Doug Tallamy is a professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored 90 research publications and has taught Insect Taxonomy, Behavioral Ecology, Humans and Nature, Insect Ecology, and other courses for 37 years. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. His book Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens was published by Timber Press in 2007 and was awarded the 2008 Silver Medal by the Garden Writers’ Association. The Living Landscape, co-authored with Rick Darke, was published in 2014. Doug is also a regular columnist for Garden Design, now e-published at gardendesign.com. Doug is a Lifetime Honorary Director of Wild Ones and has won the Garden Club of America Margaret Douglas Medal for Conservation, the Tom Dodd, Jr. Award of Excellence, and the 2018 American Horticultural Society B.Y. Morrison Communication Award.
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Rosa E. Raudales is an assistant professor and greenhouse extension specialist at the University of Connecticut. Rosa’s research program focuses on understanding how to use low-quality water for irrigation of greenhouse crops. The Raudales team conducts research on control of plant pathogens in closed-loop hydroponics, evaluating factors that affect clogging of irrigation systems, safe use of reclaimed-water, and water treatment options for control of pathogens, algae, biofilm and residual chemicals. Rosa’s research and outreach program address management of biological, chemical and physical parameters in water that affect the plant health and irrigation efficiency of greenhouse crops. Rosa’s ultimate mission is to reduce the water footprint of greenhouse-grown crops.
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The Smoky Mountains boast some of the healthiest ecosystems and greatest biodiversity in North America. Our Northeastern landscapes have quite a few of the same native plants, but far less healthy ecosystems. Kim Eierman, horticulturist and the founder of EcoBeneficial, will discuss how the beauty and the ecology of the Smoky Mountains can be modeled in your own landscape. Boost your own garden ecosystem with these gardening inspirations from the Smokies.
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The recent climate-change crisis has impelled Sharon Gensler to share her knowledge and skills with others. She is an organic grower, homesteader and educator. For almost 40 years, Sharon has grown and preserved the bulk of the vegetables and fruit that her family eats. She has employed healthy-soil building practices including no-till techniques and has successfully devised ways to incorporate small-scale cover cropping into a garden setting. New research has proven that these practices help lower our “carbon footprint” by sequestering atmospheric carbon into the soil while improving soil health and the nutritional quality of our food. On Thursday evening, March 21, Gensler will discuss how the use of cover crops and the practice of keeping soil covered can aide in keeping carbon in its place.
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Each toad you invite into your garden will eat its own weight in insect pests every evening. (Toads work the night shift; eating problem pests while you sleep.) Mike McGrath will show you how to get these priceless predators to prey on your problems. He’ll also explain how to attract beneficial and beautiful birds, bees and butterflies in this fast-paced workshop designed to help you bring Nature’s finest pollinators and pest-eaters to your property. Mike is host of the public radio show “You Bet Your Garden”, is Garden Editor for WTOP News Radio in Washington, D.C, Contributing Editor and columnist for GreenPrints magazine, was former Editor-in-Chief of ORGANIC GARDENING magazine and the author of books on tomatoes, compost and kitchen gardening.
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In her presentation, Sheri Forster will feature residential gardens throughout the year. Month-by-month photos will illustrate captivating seasonal combinations of trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, bulbs and vines. A Connecticut native, Sheri graduated in 2007 from NYBG with a certification in Garden Design. That same year she became the sole proprietor of The Scottish Gardener (TSG). TSG specializes in the custom design of residential gardens/landscapes that provide year round interest. Her designs have appeared in national and local magazines & newspapers. The Westport Historical Society has selected her clients’ properties three times to appear in their Annual Hidden Garden Tour.
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Join Tovah Martin as she takes us on a journey through the fall and winter garden unlike any you’ve been on before. This lecture explores the garden on all levels by attuning your nose to the scents and training your ears to listen. Learn to garden with eyes wide open, ears to the ground, and hands outstretched.
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As manager of the Countess von Zeppelin Nursery in Germany and Director of Horticulture at White Flower Farm, Robert Herman cultivated over 30 species and cultivars of the genus Geranium. He will share his knowledge and provide advice on selecting and raising some of the best plants for Connecticut gardens. In addition to being the evening’s presenter, Mr. Herman is also the winner of the 2018 Mehlquist Award.
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