18th Annual P.L.A.N.T. Seminar: "Perennially Inspired"

Join us for a fabulous program featuring an outstanding collection of speakers on trends, design, new plants and solutions all sure to inspire you before Spring.

Continuing Education and Certification Credit is offered with this program.  The Ohio Certified Nursery Technician Program offers one unit of credit for attendance for the full day.

PERENNIALLY INSPIRED

7:30 am–8:15 am: Registration

8:15 am: Welcome by Dr. Steven Still, Emeritus Professor, Ohio State Univ.

8:30 am: Create Beautiful and Sustainable Landscapes

Melinda Myers, Melinda Myers, LLC, Mukwongo, Wisconsin

More of your clients are seeking sustainable solutions to their landscaping challenges. Look for ways to help them create a more sustainable landscape that’s both easy to take care of and affordable. Managing the resources we put in, such as water and fertilizer, and those we take out, such as yard waste, can help create that healthy, beautiful and sustainable landscape so many are longing for.

9:30 am: The Path to an Exciting Mixed Border: Perennials and Shrubs

Stephanie Cohen, Perennial Diva, Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Creating a garden for four seasons is always Stephanie’s goal. In recent years, adding flowering shrubs that play nicely with perennial plants has created a new dimension. Interesting flowers, lovely bark, fall color, berries, and interesting shapes make shrubs and perennials perfect buddies in the border. 

 10:30 am: Beverage Break

 

11:00 am: Perennials for Problem Areas

Jennifer Brennan, Chalet Nursery and Garden Shop, Wilmette, Illinois

Whether in our own gardens or those of clients and customers, there are always those problem areas that need recommendations of perennials that do not just survive but thrive. Heavy clay soil and deep shade are also included in this topical presentation. Whatever the conditions, there are perennials that will work. Expand your problem-solving palette with these selections.

12:00 pm: Lunch on your own – Food court and other facilities nearby

1:15 pm: Bringing the Awesome Every Day

Lloyd Traven, Peace Tree Farm, Kintnersville, Pennsylvania

When you go shopping before a fancy party, do you say to yourself, “I hope I can find the same dress as everyone else is buying?” Of course not! Your garden should be no different, We all need fresh ideas, new choices, different methods and a whole new design concept. The rules have changed and a whole new world awaits. Come along with Lloyd as he shows some of the best of the new and fantastic ideas.

2:15 pm: Beverage Break

2:30 pm: A New Spin on Old Favorites

Susan Martin, Walters Gardens Inc., Zeeland, Michigan

This is not a sales pitch! Here you’ll see new varieties of perennials compared side by side with their older counterparts and judge for yourself which are truly new and improved. You’ll walk away with practical knowledge and inspiration you can put to use right away. This presentation is based on the personal experience of the speaker who researches new perennials for Walters Gardens.

 

3:30 pm: Keeping It Fresh

Dan Benarcik, Chanticleer, Wayne, Pennsylvania

We all need inspiration to keep the garden fresh and exciting from season to season and year to year but sometimes that creative spark just isn’t clicking and you need a jump start...but from where? Dan will share some of the people, places and things that get his creative juices flowing and make you think about what inspires you!

OUTSTANDING SPEAKERS

Dan Benarcik: Dan is a horticulturist at Chanticleer where he oversees the Courtyard Gardens, concentrating on tropical, sub-tropical and tender perennials for seasonal display. Dan is a graduate of the University of Delaware where he received a BS degree in plant science. He has been published in Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Martha Stewart Living and Rodale’s gardening books.

Jennifer Brennan: Jennifer is Horticulture Information Specialist and Manager of the Education Center at Chalet Nursery and Garden Shop. For 18 years, she has been horticulture correspondent with meteorologist Tracy Butler for the ABC7 Chicago Morning News. Jennifer spent 9 years at the Chicago Botanic Garden in the Plant Information office. She holds B.S. degrees from the University of Illinois in both Ornamental Horticulture and Botany. Jennifer has been a Perennial Plant Association member since 1995 and in 2009 she received the PPA’s Garden Media Award. 

Stephanie Cohen: Stephanie is a contributing editor for Fine Gardening, Green Profit, and PHS’s Green Scene, a regional writer for Blooms of Bressingham, and a nationally-known perennial gardener. For more than 20 years she taught at Temple University, Ambler and is the former director of the Ambler Arboretum. Her first book, The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer was an award winner in 2005 by the Garden Writers Association. The second book, Fallscaping, was quickly followed by the Non-Stop Garden.

Susan Martin: A GenX gardener communicator, Susan has worked in the Green Industry for the majority of her professional career. She was reared near Detroit, Michigan by parents who instilled the value of flower and vegetable gardening in her from a very, young age. Through Susan’s work in wholesale and retail sales, garden design, and marketing communications, she has gained a well-rounded knowledge of the industry. She currently serves as the Director of Marketing for Walters Gardens, home of Proven Winners® perennials. 

Melinda Myers: Nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written more than 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & Radio program. Myers has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist, was a horticulture instructor with tenure, and is currently on the board of directors for the International Society of Arboriculture.

Lloyd Traven: Lloyd and his wife Candy are the owners of Peace Tree Farm in Kintnersville, Pennsylvania. They have grown Peace Tree Farm from a small greenhouse to a very established and respected operation among international horticulture. Lloyd has been among the first to successfully invest in sophisticated environmental control systems for their operation. Lloyd conducts seminars and makes presentations at grower industry conferences and conventions. As an author, Lloyd has contributed to GMPro Magazine, OFA Bulletin, Greenhouse Product News, Greenhouse Grower, and Grower Talks.