The Today’s Horticulture Symposium brings together a diverse group of professionals who will engage the audience with timely, thought-provoking topics relevant to the world of horticulture today.
Organized by a dedicated volunteer committee of alumni from Longwood Gardens’ Professional Horticulture Program, the event offers a full day of inspiration—from innovative design and current trends to policy impacts and industry insights.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with fellow horticulture enthusiasts and experts!
2026 Schedule
8:00–8:45 am
Registration, Visitor Center
Continental breakfast provided in the Music Room.
8:00 am–4:30 pm
Plant Sale, Patio of Oranges
Shop an eclectic offering of houseplants, perennials, woodies and more. Proceeds from the sale benefit educational travel for students of the Longwood Gardens Professional Horticulture Program.
8:50 am
Welcome, Fountain Room
9:00−9:45 am:
Catalyzing a Bioregional Food System
Jack Algiere, Chief Agroecology Officer
This presentation will provide an overview of the basic principles and indicators that help to create healthy, regenerative and accessible food and farming culture in any community.
9:45–10:25 am
Creating a Half-Wild Biodiversity Esthetic
John Gwynne, Co-Founder/Operator Sakonnet Garden in Little Compton, Rhode Island
To support native insects in coastal Rhode Island, Sakonnet Garden recently created a pollinator garden, first planting formulaic native pollinator species. Then nature took over, local Eastern tallgrass prairie wildflowers arriving to take back their habitat. As we embraced them and added statuesque exotic flora, a huge walk through ‘meadow on steroids’ evolved, launching a novel half-wild esthetic- and abstract expressionist experience.
10:25–11:00 am: Morning Break
Refreshments provided in the Music Room.
11:00–11:45 am:
The Wondrous World of Fireflies
Sara Lewis, PhD, Professor emerita of Biology, Tufts University
Fireflies are among our greatest ambassadors for Earth’s natural magic. For centuries their ethereal beauty has sparked wonder and inspired poets, artists, and children of all ages. Yet they hold so many mysteries! Come learn how they got their bright lights, explore their remarkably diverse lifestyles, hear how human activities put fireflies at risk, and learn how to help protect these dazzling creatures.
11:45 am
Lunch
Buffet lunch will be provided in the Music Room.
1:00 pm
Welcome Back and Scholarship Announcement
1:10–1:50 pm
Three Regenerative Homebrews for Better Gardening
Jennie Love, Owner, Love ‘n Fresh Flowers
Regenerative growing practices put resources back into the ecosystem naturally and close the resource loop. From the school of Korean Natural Farming (KNF) and JADAM, learn how to make three easy homebrewed inputs that feed your plants and add diversity to the microbiome. All in the name of healthier plants and easier gardening.
2:00–2:40 pm
Native Plants Beyond the Wild: Stewarding Expectations
John Mark Courtney, Grower/Owner Kind Earth Growers
As our native plants grow in market shares, so does our responsibility as practitioners to steward legibility and intention in the garden and in the greenhouse. We will identify best horticultural practices and how to apply them in native plant production, design and garden creation while preserving ecological balance and regional phenology for the best outcome to grow our industry.
2:40–3:10 pm: Afternoon Break
Refreshments provided.
3:10–3:50 pm:
A Garden Inspired by Italian Haute Couture
Wambui Ippolito, Landscape Designer & Speaker
While a student at the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture, Wambui was deeply inspired by Chelsea Gold Winner Ulf Nordfjell’s lecture and subsequent conversation about how Karl Lagerfeld designed an haute couture fashion collection around a garden Ulf created. Years later, when invited to create a space for the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Richmond, Virginia, Wambui designed an elegant, feminine “women’s garden” inspired by Valentino Garavani’s 2007 Fall/Winter Haute Couture collection.
3:50 pm
Closing Remarks
4:00–5:00 pm: Longwood Alumni Reception
Alumni of Longwood’s educational programs (Professional Horticulture/Professional Gardener Program, Longwood Graduate Program, Longwood Fellows, and Internship Program) are invited to a post symposium reception with hors d’oeuvres and drinks in the Music Room. Learn more about the Longwood Alumni Association, network with other alumni, and participate in the alumni group photo.