Featured Native Plant of the Year
Whether you’re an attendee, vendor, sponsor, or exhibitor, you can find all the information you need on this page to register. We update this page frequently as we continue to plan the event. Be sure to subscribe to our member email list to receive the link first to register.
2026 Featured Native Plant
Common Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea, or downy serviceberry, is a small tree or shrub in the Rose family with several native species locally. It blooms early in spring with white flowers that yield purple-black fruit by late summer, followed by vibrant fall foliage. This plant thrives in sun or partial shade and benefits wildlife by hosting over 100 Lepidoptera species and attracting pollinators when few other plants bloom. Its Juneberries draw birds and wildlife and are sometimes used for preserves.
Ann E. Geise's illustration features a Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) enjoying the fruit.
Featured Native Plant 2025
New Title
Speakers & Sessions
We are excited to host a lineup of local and national experts speaking on native plants, wildlife, and ecology. Below are the highlighted speakers and program topics for the 2025 conference:
Keynote Speakers
- Climate-Ready Canopies: Using Publicly Available Tools to Guide Tree Selection, George Coombs, Mt. Cuba Center
- Our Relationship to the Land: Aldo Leopold and His Journey to the Land Ethic, Jennifer Sterling, Aldo Leopold Center
- How to Love a Forest, Ethan Tapper, author How to Love a Forest
- Tom Kimmerer, author of
Venerable Trees
Featured Speakers
- The World of Native Plants & Birds, Tom Hissong
- Hiding in Plain Sight: The Magic of Camouflage, Mimicry & HIdden Figures in Nature, Judy Semroc
Outdoor Field Sessions
- DIY Growing Native Plants: MEEC Nursery Tour – Michele Banker
- After-Dark Nature Walks (Friday & Saturday Nights) – Experience the outdoors after sunset with guided night programs. These may include (weather/wildlife dependant) a Songs of the Night walk to hear nocturnal wildlife with Lisa Rainsong, moth observation at a light station with Kim Banks, and a general Nature Night Prowl to discover creatures of the dark led by Jim McCormac.
2026 Featured Plant & Artwork
Common Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea, or downy serviceberry, is a small tree or shrub in the Rose family with several native species locally. It blooms early in spring with white flowers that yield purple-black fruit by late summer, followed by vibrant fall foliage. This plant thrives in sun or partial shade and benefits wildlife by hosting over 100 Lepidoptera species and attracting pollinators when few other plants bloom. Its Juneberries draw birds and wildlife and are sometimes used for preserves.
Ann E. Geise's illustration features a Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) enjoying the fruit.
Refund Policy
We understand that plans can change. Below is our refund and cancellation policy for conference registrations:
- Full Refund Window: If you cancel within 60 days of the registration opening date, we can provide a full (or partial) refund to your original payment method.
- Extended Refunds: If more than 60 days have passed since registration opened, refunds can still be issued but will be processed via check (manual refund).
- Late Cancellations: We are unable to offer full refunds for cancellations made within 6 weeks of the event date. This is because we must fulfill financial commitments to our venue and partners at that stage. (Partial refunds may still be available in some cases, at the discretion of the organizers.)
- Processing Fee: A $10 administrative fee will be deducted from all refunds to cover processing costs.
- Donations: Any optional donation made during conference registration is non-refundable (unless specifically requested).
- Lodging: Lodging reservations at the Bergamo Center are separate from conference registration and must be cancelled directly with the Bergamo Center if your plans change. (The conference organizers cannot cancel or refund lodging on your behalf.)
