The Department of Horticulture is sponsoring a conference celebrating the use of ornamental plants this weekend, while bringing in nationally acclaimed experts to share their knowledge.

The events for the fifth annual Herbaceous Perennial conference will take place in Davenport on Friday and in Ames on Saturday.

This is the first year for the conference to become a two-day event.

Since 1998, the Department of Horticulture has sponsored the event, celebrating the use of herbaceous perennials and other ornamental plants and teaching how to integrate them into attractive and functional landscapes.

Cynthia Haynes, conference organizer and assistant professor of horticulture, said everyone who comes will walk away with increased knowledge on herbaceous perennials.

“Many of the people coming will be professional gardeners,” she said. “We must find something new that they can learn for the first time.”

Lynette Spicer, communications specialist for the conference, said nonprofessionals will benefit from attending the event as well.

“It’s really like a continuing education for both amateurs and professionals,” she said.

This year’s keynote speakers will be Anne Lovejoy and Ken Druse, who will cover topics ranging from creating and sustaining a garden to the exploration of plants in Tibet, Spicer said.

Lovejoy has gardened in locations throughout North America and Europe, and now resides in Seattle, Wash. She is the author of 18 gardening books, including “Anne Lovejoy’s Organic Design School” and “Gardening from Scratch.”

Lovejoy contributes to programs on Home and Garden Television and National Public Radio, and writes a weekly column for the Seattle Post-Intelliger.

Druse is the author of “Making More Plants: The Science, Art, and Joy of Propagation,” which was named best book of the year by the American Horticulture Society.

He is a contributor to The New York Times and is the senior adviser to Garden Design magazine.

Druse said he will benefit from speaking at the conference as well.

“It is great to find out what everyone is thinking about, interested in and doing,” he said. “I love that I have this opportunity.”

Haynes said she believes the two speakers will provide expertise and diversity in their methods to the conference.

“This is East Coast meets West Coast in the Midwest,” she said.

Other speakers include ISU horticulture professor William Graves, who will discuss trees and shrubs native to North America.

James Ault, director of ornamental plant research in Chicago, will speak on breeding plants in the Midwest. Also, Harlan Hamernik, owner of the Bluebird Nursery in Clarkson, Neb., will discuss his research trips in Asia.

Hamernik said engaged participants in past years have made the event a success.

“Those that come are really interested,” he said. “It’s going to be fun to meet new people that are excited in learning.”

The conference will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. both days.

Online registration and program details are available at www.lifelearner.iastate.edu or by calling the ISU Extension county office.