Turning A New Leaf Archives

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

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 >>

Plenary Address
The Challenge of Residential Design & Rating Systems: A Case Study of the Gaddy House
Lauren Wheeler, Director of George Washington University’s Landscape Design Program

Summary

The conference was preceded on Friday (November 15) with a dinner which announced the First Marcy Damon Conservation Landscaping Award to Britt Slattery as well as the print edition of Conservation Landscaping Guidelines: The Eight Essential Elements.

Speakers & Tracks

Pre-Conference Dinner Address
Sylvan Kaufman, Sylvan Green Earth Consulting

Challenges in Conservation Landscaping

Keynote Address
Networks for Life: Your Role in Building Biological Corridors
Douglas Tallamy, PhD., University of Delaware

Keynote Summary

TRACK A Marketing Nature: How to Sell Conservation Landscaping	TRACK B Innovations in Conservation Landscaping	TRACK C Flora & Fauna: Applying Ecology to Design	TRACK D Soil Science Simplified
An Overview of the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES)^TM Tom Hall, ASLA, AICP Susan Hall, Landscape Designer (handout) Summary >>	Restorative Agriculture Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, Eco City Farms, Riverdale Park, MD Summary >>	Water Gardening and Aquatic Invasive Species Diane Oleson, Penn State Cooperative Extension (references & resources handout) Summary >>	The Hidden World of Mycorrhizal Fungi Roger Tai Koide, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University Summary >>
Meadowscaping for Large and Small Spaces Catherine Zimmerman, Author of Urban and Suburban Meadows	Role of Pollinators in Urban Habitat Restoration Toni Burnham, Urban Beekeeper, Washington, DC (handout) Summary >>	Maintaining Curb Appeal with Native Plants Douglas Tallamy, University of Delware (handout) Summary >>	The Rest of the Story: Carbon, Gardening and Biochar Dale Hendricks, Green Light Plants, LLC (handout) Summary >>
Non-invasive, Mostly Native, Ornamental Alternatives John Peter Thompson, Author Summary >>	Reducing Urban Stormwater Pollution: RiverSmart Homes Program Jennifer Guillaume, DDOE Summary >>	Top Plant Picks for Pollinators Constance Schmotzer, Extension Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension, York County (Pollinator-Attractive Plant Trial, Pollinator-Top Plant Picks Trials, Pollinator-Plant Phonology Trials handouts) Summary >>	Urban Soil Husbandry and Sustainable Hydrologic Landscapes Stuart Schwartz, PhD, University of Maryland Summary >>

TRACK A
Marketing Nature: How to Sell Conservation Landscaping

TRACK B
Innovations in Conservation Landscaping

TRACK C
Flora & Fauna: Applying Ecology to Design

TRACK D
Soil Science Simplified

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

Tom Hall, ASLA, AICP
Susan Hall, Landscape Designer (handout)

Summary >>

Restorative Agriculture

Margaret Morgan-Hubbard, Eco City Farms, Riverdale Park, MD

Summary >>

Water Gardening and Aquatic Invasive Species

Diane Oleson, Penn State Cooperative Extension (references & resources handout)

Summary >>

The Hidden World of Mycorrhizal Fungi

Roger Tai Koide, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Horticulture, Penn State University

Summary >>

Meadowscaping for Large and Small Spaces

Catherine Zimmerman, Author of Urban and Suburban Meadows

Role of Pollinators in Urban Habitat Restoration

Toni Burnham, Urban Beekeeper, Washington, DC (handout)

Summary >>

Maintaining Curb Appeal with Native Plants

Douglas Tallamy, University of Delware (handout)

Summary >>

The Rest of the Story: Carbon, Gardening and Biochar

Dale Hendricks, Green Light Plants, LLC (handout)

Summary >>

Non-invasive, Mostly Native, Ornamental Alternatives

John Peter Thompson, Author

Summary >>

Reducing Urban Stormwater Pollution: RiverSmart Homes Program

Jennifer Guillaume, DDOE

Summary >>

Top Plant Picks for Pollinators

Constance Schmotzer, Extension Educator, Penn State Cooperative Extension, York County (Pollinator-Attractive Plant Trial, Pollinator-Top Plant Picks Trials, Pollinator-Plant Phonology Trials handouts)

Summary >>

Urban Soil Husbandry and Sustainable Hydrologic Landscapes

Stuart Schwartz, PhD, University of Maryland

Summary >>

Plenary Address

Native Plants in Your Garden: Lessons from Nature and Culture
C. Colston Burrell, Garden Designer, Author (handout)

Plenary Summary

See photos from the conference on flickr: Turning A New Leaf 2013 (photo album)

Friday, December 2
Willow Valley Doubletree Resort and Conference Center
Lancaster, PA

This one-of-a-kind conference brought together professionals from the landscaping industries, horticulture, planning and education to discuss and learn about current trends, issues and technologies in conservation landscaping. From the science of storm water management to native plant marketing techniques, this conference focused on innovative practices to improve your business and the health of the environment and the Chesapeake Bay.

See photos from the conference on flickr: Turning A New Leaf 2011 (photo album)

2011 Turning a New Leaf Conference attendees in the main hall.

Welcome and Introductory Remarks
Marcy Damon, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and CCLC Founding Board President
Adele Ashkar, George Washington University Landscape Design Program

Welcome Summary

Keynote Address: D.C.’s Green Initiatives
The Honorable Anthony Williams, former Mayor of Washington, D.C.

Keynote Summary >>

TRACK A Sustainable Landscape Design: Making Beautiful Practical	TRACK B Selling Green: Business Models, Planning and Marketing	TRACK C Getting It Done with Local Governments	TRACK D The Science of Sustainability: Urban Ecology and New Technologies
Sustainable Sites Initiative and the Design Process Nancy Somerville, ASLA Summary >>	Business Models Luke Jessup, Father Nature Restorative Landscaping Jeff Potter, J&G Landscaping Carla Thomas, Nature by Design Summary >>	Case Study: Corsica River Lee Edgar, Queen Anne’s Co., MD Robert McGrory, Town of Centreville, MD Summary >>	Soil Compaction Stu Schwartz, UMBC Summary >>
Sustainable Design in Practice – Developing Performance Landscapes Faye Harwell, Rhodeside and Harwell, Inc. Summary >>	Selling Green in a Tough Economic Climate Stan Sersen, EnviroCenter Summary >>	Local Government Incentives: Programs and Technical Assistance Jennifer Guillaume, DC DDOE Ann English, Montgomery Co., MD DEP Aileen Winquist, Arlington Co., VA Ron Bowen, Anne Arundel Co., MD Summary >>	Lawns, Landscapes and Identity: Current Practices and Adoption of New Stormwater Techniques David Myers, University of Maryland Summary >>
Green Roofs and Living Walls: Plant Based Building Systems Michael Furbish, Furbish Company Summary >>	Marketing Green Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work Summary >>	Projects and Lessons Learned Anya Zmudzka Sattler, ArtGarden Design Lauren Wheeler, Natural Resource Design Adele O’Dowd, Willow Landscape Design Aileen Winquist, Arlington Co., VA Daryl Braithwaite, City of Takoma Park, MD Summary >>	The Urban Canopy Mike Galvin, Casey Trees Summary >>

TRACK A
Sustainable Landscape Design: Making Beautiful Practical

TRACK B
Selling Green: Business Models, Planning and Marketing

TRACK C
Getting It Done with Local Governments

TRACK D
The Science of Sustainability: Urban Ecology and New Technologies

Sustainable Sites Initiative and the Design Process

Nancy Somerville, ASLA

Summary >>

Business Models

Luke Jessup, Father Nature Restorative Landscaping

Jeff Potter, J&G Landscaping

Carla Thomas, Nature by Design

Summary >>

Case Study: Corsica River

Lee Edgar, Queen Anne’s Co., MD

Robert McGrory, Town of Centreville, MD

Summary >>

Soil Compaction

Stu Schwartz, UMBC

Summary >>

Sustainable Design in Practice – Developing Performance Landscapes

Faye Harwell, Rhodeside and Harwell, Inc.

Summary >>

Selling Green in a Tough Economic Climate

Stan Sersen, EnviroCenter

Summary >>

Local Government Incentives: Programs and Technical Assistance

Jennifer Guillaume, DC DDOE

Ann English, Montgomery Co., MD DEP

Aileen Winquist, Arlington Co., VA

Ron Bowen, Anne Arundel Co., MD

Summary >>

Lawns, Landscapes and Identity: Current Practices and Adoption of New Stormwater Techniques

David Myers, University of Maryland

Summary >>

Green Roofs and Living Walls: Plant Based Building Systems

Michael Furbish, Furbish Company

Summary >>

Marketing Green

Eric Eckl, Water Words that Work

Summary >>

Projects and Lessons Learned

Anya Zmudzka Sattler, ArtGarden Design

Lauren Wheeler, Natural Resource Design

Adele O’Dowd, Willow Landscape Design

Aileen Winquist, Arlington Co., VA

Daryl Braithwaite, City of Takoma Park, MD

Summary >>

The Urban Canopy

Mike Galvin, Casey Trees

Summary >>

Plenary Address

What THEY Say About Why YOUR Work Matters
Eric Eckl, Water Words That Work

Plenary Summary >>]

Friday, November 9, 2007
Northern Virginia Community College, Ernst Community Cultural Center
Annandale, Virginia

More than 260 participants were drawn to promote and learn about sustainable landscaping practices. From organic lawn care to site-specific stormwater management techniques, from backyard forests to sustainable site design, this conference focused on innovative practices to improve your business and the health of the environment and the Chesapeake Bay.

Keynote speaker Keith Tomlinson addressed ecologically smart landscaping for the Chesapeake basin.

Concurrent sessions covered profitability of green businesses, creative stormwater management, “how-to” workshops focusing on techniques and practices, and designing and maintaining native landscapes.

Closing speaker Doug Tallamy demonstrated the importance of gardening for life by supporting both plant and animal diversity in the landscape.

Friday, November 3, 2006
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
Bethesda, Maryland

Nearly 200 participants were drawn to promote and learn about sustainable landscaping practices. From organic lawn care to site-specific stormwater management techniques, from tree preservation to sustainable site design, this conference focused on innovative practices to improve your business and the health of the environment and the Chesapeake Bay.

Keynote speaker John Knott addressed the art and economics of natural building.

Concurrent sessions covered designing and planning communities; emerging profitability of green businesses; and “how-to” workshops focusing on techniques and practices.

Closing speaker Rich Pais explored how to work with developers to preserve healthy environments.

The conference also featured an eco-marketplace and luncheon networking opportunities.