5th Annual Prince William County Native Plant Symposium

Whether you are new to native plants and what they can do for your property or looking for alternative landscaping ideas, this event is for you! Native plants can:

• Create a beautiful yard
• Save time so that you can enjoy other activities
• Create habitat for birds & pollinators
• Save money on fertilizer & pesticides
• Improve water quality
• Curb Erosion

Cost

Note: This is a hybrid event. Participants can either choose to join in person or online.
*In-person tickets: $30
Online access: $15
To register for the event, click “Get Tickets” above.
*include light breakfast fare, lunch, and access to vendors for all in-person participants

Location

The venue is the Verizon Auditorium at George Mason University in Manassas, VA, 20109. Please see the maps below and find the circled area.

Parking is available in the Occoquan Parking Lot.

In-person tickets include light breakfast fare, lunch, and access to vendors.

Online-only tickets give you access to the Zoom meeting link. Please note that online registrants may only attend online.

Snow date: Feb. 18th, 2023

Refunds

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds.

Check-In

In-person registration will be 9:00 am-9:45 am (EST).

Zoom information will be emailed to all online-only ticket holders two days before and the day of the event. The Zoom meeting will open at 9:00 am.

Recordings

All of the presentations will be recorded and available to all participants. Participants will be emailed a link to view these presentations following the event.

Keynote Speaker

Nancy Lawson – The Humane Gardener

“A World of Discovery: How Science and Heart Can Make You a More Ecological Gardener”

Our outdoor surroundings are vibrant realms where many languages are spoken, sometimes in sensory alphabets we humans have hardly begun to decipher. They’re swirling with hidden messages: ephemeral molecules spelling out invitations or delivering cries for help. Ultrasound clicks we can’t hear, and ultraviolet colors we can’t see. Calls of alarm, distress, defense, and companionship that reach our ears would require a translator to decode. Although these communications among plants and animals are often invisible, they’re not entirely unknowable. By using our powers of observation—and consulting the many scientific resources available—we can learn much more than we ever thought possible about the inner lives of our wild neighbors, large and small. We need to turn down the volume, dim the lights, put away the power tools, and start seeing, hearing, and feeling the world from the perspectives of other beings who live here too. Only then will our gardens and community spaces become not just our own but the gathering places of countless sovereign nations and refugees for the increasingly displaced flora and fauna in need of new homelands.

Schedule (EST)

9:00am-9:45am – Registration

9:45am-10:00am – Welcome

10:00 am-10:15 am – Video from Catherine Zimmerman: “Hometown Habitat, The Basics”

10:15 am-11:15 am – Keynote Speak, Nancy Lawson

11:30 am-12:30 pm – Breakout Session 1

12:30 pm-1:45 pm – Lunch

1:45 pm-2:45 pm – Breakout Session 2

3:00 pm-4:00 pm – Breakout Session 3

Please choose one presentation to attend at each session:

Breakout Session 1 (11:30 am-12:30 pm):

A) Meadows

Add color and beauty to your yard while supporting local wildlife by starting a native wildflower meadow. Learn how to plan, plant, and maintain a native plant meadow.

Nancy Berlin, Natural Resource Specialist, VA Cooperative Extension- Prince William

B) Herbaceous Perennials for the Suburban Yard

Nancy covers a selection of perennial native plants and discusses finding the right plant for the right place as you convert your yard into a native landscape. This presentation can be helpful for beginners and beyond.

Nancy Vehrs, President of the Virginia Native Plant Society and the Prince William Wildflower Society

C) Companion Planting: Eye-catching and Ecological Combinations

Discover which plants are eye-catching and eco-friendly in combination. Native plants come in various sizes, colors, shapes, and textures and bloom at specific times. We’ll discuss which plants to pick that grow well together and create a look and feel that connects you with your habitat without upsetting your neighbors.

Stephanie Johnson, Green Steeze Landscaping

D) Recreating Forests in Your Yard

Our native forests are the foundational habitat of our region. Yet as our communities have been built, our forests have been removed. Discover how you can restore forest habitat in your yard, no matter how much or how little land you have to work with.

Julie Flanagan, Arborist, PWC Watershed Management Branch

E) Common Invasive Species Management

This presentation will cover common invasive plant species and how to manage them.

Gloria Medina, Ecologist with the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Volunteer Coordinator for the Invasive Management Area (IMA) Program

F) Landscape Design Pt. 1

**This is a 3 part breakout session; you must sign up for all 3 sessions**

Session I – Principles of Landscape Design begins with an overview of landscape design elements and a review of the many aspects that must be considered when deciding what you want your landscape to do for you.

Session II – Practices of Landscape Design will showcase essential tips and tricks for achieving a desired look and discuss how and why these work.

Session III – Designing Your Landscape – You will learn the steps of creating a design using your site analysis, from creating the conceptual plan to the planting plan.

Each session builds upon the session before it, and attendees must register for all three sessions. Some pre-class preparation is necessary.* Pre-class preparation will include:

• Photos of a small area (not to exceed 16 ft. x 20 ft.) of your yard you want to convert to natives
• A single sheet, “to-scale” drawing of the area with which you wish assistance.

*Following registration, you will receive directions on uploading your photos and plan view to Google Docs of the class.

Kirsten Conrad, Agriculture Natural Resources Extension Agent for Arlington County and the City of Alexandria

Breakout Session 2 (1:45 pm-2:45 pm):

A) Rain Gardens and Native Plants

Learn the basics of Rain Gardens! Is a rain garden suitable for your property? Where should it be located? What plants should you choose? All of these questions, and more, will be answered! Also, learn about a financial assistance program available to help with the costs of installing a rain garden!

Nicole Slazinski, Conservation Specialist, Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District, and Tom Attanaro, Master Gardener/Master Naturalist

B) Backyard Gardeners and Climate Chaos

Backyard gardeners and small farmers are the stewards of our planet’s precious soil. Maintaining healthy soil, planting trees, and growing vegetables is not only an act of self-reliance and determination – but it is addressing a solution to our evolving climate disaster.

Janene Cullen, Ph.D., Virginia Cooperative Extension Prince William Master Gardener, Audubon Ambassador

C) Waterfront Properties and Native Plants

Learn about using native plants to protect and improve local water quality while preventing erosion on your streamside property.

Clay Morris, Natural Resources Section Chief, PWC Watershed Management Branch

D) Can Insect and Mite Pests be Managed Organically in Landscapes?

In light of concerns about risks to beneficial insects, including pollinators and natural enemies, jurisdictions around the country are placing new restrictions on several insecticides commonly used by the green industries. Questions have arisen regarding alternative approaches to managing essential insect and mite pests. This presentation will discuss what “organic” means and review biologically based alternatives to driving insects and mites in landscapes and gardens. By protecting and conserving beneficial insects, we strive to increase the sustainability of managed landscapes.

Michael J. Raupp, Emeritus Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland

E) Garden Maintenance

This class will cover using plant survival strategies, associations, and tools to enable smarter, maintenance planning.

Nancy Berlin, Natural Resource Specialist, VA Cooperative Extension- Prince William

F) Landscape Design Pt. 2

**This is a 3 part breakout session; you must sign up for all 3 sessions**

Breakout Session 3 (3:00 pm-4:00 pm):

A) Native Shrub Selections

Learn about several of the beautiful native shrubs for our region that can enhance your property with diversity and create a habitat for birds. Learn also what not to pick and how your native selections may have a positive influence beyond your yard.

Julie Flanagan, Arborist, PWC Watershed Management Branch

B) Native Edibles and Medicinal Plants

This region has a long history of using native plants for food and medicine, but over the last few decades, that knowledge has been lost. Discover techniques to transform a portion of your property into an ecosystem capable of supporting native plant species that can provide both sustenance and healthful benefits.

Clay Morris, Natural Resources Section Chief, PWC Watershed Management Branch

C) Building Healthy Soils

Understanding the composition of healthy soils, how they are often altered by the construction of homes, etc. and how you can improve soil health is key to a vibrant landscape.

Dan Schwartz, Soils Scientist, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District

D) Virginia’s Native Bees: What’s the Buzz?

Pollinators and other native insects need a diverse array of native plants to survive and thrive. Learn who’s who in Virginia’s bee community, the basics of providing pollinator habitat, and how to support some of Virginia’s most minor residents broadly.

Celia Vuocolo, Working Lands for Wildlife Pollinator Coordinator-East and Quail Forever/USDA-NRCS

E) Plant This, Not That: Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Many of us understand the problems of invasive plants and want to replace them with more sustainable options. Join Smithsonian Gardens’ Horticulturist, Sylvia Schmeichel, to learn more about the many great native plant alternatives. She will share top replacement recommendations and helpful resources to transform your garden and community into a beautiful, healthier ecosystem.

Sylvia Schmeichel, Horticulturalist, Smithsonian Gardens

F) Landscape Design Pt. 3

**This is a 3 part breakout session; you must sign up for all 3 sessions**

Please remember to keep your tickets handy in the Eventbrite app or email. You will need them at check-in.

Vendors

GMU Office of Sustainability

Plant NoVA Natives

Prince William Wildflower Society/Va Native Plant Society

Prince William Conservation Alliance

Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District

Virginia Cooperative Extension

Virginia Bluebird Society

Keep PW Beautiful

Blue Ridge Prism

Nancy Lawson

Virginia Master Naturalists (Merrimac Farm)

Department of Forestry

VA Department of Wildlife Resources