Discounted hotel rates are available at the Great Wolf Lodge!

The discounted rate for either July 24 or 25, 2024 is $107 plus tax per night and the hotel is only a 10-minute drive from the event location.

Click here to reserve your room or call 866-980-9653 and refer to group offer code 2407MNLA

Download complete agenda

8:30am

Tropical Fusion: Playing With Tropical and Subtropical Plants in Temperate Climates • Granite Room • Marianne Willburn, author/columnist/speaker • Many gardeners are hesitant to purchase tropical and subtropical plants, fearing the creation of gaudy Victorian bedding schemes and a houseful of winter refugees. Using four memorable categories from her award-winning book “Tropical Plants and How to Love Them,” Marianne will focus on how to incorporate some spectacular examples in containers and beds and help attendees discern which are the easiest to overwinter for the home gardener.

Creating a Team of Natural Garden Stewards • Maple Room • Kasey Eaves, Vivant Gardening Services • In naturalistic and native landscapes the expectations and demands on your team can feel limitless. Kasey will share what she’s learned hiring and guiding her team of natural garden stewards.

What’s New in Solution Central • Tented Area • Chris Kennedy, MCH, Kennedy’s Country Gardens and Jim Connolly, MCH, Weston Nurseries • Summer conference exhibitors have the tools, services and products to help you succeed! Explore what’s new, improved and exciting!

9:30am

Water Featured: The Addition and Importance of Water in the Landscape • Granite Room • Trevor Smith, Design and Education Manager, Weston Nurseries • Patio ponds, fountains, pondless waterfalls and ponds—there is a water feature for every landscape and budget. We don’t see more water in the landscape due to lack of understanding when it comes to application, installation and the important role water plays in our clients enjoyment as well as supporting habitat.

Soil Lab FAQs: Classics and Emerging Trends • Maple Room • Sam Corcoran, Ph.D., UMass Extension Soil and Plant Nutrient Testing Lab • Discuss both classic and newly emerging FAQs. Topics will include: assessing soil health, understanding different soil preparations (Mehlich versus Modified Morgan), understanding and managing over-fertilized soils, integrating cover crops, filling and testing raised beds, assessing the impact of Asian jumping worms and testing soil for lead.

10:00am

Battle of the Container Gardeners • Tented Area • Deborah Trickett, The Captured Garden • Ready, set, plant— the gloves are on! Join Deborah for the third annual competition and education! Contestants will be challenged to create a container garden using provided materials. Deborah will highlight container gardening trends and pick the brains of contestants during the competition.

11:00am

Some Like It HOT! Heat Loving Annuals and Perennials • Granite Room • David Fiske, Weston Nurseries • Learn about some incredible heat-loving annuals and perennials with Weston Nurseries’ David Fiske. He will walk us through the varieties that enjoy those Southwestern spaces in your gardens and will highlight plants that like it HOT and have outstanding gardening performance all season long.

Pruning Decision Process: the Why, When, and How With a Hands-on Demonstration • Tented Area • David Anderson, MCA, MCLP, CTSP, Mayer Tree Service • Pruning can be very subjective and there a few key factors that should be determined before you start. Learn to create a plan for each specific plant to yield the best results and minimize mistakes that may cause harm.

1:00pm

Choosing Native Plants for Non-Native Spaces • Granite Room • Kasey Eaves, Vivant Gardening Services • Clients are asking for native plants but the location for them is anything but natural. This is a common conundrum faced by nursery professionals, retail centers and landscape professionals and yet the questions of how remain mostly unanswered. We will explore the strategic use of native plant species in city containers, rooftops and parkways in this session tailored for those working on the front lines of landscaping. Bring your thinking caps and personal experiences as we solve this puzzle amongst fellow professionals.

Invasive Pests: Today & Tomorrow • Maple Room • Jennifer Forman Orth, Ph.D., Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) • Get the latest information about invasive plant pests impacting nurseries and landscaping companies Topics will include spotted lanternfly, elm zigzag sawfly and an update on the boxtree moth quarantine. Pesticide credits: 25, 26, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37 CORE (L) & Dealer

2:00pm

Tropical Accents for Inspiring Containers • Granite Room • Marianne Willburn, author/columnist/speaker • Learn tips and techniques specific to growing tropical plants in containers to get decks, patios, and balconies ready for a fabulous summer season!

Looking to Our Future Climate and Why Things Are Changing So Fast • Maple Room • Dave Epstein, meteorologist • Dave will look at the current climate situation and outline prediction models for our climate in the coming decades as well as reasons why things are changing. The session will also go into detail on how long-range climate models work. Participants should expect to leave with a better understanding of climate change and the impacts it can have on the landscaping industry.

Mail-in registration form

Pricing

MNLA members always get the best rate in addition to other member only benefits! Want to learn more? Click here to see which membership option is ideal for your business and join before registering for this event to SAVE $$$!

MNLA members

$75/person when registering on or before Sunday, June 30
$95/person when registering on or before Monday, July 22
$115/person after Monday, July 22

MCH non-members

$85/person when registering on or before Sunday, June 30
$105/person when registering on or before Monday, July 22
$125/person after Monday, July 22

Non-members

$95/person when registering on or before Sunday, June 30
$115/person when registering on or before Monday, July 22
$135/person after Monday, July 22

Full-time student/children (12 and under)

$25/person

Battle of the Container Garden Designers

$35/person
Please note, all competitors must also be registered for the summer conference.

Register on or before Monday, July 22, 2024 in order to participate!

Challenge flyer

You are invited to compete for a chance to be crowned “MNLA Container Garden Designer of the Year!”

Participation in the competition is only $35 per entry (one entry per person). Participants need to be registered for the full Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show program. Winners will be announced at the Down to Earth AFTER PARTY at 3:00pm.

People's Choice Award

1st prize: $250
2nd prize: $125
3rd prize: $75
4th prize: $35

ALL competitors will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win several donated prizes by our sponsors. Must be present to win!

Rules & Regulations

1. Pre-registration is required on or before July 22, 2024 at $35 per entry (one entry per person.
2. Qualifications: This competition is open to ALL who want the chance to be crowned MNLA’s Container Garden Designer of the Year. Registration to the MNLA Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show is a prerequisite to register for the container competition.
3. Assembly: Container gardens will be assembled on-site in one of the following time slots: 9:30am or 10:15am. Participants will have approximately 30 minutes to complete their design. Plant material will be provided.
4. The completed work must:
   1. Be set up within the container supplied;
   2. Must use the plants supplied;
   3. Must use the soil provided;
   4. Only include 1 plant/prop from private arsenal.
5. Judging will be held on July 25 (12:00–2:00pm) by event attendees for the People’s Choice Award. Winners will be announced at 3:00pm on-site at the Down to Earth AFTER PARTY (FREE to all registered attendees).
6. Photographs of all entries will be taken. By entering the competition, entrants give full permission for all photos by MNLA and its agents to be used in newsletters, social media, website, display, promotional and educational purposes.
7. The decision of the judges is final.

Pricing

$35/person
Please note, all competitors must also be registered for the summer conference.

Agresource, Inc.

All Energy Solar

Allied Equipment LLC

Ballard Trucks

Berry's Greenhouses Inc.

Bigelow Nurseries, Inc.

Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc.

Charter Oak Landscape & Nursery Sales

East Coast Nurseries, Inc.

Farm Credit East, ACA

Fourth Generation Nursery, Inc.

gardenUP

Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc.

Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC

H.F. Johnson Tree Farm

Ideal Concrete Block Co., Inc.

J.P. Bartlett's Wholesale Greenhouse

Mahoney's Garden Center

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources

Medford Nursery

Millican Nurseries LLC

MTE Equipment Solutions

Northeast Nursery, Inc.

NYP Corporation

OESCO, Inc.

Oldcastle Lawn & Garden

Pierson Nurseries, Inc.

Prides Corner Farms

The Rhode Island Nurseries, Inc.

Rimol Greenhouse Systems

Savage Farms, Inc.

Trellis Structures

Van Berkum Nursery

The Vermont Mulch Company

Weston Nurseries

New vendors will be added as they register.

Interested in showcasing your products and services? Click the Vendor Options block to learn more and scroll down to the bottom of this page to register online and reserve your booth space today!

Register on or before Sunday, June 30, 2024 and save $100 off your booth!

Mail-in registration form

MNLA members always get the best rate in addition to other member only benefits! Want to learn more? Click here to see which membership option is ideal for your business and join before registering for this event to SAVE $$$!

Vendor booth registrants will receive:

• Two full event registrations
• Choice of an 8' x 8' indoor or 10' x 10' outdoor booth (10' x 20' booths are an additional $150 and outdoor only)
• One 5' table with two chairs (all outdoor booths receive an 8' table with two chairs)

Click here for a downloadable pdf with additional exhibitor details. 

Pricing

MNLA members

$600 for a 8' x 8' indoor booth or a 10' x 10' outdoor booth (select indoor or outdoor when registering)

$750 for a 10' x 20' outdoor booth*

Non-members

$850 for a 8' x 8' indoor booth or a 10' x 10' outdoor booth (select indoor or outdoor when registering)

$1,000 for a 10' x 20' outdoor booth*

*All 10' x 20' booths are outdoor only. Great for trucks, trailers, mowers, and vendors looking for more space to exhibit. Vendors are encouraged to bring their own pop-up tents for outdoor exhibits.

Mail-in registration form

All sponsorships include recognition at the event, in email marketing and on the MNLA website.

Pricing

Container Garden Sponsorships

$2,000 sponsor of the Container Garden Competition includes the donation of plant material for the competition. This sponsorship level includes an indoor or outdoor booth space, two (2) registrations, and entitles you to be featured during every educational session, on MNLA.com and our social media platforms, email marketing for the event, and on signage during the event. Available sponsorships four (4); first come first serve.

$1,000 sponsor of the Container Garden Competition includes the donation of plant material or pots for the competition. This sponsorship level includes an indoor or outdoor booth space, two (2) registrations, and entitles you to be featured during the container garden competition, on MNLA.com and our social media platforms, email marketing for the event, and on signage during the event. Available sponsorships four (4); first come first serve.

The following two sponsorships are a great way to add extra value to your presence at the Summer Conference and/or highlight your business if you find that your schedule does not allow you to exhibit.

Educational Sponsor $500

This sponsorship level highlights your company in our educational sessions, on MNLA.com and our social media platforms, in email marketing for the event, and on signage during the event.

Lunch Sponsor $500

This sponsorship level will entitle you to be featured at the food area, on MNLA.com and on signage during the event.