Time

Speakers and Topics

8-9:00

Registration and set-up for vendors

9:00-9:15

Welcome by Debbie Dillion, Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator

9:15-10:45

Dr. Jeff Kirwan, Emeritus Professor and Extension Specialist, Department of Forestry at Virginia Tech,  Remarkable Trees Two (An Update). Dr. Kirwan will provide an update on the big and remarkable trees project and share his latest findings of amazing and beautiful trees and trees that hold a significant place in the history and culture of Virginia.

10:45-11:00

Break

11:00-12:30

 Nancy Hugo, Outdoor writer, Seeing Trees. Nancy shares how close observation reveals frequently overlooked beauty and botanical secrets in the garden. She provides strategies for both seeing more and deepening our appreciation of both the ecological services and landscape value of trees.

12:30-1:30

Buffet Lunch

1:30-3:00

Chip Osborne, President, Osborne Organics, Simple Steps to Organic Lawn Care. Chip discusses the compelling reasons why we should consider a natural approach to lawn care and the systems approach he has developed to reduce our dependence on synthetic and chemical turf products.

3:00-3:15

Break

3:15-4:45

Mary Stickley, Manager of Gardens and Grounds, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, The Lazy Gardener. We have busy lives and it's hard to find time to keep your garden manicured and beautiful.  Mary will describe some simple tips and techniques that will help keep your garden gorgeous without so much work. 

Time

Option 1

Option 2

9:00-9:30

Check-in

Check-in

9:30-10:30

Debbie Dillion, Urban Horticulturalist, It's a Small World -- Small Fruit that is!  Debbie will talk about her experience growing blueberries and blackberries and touch on the basics of other commonly grown small fruits.

Adria Bordas, Extension Agent, Unit Coordinator, Fairfax County, IPM is Like a Green KISS for your Garden. Adria will discuss Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and how Keeping it Simple is the best theme for the plants in your landscape -- an approach with a variety of methods for pest control and management.

10:30- 10:45

Break

10:45-11:45

Donna Williamson, Garden design and coaching, Seven Strategies for Garden Success. The key to a beautiful and coherent garden is discerning, shaping and sustaining the intention for the space.  Seven strategies for sorting out the real issues make this a simpler process.

Paul Gibson, Master Gardener Volunteer, Prince William County, Organic Sustainable Vegetable Gardening. Growing our own food, with nature as a guide and incorporating sustainable practices is good for our bodies and good for the earth. Three essential elements are planning the garden, growing good garden soil and incorporating sustainable practices.

11:45 -12:45

Buffet Lunch

12:45 -1:45

Peter Deahl, Arborist, Pruning Woody Plants Naturally. Peter will discuss and demonstrate pruning woody shrubs and ornamentals with regard to biology and emotion.  This approach produces sound, healthy and attractive outcomes.

Karen Rexrode, Horticulturalist and Artist, Why Challenge Yourself. Gardeners develop a love of certain plants that can blind them to alternatives. Karen will discuss using plants that use fewer resources, require less time, give more and fit into the local landscape in a desirable way.

1:45-2:00

Break

2:00-3:00

Peter Deahl, Arborist, Q&A. Peter will answer your questions and discuss common pruning issues.

Jeffrey Pfoutz, Beekeeper, Pollination Under Pressure. Honeybees and their status has been much in the news of late but the benefit of plant pollination goes beyond commercial food production.  Jeff Pfoutz will present an overview of the critical role in pollination played by not just honeybees but insects, birds and other animals.

3:00 -3:30