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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

1:00pm

Nature's Best Hope with Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., University of Delaware Professor of Agriculture in the Dept. of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
Recent headlines about global insect declines and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. To create landscapes that enhance local ecosystems rather than degrade them, we must 1) remove the invasives on our property and 2) add the native plant communities that sustain food webs, sequester carbon, maintain diverse native bee communities, and manage our watersheds. If we do this in half of the area now in lawn, we can create Homegrown National Park, a network of viable habitats throughout the U.S. that will provide vital corridors connecting the few natural areas that remain. This approach to conservation empowers everyone to play a significant role in the future of the natural world. It is also enormously restorative for those who take action. 1 pesticide credit for: 25, 26, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37 CORE (L) & Dealer • Location: Grand North

Pesticide Laws & Regulations with Taryn LaScola, Director of Crop and Pest Services for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
This session will cover new things that have come up in the Pesticide Program, trends the program is seeing while weaving in the laws and regulations that are applicable to the issues. 1 pesticide credit for: any, CORE (L) & Dealer • Location: Ashland

2:00pm

Beyond the Booth Presentation—Redesigning the Plastic Plant Container Dilemma with Marie Chieppo, author
Meet Marie Chieppo, author of the “Plastic Pots and the Green Industry: Production, Disposal & Environmental Impacts” report for the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. Marie is working with container manufacturers, growers and the recycling industry to find answers to this overwhelming issue. Sponsored by Sustainableplantpots.org. • Location: Commons 1

2:30pm

Droughts? Water Bans? Water Conservation? Really? with Brutus Cantoreggi, Director of the Department of Public Works in Franklin, Massachusetts
Learn about regulations in the Commonwealth in place for water conservation. Join us as we look into the madness behind the confusing town and state water restrictions. More importantly, learn how you can be successful and conform to these regulations, save money, potentially have more profit and look like an “Environmental Hero” to your customers. Location: Worcester

Climate Change in New England with Elizabeth Burakowski, Ph.D., Institute for the Study of Earth Oceans and Space
Climate in the northeastern United States has shifted remarkably over the past few decades, with notable impacts on ecosystems and society. Trends include warmer and shorter winters, fewer days with continuous snow cover, changes in leaf out dates and chilling periods, and dramatic swings in precipitation and drought. How will the climate choices we make today affect native plants in the future? This talk will provide an overview of climate trends past and future, based on historical observations and future climate model projections. Location: Grand North

3:00pm

Beyond the Booth Presentation—DOT: Do you need to comply? with Sergeant Jon Bates, former state police officer
In this session, Sergeant Bates will explain how to be prepared for a DOT roadside inspection and answer any of your compliance questions. We’ll also discuss how your SAFER score can impact your insurance costs. Sponsored by Webber & Grinnell Insurance Group. • Location: Commons 1

3:30pm

You Are the Pro! with Cheryl Goar Koury, CAE, True Colors Certified Facilitator
You are the pro is an opportunity to learn from the experts within our industry. YOU! Our round table discussions will range from labor, human resources, water bans, certifications, cdl training, native plants, plant shortages, quarantines, new introductions, plus… everything is on the table! You are the expert in your own business. Be dynamic and authentic as we join our round table of professionals to dig deeper into our successes and failures as we explore new ideas and opportunities in 2024 & beyond! Location: Grand Central

Thursday, February 15, 2024

8:00am

MNLA Annual Meeting Breakfast & Homegrown National Park: Building Networks for Life Keynote Presentation with Doug Tallamy, Ph.D., University of Delaware Professor of Agriculture in the Dept. of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
Our parks, preserves, and remaining wildlands—no matter how grand in scale—are too small and separated from one another to sustain the native trees, plants, insects, and animals on which our ecosystems depend. We can fix this problem by practicing conservation outside of wildlands, where we live, work, shop, and farm. Thus, the concept for Homegrown National Park: a national challenge to create diverse ecosystems in our yards, communities, and surrounding lands by reducing lawn, planting natives, and removing invasives. The initial goal of HNP is to create a national movement to restore 20 million acres with natives, an area representing 1/2 of what is now in lawn. We are at a critical point where we are losing so many native plant and animal species that our natural life support is in jeopardy. However, if many people make small changes, we can restore healthy ecological networks and weather the changes ahead. Location: Grand North & Grand Central

10:00am

Beyond the Booth Presentation with Jen Kettell, Radiant Leaf Consulting
A special showcase of training courses for landscape and fine gardening companies that include hybrid modules on beginner through advanced pruning and other horticultural topics. In Jen’s Beyond the Booth session, she’ll help you crack the code about hydrangea pruning! Location: Commons 1

10:30am

Box Tree Moth: A New Pest Impacting Boxwood Shrubs with Jennifer Forman Orth, Ph.D., Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
This past summer, a new pest was found in Massachusetts: the box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis). This invasive species almost exclusively feeds on boxwoods, and can destroy entire hedges if left untreated. Learn how to recognize all the life stages of this pest, see the damage it can do to boxwoods, and hear the latest about federal and state regulations that could impact your business. 1 pesticide credit for: 25, 26, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37 CORE (L) & Dealer • Location: Ashland

Now & Then: Designing in 2024 for the Future with Trevor Smith, Design and Education Manager at Weston Nurseries
Trevor Smith will take you past the scary numbers and the heartbreaking photographs and break out what sorts of things you can actually do about climate change in your landscape practice and design. He will discuss the plant-soil connection, the importance of biodiversity and overall how native plants help the climate via hydrology, habitat, and restoring carbon cycling. The choices we make today have a great impact on tomorrow. Choose wisely. Location: Worcester

11:00am

Beyond the Booth Presentation—Battery/New vs. Gas/Traditional Comparison with Milwaukee Tool
Join Milwaukee Tool as they highlight the performance, productivity, health and environmental benefits of implementing battery power tools over traditional gas products. Location: Commons 1

12:30pm

The Effect of Climate Change on Disease in our Managed Landscapes with Nicholas Brazee, Ph.D., Extension Plant Pathologist at the University of Massachusetts
We expect climate change to make growing conditions more stressful for many trees and shrubs in our managed landscapes. So how do we adapt to ensure our plants can better resist disease in the future? This talk will focus on how a changing climate can create abiotic stress for woody plants, how common and destructive pathogens benefit from that stress, and how we may intervene. 1 pesticide credit for: 25, 26, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37 CORE (L) & Dealer • Location: Ashland

Gardening in a Changing Climate with Mark Richardson, Director of Horticulture for New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
New Englanders are proudly resilient. While gardeners can’t solve the climate crisis, we can make our gardens more sustainable and better prepared for what lies ahead. We can choose native plants that are better adapted to the region’s weather extremes. We can favor biological diversity when selecting plants so that we’re not dependent on the survival of a limited plant palette. We can incorporate rain gardens and other design features in our landscapes to slow stormwater and limit flooding. And we can make climate-friendly choices to reduce our environmental impact, like reducing our lawns and transitioning to battery-powered landscape equipment. Location: Worcester

1:30pm

Beyond the Booth Presentation—Massachusetts Plant Palette with Rachael Belisle-Toler, Town of Ipswich Water Resources Manager
Join Rachael as she provides an overview of a new collaboration between the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, Ipswich Utilities Department and MNLA. The goal of the project is to provide Massachusetts residents with a pathway to engage more meaningfully with ecological landscaping through a web guide focused on native and drought-tolerant plants that prioritizes accessibility and simplicity. Location: Commons 1

2:00pm

A Passion for Conifers with Christie Dustman, APLD, MCH, MCLP
Conifers are the quintessentially misunderstood plant in the garden. Rather than being the blobs of the past, let’s take an in-depth look at what interesting cultivars of conifers can offer to modern gardens. Much more unique, versatile and arresting than you might think—come get jazzed about conifers! In addition to their shapely forms, they offer drought tolerance in our new climate. Christie Dustman is a long time member and the Northeast Vice President of the American Conifer Society so her love and passion for conifers might be catchy. Location: Ashland

Native Plants & Gardens for Climate Change with UIi Lorimer, Director of Horticulture for Native Plant Trust
The rapidly changing climate will deeply affect our gardens and the broader landscapes beyond. What impact will these changes have on native plants and how does knowledge of these challenges inform our decisions as garden makers and growers? This talk will explore what is happening currently as well as present a vision for a future that seeks to preserve the natural and cultural heritage of the Northeast. Location: Worcester

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Register on or before Friday, February 2, 2024 and save $25 per registration!

One day pass for February 14, 2024
Education begins at 1:00 pm and ends at 6:00 pm. Your registration includes the networking social beginning at 4:30 in our vendor showcase.

One day pass for February 15, 2024
Education begins at 8:00 am and ends at 3:00 pm. Included with this ticket is the annual meeting breakfast at 8:00 am followed by our keynote address at 9:00 am.

Two day all access for February 14–15, 2024
See above for details.

Pricing

All access two-day program

MNLA member $235 ($260 after 2/2/24)
MCH non-member $245 ($270 after 2/2/24)
Non-member $275 ($300 after 2/2/24)

Single day program

MNLA member $145 ($170 after 2/2/24)
MCH non-member $165 ($190 after 2/2/24)
Non-member $195 ($220 after 2/2/24)

Agresource, Inc.

Amherst Nurseries

Berrys Greenhouses, Inc.

Bigelow Nurseries

Blue Stream Aquaculture/Fish Brew

Casella

East Coast Nurseries

Farm Credit East, ACA

Fourth Generation Nursery

Ipswich Utilities Department

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation

Medford Nursery

Millican Nurseries, LLC

Milwaukee Tool
Hands-on education with Milwaukee Tool available! Date and time to be determined.

New England Nurseries, Inc.

Northern Nurseries

OESCO, Inc.

Pierson Nurseries, Inc.

Prides Corner Farms, Inc.

Radiant Leaf Consulting
Hands-on education with Radiant Leaf Consulting available on February 15 at 10:00am!

Sonco Worldwide

Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass Amherst

Sylvan Nursery, Inc.

Van Berkum Nursery

The Vermont Mulch Company

Webber & Grinnell Insurance—an Alera Group Company
Hands-on education with Webber & Grinnell Insurance available! Date and time to be determined.

Weston Nurseries

New vendors will be added as they register.

Interested in showcasing your products and services? Click the Vendor Options block below to learn more and see the Register Online block to reserve your booth space today!

We are at capacity for vendor booths!

Would you like to be notified when vendor registration opens for the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show or the 2025 Winter Forum? Click here and submit our vendor interest form to be added to our vendor contact list!

All vendor booth registrants will receive:

• One registration for the entire two-day program
• Table top exhibit space (approximately 8' x 5')
• A callout on the MNLA Facebook page—noting a special event, special product or service your company offers.
• Access to current & potential customers with face-to-face opportunities at the in-person vendor marketplace.

Member-only Option: Beyond the Booth

In addition to everything included with a vendor booth, this option includes the chance to showcase services and products in a hands-on education area! Each participating member will have a 30-minute time slot when attendees are not participating in scheduled education sessions to make the most out of this opportunity. Register today as this vendor registration option is limited to four time slots!

Pricing

MNLA Member: $500 for standard booth

Non-member: $700 for standard booth

MNLA Member Only—Beyond the Booth: $750 (includes standard booth and 30-minute educational demo)

Click here to download a mail-in registration form. 

All sponsorships will include signage & recognition at the event. Sponsors will also be highlighted on MNLA's website and social media platforms.

Pricing

Keynote Sponsor of Doug Tallamy $2,500
Includes a vendor booth and three (3) full, two-day Winter Forum event registrations.

Annual Meeting Sponsor $1,000
Includes two (2) full, two-day Winter Forum event registrations.

Odyssey Leadership Program Lunch Sponsor $500
Includes two (2) Odyssey of Leaders event registrations.

Networking Social Sponsor $500
Includes one (1) single day Winter Forum event registration for Wednesday, February 14.

Youth Initiative Sponsor $100 & $500 (see below for details)

Sponsor lunch for a high school student on February 15, 2024!

A $100 donation will help support two lunches for high school students.

A $500 donation will include two luncheon tickets for you to join students in our program as well as support eight students for lunch.

Your generosity will help support the MNLA Youth Initiative at the Winter Forum. More than 150 students will join us for education & lunch on February 15 and your donation will allow us to continue this complimentary mentor opportunity for area high schools dedicated to the green industry.

Click here for a pdf of the floor plan to decide which booth space you prefer when registering below.

Our host location is offering all event attendees a special rate when a room is booked by Friday, January 19, 2024.

Click here to reserve your room today!

We are at capacity for vendor booths!

Would you like to be notified when vendor registration opens for the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show or the 2025 Winter Forum? Click here and submit our vendor interest form to be added to our vendor contact list!

Walk-ins are welcome but purchase your tickets online today and skip the lines!

Please note: All registrations are transferable within a company; they are however non-refundable.