Professional Gardener Alumni Association Hosts Today’s Horticulture Symposium February 3 

KENNETT SQUARE PA— From history to culture to trends, the issues and ideas at the forefront of horticulture take center stage at Today’s Horticulture Symposium on Friday, February 3 from 8 am to 4:30 pm at Longwood Gardens. Leaders in the fields of conservation, ornamental horticulture, and more guide attendees through the daylong conference hosted by the Professional Gardener Alumni Association (PGAA). Designed for horticulture professionals, landscape designers and architects, passionate gardeners, and horticulture students, registration for the symposium is now open at longwoodgardens.org/todayshorticulture.  

Featured presenters include Chris Bolden-Newsome and Owen Taylor of Truelove Seeds on their work returning African diasporic seeds to people who have been systematically disconnected from their homelands and foodways. The lecture series finishes with a talk by David Bengston, PhD, environmental futurist with the Strategic Foresight Group of the US Forest Service, on the rapid social, technological, environmental, economic, and political change as the broad context for horticulture in the 21st century.  

Back by popular demand, the Professional Gardener Alumni Spotlight highlights the careers of several of the program’s graduates in a shorter vignette format. Hear from Jason Duverney-Gaspar, New York City horticulturist and artist, Jordan Foreman, ISA Certified Arborist with Bartlett Tree Experts, and Shannon Schmidt from Dart’s Arboretum Services Ltd. in the Cayman Islands. 

In addition to the forward-thinking speakers, a plant sale benefiting the students in Longwood’s Professional Horticulture Program is open throughout the event. 

The symposium is sponsored by Longwood Gardens and the Chanticleer Foundation, with additional support from Mt. Cuba Center, North Creek Nurseries, JR Peters, Inc., and The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. 

Registration includes admission to Longwood Gardens, the lecture series, plant sale, continental breakfast, break refreshments, and a boxed lunch. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Register by January 6 for a $30 discount on the regular registration rate of $149. An online webcast option is also available for remote attendees for $54. For more information and to register online visit: longwoodgardens.org/todayshorticulture.  

About The Professional Horticulture Program 
The Professional Horticulture Program was started at Longwood Gardens in 1970, as a tuition-free, two-year program, which is offered every year to eight to ten students. The cohort of students work in all horticultural areas of the Gardens and receive instruction from Longwood staff and outside faculty. The Professional Gardener Alumni Association was organized in 1976 to promote communication and disseminate information among its members and others in horticulture. For more information on the Professional Horticulture Program, please contact the Office of Domestic and International Studies for Longwood Gardens via longwoodgardens.org. 
 
About Longwood Gardens 
In 1906, industrialist Pierre S. du Pont (1870-1954) purchased a small farm near Kennett Square, PA, to save a collection of historic trees from being sold for lumber. Today, Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1,100 acres of dazzling gardens, woodlands, meadows, fountains, a 10,010-pipe Aeolian organ, and grand conservatory. Longwood Gardens is the living legacy of Pierre S. du Pont, bringing joy and inspiration to everyone through the beauty of nature, conservation, and learning. Open daily, Longwood is one of more than 30 gardens in the Philadelphia region known as America’s Garden Capital. For more information, visit longwoodgardens.org