Turning A New Leaf Archives

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC) held its 11th Turning a New Leaf Sustainable Landscaping Conference in 2025, bringing together landscape professionals, environmental practitioners, educators, and advocates from across the region. Held biennially, the conference continues CCLC’s mission to break down silos in the landscape world and foster collaboration in support of healthier communities, ecosystems, and a more resilient Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The conference program featured a full day of thought-provoking and practice-driven sessions focused on forests, fields, waterways, and communities. The day opened with a keynote by forester and author Ethan Tapper, who challenged attendees to rethink what it means to care for ecosystems in a changing world, emphasizing active stewardship as an act of compassion and responsibility. Sessions throughout the day explored grassland bird conservation on working lands, collaborative riparian buffer restoration in the James River watershed, and performance-based plant selection for green infrastructure. Additional presentations and panel discussions addressed invasive species management, long-term stormwater maintenance, the future of horticulture careers, emerging trends in green stormwater infrastructure, and strategies for balancing tree preservation with development needs. The conference concluded with an interactive closing plenary focused on grounding practices and resilience, offering attendees tools to stay connected, centered, and effective in uncertain times.

December 2, 2025

Pre-Conference Dinner

The conference kicked off with a welcome dinner at the Boathouse at Rocketts Landing, featuring guest speaker Giles Garrison, who shared insights on managing Richmond’s 600-acre riverfront. Over the following days, attendees participated in concurrent sessions across multiple tracks, exploring topics ranging from resilient landscapes and green infrastructure to native plants, soil health, and community-centered conservation practices.

CCLC was proud to present the 2025 Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award to Lauren Wheeler, recognizing her outstanding contributions to conservation landscaping and her commitment to advancing sustainable, ecologically grounded land management practices. The award honors individuals whose work exemplifies leadership, innovation, and dedication to the principles of conservation landscaping.

December 3, 2025

Keynote Speaker: Keynote Ethan Tapper

Forester, Author, and founder of Bear Island Forestry and Bear Island Consulting.

In this talk, Ethan Tapper, a forester, bestselling author and digital storyteller from Vermont, will draw from his work as a forester and his book How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World to discuss what it means to care for forests and other ecosystems at this moment in time. How do we respond to the harmful legacies of the past? How do we use our species’ incredible power to heal rather than to harm? How do we reach toward a better future? In a time in which many believe that “protecting” ecosystems means protecting them from ourselves, Ethan argues that humans must take action to help ecosystems heal and to move into a more abundant future, and that to do so is an act of care and compassion – of love.

Ethan’s message is at once compassionate and pragmatic, clear-eyed and hopeful, sobering and inspiring – a powerful new vision for how we can build a world that works for all of its ecosystems and all of its people.

Session 1:

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

October Greenfield, The Piedmont Environmental Council, Wildlife Habitat Program Manager
Native grasslands and their associated avifauna have experienced dramatic declines over the past century, and remaining grassland birds have adapted to using hayfields and pasturelands as surrogate habitat. Recognizing the unique position that agricultural lands have to protect these vulnerable birds, the Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative—a partnership between Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes, The Piedmont Environmental Council, American Farmland Trust, and Quail Forever—was developed to provide landowners and producers the knowledge and tools needed to manage their landscapes in ways that are mutually beneficial for both their needs and grassland bird conservation.

James River Riparian Consortium Model

Amber Ellis, James River Association, Restoration Director and Christine Gyovai, Dialogue + Design Associates, Principal
Amber Ellis and Christine Gyovai will share how the James River Riparian Consortium brings together more than 500 partners to restore and sustain riparian forested buffers across the Upper and Middle James watersheds. With a mission to raise awareness, build workforce capacity, and expand buffer implementation through collaboration, the Consortium models how collective action can strengthen stewardship, improve water quality, and create healthier streamside ecosystems.

Performance-Based Plant Selection

Ann English, FASLA, Happy Hollow Farm, PA, Landscape Architect/Owner and Jim Cooper, Biohabitats, Principal
Ann English and Jim Cooper will share findings from a recent Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange Challenge Grant project focused on improving bioretention plant selection for performance. The research identifies key knowledge gaps and lays the groundwork for a regionally adapted tool to help designers choose plants that not only meet design goals but also thrive over time in bioretention systems.

Session 2:

Invasive Species Management: Planting for the Next 125 Years

Fran Chismar, Pinelands Nursery, Sultan of Sales
Planting design brings the opportunity to create beautiful, inspiring spaces, but also the responsibility to consider the impact of plant selection on long-term maintenance, climate change, and ecosystem health. This session highlights strategies available to professionals facing issues of climate adaptation, shifting cultural values, and complex species interactions.

Stormwater Maintenance Hacks

Pannel Discussion with guests: Vincent Bowhers Lynnhaven River NOW, Restoration Coordinator, Nicola McGoff, Wild Ginger Field Services, Director and Nick Myers, LandStudies, Maintenance Supervisor with Moderator: Tom Schueler
This panel offers practical strategies for maintaining and improving stormwater practices and restored landscapes. Nicola McGoff (Wild Ginger Field Services) will discuss replanting established BMPs with native plants and streamlining ongoing maintenance. Vince Bowers (Lynnhaven River NOW) will share how volunteers and interns can support small nonprofits in maintenance and monitoring efforts. Nick Myers, with nearly 20 years of experience as a Maintenance Supervisor, will highlight best practices for ensuring long-term success of green infrastructure and environmental restoration projects.

The Future of Horticulture

Jazmin Albarran, Seed Your Future, Executive Director
Integration of career conversations with students. The horticulture industry is full of exciting and diverse career paths – but many students and educators aren’t aware of the opportunities that plants provide. Seed Your Future is closing that gap by creating innovative tools, programs, and partnerships that inspire curiosity and connect students to meaningful green careers. From interactive resources to immersive teacher training, we’re cultivating a pipeline of future leaders who will shape a greener, healthier world.

Session 3:

The Future of Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Pannel Discussion with guests: Ann English, Happy Hollow Farm, PA , Landscape Architect/Owner, James Hunter, Morgan State University, Interim Chair and Associate Professor and David Wood. Chesapeake Stormwater Network, Executive Director with Moderator: David Hirschman
This panel explores emerging tools, research, and strategies shaping the next generation of green stormwater infrastructure. David Wood will highlight innovative tools that support a more resilient stormwater future, while Dr. James Hunter of Morgan State University brings insights from engineering and academic perspectives. Ann English will share lessons from her 17 years leading Montgomery County’s RainScapes program, including approaches to green stormwater retrofits, native plant integration, and education initiatives that support habitat restoration, watershed health, and MS4 compliance. Together, the speakers will discuss how training, technology, and community engagement can advance more effective and resilient green infrastructure practices.

Trees: Conflict, Communication, Compromise

Pannel Discussion with guests: Billy Almond
WPL Site Design, Principal Landscape Architect and Oscar Richardson, Colonial Tree Care,President with Moderator: Laurie Fox
This session explores a 35-year professional relationship between an ISA Certified Arborist and a Landscape Architect, highlighting the challenges, communication, and collaboration required to preserve trees through design and construction. Billy Almond and Oscar Richardson will share lessons learned, strategies for navigating conflict, and insights into how shared commitment can lead to long-term success in protecting trees in built environments.

Going Deeper: Green Infrastructure Education

Pannel Discussion with guests: Terryl Acker-Carter, Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy, Community Engagement Manager, Jordan Gochenaur, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Green Infrastructure Projects Manager and Kristen Parsons, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Green Infrastructure Projects Coordinator with Moderator: Jamie Alberti
This panel explores innovative approaches to green infrastructure education and workforce development across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Speakers will highlight three programs: the Anacostia Maintenance Program, which supports residents in caring for stormwater practices; the DC Public Green Infrastructure Maintenance Grant, which pairs workforce training with maintaining public installations; and the Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy, which empowers community leaders to design and install pollution-reducing projects. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how education and engagement build lasting capacity for cleaner, healthier watersheds.

Plenary: Rooted and Resilient: Practices for Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times

Amber Ellis ,Find Your Nature

In times of uncertainty and overwhelm, practices that connect us with our center allow us to stay rooted and more effective in our work. In this interactive session you’ll learn grounding practices that integrate nature, art, and mindfulness.

December 4, 2023

Post conference Field Day

VCU’s Rice Rivers Center Field Tour

Participants got out of the city and down to the James River with a visit to the Rice Rivers Center, Virginia Commonwealth University’s river campus located midway between Richmond and Williamsburg. With more than 360 acres of riparian marsh, tidal creeks, and mature forests, the center provided outdoor and indoor spaces for research and education. Attendees toured the facility and campus and learned from VCU scientists about their research on wetlands and Atlantic sturgeon.

Best of RVA Field Tour

This field day showcased four vibrant public green spaces in central Richmond. Along the way, participants learned about The Green, a community space rich with native plants at the Science Museum, and visited an award-winning Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay project that incorporates art into stormwater practices. The tour continued to the river with a visit to the James River Association’s new education center, followed by a walk along the Low Line, where Capital Trees has led a rehabilitation and planting project nestled alongside active railroad trestles.

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC) held its 10th Turning a New Leaf sustainable landscaping conference from December 6th – December 8th, 2023 in Kent Island, MD. Conference highlights: presentations by Black horticulture historian, Abra Lee, and pollinator conservationist, Heather Holm. Concurrent sessions in three tracks: Resilient Landscapes, Resilient Communities, Resilient Plants and Soils will include a wide range of topics from plant selection and landscape design through a cultural heritage lens, to urban forestry, green infrastructure, and carbon capture in grasslands.

The 2023 Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award winner is Sylvan Kaufman. Sylvan Kaufman consults, writes and teaches about ecology, botany, sustainable landscaping, and restoration topics. Sylvan co-authored “Invasive Plants, Guide to Identification and the Impacts and Control of Common North American Species” published by Stackpole Books with a new edition in 2023. She taught as an adjunct professor for George Washington University’s Sustainable Landscapes Program, worked as the curator and land manager at Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, MD, and as a postdoctoral researcher on invasive plant and climate change projects at Harvard University. She was one of the founding members of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council. She has a B.A. in Biology from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Rutgers University. Sylvan now lives in New Mexico where she is the Conservation Committee Chair for the Native Plant Society of New Mexico, is active with the Santa Fe Native Plant Project as a Master Gardener, and volunteers with the Santa Fe Botanical Garden.

December 6, 2023

Pre-Conference Dinner

December 6, 2023

Presentation of the Marcy Damon Award. Guest Speaker Joel Dunn, Chesapeake Conservancy . Dinner includes cocktail hour, appetizers, and full dinner, plus cash bar.

Pre-Conference Short Session for Certified Pros :Stormwater for Poets & Philosophers

December 6, 2023

No longer the sole purview of the engineering profession, stormwater management is about landscapes, resiliency, community-building, jobs, and, yes, clean water. The engineers have worked out the equations, but many who are curious about stormwater management still view these principles as an impenetrable black box. Stormwater Management for Poets and Philosophers will peel away the curtain and invite you in to a new understanding of the principles and practices of stormwater planning and design. Guest Dave Hirschman

December 7, 2023

Keynote Speaker: The Invincible Garden Ladies:

Abra Lee: Oakland Cemetery, Directory of Horticulture.

It was nothing short of a grand affair when Blanche Hurston launched her Florida floral business during the roaring twenties. And when it came time to sell beautiful blooms, the mighty Mahalia Jackson made customers an offer they couldn’t refuse! From the ordinary to the extraordinary–join in as we shine the spotlight on these lady legends in horticulture who forged a path to economic and social freedom, providing inspiration for plant lovers today.

Session 1:

Successful Meadow Restorations:

Matt Bright: Earth Sangha, Executive Director

Owen Williams: Native Meadows, LLC, Founding Owner

Matt Bright and Owen Willams will discuss successful restoration and creation of native meadows. They have collaborated on restoration of meadow habitat on public lands and both operate organizations aimed at improving ecological function and aesthetics on both public and private lands. Working to establish meadows –whether primarily from seed or seedlings –requires a keen understanding of native plants, the site conditions, and the kinds of care required after installation. With a focus on creating durable and resilient landscapes, Matt and Owen will share their lessons learned and practices and species they’ve found to be successful in the field.

Resilient Communities = Yes, In My Back (And Front!) Yard!

Nancy Lawson: The Humane Gardener

It happens too often and in too many communities around the country: Environmentally conscious homeowners take the important step of converting their lawns to native plants, only to be reprimanded by their homeowners association or cited by municipal code enforcers for growing “weeds,” leaving stalks up for birds, or refusing to use pesticides. But even in an HOA, wildlife-friendly landscaping doesn’t have to be DOA. A recent landmark case in Maryland led to passage of a state law codifying wildlife-friendly gardens, sparking similar efforts in HOAs, towns and counties across the nation. This presentation will discuss preemptive strategies and effective responses when making cases for conservation landscaping; simple tips for converting landscapes into spaces that will please both humans and wild neighbors; and ideas for working with intractable HOA boards and municipal code enforcement inspectors.

Resilient Plants and Soils = Urban Trees and Social Justice

Dexter Locke: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Statin, Research Geographer

One of the best-studied relationships in urban ecology is the tree canopy cover-income association: Higher income areas tend to have more tree canopy cover. But trees do not grow instantaneously. By looking at *historic* social inequality we are better able to understand the spatial distribution of urban tree canopy today. This talk shares the results from four different projects on the practice of redlining and the associations with tree canopy, street tree diversity, and citizen science efforts today.

Session 2

Native Grasses and Sedges: Smart Choices for Better Landscapes

Shannon Currey: Izel Plants, Education and Outreach

Looking for strategies to boost your landscape’s ecological impact? Join us for a look at plant-based solutions to common landscape challenges. Rather than oceans of mulch and vast expanses of turf, use native grasses and sedges to add biodiversity and increase resilience. These extraordinary plants help preserve and build the soil, out-compete weeds, and offer a host of ecosystem benefits. From low-key groundcover to seasonal superstar, their varied habits and unique aesthetic qualities make them essential for looks as well. Discover how greener grasses help build better landscapes and communities.

Landscapes of Origin: Cultivating Your Design Purpose

Jeanette Ankoma-Sey: Landscape Architect

Adele Kuo: Deco Footprint, Owner

We readily bring our educational and professional experiences to the table as designers. How often do we utilize and bring our own cultural experiences as inspiration to our practice style and goals?Jeanette will reflect on her West African Ghanaian heritage, rituals, traditions, and memories and how they continually influence and shape her design approach, vision and methodology as a horticulturist, landscape architect and lecturer.This session will highlight the importance of cultural heritage and origin as an important reference tool in creating spaces and in landscape design.

Bay Region Grower Panel

Jim MacKenzie: Octoraro Native Plant Nursery, President

Mark Fiely: Ernst Conservation Seeds, Horticulturist

Eric Sours: White House Natives, Nursery Manager

Moderator-David Hirschman:Hirschman Water and Environment

As the popularity and demand for native plants is increasing, it can be challenging to understand how, where, and when to source the plants and/or seed mixes you need for projects. David Hirschman will moderate this discussion with several growers and suppliers from across the Bay region to explore topics such as plant sourcing and availability, species selection, local ecotypes, contract growing, and how to build a collaborative relationship with growers and suppliers.

Session 3

The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly: What Have We Learned?

Emilie Schwackhamer: Penn State Extension Montgomery County, Extension Educator

Lycorma delicatula, commonly known as the spotted lanternfly, threatens many important plants including grapes and trees. They also create a nuisance in residential landscapes. This presentation will describe the situation that has been unfolding as the SLF range has expanded in PA and other states. This talk will focus on biology and behavior to help attendees know what to watch out for. You will also hear about management options, regulations in place to slow the spread, and a summary of some of the research that is taking place.

GI Workforce Development for Returning Citizens—Challenges & Opportunities

Vanessa Bright: Maryland Reentry Resource Center

Ms. Bright will discuss our initiative to introduce formerly incarcerated individuals to career opportunities in Bay Restoration.

Enhancing Urban Forest Resilience Through Climate Adaptation Practices

Kasey Yturralde:Urban Forestry Division, District Department of Transportation -Forest Health and Community Outreach Specialist

Urban trees make our cities livable in a changing climate, cooling our neighborhoods, reducing stormwater, and absorbing pollution. However, trees themselves are susceptible to climate change impacts such as drought, excessive heat, and extreme storms. In Washington DC, Urban Forestry Division is working with partners to better understand and address climate vulnerability of the District’s urban forest. This talk will cover the resources and tools Urban Forestry Division has used to enhance resilience of the urban forest and discuss progress in implementing adaptation practices.

Session 4

Resilient Landscapes = Naturally Better Landscaping for HOAs

Jenny Houghton:Adkins Arboretum, Assistant Director

Darran Tilghman:ShoreRivers, Director of Community Engagement

In 2023, Adkins Arboretum and ShoreRivers partnered to provide local Homeowners Associations with a deeper understanding of ecology, the importance of native plants, and recent legislation that prohibits restrictions on low-impact landscaping techniques. Funded by a Chesapeake Bay Outreach grant,the “Naturally Better Landscaping” project ultimately inspired four HOAs–three in Queen Anne’s and one in Talbot Counties–to take action to support biodiversity, native wildlife, and water quality. Join Jenny Houghton and Darran Tilghman for an entertaining overview of the project’s challenges and successes, followed by a discussion and brainstorming session on the role landscapers can play in “the lawn revolution.”

Bridging Communities

Scott Krat: Building Bridges Across the River; Senior Vice President

The 11th Street Bridge Park will be Washington DC’s first elevated park over the Anacostia River supporting the community’s environmental, economic, cultural and physical health. Bridge Park Director Scott Kratz will discuss how this new civic space was informed by over 1,000 meetings with local stakeholders, how the park will inspire future a new generation of river stewards and the nationally recognized Equitable Development Plan that has secured over $86MM in housing, workforce, small business and arts / culture investments nearly matching the cost of the bridge’s construction.

Climate Restoration DIY: Dance of the Earth and Sky

Mike Collins:American Climate Partners

Who is responsible for the climate crisis? At the moment there seem to be two views on the matter. The oldest and perhaps more generally accepted is that oil companies are to blame, individuals are not, as described recently in YES! Magazine. An alternative view has been offered up by Paul Hawken in his two recent books on climate, Regeneration –Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation and Drawdown –The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. Hawken poses an alternative view that every person in modern culture can and should take responsibility for helping to restore our climate. Michael Collins will summarize American Climate Partner’s SoilKeepers regenerative landscape contractor program’s 9 steps for climate restoration through landscape management.

Closing Plenary

Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees and Predatory Wasps

Heather Holm: Pollinator Conservationist and Author

Native bees and predatory wasps share the same lineage and also share many behaviors and habitat requirements. Predatory wasps feed their offspring insects (and spiders) and bees diverged from this carnivorous diet to feed their offspring plant-based food (pollen and nectar). Flower-rich landscapes provide critical habitat for both adult bees and wasps because they each consume flower nectar; in addition, wasps need diverse, flower-rich landscapes to hunt for their prey. Heather will highlight many amazing natural history and biology facts about native bees and wasps illustrating their nesting habitat, prey specificity, and the ecosystems services they provide.

Post conference Field Day

December 8, 2023

Living Shorelines Field Tour

Living shorelines include a suite of techniques used to minimize coastal erosion and to protect, restore, enhance or create natural shoreline habitat. Techniques may include the use of fiber coir logs, sills, groins, breakwaters or other components used in combination with sand, other natural materials and marsh plantings. This half-day tour will take us to several living shoreline practices in Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties. We will be joined by Sarah Hilderbrandt from Maryland DNR and Lucas Lees of Unity Landscaping, as we visit living shorelines of different ages, in various conditions.

BMP Sampler Tour

Best management practices can be designed in all shapes and sizes with plant material uniquely matched to the site. While there are similarities between these types of projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the sites we’ll visit have some design considerations specific to the coastal plain. It’s also important to consider the processes to put these projects and motion and to keep up with them post-construction. We will be joined by Darran Tilghman and Jennifer Klug Vaccaro of Shore Rivers and Leslie Cario of Chesapeake Horticultural Services as we visit a variety of conservation landscapes and stormwater practices and meet up with experts on site at each location. During this half-day tour, we’ll travel between Kent Island and Easton in Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties.

In a time that has felt anything but normal we dedicate the 2021 Turning a New Leaf conference to “Planting a New Normal” , highlighting collaborations that normalize sustainable practices and ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

We believe that landscape professionals have a unique opportunity to effect positive change in the Chesapeake Bay region- a task best achieved when we work together.

The conference was held virtually December 8-9, and was followed by in-person field days in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia on December 10.

The 2021 Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award winner is Suzanne Kilby Etgen. Suzanne Etgen is the founding Executive Director of the Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy, headquartered in Millersville, Maryland. The Watershed Stewards Academy mission is to train and mobilize community leaders to drive change for sustainable landscapes and clean waters, and Etgen has helped forge strong connections between stewards and landscape professionals in the Annapolis area. She holds a BS in Environmental Science and a MA in Religion and Ecology, and she is also a trained Community Based Social Marketing Technical Assistance Provider, assisting Stewards and organizations in the development of campaigns to change polluting behaviors. Etgen served for several years on the CCLC board of directors and played an instrumental role in establishing CCLC’s Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional certification and training program. She has been recognized for her work with numerous other awards.

Day 1 – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Session 1. Meaningful Collaborations in Sustainable Landscaping

Panelists will share three different perspectives on how collaborations can strengthen our efforts to improve water quality and habitat in the Bay region and improve working conditions for those in our field: a statewide partnership to promote the use of native plants in Virginia; local government collaboration with residents; and a social justice model for employers.

Virginia Witmer, Outreach Coordinator, Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, VA Dept of Environmental Quality

Rod Barnes, Town Administrator, Town of Edmonston

Lauren Wheeler, Principal, Natural Resources Design

Moderator, Kelley Oklesson, Groundsmith Collective

Session 2.

Ensuring Equity in Landscape Design

This session will highlight the panelists’ work with Black and Brown communities to ensure that public spaces are planned and designed to meet the needs of those communities.

Akiima Price

Erin Garnaas-Holmes, Senior Planner, Prince George’s County Planning Department

Moderator, Kelly Fleming

Creating a Forest Garden

Forest gardens produce an abundance of food and supplies while restoring a healthy forest ecosystem. Lincoln and Christine will discuss the principles of forest gardening with examples from Forested and other forest garden projects.

Lincoln Smith, Owner, Forested

Christine Simpson, Forested

Plant It Forward: Helping Others Help Wildlife Through Conservation Landscaping

The Audubon Naturalist Society has been working to transform its headquarters – Woodend Nature Sanctuary – into an oasis of sustainable, healthy, natural habitats that inspires people to learn about and protect our shared environment. With the Plant It Forward program, we are leveraging the expertise of our staff and the green infrastructure of Woodend Nature Sanctuary to equip more people to steward land for wildlife benefit and ecosystem services. We are using demonstration gardens to train home gardeners, as well as landscape professionals, in the specific skills required to install high performing conservation landscapes. In particular, we are reaching out to Spanish-speaking owners and employees of small landscaping companies to add conservation landscaping to their toolkits. In this talk I’ll discuss the lesson learned during our gardening classes, in-home garden consultations, and trainings for landscape professionals. Handouts will include garden templates and a “Garden Ecosystems” guide.

Alison Pearce, Deputy Director, Audubon Naturalist Society

Landscapes for Pollinators

Landscapes that support pollinator biodiversity require designs that take into account the structure of pollinator communities and the resources they depend on. Science has learned a great deal about pollinators over the last decade. We have a better understanding of the special ecological structure of plant-pollinator food webs and how they decline. There is also a better appreciation for pollinator nutrition and the nutritional resources offered by different plants. Nesting sites and other resources have been explored in great detail. All these insights are being used to inform landscape design.

Harland Patch, Penn State University

Green Mulch: Plans to Cover Ground and Reduce Maintenance

Green mulch saves time and money, boosts ecological function and reduces the carbon footprint of your garden.

Darlene Robbins, RainScapes Program, Planner, Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection

Session 4. Inspiration: A Selection of 2021 BUBBA Award Winning Projects

The Chesapeake Stormwater Network recognizes outstanding work with the Best Urban BMPs in the Bay (BUBBA) awards. This session features three inspiring projects that were recognized with BUBBA awards in 2021.

Chris Moore, Welspryng, LLC

Aileen Craig, The Nature Conservancy

Adele Kuo, Owner and Principal Designer, Deco Footprint

Moderator, David Wood, Stormwater Coordinator, Chesapeake Stormwater Network

Day 2 – Thursday, December 9, 2021

Opening Session: Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award

Suzanne Kilby Etgen will become the fifth recipient of the Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award. The award, given by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC), a regional non-profit, recognizes Etgen for her devotion to sustainable landscaping and education within the Chesapeake Bay region.

The Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award was established by the CCLC to honor former Council chair and Maryland naturalist and educator, Marcy Damon. Damon, age 64, passed away in June 2013. Damon spent the last 12 years of her career contributing to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s effort to “Save the Bay,” but it was a lifelong love affair with nature that inspired her personal and professional dedication to sustainable landscaping, habitat preservation, and environmental education. Past award recipients include Ellie Altman, former Director of the Adkins Arboretum, Britt Slattery, Director of Conservation Education at MD Dept. of Natural Resources, Adele Ashkar, former Director of the George Washington University’s Landscape Design Program, and David Hirschman, of Hirschman Water & Environment.

Session 5. Keynote. Beauty of the Wild

In this presentation, Darrel will talk about various people and places that have influenced him as a teacher and as a designer of ecology-based designs. The book, “American Plants for American Gardens” by Plant ecologist Edith Roberts and Landscape architect Elsa Rehmann was particularly influential. He will show landscapes he has designed at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum, Storm King Art Center in the Hudson River Valley, the New York Botanical Garden, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden as examples of landscapes influenced by naturally-evolving Plant communities.

Darrel Morrison, Autor

Moderator, Beth Ginter, Executive Director CCLC

Session 6. Climate Change Panel: Climate Impacts on Native Plants, Climate and Social Justice, and Nature-Based Solutions for Resiliency

This session touches on three very different topics related to our changing climate: impacts on native plants, social justice, and nature-based solutions for resiliency.

Fushcia Ann Hoover, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Esi Landston, Environmental Sustainability Manager, City of Norfolk

Jeff Lapp, Branch Chief, EPA

Moderator, Ashley Traut, Greater Baltimore Wilderness Coalition

Session 7. Growing the Workforce, Connecting with Youth = Conservation Training in Correctional Settings, Working with Youth and the CBLP-A Program, Connecting with Youth at Dikon Wilderness

The future is bright! Panelists in this session will share their experiences working with youth and the incarcerated to expand the workforce of trained environmental stewards and practicing professionals.

Antonia Bookbinder, Conservation Outreach Specialist Special Programs Division, M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County

David J. Hirschman, Hirschman Water & Environment, LLC

Kim Patten, Director, The Wilderness Greenhouse – Diakon Youth Services

Moderator: Larry Davis, Lead Consultant & Green Infrastructure Specialist, Green Mechanics Benefit LLC

8.A Native Cultivars v. Straight Species: Results from Recent Trials

As native plants become more popular, many cultivars are being offered in the marketplace. But do these cultivars still benefit pollinators and wildlife or are they just decorative items in the landscape? Learn about the results of several trials that have been conducted in the Mid-Atlantic and New England and get some tips on how to choose plants that will most benefit your ecosystem.

Connie Schmotzer, Consumer Horticulture Educator, Retired, Penn State Extension

Plant- Pollinator Interactions

Anahí Espíndola, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland, College Park

Leveraging the Ecosystem Services of the North American Beaver as a Took for Restoration

Beaver (Castor Canadensis), once numbering in the tens of millions across North America, were nearly extirpated in the late 1890’s. Recently, their numbers are increasing in many regions across North America. Their dams and the water they store provide important ecosystem services, including increased groundwater recharge, floodplain reconnection, significant reductions in peak flow discharges, enhanced wildlife habitat, nutrient processing, sediment storage, and wetland creation. As a tool for restoration, beaver dams enhance water quality, provide ecological uplift, and provide effective stormwater management benefits. Long regarded as a nuisance species, beaver have only recently been promoted as an ecosystem engineer. Research from North America as well as Europe will be shared indicating beaver have a role to play in watershed restoration efforts and as an adaptation for climate change. Techniques and methods which encourage beaver activity will be reviewed, including planting regimes to develop food sources, floodplain reconnection to maximize stream power distribution across the floodplain, designing for long term aggradation, requiring more expansive conservation easements, and incorporating beaver dam analogs (BDA’s).

Scott McGill, Chief Executive Officer, Ecotone

Working with HOAs

So much has been happening in the field of stormwater management to help improve the quality of runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. This includes the construction of many different types and numbers of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in new residential communities throughout Maryland. Consequently, the knowledge HOA leaders need to have about their private stormwater management systems, and the funding needed for annual maintenance and future replacement of BMPs, has significantly increased. Moreover, HOAs must pass triennial inspections required under County agreements. This seminar will provide some insight on these challenges from an experienced HOA perspective and provide information on recent efforts in Anne Arundel County to provide better stormwater management education for HOAs such as the selection of service providers, as well as some initiatives to improve the hand-off of private stormwater management systems from developer to HOA.

Steve Miller, President, Deep Creek Village POA, Anne Arundel County

Friday, December 10, 2021

Paradise Creek Nature Park, Portsmouth, VA

This 40-acre park offers two mile of multi-use, handicap accessible nature trails to explore an urban oasis off Paradise Creek. The park is an excellent example of wetland restoration, part of the on-going restoration of native species underway on the creek since 2001 by the non-profit Elizabeth River Project, the City of Portsmouth, The Port of Virginia, and many other partner. On site participants will tour and interact with a multitude of Best Management Practices from pervious walkways and rain cisterns to conservation landscaping and freshwater wetlands. Participants will learn about maintenance requirements for these practices, the collaborative efforts providing equitable access for the community, and how climate change is impacting maintenance and future planning at the park.

Audubon Naturalist Society, Woodend Sanctuary, Chevy Chase, MD

At Woodend, we will visit a variety of sustainable practices, including a permeable parking lot, rain gardens, conservation landscaping, a meadow, and the Stream and Trail Restoration Project, a work in progress, which will improve the habitats and visitor experience at Woodend by stabilizing the eroded banks of the stream channel, upgrading the main trail to be accessible, and adding thousands of native plantings to the forest, meadow, and pond habitats.

Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, PA

Tour the grounds of the Stroud Water Research Center to learn about their beautifully designed stormwater treatment train, wastewater wetland, native meadows, and the riparian buffers that have been instrumental in their research to understand how our landscapes impact the health of local streams.

The 2019 Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award winner was David Hirschman. Mr. Hirschman is recognized for his dedication to sustainable water resources management and his leadership in environmental education and professional development of stormwater and landscape professionals within the Chesapeake Bay region.

Speakers & Tracks

Keynote Address

Thomas Rainer
Rebuilding Abundance: Planting Strategies for a more Colorful, Biodiverse, and Lower Input Landscapes

Closing Plenary

Nancy Striniste
Creating Outdoor Spaces that Connect Children to the Natural World

Track A: Streams and Surrounding Landscapes

- Stream Restoration Panel
  Kelly Gutshall, LandStudies

Ryan Davis, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Jimmy Dick, EQR

- Ecology of Streams and Importance of Streamside Trees
  David Wise, Stroud Water Research Center
- Utilizing Vegetation to Repair Backyard Streams
  Jennifer Fetter, Penn State Extension

- Riparian Buffers
  Ryan Davis, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

Track B: Landscapes in a Changing Climate

- Designing for Disturbance
  Rebecca Stack, Design Green, LLC.
- The Ecological Underpinnings of Design
  Fred Steiner, University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design
- Landscape of Urban Streams: Opportunities Born of Disaster
  Tom McGilloway, Mahan Rykiel Associates

Track C: Designing with Plant Communities

- Designing with Natives / Companion Planting, Layers
  Amy Highland, Mt. Cuba
- Local Plants in Highly Disturbed Urban Sites
  Lauren Wheeler, Natural Resources Design
- Native Fruiting Plants for Migratory Bird Nutrition
  Susan Smith Pagano, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Rain Garden Design for Maintenance Panel
  Darlene Robbins, Montgomery County Department of Environmental ProtectionLauren Wheeler, Natural Resources DesignDave Hirschman, Hirschman Water & Environment, LLC

The 2017 Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award winner was Adele Ashkar, FASLA. Ms. Ashkar, of The George Washington University, was be recognized for her many contributions to educating professionals and promoting sustainable landscaping in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Speakers & Tracks

Keynote Address

Rick Darke
The Design and Stewardship of Living Landscapes

Closing Plenary

Beth Ginter & Shereen Hughes
The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Certification: Preparing Professionals to Effect Change

Track A: Putting the Practical in Sustainable Landscape Practice

- Implementing Sustainable Landscape Maintenance in Private, Public, and Institutional Settings
  Cheryl Corson, Kate Austin, Dave Hirschman, Paul Tukey
- Early Detection and Rapid Response to Invasive Plant Infestations
  Kevin Heffernan
- Preserving Trees in Development Projects
  Bill Elmendorf
- Infiltration Testing For Stormwater BMPs: What Would Mickey Mouse Do?
  Dave Hirschman
Track B: Plants, Wildlife, & Biodiversity: Understanding Pieces of the Puzzle
- Thinking about Honey Bees and Native Bees in Landscape Design
  Sam Droege
- From Seed Production to Your Seed Mix
  Greg Kedzierski
- Knockout Natives
  George Coombs
- Plant Lessons Learned from Designed Rain Gardens
  Ann English, Edamarie Mattei, Rochelle Bartolomei, Luke Jessup
Track C: Communication: What We Talk About When We Talk About Sustainability
- - Talking About Sustainable Landscape Design: Tools and Resources to Help You Connect with Clients
    Steve Raabe
  - The Multiplier Effect of Non-traditional Partnerships: Successes with the Faith Community
    Erin Bennett
- Getting it Right: Rain Garden Retrofits in Public Spaces
  Kate Austin, Ruth Hocker
- Landscape Performance to Demonstrate Impact
  Barbara Deutsch

The 2015 Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award winner was Ellie Altman.

Speakers & Tracks

Keynote Address
Planning for the Unplanned: Integrating Ecological Restoration Techniques & Landscape Design
Larry Weaner, Larry Weaner Associates

Summary >>

TRACK A Landscape Design Perspectives	TRACK B Soils and Plants: From the Ground Up	TRACK C New Paradigms in Stormwater Management	TRACK D Sustainable Management of the Designed Landscape
Work & Play Around the Chesapeake Bay: Case Studies in Sustainability Julie Dieguez (handout); Sandi Olek; Kelly Petrey Summary >>	Soils is Not Just a Dirty Word: Exploring the Mysteries of Managing Soil Biology Steve Zien (handout) Summary >>	Creative Collaboration and Resotration in Baltimore Ashley Traut Summary >>	Use of Compost and Microclover to Reduce Runoff and Lawn Fertilizer Use Mark Carroll Summary >>
Climate Change Impacts and Landscape Adaptation Strategies David Tuch Summary >>	Restoration and Maintaining Native Ecosystems by Control of Non-native Invasive Plants Marc Imlay (handout & handout ) Summary >>	Regenerative Design: RSC’s, Sand Seepage, and Re-evaluating Stormwater as an Important Resource Joe Berg Summary >>	Picking Your Battles: Invasive Plant Control Larry Weaner Summary >>
Landscaping With Deer Kathleen Salisbury Summary >>	Successful Rain Gardens: Inspired by Wild Plant Communities Claudia West Summary >>	Innovation in Industrial Site Stormwater Management David Hymel Summary >>	An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Landscape Management Cheryl Corson, Doug Delano, Joseph Mudd & Janet Weston Summary >>

TRACK A
Landscape Design Perspectives

TRACK B
Soils and Plants: From the Ground Up

TRACK C
New Paradigms in Stormwater Management

TRACK D
Sustainable Management of the Designed Landscape

Work & Play Around the Chesapeake Bay: Case Studies in Sustainability

Julie Dieguez (handout);
Sandi Olek;
Kelly Petrey

December 2, 2025

Pre-Conference Dinner

December 3, 2025

Keynote Speaker: Keynote Ethan Tapper

Session 1:

Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative

James River Riparian Consortium Model

Performance-Based Plant Selection

Session 2:

Invasive Species Management: Planting for the Next 125 Years

Stormwater Maintenance Hacks

The Future of Horticulture

Session 3:

The Future of Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Trees: Conflict, Communication, Compromise

Going Deeper: Green Infrastructure Education

Plenary: Rooted and Resilient: Practices for Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times

December 4, 2023

Post conference Field Day

VCU’s Rice Rivers Center Field Tour

Best of RVA Field Tour

December 6, 2023

Pre-Conference Dinner

Pre-Conference Short Session for Certified Pros :Stormwater for Poets & Philosophers

December 7, 2023

Keynote Speaker: The Invincible Garden Ladies:

Session 1:

Successful Meadow Restorations:

Resilient Communities = Yes, In My Back (And Front!) Yard!

Resilient Plants and Soils = Urban Trees and Social Justice

Session 2

Native Grasses and Sedges: Smart Choices for Better Landscapes

Landscapes of Origin: Cultivating Your Design Purpose

Bay Region Grower Panel

Session 3

The Invasive Spotted Lanternfly: What Have We Learned?

GI Workforce Development for Returning Citizens—Challenges & Opportunities

Enhancing Urban Forest Resilience Through Climate Adaptation Practices

Session 4

Resilient Landscapes = Naturally Better Landscaping for HOAs

Bridging Communities

Climate Restoration DIY: Dance of the Earth and Sky

Closing Plenary

Creating and Managing Landscapes for Native Bees and Predatory Wasps

Post conference Field Day

December 8, 2023

Living Shorelines Field Tour

BMP Sampler Tour

Day 1 – Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Session 1. Meaningful Collaborations in Sustainable Landscaping

Session 2.

Ensuring Equity in Landscape Design

Creating a Forest Garden

Plant It Forward: Helping Others Help Wildlife Through Conservation Landscaping

Landscapes for Pollinators

Green Mulch: Plans to Cover Ground and Reduce Maintenance

Session 4. Inspiration: A Selection of 2021 BUBBA Award Winning Projects

Day 2 – Thursday, December 9, 2021

Opening Session: Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award

Session 5. Keynote. Beauty of the Wild

Session 6. Climate Change Panel: Climate Impacts on Native Plants, Climate and Social Justice, and Nature-Based Solutions for Resiliency

Session 7. Growing the Workforce, Connecting with Youth = Conservation Training in Correctional Settings, Working with Youth and the CBLP-A Program, Connecting with Youth at Dikon Wilderness

8.A Native Cultivars v. Straight Species: Results from Recent Trials

Plant- Pollinator Interactions

Leveraging the Ecosystem Services of the North American Beaver as a Took for Restoration

Working with HOAs

Friday, December 10, 2021

Paradise Creek Nature Park, Portsmouth, VA

Audubon Naturalist Society, Woodend Sanctuary, Chevy Chase, MD

Stroud Water Research Center, Avondale, PA

Speakers & Tracks

Track A: Streams and Surrounding Landscapes

Track B: Landscapes in a Changing Climate

Track C: Designing with Plant Communities

Speakers & Tracks

Track A: Putting the Practical in Sustainable Landscape Practice

Track B: Plants, Wildlife, & Biodiversity: Understanding Pieces of the Puzzle

Track C: Communication: What We Talk About When We Talk About Sustainability

Speakers & Tracks

An Overview of the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES)^TM