Events

Entropy, or a lack of predictability in a system tending toward disorder, offers landscape designers a process-based approach to the design of outdoor spaces, especially landscape gardens. A series of landscape projects illustrates various aesthetic solutions using this approach. Natural succession initiates predictably unpredictable environmental processes, exotic and invasive species challenge controls imposed by designers,…
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Seed starting is one of the most romantic and satisfying parts of being a gardener. Watching a seed turn into a tiny sprout brings so much joy, but only if it goes well! In this class, we will be discussing several ways to start and nurture seeds and seedlings before they head outside to your…
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Mr. McKinley will present a demonstration of the concepts of synergistic floral designs. Synergy is the interaction of two or more small designs that produces a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. Using common household items, a few garden flowers/foliage, and some small branches, a long-lasting, reusable, and highly sustainable floral…
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Plants native in China have been produced and utilized all over the world. There are the good (like kiwi), the bad (like Chinese privet) and many, many more. This presentation will look at how these plants have impacted horticulture and landscapes everywhere. Dr. Mengmeng Gu became Head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture…
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Everyone knows how to plant a tree, right? Wrong! Trees can provide economic, environmental, and social impacts as they mature; however, these impacts aren't realized until around 17 years of growth. Learn about root structure and planting to ensure a tree is planted with the root flare at the right level. Proper planting leads to…
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Emergency management and first aid protocols are necessary components for any signature outreach event. In Safety First, Stephen will provide a planning document that includes steps for first aid and fire preparedness, missing child protocols, and festival site mapping. This seminar explores a collaborative planning process between Extension personnel and Extension Master Gardener leadership. Stephen…
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The environment seems to be changing faster than human ability to educate residents about sustainable practices through traditional means. To address this issue, Master Gardeners from New York will share how they were able to expand their reach by developing a podcast. Now in its fourth year, Nature Calls: Conversations from the Hudson Valley has…
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This session will cover how the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zones came to be, what they mean to gardeners and why they are still in use almost a hundred years after the first hardiness maps were developed. The presentation will include a review of early colorful, hand-drawn maps from the archives…
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One of the most precious resources in an urban ecosystem is space. Multi-purpose landscapes, often referred to as foodscapes or edible landscapes, are a powerful tool for making the most of limited home landscapes and urban greenspaces. Vikram will discuss best management practices for integrating fruits and vegetables into landscape design ideas, as gardeners strive…
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Adaptive gardening is a new and evolving topic. Its simplest definition is adapting one's garden and gardening to their changing physical capabilities. The presentation begins with such basics as joint protection and fall protection and progresses to the often difficult decision to downsize, including how to downsize in place. Preventive adaptation for younger gardeners will…
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Over the past decade, there has been mounting evidence for the effect of nature on health and wellbeing. Time spent in greenspaces have significant positive effects on mental health and stress reduction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people rediscovered nature as a way to cope with the stress of the lockdowns. However, most Americans still…
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More and more homeowners are looking to make a difference from their own yards by creating landscapes that not only look good, but DO good by supporting insects and wildlife, saving precious water resources, and reducing pesticides and herbicides. Our native plants are the perfect solution, and the Native Plant Society of Texas wants to…
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