Native Plant and Sustainability Conference
Phipps' annual Native Plant and Sustainability Conference returns for a one-day forum on plants, landscapes and our role as environmental stewards.
This year's conference, which will be held in-person on Sat., Feb. 1, will feature an exciting line up of speakers and topics. Check out the schedule below.
Questions? Contact our Phipps' education team at edu@phipps.conservatory.org.
This conference counts as a 4 hour elective credit for the following Phipps certificate programs: Ecological Gardening and Landscape and Garden Design. CEU credits for PCH and LA CES are pending; please inquire for more information.
Schedule
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
Registration and Book Sale
9:45 – 10 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
10 – 10:45 a.m.
Adding Native Plants to Your Existing Landscape | Kelly Strope & Laura Ashley
Arcadia Natives wants to inspire you on how to add native plants into your space and the types of plants you can add to traditional home landscapes, balancing your design aesthetics while supporting wildlife and pollinators.
11 a.m. – Noon
Wild Fungal Diversity & Conservation in Pennsylvania | Hannah Huber
You know your land's flora and fauna. Do you know your land's funga? Pennsylvania is home to over 6,000 species of fungi and new species are continually being discovered. Many of these species are native, integral members of the ecosystem, but location data for many fungi are lacking, making it difficult to assess whether their populations are secure or threatened. Developing your local fungal knowledge can be a new way to engage with your land, and your observations could contribute meaningfully to our understanding of fungal population health on the state scale. This session will provide the "state of the fungi," instruction on how to conduct your own fungal diversity survey (beginner-friendly), and how you can participate in fungal conservation efforts.
Noon – 12:45 p.m.
Lunch and Book Sale
12:45 – 1:30 p.m.
What’s “The Point” of Landscaping with Native Species Park | Jack Lachendro, Point State Park
Plants are an intertwined part of daily life. So much so, we often forget the importance of those that have roots in the same place we call home. But what is the point of landscaping with these plants we call “native”? Join Point State Park Environmental Education Specialist, Jack Lachendro, to discuss the importance of native plants in the most urban of all Pennsylvania’s state parks. This presentation will cover how this natural oasis came to be and how to use this tool with learners of all ages and experiences.
1:30 – 2 p.m.
Sustainable Garden Award Winners | Juliette Olshock
The Sustainable Garden Awards started in 2020 with the goal of inspiring Western Pennsylvania residents to design and maintain gardens that are both environmentally friendly and beautiful. With so many wonderful gardens to choose from this year, it was a challenge to decide on the winners. We are happy to announce the champions from the following categories: Native Plantings and Wildlife Gardens, Micro-Gardens, Abundant Edible Gardens, Gardens that manage Rainwater and Gardens for Personal Retreat.
2 – 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
The Deer Conundrum | Erika Howsare
Gardeners and native plant lovers often see deer as a threat: They eat the plants we try to nurture, and they are a major factor influencing forest ecosystems. But the truth about deer is complicated, and so is the quest to manage their numbers. How did we get here? This talk will explore many facets of the deer question, particularly the history of their changing populations in the US.
3:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Conference Speakers
Laura Ashley
Laura Ashley is the Nursery Plant Manager at Arcadia Natives. After more than 20 years in corporate roles, Laura is following her passion for plants. An avid plantswoman, she enjoys growing and propagating plants, and is eager to spread her enthusiasm for plants with others. She uses her love of learning and design to help people embrace their space, teach them about plants and create an outdoor space that they – and wildlife and pollinators – love.
Erika Howsare
Erika Howsare is the author of the acclaimed nonfiction book The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors. She also hosted an award-winning companion podcast called If You See a Deer. She has worked in local journalism for more than twenty years and contributes reviews and essays to national outlets including The Atlantic, Orion, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and others. She lives and gardens in Virginia, and teaches writing privately.
Hannah Huber
As the conservation mycologist for the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program, Hannah Huber strategizes and supports efforts to inventory the fungi of Pennsylvania, assess species’ extirpation risk, and explore what their conservation could look like. She was raised hunting for morels in Michigan, began her wider field mycology journey in the Adirondacks in 2010 and studied mycology throughout her time at Paul Smith's College and SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry. Hannah’s career has alternated with roles in environmental education, community organizing, sustainable agricultural planning, and roles related to mycology as Hannah was repeatedly influenced by the advice of Pittsburgh mycologist Gary Lincoff (1942-2018): “Quit your job and devote your life to fungi.” Hannah lives and works in Harrisburg, PA.
Jack Lachendro
Jack Lachendro is the Environmental Education Specialist at Point State Park, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources. His goal is to bring the natural world to residents, students, and visitors of the Paris of Appalachia through conservation lessons, outdoor recreation activities, and rediscovering the wonders that live just out of sight. No bird is too small or too common for this avid birder, having been deeply involved with the hobby for over 20 years. Jack is a 2019 graduate of Penn State University and also received his MED. in Environmental Education from Slippery Rock University. Performing population surveys on California Spotted Owls and Pennsylvanian Spotted Lanternfly has taught Jack the importance of native plant and animal species in everyday life, of which he conveys to visitors of Point State Park. Outside of work, Jack can usually be found hiking, disc golfing, skiing, and of course birding, but on the days where being inside is better, a nature-themed board game can be found on his table.
Kelly Strope
Kelly Strope is the owner of Arcadia Natives plant nursery in Washington, PA. Her nursery focuses on propagating native plant species and offers many seed grown local ecotypes indigenous to Pennyslvania and the Mid-Atlantic Region. She is an award-winning, published artist whose realistic pastel paintings capture the beauty of the natural world. Kelly is an enthusiastic educator, introducing people to the unique relationship native plants have with the wildlife that benefit from them. She is passionate about using her nursery, photography and artwork as a means to spread native plant awareness.
*Cancellation policy: In order to receive a full refund, less a $10 administrative fee, you must cancel by Thurs., Jan. 25. After this date, there will be no refunds. No-shows will not be refunded.
Select photos © Kitoko Chargois
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