8:45am – Welcome & Introductions
9:00am – Design by Nature: Dynamic Planting at the Intersection of Horticulture and Ecology
Patrick Cullina, award-winning horticulturist, landscape designer, photographer and planning consultant
Join planting designer and founding Vice President of Horticulture at New York City’s High Line, Patrick Cullina, for an inspiring exploration of landscape design rooted in ecology, adaptability, and narrative. Through a series of compelling case studies, Patrick will reveal the mechanics behind successful projects—unpacking plant palettes, design strategies, and real-world challenges.
This session will offer a deep dive into his signature approach: creating dynamic, naturalistic plantings that evolve with the seasons and thrive under pressure. Learn how to design resilient landscapes that balance beauty and function—whether in dense urban parks or suburban home gardens. Gain practical insights into plant performance, soil constraints, and the ecological thinking that drives lasting, adaptive design.
10:15am Break
10:45am – From Canopy to Groundcover: Building Soft Landings with Keystone Plants for Pollinators
Heather Holm, biologist, pollinator conservationist, and award-winning author
This presentation explores the powerful connection between keystone plants and the insects that depend on them. You’ll learn how to implement “Soft Landings” in landscapes of all scales from home gardens to larger managed sites. This innovative habitat design and management strategy focuses on creating layered mini ecosystems beneath native trees to support pollinators throughout their life cycles.Participants will learn what defines a pollen specialist, discover examples of these fascinating bee-plant relationships, and understand how keystone plants function as foundational species in our ecosystems.
You’ll benefit from practical strategies on site preparation methods, herbicide considerations, and building a resilient plant matrix of sedges, cool-season grasses, and flowering keystone species. By the end of the presentation, participants will be equipped to design and install Soft Landing plantings that transform conventional landscapes into thriving sanctuaries for bees, caterpillars, and other beneficial insects.
12:00 Lunch
12:30pm Sponsor Presentations
1:00pm – Bridging Design and Ecology: Strategies for Resilient and Engaging Landscapes
Ching-Fang Chen, Landscape Architect, Montgomery Parks (MD)
Discover how Montgomery Parks in Maryland is reshaping public spaces through ecologically driven design. This lecture presents a series of innovative, award-winning park projects that demonstrate how regenerative principles can be seamlessly integrated into a variety of landscapes.
Featured projects include the design of a neighborhood park featuring native woody and herbaceous plants including a container pollinator garden to boost biodiversity. Other case studies focus on the transformation of a parking lot into a vibrant demonstration rain garden, meadow restoration using strategic transplanting techniques and environmental art installation crafted from recycled materials. Gain insight into collaborative efforts with ecologists to test meadow mixes tailored to varying light conditions and plant heights.
Whether you’re a homeowner, landscape designer, or park professional, this session offers fresh inspiration and practical strategies for enhancing habitat, beauty, and functionality—while fostering deeper connections between people and places.
2:15pm Break
2:45pm – Adapting Gardens for a Changing Climate: Building Biodiversity Through Plant Diversity
David McKinney, Curator of Collections and Grounds, Iowa Arboretum & Gardens
Over the past century, our cities and suburbs have been transformed, leaving few landscapes that resemble their original habitats. True ecological restoration is often out of reach—and climate change is making it even harder. As native plants bloom earlier or for shorter periods, critical gaps in nectar and habitat threaten the pollinators and wildlife that depend on them.
Yet there is hope. Join us for an engaging lecture on how diverse plant selections can build stronger, more resilient urban ecosystems. Drawing on 30 years of phenological data and more, we’ll explore how climate change affects native plants’ ability to support pollinators and identify additional criteria—beyond native vs non-native—for evaluating a plant’s ecological value. We’ll review climate-adaptive Mid-Atlantic native species and explore how expanding native ranges, along with thoughtfully adding select non-natives, can fill ecological gaps and enhance biodiversity in urban environments.
The talk will also address emerging pest threats, highlighting why plant diversity is essential to the health of our urban and suburban landscapes. You’ll gain practical strategies on adapting to shifting plant ranges, choosing species with real ecological benefits, and creating gardens that sustain pollinators and wildlife in a changing climate.
4:00pm Closing Remarks