of Canada’s largest tropical plant collections. You will get a glimpse into the world of zoological horticulture, from browse to furniture, enrichment to exhibit design to One-of-a-kind plant collections, and dynamic public garden displays. We’re going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo…

What is the most you’ve spent on a tropical plant?  $50…$100…$250… How about $12000?

Previously the Curatorial Gardener for one of Canada’s largest Tropical Plant Collections, and the former Director of Horticulture for the Toronto Botanical Garden; Paul has a personal collection of 800+ tropical plants, including many rare and unusual specimens sourced from collectors worldwide. He has followed the recent surge of Tropical Plant Collectors, from imports to auctions, and will share with you the history, the trends, the opportunities, and a glimpse into his personal plant collection. 

Big city living, often comes with small garden spaces. From balconies to terraces, courtyards to front yards, discover how to embrace your small space. Confront the challenges, explore the opportunities, and maximize the potential with Paul Gellatly. Whether your interests are kitchen gardens, flower gardens, or something in between; the garden can be an extension of your home, regardless of size. Discover how to improve or create your own dynamic small space. Paul will share how he maximizes space and opportunities in his small-scale home garden; recently featured in Tara Nolan’s book Gardening Your Front Yard: Projects and Ideas for Big & Small Spaces.

 Powerful Plants, Tantalizing Textures, and Cohesive Combinations. Find out why Paul loves gardening in the shade, learn about his favourite lower light plants, discover how to improve a dark corner in your home garden; and make the most out of a shady situation. Hello, Darkness, my old friend… 

 A small rental property front yard. Hundreds of plants. Zone Pushing… Collecting… Hybridizing… Paul will share some lessons He’s learned to maximize space and get the most out of his garden. Paul will talk about scale, plant combinations, and new ideas to help you make the most out of your garden, regardless of size. 

 Gardening in an urban oasis, comes with added challenges, and opportunities. Paul will walk you through making the most of your urban garden; from flowers to vegetables, small spaces, and city vistas; typical downtown properties to little boxes in the sky. Tips and tricks to greening up your urban space. 

Autumn is the time of year when every leaf becomes a flower. When many gardeners are hanging up their shovels and secateurs for the season, reflecting on the season’s past, and dreaming about the garden to come… There are still weeks… and in some cases months of incredibly beautiful gardening to experience. Put on your sweater and fall in love with plants, foliage, and even some flowers, before the snow flies. 

The Challenges and The Successes; The Passion shared during Paul’s time as Director of Horticulture, as one of the Top Horticultural positions in the largest city in Canada. Connecting People with the environment, and with each other through plants. From Native Plants to Ravine’s, Tulips to Tropical Plants. With an artistic eye, this presentation is full of photography you’ve come to expect but haven’t yet seen.

Taking your garden to the next level, requires a sharp eye for detail, utilizing plants with multiple seasons of interest, careful plant selection, thoughtful design, and artistic pairings / combinations. Plants can be paired for several reasons, texture, colour, form, and functionality to name a few. In this talk Paul will walk you through perfect plant pairings from his garden and help you to unlock the potential pairings for your own space. Afterall, gardening is considered the slowest of the performing arts. 

After managing one of Canada’s largest tropical plant collections at the Toronto Zoo and importing plants from all over the world to add to his personal collection of over 800+ houseplants, many of which are rare and unusual. Paul will uncover the mystery and share some of his secrets for success with tropical plants. His presentation will cover the basics of indoor plant care, key watchouts and how to treat common pests. For those who have been growing plants for decade, or are first time plant parents, Paul’s presentation will leave you wanting to add to your collection. Whether you’re interested in gesneriaceae, aroidaceae, or orchidaceae, or you think he just swore in a different language, you’re sure to come out of this talk with a new sense of hope, some new information, and a greener thumb.