2026 AHS Fall Meeting
Monday, October 26, 2026, at the Atlanta History Center’s Woodruff Auditorium in McElreath Hall, 7pm
Please join us for an engaging presentation by plant breeder Irene Palmer, "This Year, For Certain: How We Create the Hydrangeas We Love".
Hydrangea breeding and improvement—a long-standing fascination for gardeners and plant breeders alike—continues to evolve as new species, novel hybrid combinations, and emerging technologies expand what is possible. New introductions seek to address both longstanding and emerging challenges, while advances in gene editing offer a glimpse into the future of highly designed plants.
In this talk, Irene Palmer shares stories and insights from a decade of hydrangea breeding, following the arc of a typical breeding cycle—from cross construction and seedling evaluation to selection and field trials. Along the way, she highlights the importance of diverse germplasm and collaboration and explores how traditional breeding approaches can be enhanced through tools such as embryo rescue and ploidy manipulation.
Through this lens, attendees will gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity behind modern hydrangeas and the processes that bring new plants to gardens. They will also leave with practical inspiration for beginning their own backyard breeding efforts. The talk concludes with a reflection on the remarkable diversity of hydrangeas, and the shared role breeders and gardeners play in shaping their future.
Irene Palmer is a plant breeder specializing in new plant development in nursery and ornamental crops, with a focus on reduced-fertility breeding and interspecific hybridization. She manages aspects of breeding efforts at North Carolina State University’s Mountain Crop Improvement Lab (MCIL), where her work centers on the development of new hydrangeas, flowering quince, camellias, and evergreen azaleas.
As part of a small, highly collaborative team, Irene contributes across all stages of the breeding pipeline—from greenhouse production and data management to critical lab work supporting ongoing research in both established and emerging crops. Through collaborations with students, faculty, and industry partners, she helps advance applied plant breeding at NC State.
Prior to returning to NC State, Irene worked at GardenGenetics, where she contributed to breeding programs in Argyranthemum, Dahlia, Rudbeckia, and Erysimum, as well as ploidy manipulation across multiple crops.
She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Centre College and an M.S. in Horticultural Sciences from NC State University and is passionate about mentoring students and inspiring the next generation of plant breeders, scientists, and enthusiasts.
Join Us for an Evening of Connection and Fun!
• Social Time begins at 7PM – Come early to mingle and purchase your raffle tickets!
• The Meeting will begin promptly at 7:30PM
• Raffle winners will be announced immediately following the meeting.
Free Parking
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All are welcome!
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