Elizabeth White Olsen speaks at conferences and churches; garden clubs, native plant societies, and Texas Master Naturalists' meetings; and at writing and book club events. She's open to and enjoys the opportunity to sign copies of Bringing Butterflies Home after her presentations.
Butterfly Tent Warning: Elizabeth sometimes brings her butterfly tent with live eggs and caterpillars for teaching purposes. You can request the tent not be included, but it is often attendees' favorite aspect of the event!
Contact Elizabeth White Olsen to inquire about rates and availability.
Butterfly Tent Warning: Elizabeth sometimes brings her butterfly tent with live eggs and caterpillars for teaching purposes. You can request the tent not be included, but it is often attendees' favorite aspect of the event!
Contact Elizabeth White Olsen to inquire about rates and availability.
Presentation Topics
Butterfly Gardening
U.S. butterfly populations decreased by 22% between 2000 and 2020, according to North American Butterfly Association count data. The good news is there are easy ways we can help! Learn what butterflies need to survive and even thrive in our own backyards or in balcony container gardens. Join us for an inspiring and illuminating journey into the magical lives of one of nature’s most wondrous creatures, the butterfly.
Landscaping to Attract Birds
Bird populations have vastly decreased in recent decades, along with populations of almost all wildlife species. Most of us would agree that birds are beautiful, fascinating, and worth keeping. How can we help? Join us to find out what native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses feed and shelter birds, as well as how tweaking our maintenance habits in our backyards and porch or balcony container gardens can help resident and migratory birds thrive.
U.S. butterfly populations decreased by 22% between 2000 and 2020, according to North American Butterfly Association count data. The good news is there are easy ways we can help! Learn what butterflies need to survive and even thrive in our own backyards or in balcony container gardens. Join us for an inspiring and illuminating journey into the magical lives of one of nature’s most wondrous creatures, the butterfly.
Landscaping to Attract Birds
Bird populations have vastly decreased in recent decades, along with populations of almost all wildlife species. Most of us would agree that birds are beautiful, fascinating, and worth keeping. How can we help? Join us to find out what native trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses feed and shelter birds, as well as how tweaking our maintenance habits in our backyards and porch or balcony container gardens can help resident and migratory birds thrive.
Landscaping to Attract Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are the fairies of the animal world, flitting and flashing amongst blooms and sometimes vanishing in a blink. They are fun to see, and by adding the right native plants, we can see them regularly. Come discover the many types of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers we can plant to attract hummingbirds to our yards and balconies. We'll also explore interesting facts about hummingbirds' diet and behavior and learn where to hang and how to maintain feeders to successfully attract hummingbirds.
Wildflowers of Texas
From the canyons of Big Bend to the short-grass prairies of the Panhandle to the marshland prairies of the Gulf Coast, and everything in between, Texas offers a vast diversity of wildflowers. Learn which flowers perform best in garden and home landscape contexts, as well as which you could pair with grasses to create a sustainable backyard pocket prairie buzzing with life. We will also explore the best places to view Texas native wildflowers and discuss how they serve pollinators and support migrating seed-eating birds like sparrows, goldfinches, and buntings in winter and early spring.
The Benefits of Sustainable Leaf Mulch Gardening
Ready to save some time and money? Learn how free, organic leaf mulch fallen from the trees in your and neighbors' yards consistently out-performs traditional wood-chip mulch while increasing the variety of birds and butterflies out your window.
Gardening for God / Creation Care 101 (For Churches)
What does the Bible say about our relationship with God's Creation? j. From Genesis to Malachi and from Matthew to Revelation, we are instructed to steward rather than exploit the Earth's resources. Knowing this, how can we fulfill God's call to protect the Earth's resources, including how we care for the plants and insects in our own backyards? In this presentation, we explore practical and sustainable ways to support birds, butterflies, and other pollinators while fulfilling God's call to steward Creation.
Hummingbirds are the fairies of the animal world, flitting and flashing amongst blooms and sometimes vanishing in a blink. They are fun to see, and by adding the right native plants, we can see them regularly. Come discover the many types of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers we can plant to attract hummingbirds to our yards and balconies. We'll also explore interesting facts about hummingbirds' diet and behavior and learn where to hang and how to maintain feeders to successfully attract hummingbirds.
Wildflowers of Texas
From the canyons of Big Bend to the short-grass prairies of the Panhandle to the marshland prairies of the Gulf Coast, and everything in between, Texas offers a vast diversity of wildflowers. Learn which flowers perform best in garden and home landscape contexts, as well as which you could pair with grasses to create a sustainable backyard pocket prairie buzzing with life. We will also explore the best places to view Texas native wildflowers and discuss how they serve pollinators and support migrating seed-eating birds like sparrows, goldfinches, and buntings in winter and early spring.
The Benefits of Sustainable Leaf Mulch Gardening
Ready to save some time and money? Learn how free, organic leaf mulch fallen from the trees in your and neighbors' yards consistently out-performs traditional wood-chip mulch while increasing the variety of birds and butterflies out your window.
Gardening for God / Creation Care 101 (For Churches)
What does the Bible say about our relationship with God's Creation? j. From Genesis to Malachi and from Matthew to Revelation, we are instructed to steward rather than exploit the Earth's resources. Knowing this, how can we fulfill God's call to protect the Earth's resources, including how we care for the plants and insects in our own backyards? In this presentation, we explore practical and sustainable ways to support birds, butterflies, and other pollinators while fulfilling God's call to steward Creation.
What People Say About Elizabeth
"Thanks again so much, Elizabeth, for the thought, care, and time you put into this presentation. It clearly showed. We are so lucky to have you as an instructor and friend of the Glasscock School."
"Elizabeth White Olsen was enthusiastic and fun! She made the topic relevant to everyone - gardener and observer. She seems "one of us" rather than an expert so far out of my sphere that I cannot relate. Thoroughly enjoyed the event and hope to instigate some of her suggestions."
"The topic was most interesting as evidenced by all the questions at the end. She was a very good and responsive speaker."
"Instructor was very passionate, informative, and energetic. We loved this class!"
"Thank you so much for your presentation on Thursday. People seemed really impressed, and you filled all the chairs! I thought you gave a great presentation and it was wonderful to see your enthusiasm and experience. I just wanted to send a quick thank you, because that presentation was terrific!"
- Korin Brody, Interim Director of the Center for Community Learning and Engagement / Rice’s Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
"Elizabeth White Olsen was enthusiastic and fun! She made the topic relevant to everyone - gardener and observer. She seems "one of us" rather than an expert so far out of my sphere that I cannot relate. Thoroughly enjoyed the event and hope to instigate some of her suggestions."
- Anonymous attendee, “Butterflies of Houston” Midweek Medley lecture, Rice Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
"The topic was most interesting as evidenced by all the questions at the end. She was a very good and responsive speaker."
- Anonymous attendee, “Butterflies of Houston” Midweek Medley lecture, Rice Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
"Instructor was very passionate, informative, and energetic. We loved this class!"
- Anonymous attendee, “Butterflies of Houston” Midweek Medley lecture, Rice Glasscock School of Continuing Studies
"Thank you so much for your presentation on Thursday. People seemed really impressed, and you filled all the chairs! I thought you gave a great presentation and it was wonderful to see your enthusiasm and experience. I just wanted to send a quick thank you, because that presentation was terrific!"
- Past president, Native Plant Society of Texas, Gulf Coast chapter