The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Gardeners symposium set for March 4 in Falls Village
FALLS VILLAGE — The Mad Gardeners plan to hold its annual symposium at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, 246 Warren Turnpike, at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Registration begins at 9 a.m.; the fee is $85 for guests, $74 for members.
The program runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. including lunch and a Q&A session.
Guests include Kim Fierman, founder of EcoBeneficial, LLC, and an environmental horticulturist and ecological landscape designer specializing in native plants. She is the author of The Pollinator Victory Garden. Fierman will present Beyond Sustainability: Using Our Landscapes as a Source of Environmental Change.
The second speaker is Ellen Scheid, who is working as an outdoor gardener at the New England Botanic Garden, and has been involved with plants since childhood. She studied Natural Resource management at Indiana University. She will present Creating Beneficial Landscapes with Native Plants.
Mad Gardeners, Inc. is an organization of professional horticulturists and serious home gardeners.
The group formed for charitable, scientific, and education purposes, including to promote and foster the appreciation and understanding of horticulture, botany, and related environmental and ecological concerns; to conduct educational programs and forums; to promote public education, the development of students, and the improvement of professional skill in the field; to provide support to schools, arboreta and other organizations, according to its website.
“In 1992, a small group of dedicated gardeners joined together and created an organization to promote appreciation and cultivation of plants, and the creation, conservation and maintenance of gardens and suitable habitats for such plants through educational programs and meetings,” according to members.
“Two decades later and with over 400 members, Mad Gardeners continues to inspire and educate. Throughout the year we offer programs, workshops and symposiums on the design and maintenance of beautiful gardens, with an emphasis on sustainable gardening practices and use of native plants.” The group was incorporated in 2002. New members are always welcome.
To join, members can download the 2023 membership application/renewal Form. To register for the symposium, to join, or for information, go to madgardeners.org.