Schedule of Events
8:00am – 9:00am Check-in and shopping throughout the day
9:00am – 9:15am Welcome Message by MGYC President Brenda Martin
9:15am – 10:15am Opening Keynote – Kelly D. Norris
New Naturalism: Lessons from Wild Plant Communities
An in-depth talk that applies elements of plant ecology and real-world examples from wild plant communities to the built landscape reveals Kelly’s love for native plants and his experiences with wild plant communities that have shaped his career in profound ways. As a so-called hort-ecologist, Kelly strives to interpret native ecosystems into beautiful, functional landscapes in the urban context. Too often, professional horticulturists appropriate plants as if they were inanimate objects, instead of truly understanding how plants interact and function within the landscape environment.
10:15am – 10:45am Break and Shopping
10:45am – 11:45am Morning Session (please select one):
1. Paul Thompson: How to Become a Plant Problem Detective
2. Hallie Walker: Happy Healthy Native Plants
3. Marianne Willburn: The Recycled Garden
11:45am – 1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm – 2:00pm Afternoon Session (please select one):
1. Jeff Gillman: How to Build a Truly Interesting Garden
2. Rob Last: Vegetable Garden Fertility
3. Kelly D. Norris: Plants with Style
2:00pm – 2:30pm Break and Shopping
2:30pm – 3:30pm Closing Keynote – Marianne Willburn
Big Dreams, Small Garden
Garden building is a life-enriching process, but accommodating one’s vision with the practicalities of one’s space can be challenging and sometimes even discouraging. Tiny balcony, lack of privacy, HOA restrictions, tough neighborhood: If you’re struggling with a difficult, or very new outside space, you are not alone. By breaking down the process into manageable sections, shifting our perspective and cultivating a sense of contentment, we can create the garden that lives inside of us. Marianne will go over this process, sharing design tips and real-life gardens to help you get excited about your outside space – no matter what it is.
3:30pm – 4:00pm Door Prize Drawings*, Silent Auction Winners and Shopping
Visit https://symposium.yorkmg.org/speakers for more information on the speakers and presentations.
*Must be present to win.