Conference: Tomorrow’s Landscapes: More Birds, Butterflies, & Bees for YOUR Garden.

Sponsoring Organization: Piedmont-Blue Ridge Horticulture Society and Shenandoah University

“Each of these speakers is a national expert, and each is particularly good at presenting ideas that resonate with gardeners today,” said Genie Cate, president of the horticulture society. “We want to provide a comprehensive view of plants, tools, and approaches for developing pollinator- and bird-friendly landscapes appropriate to the mid-Atlantic growing conditions. ”

The conference speakers are:

• Doug Tallamy, popular speaker and author of Bringing Nature Home;
   
• Janet Scott Davis, owner of native perennials nursery, Hill House Nursery, in Rappahanock and designer of sustainable landscapes in Virginia;
   
• Vincent Simeone, director of Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island and expert on shrubs and trees that thrive in the mid-Atlantic;
   
• Jeff Lowenfels, author of Teaming with Microbes, about the abundant and largely unknown life in the soil, and a very entertaining speaker;
   
• Jim McCormack is a passionate wildlife expert from Ohio and author of Wild Ohio;
   
• Stephen Orr, author of Tomorrow’s Garden, about how gardeners across the country are looking at landscape in new ways. He is also very busy in his current position as garden editor of Martha Stewart Living.

“We are delighted to be working with Shenandoah University’s famous ecologist, Dr. Woody Bousqet, on this project,” said Cate. “Cosponsors have also been so important, from Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and the local Audubon chapters to Piedmont Environmental Council and the native plant societies from Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Everybody has pitched in to support this conference and we are thrilled!”

REGISTRATION: All registration is in advance of the conference. There will be no registration on that day. Cost for the conference is $99 and includes lunch and drinks. www.tomorrowslandscapes.org

CONTACT: Genie Cate at info@pbrhs.org.