8:15 am – WELCOME
Dr. Steven Still, Emeritus Professor, Ohio State University

8:30 am -GARDEN DESIGN INFORMED BY ECOLOGY & PLACE  

Debra Knapke, The Garden Sage, Columbus, Ohio

You’ve heard “Right Plant, Right Place” more times than you can count, but what does this truly mean? Understanding the garden habitat you have and the needs of the plants you want should guide your design. But as we create the gardens of our dreams we often ignore or misunderstand how nature works. It is time to join garden-making with ecology: working with Mother Nature, not against her.

9:30 am -GRASSES IN THE 21st CENTURY: BACK TO THE ROOTS

John Friel, Emerald Coast Growers, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

From tiny to towering, prairie to city, tough to tender, green roof to container, ornamental grasses are a vital organ in the body of modern gardens and landscapes. Working for a major propagator, John Friel must balance an aficionado’s ardor with a marketer’s detachment.

10:30 am - BEVERAGE BREAK

11:00 am - COLOR COMBINATIONS FOR THE SHADE GARDEN

Gene Bush, Shade Garden Expert, Depauw, Indiana

This talk greatly expands upon the concept of great garden companions and their behavior over the full gardening season. Subtle, and not so subtle, combinations bring out the best in each other and prove that there is no shortage of color for shade gardens.

12 noon – LUNCH ON YOUR OWN

With all the interest in the New Perennial Movement and a market shift towards sustainable gardening, a new palette of plants has emerged at the intersection of form and function. 

Perennials in this style of gardening translate their native ecologies into beautiful communities of plants that ultimately require less resources and incorporate more diversity into the modern landscape. Kelly will highlight several examples of sustainable, plant driven gardens from across the country, comparing and contrasting them to the wild circumstances that inspired them, while introducing you to the perennials within them.

2:15 pm – BEVERAGE BREAK

2:20 pm - TROPICAL FLAIR

Jason Reeves, University of Tennessee Gardens, Jackson, Tennessee

Tropicals work beautifully with perennials, and make a big impact in any garden. The bold foliage stands out whether in large landscape displays or everyday back yard gardens and containers. Get a refresher on tried and true varieties as well as some hot new selections that will make any perennial purist think twice.

3:20 pm - REINVENTING A CLASSIC VS. NEW & NOVEL

Stephanie Cohen, Perennial Diva, Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Many of our old favorites get pushed out of production or relegated to the B list. Why? Along comes a newer version. We need to look at our retro perennials as tried and true, reliable, generally easy to grow and provide growers and gardeners lots of continuing pleasures. However, out comes a “newer” version that immediately makes the A list. It is hyped as unique, different, improved, exciting, and making the gardener feel he/she is cutting edge. The age-old question remains, is new better? Stephanie will compare oldies and newbies, and if you disagree “the Perennial Diva” will not be surprised. So let the dirt fly!!