ABLS 2026 Annual Conference

Description

Biodiversity at the Boundaries

ABLS will meet with the Botanical Society of America for Botany 2026 in Tucson, Arizona! This annual meeting of six leading professional botanical societies (the American Bryological and Lichenological Society, the American Fern Society, the American Society of Plant Taxonomists, the International Society of Plant Taxonomy, the Society for Herbarium Curators, and the Botanical Society of America brings together a diverse mix of researchers, professors, educators, government employees and motivated graduate and undergraduate students, all focused on what's new in the botanical sciences.

We anticipate over 1000 participants from round the world to present over 700 scientific contributions including special symposia, papers, posters and special lectures. A full slate of field trips and scientific and educational workshops will round out the program.

Learn more about Botany 2026

Room Rates at the JW Marriott

Regular room rate is $139 per night + 12.5% tax, + $1 Resort Fee
Student room rate $109 per night + 12.5% tax, + $1 Resort Fee
Reference the BOTANY 2026 - ATTENDEES BLOCK OR BOTANY 2026 - STUDENT BLOCK
One night's deposit is required when making your reservation
There is NOT a hotel shuttle from or to the airport, ride shar is the best way to get to the hotel



Parking Rates at the hotel

Self-Parking - $14 per day
Valet Parking - $36 per day

Featured Speaker

Aka Petey Mesquitey, a grower of native plants and radio show personality Peter Gerlach was born and raised in Kentucky and came west in 1967 to study wildlife biology at the University of Arizona. While in college he helped form a country band and abandoned his studies to play music. In the spring of 1980 after countless nights in honky tonks he applied for a job as a laborer in a wholesale nursery and horticulture became his life. In May of 1992 the first episode of Growing Native with Petey Mesquitey aired on KXCI Community Radio in Tucson and Petey Mesquitey was born. Every week since he has regaled listeners with stories of the flora and fauna found in the wild borderlands of southeastern Arizona. In 1995 Pete moved to Cochise County, AZ with his wife and daughters to start a small native plant nursery called Spadefoot Nursery. Today Spadefoot is still a family nursery in Tucson run by Petey's daughter and her partner. Petey and his librarian wife Marian live on their small homestead near the Chiricahua Mountains with their dogs and cats and other critters both domestic and wild. They enjoy spending as much time as possible in the surrounding canyons and mountains.

Tentative Schedule 

Saturday, August 1 - Field Trips
Sunday, August 2 - Workshops & Field Trips - Sunday Evening - Plenary Session and Opening Reception
Monday, August 3 - Wednesday, August 5 - Sessions
Wednesday Evening, August 5 - Closing Celebration