From the warm comfort of your screen.
While those of us in the profession rally to attend the annual symposium at this time on the calendar because it’s kinda’ ~ supposed to be a slower time of the year for us garden designers and horticulture pros.
We so look forward to Plant-O-Rama because we get to learn from some of the most outstanding experts, thought-leaders, and visionaries.
There is also the not-so-subtle joy that comes from being a part of this incredible plant community. The rarified bonhomie is like a breath of fresh air as in a normal world, we’d be gathering from all points, walking into Brooklyn Botanic Garden ~ delighted to witness the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden sporting its seasonal winter wardrobe glamour;
Farther along the path, we pause at the top of the steps to take in the majesty of the Magnolia garden - glistening with their winter jackets…
Then it would be up the grand staircase to register. Hugs, kisses. Coffee and tea and breakfast treats.
Lots of hearty hellos and getting down to business.
“Are you going to the morning lectures or the afternoon?”
Can’t wait to hear …
“I’ll meet you for lunch.”
See, one would choose to attend a morning or afternoon series of talks and the rest of the time to visit the vendors in the former glasshouse, now the Palm House and in the visitor’s center area where there are/were break-out sessions too.
While you will miss the walks in the gardens and all that one-on-one, look on the bright side. Bob Hyland, Plant O Rama’s founding father, will still preside.
PLANT-O-RAMA 2021
SPONSORED BY: METRO HORT GROUP
(From the information supplied by Metro Hort:)
PLANT-O-RAMA is Metro Hort’s annual, 1-day Symposium, Trade Show & Jobs Fair for Horticulture Professionals, Enthusiasts, and...
VIRTUAL PLANT-O-RAMA - due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 25th ANNIVERSARY event is online; anyone can attend from outside the NYC-tri-state region. Event times are Eastern Standard.
It is the largest program of the year attracting gardeners, designers, arborists, and educators working in public parks, botanical gardens, and private Edens in the New York City Tri-State region.
SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, January 26, 2021, for the first VIRTUAL PLANT-O-RAMA
$30 for EVERYONE: Metro Hort Group Members, NYC public gardens, NYC Parks & Recreation, Nonprofit horticultural groups and conservancies, etc.
NOTE: FREE ADMISSION for Full-Time Students in academic degree programs in horticulture, design, and environmental sciences.
Have a schedule conflict with Virtual Plant-O-Rama next Tuesday? You can still see most of it! Paid ticket holders can view recordings of all 6 speakers AND visit the 36 Trade Show booths after the event. (You won't get live interaction with the Exhibitors after Tuesday, but you can visit their informative booths for a long time after the event.)
VIRTUAL PLANT-O-RAMA 2021 Tickets, Tue, Jan 26, 2021 at 7:30 AM
Plant-O-Rama Schedule
Charles Yurgelevich, president, Metro Hort welcomes all and outlines the day’s events and speakers.
Adrian Benepe, 9:00am - 9:45am; Gardens and Parks in the Age of Climate Change & Pandemic: Challenges, Refuges, and Natural Solutions
Newly appointed President and CEO of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and former Commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation (2002-2012), Adrian Benepe welcomes the 25th anniversary PLANT-O-RAMA. Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been our on-site host and Plant-O-Rama partner all these years (even now virtually). The pandemic has underscored the intrinsic human value of and need for public gardens, parks, and lands, but also laid bare many social and cultural injustices. The challenges are many as we search for solutions and move forward.
Signe Nielsen, 9:45am -10:30am; Little Island: A Refuge in the Storm
Signe Nielsen offers a sneak peek at the emerging landscape at Little Island (formerly called Pier 55), a new public pier park arising in the Hudson River. The pier’s unusual form, topography, and landscape are deeply influenced by climate-positive initiatives including raising the pier well above future sea level and storm surge, minimizing shade on marine life/aquatic species, using locally sourced materials, fabricators and labor, planting appropriately for climate change and high value to pollinators and birds. The new public park will be a refuge for New Yorkers to get exercise, be mentally restorative, and accommodate physical distancing while socializing outdoors.
Jennifer Jewell, 10:30am -11:15am; The Earth in Her Hands: Growing a More Resilient Future
Jennifer Jewell is creator and host of the award-winning public radio gardening program and podcast CULTIVATING PLACE: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden. Based on her recent book The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, Jennifer talks to us about the profoundly positive impact women and their work have on the future of our world - aesthetically, environmentally, culturally, and economically - making them joyful, encouraging, and powerful role models, leaders, and inspirations for us all. Three of the women profiled in Jennifer’s book speak to us this year at Plant-O-Rama.
Leah Penniman, 1:00pm -1:45pm; Black Land Matters: Ending Racism & Injustice in our Food System & Gardens
Some of our most cherished sustainable farming practices - from organic agriculture to the farm cooperative and the CSA - have roots in African wisdom. Yet, discrimination and violence against African-American farmers has led to our decline from 14 percent of all growers in 1920 to less than 2 percent today, with a corresponding loss of over 14 million acres of land. Black communities suffer disproportionately from illnesses related to lack of access to fresh food and healthy natural ecosystems. Soul Fire Farm, cofounded by author, activist, and farmer Leah Penniman, is committed to ending racism and injustice in our food system.
Midori Shintani, 1:45pm - 2:15pm; Tokachi Millennium Forest: Gardening with Wild Nature
Tokachi Millennium Forest was originally established to offset carbon footprints by Tokachi News Paper Co. in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Later on, the idea developed to share and preserve the remarkable natural environment for future generations. Midori Shintani introduces the story of this unique modern garden movement in Japan and shares how she and her garden team take care of the native forests and the cultivated garden areas. She discusses how her gardening methods root in the accumulated wisdom of ancient Japanese belief.
Margaret Roach, 2:15pm - 3:00pm; New Ways to Garden: Changing Practices for Professionals & Home Gardeners
Trends in plants and planting design have changed. Margaret Roach, creator of awaytogarden.com, former editor-in-chief of Martha Stewart Living, and 2020 New York Times garden columnist, discusses the most dramatic and important shifts in “best practices” for managing landscapes, residential gardens, and urban spaces. How do we better educate and sell services to clients? Here are 10 lessons Margaret has gleaned from interviewing experts in the field, from timing our garden cleanups to taking another look at patented cultivars.
Adrian Benepe, 9:00am - 9:45am; Gardens and Parks in the Age of Climate Change & Pandemic: Challenges, Refuges, and Natural Solutions
Newly appointed President and CEO of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and former Commissioner of NYC Parks and Recreation (2002-2012), Adrian Benepe welcomes the 25th anniversary PLANT-O-RAMA. Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been our on-site host and Plant-O-Rama partner all these years (even now virtually). The pandemic has underscored the intrinsic human value of and need for public gardens, parks, and lands, but also laid bare many social and cultural injustices. The challenges are many as we search for solutions and move forward.
Signe Nielsen, 9:45am -10:30am; Little Island: A Refuge in the Storm
Signe Nielsen offers a sneak peek at the emerging landscape at Little Island (formerly called Pier 55), a new public pier park arising in the Hudson River. The pier’s unusual form, topography, and landscape are deeply influenced by climate-positive initiatives including raising the pier well above future sea level and storm surge, minimizing shade on marine life/aquatic species, using locally sourced materials, fabricators and labor, planting appropriately for climate change and high value to pollinators and birds. The new public park will be a refuge for New Yorkers to get exercise, be mentally restorative, and accommodate physical distancing while socializing outdoors.
Jennifer Jewell, 10:30am -11:15am; The Earth in Her Hands: Growing a More Resilient Future
Jennifer Jewell is creator and host of the award-winning public radio gardening program and podcast CULTIVATING PLACE: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden. Based on her recent book The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, Jennifer talks to us about the profoundly positive impact women and their work have on the future of our world - aesthetically, environmentally, culturally, and economically - making them joyful, encouraging, and powerful role models, leaders, and inspirations for us all. Three of the women profiled in Jennifer’s book speak to us this year at Plant-O-Rama.
Leah Penniman, 1:00pm -1:45pm; Black Land Matters: Ending Racism & Injustice in our Food System & Gardens
Some of our most cherished sustainable farming practices - from organic agriculture to the farm cooperative and the CSA - have roots in African wisdom. Yet, discrimination and violence against African-American farmers has led to our decline from 14 percent of all growers in 1920 to less than 2 percent today, with a corresponding loss of over 14 million acres of land. Black communities suffer disproportionately from illnesses related to lack of access to fresh food and healthy natural ecosystems. Soul Fire Farm, cofounded by author, activist, and farmer Leah Penniman, is committed to ending racism and injustice in our food system.
Midori Shintani, 1:45pm - 2:15pm; Tokachi Millennium Forest: Gardening with Wild Nature
Tokachi Millennium Forest was originally established to offset carbon footprints by Tokachi News Paper Co. in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Later on, the idea developed to share and preserve the remarkable natural environment for future generations. Midori Shintani introduces the story of this unique modern garden movement in Japan and shares how she and her garden team take care of the native forests and the cultivated garden areas. She discusses how her gardening methods root in the accumulated wisdom of ancient Japanese belief.
Margaret Roach, 2:15pm - 3:00pm; New Ways to Garden: Changing Practices for Professionals & Home Gardeners
Trends in plants and planting design have changed. Margaret Roach, creator of awaytogarden.com, former editor-in-chief of Martha Stewart Living, and 2020 New York Times garden columnist, discusses the most dramatic and important shifts in “best practices” for managing landscapes, residential gardens, and urban spaces. How do we better educate and sell services to clients? Here are 10 lessons Margaret has gleaned from interviewing experts in the field, from timing our garden cleanups to taking another look at patented cultivars.
(As a side note, I have to add, I love this woman! She's been so good to the plant community; so generous in terms of providing plant counsel and experiences. Thank you...)
PLANT-O-RAMA TRADE SHOW
Outstanding Exhibitors, each with a Virtual booth; 9am-3pm
Atlantic Nurseries, Inc. - distinctive plants & products for 50 years
Bartlett Tree Experts - comprehensive tree care & planting
Barton Nursery Enterprises Inc. - quality landscape plants and products
Bayard Cutting Arboretum - Long Island, NY, public garden
Beds & Borders, Inc. - out-of the-ordinary annuals & perennials
Blondie’s Treehouse Inc. - design/build, green walls, interior plants
BIPOC Hort - professional support, educational advocacy group
Cape Lily - floral Design & garden travel
Capital Garden Products Ltd. - fiberglass garden pots & water features
Cavano’s Perennials, Inc. - fine container-grown perennials, grasses, ferns
Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs - quality tulips, daffodils & specialty bulbs
Elevations Urban Landscape Design - artful fusion of horticulture & architecture
Garden and Structures Solutions, LLC - consulting for the green industry
Glover Perennials - specialty groundcovers & perennials
Hardscrabble Farms Inc. - trees & quality plants for landscapes
Issima - specialty nursery, under-cultivated, garden worthy plants
JC Ralston Arboretum - acclaimed landscape plant collections at NCSU
Janet Mavec Jewelry - exquisite jewelry inspired by nature
Kind Earth Growers - native perennials for ecological restoration
Madison Square Park Conservancy - urban park in NYC’s Flatiron and NoMad districts
Metro Hort Group – association of hort professionals in NYC tri-state region
New York Botanical Garden - premier 250-acre public garden in Bronx
New Growth Designs - exquisite lifelike flowers & greenery
New Moon Nursery - plugs & liners of North American native perennials/grasses
North Creek Nurseries - quality plugs & liners with focus on eastern U.S. natives
Organic Mechanics Soil Company - quality organic potting soil & amendments
PlantShed - premium flowers, indoor plants, botanical products
Pennoyer Newman - distinctive lightweight garden pots cast from estate originals
Rebecca Cole GROWS - garden, landscape, interior & floral design
Rooftop Drops - premier irrigation & landscape lighting for rooftops & balconies
Seibert & Rice - fine Italian terra cotta pots from Impruneta, Italy
The Trust for Governors Island - park, historic buildings, climate initiatives
Tintori Castings - custom structural & architectural planters
Town & Gardens Ltd - comprehensive garden design, build & maintenance
Wave Hill - Bronx public garden and cultural center on the Hudson River
Womanswork - garden and work gloves designed for women
“Zee” you at the Plant-O-Rama 2021 ~ the 25th Anniversary of this hallowed event celebrating all things botanical …
PLANT-O-RAMA TRADE SHOW
Outstanding Exhibitors, each with a Virtual booth; 9am-3pm
Atlantic Nurseries, Inc. - distinctive plants & products for 50 years
Bartlett Tree Experts - comprehensive tree care & planting
Barton Nursery Enterprises Inc. - quality landscape plants and products
Bayard Cutting Arboretum - Long Island, NY, public garden
Beds & Borders, Inc. - out-of the-ordinary annuals & perennials
Blondie’s Treehouse Inc. - design/build, green walls, interior plants
BIPOC Hort - professional support, educational advocacy group
Cape Lily - floral Design & garden travel
Capital Garden Products Ltd. - fiberglass garden pots & water features
Cavano’s Perennials, Inc. - fine container-grown perennials, grasses, ferns
Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs - quality tulips, daffodils & specialty bulbs
Elevations Urban Landscape Design - artful fusion of horticulture & architecture
Garden and Structures Solutions, LLC - consulting for the green industry
Glover Perennials - specialty groundcovers & perennials
Hardscrabble Farms Inc. - trees & quality plants for landscapes
Issima - specialty nursery, under-cultivated, garden worthy plants
JC Ralston Arboretum - acclaimed landscape plant collections at NCSU
Janet Mavec Jewelry - exquisite jewelry inspired by nature
Kind Earth Growers - native perennials for ecological restoration
Madison Square Park Conservancy - urban park in NYC’s Flatiron and NoMad districts
Metro Hort Group – association of hort professionals in NYC tri-state region
New York Botanical Garden - premier 250-acre public garden in Bronx
New Growth Designs - exquisite lifelike flowers & greenery
New Moon Nursery - plugs & liners of North American native perennials/grasses
North Creek Nurseries - quality plugs & liners with focus on eastern U.S. natives
Organic Mechanics Soil Company - quality organic potting soil & amendments
PlantShed - premium flowers, indoor plants, botanical products
Pennoyer Newman - distinctive lightweight garden pots cast from estate originals
Rebecca Cole GROWS - garden, landscape, interior & floral design
Rooftop Drops - premier irrigation & landscape lighting for rooftops & balconies
Seibert & Rice - fine Italian terra cotta pots from Impruneta, Italy
The Trust for Governors Island - park, historic buildings, climate initiatives
Tintori Castings - custom structural & architectural planters
Town & Gardens Ltd - comprehensive garden design, build & maintenance
Wave Hill - Bronx public garden and cultural center on the Hudson River
Womanswork - garden and work gloves designed for women
“Zee” you at the Plant-O-Rama 2021 ~ the 25th Anniversary of this hallowed event celebrating all things botanical …
