Learn about plants’ ‘fear of crowds,’ bees and natural mixers
There is no better way to shake winter’s doldrums than to plan a garden.
Find lots of helpful advice on what to plant at the 26th annual Garden and Landscape Symposium, a virtual Zoom event set for Feb. 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
William Cullina, a renowned horticulturist and executive director of the
University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, is the keynote speaker. He will be joined by Sam Hoadley and Marguerita Lopez-Uribe, who will discuss how to create beautiful and eco-friendly gardens and landscapes.
This year, a special focus will be creating pollinator-friendly environments. Attendees will learn which plants perform best, how to attract wildlife and strategies for rebuilding critical pollinator populations. The symposium is sponsored by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Allegheny County.
An author, lecturer and authority on native plants, Cullina has degrees in plant science and psychology. He served as the president and CEO of the Coastal Maine Botanic Garden for 11 years and was nursery director and head propagator for the New England Wildflower Society in Massachusetts.
The title of his talk is “What Do You Mean I’m Not a Perennial? Native Shrubs and Small Trees for Perennial Companionship.” He said his goal is to create a layered mixed border comprising annuals, perennials, shrubs and evergreens with yearround interest. But not all woody plants mix well with annuals and perennials. Plants’ “fear of crowds” comes from varying soil and fertilization needs, incompatible growth habits and aggressive root systems, Cullina said.
At the symposium, he will describe 50 of his “natural mixers” — native shrubs and small trees that bring form, texture, color and especially
wildlife to a garden. He’ll also discuss how to care for woody plants in a mixed border and how to manage them so they don’t displace other plants. Cullina compares color in a garden to a melody, while texture and form provide the beat.
Hoadley, meanwhile, will discuss “Knockout Natives” — top native species and cultivars, including Hydrangea arborescens. Hoadley is the manager of horticultural research at Delaware’s Mt. Cuba Center, a botanical garden that produces some of the most spectacular wildflower displays in the mid-Atlantic.
Lopez-Uribe, an assistant professor of entomology at Penn State University, will speak on the conservation and restoration of bee populations and the critical ecosystem services they provide. She will explore changes in land use, climate and beekeeping practices and how they affect the overall health of both wild and managed bee species.
To close the symposium, Cullina and Hoadley will moderate a question-andanswer session. Audience members can submit questions to both horticultural professionals.
The symposium’s cost is $50 and registration continues through Feb. 25. For more information or to register, go to extension. or call 1-877-345-0691.
Mickey Stobbe is a Penn State Master Gardener. This volunteer program supports the outreach mission of Penn State Extension and provides research-based information on best practices in sustainable horticulture and environmental stewardship. Information: alleghenymg@psu.edu or 412-482-3476.