PARIS — Rick Churchill of Newry will be the speaker at the McLaughlin Garden and Homestead lecture series on Wednesday, Feb. 25. His topic will be the Fort Williams Arboretum.

Churchill has been involved in reclaiming and replanting this Cape Elizabeth waterfront landscape. His presentation examines the eight-year journey from attacking the exotic invasive plants to getting into trouble with the USF&WS for making a rabbit mad. Take this journey of developing the first of 15 landscapes in this much visited Cape Elizabeth park and hopefully come away with your own ideas about preserving public landscapes.

Dr. Rick, as he is known, is the former chairman of the horticultural program at Southern Maine Community College and well known from “People, Places and Plants” magazine. A longtime educator, horticulturist and naturalist, he was drawn to the plants as a youngster and has followed a path through life that has allowed him to enjoy the journey each and every day.

The presentation will be held at 103 Main St., next door to the garden. Lectures will be held weekly through April 1 on Wednesdays with the talks beginning at 4 p.m. Come at 3:30 for tea prior to the lectures or visit the gift shop in the McLaughlin house.

The lectures are open to the public. No prior reservations are needed. There is no charge but donations will be accepted to further the maintenance of the historic garden and buildings.