Know to Grow at the Flower Show

Speaker: Mardi Dover

Winter is for garden dreaming! Imagine stepping outside into a garden full that is overflowing with lush plantings, a garden that offers year-round interest where colors shift with the seasons, textures invite touch, and every corner tells a story. Picture a garden that bursts with blooms in unexpected months (yes, even February!) and hums with life as birds, bees, and butterflies find a welcoming habitat. What you are envisioning is a layered garden—an approach that transforms any outdoor space into a masterpiece of thoughtful design.

Speakers: Catherine & Al Renzi
"Life with Goats, Gardening, and Gourmet Cheese" is a preview to the newly released memoir book, Is the Grass Always Greener? The authors, Catherine and Al Renzi, offer this presentation rich with photos and conversation about their story at Yellow Springs Farm in Chester Springs, PA. Find out how two middle-aged career changers, with five college degrees, grow to meet the challenges of sustainably farming what was once a 19th-century dairy about an hour from Philadelphia. The book is a spirited memoir highlighting a love for food and a passion for land and community.

Speaker: Jared Barnes
In this presentation, Dr. Jared Barnes explores the future of gardening through the lens of horticultural innovation and sustainable practices. Drawing from his studies, he will highlight cutting-edge research in plant science while integrating practical insights for home gardeners. This talk will also address emerging trends, tools, and techniques that can transform the way we garden in the years to come. Participants will leave with actionable ideas to adapt in an evolving gardening landscape.

Speaker: Ace Berry
Join Ace Berry, season 1 finalist on HBO’s Full Bloom, as he shares his unique foraged floral philosophy. Dive into the world of foraging with Ace, exploring his expert techniques and witnessing the artistry in crafting beautiful arrangements using foraged florals, all with the supportive touch of OASIS® Forage Products. Whether you’re a seasoned florist looking to expand your repertoire or simply a nature enthusiast eager to connect with the beauty around you, this presentation promises to awaken your senses and deepen your appreciation for the art of foraging.

Speaker: Pascal Garbe
An acclaimed gardener with a passion for cooking, Pascal Garbe naturally does his shopping in his garden. On a daily basis, he uses herbs, leaves, and flowers from his garden to punctuate his cooking. In his garden, all the plants are eaten! In this talk, which will be given for the first time in North America, Pascal will introduce you to the most interesting plants to grow and cook. He'll suggest some simple recipes (including the famous Flowers Burger) using plants we know and may grow, but don't necessarily think about. This presentation is a moment of sharing with a gourmet gardener who will give you the chance to grow unique plants in your garden or on your terrace!

Speaker: Charlie Nardozzi
Grow more flowers, vegetables, and herbs easier with no-dig gardening. No-Dig gardening teaches you how to garden more in tune with nature with less work. In this presentation, Charlie Nardozzi will describe the different ways to no-dig, why it's better for your soil and garden, and how to create new beds or transform old ones with this technique. He'll cover planting schemes, watering, succession and companion planting, and harvesting in a no-dig system. He'll also discuss unique no-dig methods, such as straw bed gardening and hugelkultur. Charlie's talk is sponsored by Velcro.com.

Speakers: Melissa Marazas & Jamie Chan, Planet Bee Foundation
Join Planet Bee Foundation for an engaging presentation on gardening for native bees! Discover how you can support local ecosystems by creating pollinator-friendly habitats in your own backyard. Learn about best practices to attract and sustain native bee populations, along with digital tools to help you identify and observe these bees in your garden. Whether you're a gardening novice or expert, you'll gain practical steps to make your green space a sanctuary for these essential pollinators.

Speakers: Alec Charais
In "All About Hydrangeas," Alec breaks down the questions about growing these much-loved garden shrubs. You'll learn the basics of caring for hydrangeas, including how to get the biggest blooms, understanding the differences between species, and how to use them in your garden and outdoor space. With stunning inspirational photos and practical how-to information, Alec will provide creative combinations, container garden ideas, and real-life examples of how to create and maintain a beautiful garden with your favorite hydrangeas. Finally, he'll share some of the best new hydrangea varieties on the market to inspire your next gardening adventure.

Speaker: Lauren McGrath
What is the link between flowers and fish and how beautiful landscapes benefit waterways? As climate uncertainty becomes a reality in the mid-Atlantic region, explore how we can plant our landscapes to create resilient ecosystems and habitats to protect our streamside communities. Understand the connection between land and water and learn how we can strategically restore the water's edge to strengthen our ties to the landscape - from fragile headwaters all the way downstream to the powerful bays and estuaries on the coast. We all have a role to play in understanding, creating, and caring for these dynamic systems and building climate resilience in local communities. Learn more about freshwater ecosystems, riparian habitats, and what role they can play in studying, saving, and restoring this dynamic system for future generations.

Speakers: Blake Goll & Shelly Eshleman
Our yards provide a sanctuary for us to unwind at the end of a long day, but they also represent an opportunity to provide crucial habitats for all of the species that keep our ecosystems healthy. There are many ways homeowners can employ their yards to help reverse some of the habitat loss that imperils ecosystem function and food webs today. In this presentation, we will discuss how to see your yards and gardens from a bird's eye perspective that benefits all living things. There is beauty in the brambles.

Speaker: Carrie Wiles
Learn how increasing demand for native plants and ecosystem services influences the nursery industry’s response to the perennial question: What’s New? Carrie’s presentation connects the key drivers advancing today’s plant palette to guiding factors behind new introductions. This plant-packed lecture will highlight the newest of the new and pay homage to a select assortment of tried-and-true classics, all while featuring problem-solving perennials for even the toughest of garden conditions.

Speaker: Mike Cranney
Each year across the country, countless resources are spent maintaining what has long been perceived as the "ideal" lawn. Unfortunately, this has proven to be extremely detrimental to the environment, as lawns contribute virtually no ecological value. Mike Cranney, Director of Stewardship at Willistown Conservation Trust, will discuss the organization's ongoing efforts to educate and empower private landowners to convert lawns into beautiful natural spaces that provide essential native habitat. Attendees will learn how Willistown Conservation Trust is using state funding to transform everything from small front yards to entire communities, and what steps they can take to do so on their own properties.

Speaker: Arden Pontasch
If you build it, they will come! This plant-packed presentation will highlight a wide range of flowering perennials that have been proven to stand the test of time in even the toughest of garden settings, and outline strategies on how to attract pollinators and other wildlife to any garden. With these solution-driven plant selections, you too can use tried-and-true perennials to establish both a beautiful and functional habitat!

Speakers: Pia von Barby & Rebecca Davies
A beautiful garden starts with healthy soil. This presentation will dive into how soil amendments made from materials often considered garbage - like glass bottles, food-waste, woody debris - are foundational to soils of the future that are non-extractive, renewable, and biologically rich. Learn about how circular materials, such as locally-produced glass sand, can be incorporated into gardens of all sizes to help them thrive.

Speaker: Bex Claire Hamell
Join Bex Hamell for a look at the wild ancestors of modern houseplants, and see what they can teach us about helping indoor plants thrive! Every plant has evolved to survive in a unique ecological niche, which determines what they need in terms of watering, light, potting media, nutrients, and more. This presentation will cover plants from a wide range of habitats, as well as explore how to apply this knowledge to new and unfamiliar plants. This presentation is appropriate for houseplant enthusiasts of all knowledge and experience levels.

Speakers: Nicole Juday Rhoads & Rob Cardillo
Join author Nicole Juday and photographer Rob Cardillo in a presentation about the surprising discoveries they made through the process of creating their new book Private Gardens of Philadelphia. Gorgeous images will enhance every gardener's appreciation of the unique qualities and aesthetics of our region that for centuries have allowed for the proliferation of excellent horticulture. The presentation will provide a glimpse into the creativity, sacrifice, and dedication it takes to cultivate and maintain a truly spectacular garden. Using selected examples from the 21 gardens featured in the book, this presentation will inspire everyone to expand their vision of what is possible in their own gardens.

Speaker: Barbara Schmidt
This fun, informative presentation delves into our love for orchids. It will include the evolution of orchids, how they grow in their native environments, and how to care for these exotic plants in our homes. This presentation will pique the interest of experienced orchid collectors, as well as beginners. Join us as we explore fun facts and orchid care tips for America's favorite indoor plant.

Speaker: Teresa Woodard
For those of you compelled to make room for “just one more plant,” this presentation is for you. In Teresa’s newest book Garden to the Max (Timber Press 2025), she dives into the maximalist style as it boldly unfolds in the garden. She will take you on an inspiring journey across the country with gorgeous images by photographer Bob Stefko of 20 maximalist gardeners. She'll share how these talented garden creatives curate plant collections, defy rules, build drama with multiples of plants, or max out all-sized spaces to support nature.

Speakers: Martha Keen & Hans Hesselein
Many of the landscapes that Apiary Studio creates are made from materials that are typically excavated from demolition sites or thrown out as remnants, cutoffs, or scraps. They are driven by the design challenge to give recycled materials and disused spaces a second life through thoughtful craft and construction. At Apiary Studio, there is ample room to explore what is considered waste and what is actually sustainable in the landscape design and construction industry. This presentation will focus on their process and belief that often the lightest touch can be the most revealing solution.

Speakers: Sam Hoadley & Richard Hawke
Before adding a new plant to your garden, wouldn't it be nice to know how it will perform? Comparative trials like those conducted at Chicago Botanic Garden and Mt. Cuba Center give gardeners valuable insights that help them choose the best cultivars for their situation. In this presentation, Richard and Sam will delve into the similarities and differences between the plant trials they administer. Attendees will come away with a new appreciation for plant evaluation and a list of top performers from years of rigorous trials.

Speaker: Wambui Ippolito
For many of us, a garden is a refuge from the outside world and a place to quietly connect with nature. Utilizing a mindfully limited plant palette is one way to enhance the soothing, restorative qualities of any outdoor space. In this presentation, Wambui Ippolito discusses how she takes this strategy a step further by using just four species from the Lamiaceae family as the backbone for some planting designs. The resulting landscapes are studies in uniformity, serenity, and ease of maintenance, enhanced by colors that are a harmonious mix of subdued greens and blues.

Speaker: Adam Glas
Join Adam Glas of Scott Arboretum and Gardens in a deep-dive on the local garden and its impact. The mission of Scott Arboretum and Gardens is to delight and educate all visitors and inspire them to enjoy the many benefits of horticulture. Pair that with Swarthmore College’s ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2035 and it creates a unique challenge for the horticulturists that maintain its world class collections and garden spaces. For the past several years, the gardening teams have diligently been working to explore alternative practical techniques and creating gardens for low input and long-term success. Maintaining roses sustainably, installing water-wise gravel gardens, employing organic turf care and alternative lawns are a few the of the many concepts being implemented.

Speaker: Jenny Rose Carey
The colors, shapes, and scents of flowers are as ravishing to the senses as to the soul. But it’s all too easy get things wrong: colors that clash, flowers that bloom at the wrong time, plants that fail to thrive. In this presentation, Jenny Rose Carey tells you exactly how to get started, how to combine plants for the most spectacular effects, and how to keep your flowers beautiful all summer long.

Speaker: Robin Avni
There is an ever-expanding interest in the floral lifestyle as gardeners and homeowners aspire to become floral fluent. The backyard gardener has moved on from simply planting vegetables or bedding plants; they want to grow unique botanicals in their own cutting gardens, containers, and raised beds - floral elements for everyday enjoyment and cherished celebrations. In their new book, The Flower Farmer, co-authors Debra Prinzing and Robin Avni, introduce the lives, farms, and flowers of growers across North America. Meet Robin Avni, one of these intrepid, innovative, and artistic individuals who have built flower-filled lives. Learn about their "Plant Passions" and learn from their expertise about top botanical crops. We'll cover how to select must-have cultivars that the pros grow and understand the best varieties for long-lasting arrangements.

Speaker: David Mizejewski
Beautiful gardens and well-designed landscapes are pleasing to the eye and give us a place to enjoy nature, right? Wrong. Though it might look green and natural, the standard American landscape is anything but and often does more harm than good to our planet. But it doesn't have to be that way! National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski will break down the five common gardening practices that hurt the natural world and offer alternatives that will help you create the perfect slice of nature - right outside your door for you and the wildlife that calls your space home, too.

Speaker: Kamili Bell Hill
In this presentation, Kamili will share the art of designing beautiful container arrangements using houseplants that share the same watering and lighting needs. Florists and big box stores often sell beautiful arrangements with plants whose needs are incompatible, and of course the arrangement ends up killing at least one of the plants. This session reveals how to select and combine plants that not only look great together, but also thrive together. After picking compatible plants, Kamili will demonstrate how to arrange them for an eye-catching plant display in any space.

Speaker: Ann Amato
Much like cooking, the craft of propagation can be engaging, performative. and recipes are often used and, sometimes, altered. Come watch and learn more about this green thumb skillset from a professional propagator who’s propagated thousands of plants for regional nurseries we all know and love. From seeds to cuttings, spores to simple grafts, air layering to division—to answering questions about tissue culture—Ann has seen it all! Please bring your questions. Tools and techniques will be highlighted as well.

Speaker: Kathy Jentz
Bambi may be cute, but he and his mother, cousins, and the rest of the herd are very hungry, and they would love to make a feast of your garden. This presentation will cover proven and humane tactics for gardening with deer, rabbits, squirrels, rats, groundhogs, and other creatures that are attracted to both edible and ornamental gardens. Kathy Jentz, garden book author and host of the GardenDC Podcast, shares her tips and tricks for gardening alongside hungry critters.

Ann Amato

Presentation: "Propagation Secrets"
Ann is the Production Manager at Secret Garden Growers, and is a part-time Propagation Assistant at Little Prince of Oregon. She is the former President of the Mount Hood Gesneriad Society and has been featured on Garden Time TV, in Wonderground (formerly The Planthunter in Australia), and on many podcasts. In 2025 she'll be included in the book The Spirited Garden: Creative Private Retreats by Doreen Wynja and Lorene Edwards Forkner.

Robin Avni

Presentation: "Plant Passions: Best Tips for Growing Cut Flowers"
Robin Avni, co-author of The Flower Farmers (Abrams Books 2025), works with authors and creatives to produce well-organized, informative, and beautifully designed books and publications. She has produced 18 books, including seven in collaboration with her BLOOM Imprint co-founder, Debra Prinzing, founder of the Slow Flowers movement.

Pia von Barby & Rebecca Davies

Presentation: "Soils of Tomorrow: Circular Materials in the Garden"
Pia von Barby is a licensed landscape architect at OLIN and has been practicing landscape architecture since 2018. Her experience includes private, public, and institutional projects such as healthcare and corporate campuses, universities, multi-family housing, and high-end residential projects, but she is happiest when thinking about plants. In addition to project-based work, Pia is deeply involved with OLIN’s research and development group, OLIN Labs. Her research focuses on waste-based material design, including OLIN’s Circular Soil and Biochar Initiatives. Pia’s research involves a constellation of collaborators in the fields of soil science, engineering, geochemistry, biology, horticulture, economics, and more. Pia holds an MLA from the University of Virginia.

Rebecca Davies is the co-founder of Remark Glass and a Founding Board Member of Bottle Underground. Remark Glass, founded in 2016, is a zero-waste certified, woman-owned business focused on innovative and creative glass reuse by upcycling source separated waste glass and producing high-end glassware products. Bottle Underground is a recently established nonprofit sister company focused on making the highest and best use of bottle glass through recirculation, recycling, down cycling, and upcycling, with the goal of reducing glass waste at a local level. Rebecca went to Smith College in Northampton, MA, and moved to Philadelphia in 2009 to complete an MFA at the University of the Arts.

Jared Barnes

Presentation: "Future of Gardening"
Jared Barnes, PhD, started gardening when he was five years old, and since then he has enthusiastically pursued how to best cultivate plants and cultivate minds. Jared is an award-winning associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX. He writes a weekly newsletter titled plant•ed that was featured in The New York Times, hosts The Plantastic Podcast, and gardens with his wife Karen and daughter Magnolia at their smallholding Ephemera Farm. He obtained his PhD in horticultural science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

Ace Berry

Presentation: "Foraged Florals"
Ace Berry, AIFD, CFD, TMF, PFCI, shifted from five years in the Texas oil fields to unearth his genuine passion – flowers! Earning Texas Master Florist status in 2012, Ace took the helm of Teleflora as Unit President in 2013. Being inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers in 2015 marked a pinnacle in his floral journey. In July 2016, he materialized his dream, establishing a floral haven – his very own floral shop in Fulshear, Texas. As the 2020 runner-up on HBO Max's Full Bloom, Ace showcased his talents on the popular streamer.

Jenny Rose Carey

Presentation: "Supercharge Your Summer Flower Garden"
Jenny Rose Carey is an avid, hands-on gardener and professional horticulturist. Born in England to a family of botanists and gardeners, she grew up in the countryside and designed her first herb garden at the age of sixteen. She moved with her American husband to the Philadelphia area and has gardened there ever since.

Alec Charais

Presentation: "All About Hydrangeas"
Having grown up on a family farm, Alec's love for plants grew into a rewarding career that today finds him collaborating with breeders and agents across the globe, searching for trees and shrubs that will beautify the outdoor living experience for everyone. At Bailey Nurseries, a family-owned, fifth-generation nursery with growing operations in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Illinois, and Georgia, Alec leads the marketing and product development functions across the company as Chief Marketing & Product Development Officer. This includes their successful consumer brands First Editions® Shrubs & Trees, Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, and Easy Elegance® Roses – all brands that Bailey owns and manages worldwide.

Mike Cranney

Presentation: "The Future of Lawns and the Rise of Native Wildflower Plantings"
Mike Cranney is the Director of Stewardship at Willistown Conservation Trust, where he has worked for five years. He has a Masters in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and previously spent time as an intern and gardener at Morris Arboretum. The main focus of Mike's work is ecological restoration with native plants and communicating the value and importance of with the community.

Mardi Dover

Presentation: "The Secret to Stunning Outdoor Spaces: Creating a Layered Garden"
Mardi Dover is the founder and principal of Gardens by Mardi, a design-build company in Asheville, North Carolina which specializes in renovating residential landscapes in historic neighborhoods. She is also the founder of MardiDover.com, where she offers educational and consulting services to the landscape design industry. She brings her longtime interests in art, horticulture, and the natural world to the discipline of garden design, and her outdoor spaces reflect a marriage of these fields. Mardi received degrees from The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Garden Design from Oxford College of Garden Design. She has received Gold and Bronze Awards in Residential Design from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, where she is currently serving on the APLD National Board.

Kevin Espiritu & Jacques Lyakov

Presentation: "Tips for a Thriving Garden with Epic Gardening"
Kevin Espiritu is the founder and CEO of Epic Gardening, the world’s most-followed gardening brand and online garden store. As a self-taught gardener, Espiritu has spent over a decade producing educational gardening content across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, the Epic Gardening podcast, and blog. Additionally Espiritu has authored multiple books: Field Guide to Urban Gardening: How to Grow Plants, No Matter Where You Live; and Grow Bag Gardening: The Revolutionary Way to Grow Bountiful Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Flowers in Lightweight, Eco-friendly Fabric Pots; and, in 2023, Epic Homesteading: Your Guide To Self-Sufficiency on A Modern, High-Tech, Backyard Homestead.

Jacques Lyakov embarked on his gardening journey as a way to relax and find purpose outside of his PhD studies. He quickly discovered that reading up on growing food, watching videos, and turning gardening into a daily practice offered much more than he expected. The revelation of flavor he experienced from homegrown vegetables drove him to want to teach the world how to grow. Over the past three years, he has built up an audience of over half a million people, sharing what he has and continues to learn every day.

Pascal Garbe

Presentation: "All The Flavours In The Garden"
Pascal Garbe is currently regarded as Europe's leading edible plant specialist. He works with many of the world's leading chefs, including Hugo Roellinger (Europe's Chef of the Year 2022), Michel Bras, Anne-Sophie Pic, Osman Sezener, and so on. He has written numerous books on the subject, including an encyclopaedia of beautiful and edible plants. He will publish a new book, All The Flavours In The Garden, in 2025 and will share this new approach. Pascal Garbe is also the Head Judge of the Philadelphia Flower Show.

Adam Glas

Presentation: “Creating Beautiful Sustainable Gardens on a Large Scale for Small Scale Inspiration”
Adam Glas studied landscape design at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and at Gateway Community College, where he was instrumental in designing the school’s teaching gardens. He completed the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens in 2000 and is now a garden supervisor at the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, where he works with a team of 14 gardeners who maintain one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. He is a contributing author for Fine Gardening magazine and enjoys being able to share gardening perspectives through writing and teaching.

Blake Goll & Shelly Eshleman

Presentation: "There’s Beauty in Backyard Brambles: How Your Yard Can Provide Habitat for the Birds That You Love"
As the Education Programs Manager at Willistown Conservation Trust since 2010, Blake Goll has developed the Trust’s award-winning Rushton Nature Keepers program and curriculum for children, as well as other various education programs for all ages. She also assists with the daily operations of the songbird banding and owl banding stations throughout banding season and provides outreach to educate the community about conservation. Blake is a North American Banding Council (NABC) certified bird bander and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Pennsylvania State University.

Shelly Eshleman is the Motus Avian Research Coordinator at Willistown Conservation Trust and a PhD candidate at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on the conservation of Pennsylvania’s avian species through automated radio telemetry tracking using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System.

Bex Claire Hamell

Presentation: "Houseplant Habitats"
Bex Claire Hamell is a collector, seller, and award-winning grower of rare and unusual tropical plants. An engaging and informative presenter, Bex has a passion for sharing their wide-ranging horticultural knowledge with other plant lovers. They currently sit on the boards of the Indoor Plant Society and the Delaware Valley Branch of the American Begonia Society.

Kamili Bell Hill

Presentation: "Container Gardening with Houseplants"
Kamili Bell Hill, a self-proclaimed "plant mom," wasn't always surrounded by green. When she decided to pursue her true passion of interior design, her life trajectory took off. She quickly realized plants were more than a tool in her style guide - they are your partners in relaxation and self-care - and so PlantBlerd was born. She has curated a community and brand in PlantBlerd across multiple social media platforms that is both inspirational and aspirational.

Sam Hoadley & Richard Hawke

Presentation: "The Value of Plant Evaluation - Richard Hawke and Sam Hoadley Compare Notes and Share Recommendations"
Sam Hoadley is the Manager of Horticultural Research at Mt. Cuba Center, where he evaluates native plant species, old and new cultivars, and hybrids in the Trial Garden. Prior to working at Mt. Cuba, he was the lead horticulturist for Longwood Gardens’s Hillside Garden. He earned his degree in Sustainable Landscape Horticulture from the University of Vermont.

Richard Hawke is the director of ornamental plant research at Chicago Botanic Garden, where he oversees comparative evaluations of ornamental plants. In 2011, Richard began reporting his findings in Fine Gardening magazine and has since written dozens of feature articles detailing trial results.

Wambui Ippolito

Presentation: "Quiet Design - Creating a Soothing Garden Aesthetic"
Wambui Ippolito is the 2021 Best in Show award winner at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show. Born in Kenya, Ms. Ippolito was influenced by her mother’s garden in Nairobi, her grandmother’s farm in the countryside, and the natural landscapes of East Africa. A graduate of the New York Botanical Garden's School of Horticulture, Veranda Magazine named her one of “Eleven Revolutionary Female Landscape Designers and Architects You Should Know" in 2021. Ms. Ippolito is the founder of the BIPOC Hort Group, a multicultural professional organization with membership from the USA, Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Kathy Jentz

Presentation: "Dealing with Deer & Other Pesky Mammals in Your Garden"
A life-long gardener, Kathy Jentz believes that growing plants should be stress-free and enjoyable. Kathy is editor and publisher of Washington Gardener Magazine and hosts the popular GardenDC Podcast. She is also the editor of the Water Garden Journal (IWGS), The Azalean (ASA), and Fanfare, for the local daylily society. She is the author of Groundcover Revolution (Cool Springs Press 2023) and co-author of The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City (Cool Springs Press 2022).

Martha Keen & Hans Hesselein

Presentation: "Recycled Landscapes"
Apiary Studio is a Philadelphia-based design/build landscape practice founded in 2015 and directed by Hans Hesselein and Martha Keen. Martha is a graduate of St. Johns College and the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood Gardens. Prior to joining Apiary Studio as the horticulture manager, she spent a decade working as a gardener in city parks and public gardens, including Prospect Park in New York and Wyck Historical House in Philadelphia. Hans holds a BLA from North Carolina State University and has spent time working in Germany, as well as at several New York City landscape architecture firms. He previously served as Executive Director of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy in Brooklyn, NY.

Melissa Marazas & Jamie Chan, Planet Bee Foundation

Presentation: "Creating Sustainable Habitats and Gardening for Native Bees"
Melissa Marazas is a Philadelphia native and certified Master Gardener, currently serving as Education Manager at Planet Bee Foundation, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to STEM and climate education. At Planet Bee, Melissa delivers bee education programs focused on sustainability and conservation, enhancing awareness for bee stewardship. She is especially passionate about working with native bees, hatching them from cocoons each spring and watching them build their nests in the summer.

Jamie Chan, EdD has a background in higher education, STEM teacher training, and holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, and an MS in zoology. She is the executive director of Planet Bee Foundation and lecture faculty at San Francisco State University, alongside being a certified Master Gardener. Based in San Francisco, Jamie is passionate about sustainable urban agriculture and food justice, beekeeping, and urban chicken care.

Lauren McGrath

Presentation: "Don't Go with the Flow of Climate Change: Planting Beautiful Green Spaces for Healthy Waterways and Climate Resilience"
Lauren McGrath has been the Director of the Watershed Protection Program at Willistown Conservation Trust since 2017. She serves on the boards of the Darby Creek Valley Association and the Chester County Water Resources Authority and is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Lauren is passionate about studying the human impact on our waterways, connecting people to the wonders of nature, and understanding how to protect freshwater resources to ensure clean, safe water for all.

David Mizejewski

Presentation: "Five Gardening Rules to Ignore"
David Mizejewski is a naturalist, author, and television presenter with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and has hosted television series on both Animal Planet and NatGeo WILD. He's dedicated to helping others understand and protect the natural world, especially by restoring wildlife habitat where people live‚ which is the subject of his bestselling garden how-to book‚ Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Backyard Wildlife.

Charlie Nardozzi

Presentation: "Garden Easier and More Ecologically Friendly with No-Dig Gardening"
Charlie Nardozzi is a Regional Emmy® award winning, nationally recognized garden writer, speaker, radio, and television personality. He has worked for more than 30 years bringing expert gardening information to home gardeners. He has written seven gardening books including The Complete Guide to No Dig Gardening, has three radio shows in New England, and a TV gardening segment in his home state of Vermont. Charlie speaks at flower shows, Master Gardener conferences, and Garden Clubs across North America, and also leads garden tours to Europe and England.

Arden Pontasch

Presentation: "Putting Our Best Forbs Forward: Building Habitat with Tried-and-True Perennials"
Arden Pontasch is the Plant Trials Manager at North Creek Nurseries, a wholesale propagation nursery with a strong emphasis on Eastern US native plants and their cultivars. Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of Toledo, OH, and has dedicated herself to the Green Industry (with experience in both private and public sectors) for almost 20 years. Above all, Arden is passionate about connecting people with nature, which has led her on a path of exploring plants and their role in shaping the world around us.

Catherine & Al Renzi

Presentation: "Is the Grass Always Greener? Life with Goats, Gardening, and Goat Cheese"
Catherine and Al Renzi operate Yellow Springs Farm Native Plants Nursery and Artisanal Goat Dairy in Chester County, PA. During 20 years of farming, goat husbandry, and cheesemaking, the Renzis created dozens of goat cheese varieties. The Yellow Springs Farm plant nursery features native species beneficial for water and land conservation, including building bird and pollinator habitat. The Renzis currently teach webinars and consult with cheesemakers, farmers, and food entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize value-added food products. Their farm memoir book Is the Grass Always Greener? was published by Salt Water Media in 2024.

Nicole Juday Rhoads and Rob Cardillo

Presentation: "Private Gardens of Philadelphia"
Nicole Juday Rhoads's career has encompassed her own garden design business, working as Landscape Curator at Wyck Historic Garden, and running the renowned Arboretum School at the Barnes Foundation. She then served as Director of Audience Engagement at PHS. She has gone on to publish the numerous articles, winning a silver medal for her writing by the Garden Writers Association. She serves as board chair for the IDEAL Industries Foundation.

Rob Cardillo's work is also seen in publications such as Gardens Illustrated, Garden Gate, Flower, and The New York Times. Along with his Blue Root Media Partners, Rob provides content for GROW Magazine, published quarterly by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Winner of numerous photography awards, Rob was inducted into the Garden Writers Association Hall of Fame in 2015. You can see more of his photography at robcardillo.com.

Barbara Schmidt

Presentation: "The Lure of Orchids"
Barbara Schmidt has been raising orchids for the last 20 years. She published a book on orchid care and teaches orchid classes throughout the country, including Longwood Gardens, the Smithsonian Associates, and the New York Botanical Gardens. Currently she is the Vice President of the American Orchid Society (AOS), the Chair of the AOS Education Committee, and Vice-Chair of Orchid Classes for the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show.

Ashlie Thomas

Presentation: "Tiny Seeds to Big Feasts: Growing Nutritious Gardens in Limited Spaces"
Ashlie is an author, gardener, and food security advocate known on social media @the.mocha.gardener. With a passion for growing her own food in her home garden, she is dedicated to inspiring others to learn how to grow food and helping bridge the gap between food security and chronic diseases in rural communities.

Carrie Wiles

Presentation: "Solution Driven Plants: Growing for Ecological Endurance"
Carrie Wiles is a horticultural consultant and communications professional. She was a Marketing Manager of North Creek Nurseries—renowned industry leader in native plant propagation. Carrie serves as President of the Board of Directors at the Delaware Center for Horticulture. She holds a degree in ornamental horticulture from Pennsylvania State University.

Teresa Woodard

Presentation: "Garden to the Max"
Teresa Woodard is the 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 and content creator for digital garden media. She has won Gold and Silver Media Awards from GardenComm. She advises America in Bloom communities across the country.

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