If you plan on joining ELA at an in person location for the Annual Conference, please fill out the form for the location you plan to attend below!
With this year’s ELA Annual Conference and Eco Marketplace, ELA is helping to coordinate in-person gatherings for ELA members and conference participants on Friday, February 23, 2023, immediately following the conference.
Our goal with these follow-up events is to provide an opportunity for informal networking, socializing with like-minded peers, and carrying forward the learning and discussion from the conference into our local communities and professional contexts.
If you plan on attending, please fill out the form for the location you plan to attend below!
Jenkins Arboretum
Address: 631 Berwyn Baptist Road, Devon, PA 19333
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Parking: There are about 40 total spaces available, which includes onsite staff, so carpooling is encouraged as a way to minimize our carbon footprint and ensure maximum participation.
Capacity: In-person attendance is limited to about 40 people, so please register early to ensure your spot! Also, carpooling is encouraged!
Description: As a public botanical garden, Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens inspires connection, conservation, and community action. With 1.2 miles of winding trails and free admission every day of the week, there is always something new to discover.
Attendees at this event can expect time for a collaborative activity, social networking time, light food and beverage, and a garden walk which should last about 60 minutes. If you have dietary restrictions, please reach out to zack@ecolandscaping.org with this information or include it in the comment field of your registration. Thank you!
Click Here to Register for Jenkins Arboretum
Scarsdale Public Library
Address: 54 Olmsted Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Room: Meeting Room North South
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Capacity: Registration/seating is limited to about 60 individuals, so please register early to ensure your spot!
Description: Come meet local ELA members and local activists for lightning talks, networking, and inspiring conversation. This will be the first in-person meetup for ELA members and new members are welcome to participate! Come see who is getting involved in creating local resilient landscapes and is active in Westchester County and the NY metro region. We will have light refreshments and children of all ages (our future eco-leaders!) are welcome.
An informal presentation will also be offered by Michael Hagen at the event. Michael Hagen is the Curator of the Native Plant Garden and the Rock Garden at New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). He previously served as Staff Horticulturist for Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY and Garden Manager at Rocky Hills, in Mt. Kisco, a preservation project of the Garden Conservancy.
Read more about Michael’s presentation, Early Spring Ephemerals and Their Pollinators below
Presentation Description: Landscape designers traditionally have used as the first splash of color in the garden a variety of early spring blooming bulbs, Crocus, Narcissus, Scilla, etc. In Eastern North America however, a suite of early blooming native plants, in a variety of families, takes the place of this suite of monocot geophytes. For any serious design utilizing native plants with the goal of maximizing ecological services, including these early “spring ephmerals” is key to supporting populations of overwintering pollinators emerging from hibernation.
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve
Address: APB Discovery Center — 195 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Description: You can read about the preserve here. During this gathering, attendees will be given an opportunity to engage in loosely structured discussion of topics stemming out of ELA’s Annual Conference and Eco-Marketplace. ELA representatives will be onsite to assist with these discussions. Attendees can also expect a guided tour/walk of the reserve from 2:00 – 2:45 pm.
Click Here to Register for the Albany Pine Bush Reserve
Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 345 Bone Hill Road, Barnstable, MA 02630
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Capacity: Registration/seating is limited to about 50 individuals, so please register early to ensure your spot!
Description: Mass Audubon is the largest nature-based conservation organization in New England. Founded in 1896 by two women who fought for the protection of birds, Mass Audubon carries on their legacy by focusing on the greatest challenges facing the environment today: the loss of biodiversity, inequitable access to nature, and climate change.
With the help of 160,000 members and supporters, we protect wildlife, conserve and restore resilient land, advocate for impactful environmental policies, offer nationally recognized education programs for adults and children, and provide endless opportunities to experience the outdoors at our wildlife sanctuaries.
The Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) is a science-based environmental advocacy organization with a mission to protect the Cape’s natural resources. Wastewater, stormwater and fertilizers are threats to water quality and therefore APCC promote s chemical-free yard care and green infrastructure applications, while working with Cape communities to address wastewater management on Cape Cod.
Marie Chieppo, a renowned ecological landscape designer and principal of EcoPlantPlans from Cape Cod will present a talk about the ecological uniqueness of Cape Cod and how we can best support it through thoughtful design and landcare practices. Marie is a certified landscape designer and Accredited Organic Landcare Professional (NOFA CT) who works in partnership with nature to create beautiful and healthy landscapes. She is a contributing author of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s recent publication “Guidelines for Cape-friendly Landscapes for Water, Healthy Yards, and Our Local Ecology.
Coffee and pastries will be offered to attendees of this event.
Click Here to Register for Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary
Address: 30 Peck Road, Wales, MA 01081 (Physical location for driving purposes)
Date: Friday, February 23, 2024
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Capacity: Registration/seating is limited to about 50 individuals, so please register early to ensure your spot!
Description: The Norcross Wildlife Foundation preserves and manages ecologically significant habitats that sustain and enhance biodiversity and wildlife populations in our region. We support an increased understanding of and respect for the natural world through environmental education, science, and community-sourced knowledge. We achieve our mission through our work on the NWF sanctuary, regional partnerships, and our support of new ideas and leaders in the conservation field.
- Dan Jaffe Wilder
- Nick Novick
- Michael Nadeau
- Leslie Duthie
For panel participant bios, please click the registration link below!
Click Here to Register for Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary
