Summer Short Course: Designing for Beauty and Ecology
Join Phipps, Penn State Extension and local experts for a full day of enhancing the beauty and benefits of your garden.
Presented in Partnership with
Course Schedule
8:45 – 9:15 a.m.
Registration
9:15 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Gardens to the Max | Teresa Woodard
Join author Teresa Woodard and two local maximalist gardeners for an inspiring deep dive into the lush, layered world of maximalist gardening, as featured in her new book, Garden to the Max: Joyful, Visionary, Maximalist Gardens. Teresa will explore the key elements of maximalist design—curated collections, dramatic style, abundant layers, and the joyful philosophy of “more is more”—while showcasing breathtaking images of 20 extraordinary gardens. The program will conclude with a dynamic conversation between Teresa and two featured local gardeners: Kevin Prall, a zone-pushing tropical gardener in New Kensington, and JP Malocsay, a biophilic gardener and twiggerie sculptor in Greenfield.
10:45 – 11 a.m.
Break
11 a.m.
Native Bees: Overlooked and Important | Stephanie Szakal
Forget the honeybee and its much-publicized decline for a moment. Pennsylvania is home to over 400 species of wild bees who aid in pollination and who lead diverse and fascinating lives. Find out something about where and how they live. Learn what differentiates them from flies and wasps. You will come to appreciate these lesser-known bees who visit your garden and learn how you can help prevent their decline.
Noon – 12:15 p.m.
Noteworthy Western PA Gardens and How to Get There | Juliette Olshock
In partnership with Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Grow Pittsburgh runs a 6-module series on all things compost! Community Composter School is an opportunity for individuals or organizations who work with an existing compost site (often at a community garden) to become advanced compost managers and skilled compost educators. Learn more about this innovative program.
12:15 – 1 p.m.
Lunch and Book Sale
1 – 2 p.m.
Building a Border Backwards | Julie Witmer
Learn how to create a perennial mixed border that will give you year-round beauty while also creating a positive ecological impact every month of the year. The “border backwards” technique will explain the benefits of thinking in reverse seasonal order to include a variety of plants into a low-maintenance, long lasting border display.
2 – 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Branching Out: The Ecological and Aesthetic Benefits of Woody Plants | Nancy Knauss
Woody plants are integral to every landscape providing beauty and environmental benefits. They add structure, texture, and color throughout the seasons. Trees and shrubs create privacy screens, windbreaks, and buffer sound all while providing habitat and food sources for wildlife. Once established, they are long-lived and require minimal maintenance.
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Attendees are welcome to explore Phipps Conservatory on their own until 5 p.m.
About the Speakers
Nancy Knauss is a current Master Gardener volunteer, and retired from Penn State Extension as the statewide coordinator for Penn State Master Gardeners. She has helped shape horticulture education programming in the area and across the commonwealth
Juliette Olshock is the Sustainable Landcare Program Coordinator at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. She is a former classroom teacher and small landscape business owner. Her work with Phipps Sustainable Landcare combines these two experiences. She holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Sustainable Systems and Masters of Education Degree in Environmental Education from Slippery Rock University. Juliette enjoys playing in the soil, growing a variety of plants, and creating her own backyard oasis at home
Stephanie Szakal, is a Penn State Master Gardener with a passion for gardening and a particular love for native plants and pollinator gardens. Stephanie loves to share her enthusiasm and knowledge with gardeners of all ages and interests.
Julie Witmer works to create beautiful and ecologically sensitive gardens across the continental United States. She began in perennial production and garden nursery retail before earning a Certificate of Horticulture—Britain’s professional gardener qualification—from the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley, UK. She is a popular local speaker, teaching classes for all ages, and is a published garden photographer in books by Timber Press, Kew Gardens, and Rodale. Her own garden, Havenwood, is nearly one acre and divided into fifteen diverse garden spaces which grow a wide variety and succession of plants throughout the year.
Teresa Woodard brings a background in magazine writing and gardening experience. She is author of Garden to the Max (Timber Press 2025) and co-author of the American Roots: Lessons and Inspiration from Designers Reimagining Our Home Gardens (Timber Press 2022). During her 16-year writing career, she has written and produced garden content for regional and national publications including Better Homes & Gardens and Country Gardens and currently serves as contributing garden editor at Midwest Living magazine. She has won Gold and Silver Media Awards from GardenComm. Outside of work, she gardens at her home near Columbus, Ohio, volunteers at an urban garden teaching youth about growing food, and advises America in Bloom communities across the country.
This Summer Short Course is presented to you by Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and Penn State Extension. Reservations are required in advance, so sign up today online or by phone at 412/441-4442, ext. 3925.
Fee: Summer Short Course (Tues., July 30) registration costs $95 on or before Sun., June 30. After June 30, the cost is $105.
Short Course registration includes morning coffee, as well as a lunch buffet with vegetarian and gluten free options. If you have additional dietary requests, please contact us to ensure we can meet your needs.
Location: The Short Course will take place at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The Conservatory address is: One Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Continuing Education Credits: This conference counts for Master Gardener Continuing Education credit, and elective hours for Phipps certificate programs: Sustainable Horticulture and Landscape and Garden Design.
Cancellation Policy: In order to receive a full refund, less a $10 administrative fee, you must cancel by Tues, July 15. After this date, there will be no refunds.
Questions? Email edu@phipps.conservatory.org.
