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Growing and protecting native plants are important for many reasons: they celebrate our state and region, they are well suited to our region’s growing conditions and they are the foundation of the complex ecosystem that supports insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. The demand for returning native plants to our environment is rightfully gaining momentum, but we are faced with a shortage of seed supply and distribution. Join us for this year’s Native Plant Symposium to discover how experts are propagating native plants from seeds, growing accessibility in native plant resources, efforts in seed testing and ultimately growing your own purpose and potential in the world of native plants.

This event is held each year in partnership with the Garden Club of Georgia, Inc. 

Lunch selections cannot be guaranteed for registrations made after 2/25.
Please note that the date has changed to Mar. 5th since this event was originally published in the Georgia Garden Magazine.

Course Outline

9-9:15           Welcome & Announcements
State Botanical Garden of Georgia team
Lisa Hall, president, Garden Club of Georgia

9:15-10:30    Tending Your Mind’s Garden: Cultivating Courage, Confidence, and Impact
Ashley Smith, PhD, licensed psychologist & cofounder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength

Just as thriving native ecosystems require intentional care, so does your mind. The beliefs that take root—whether planted intentionally or not—shape your choices and the way you navigate the world. Left untended, your mental garden can become overrun with fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt, crowding out your potential and making life feel less vibrant. Dr. Ashley draws on her expertise as a psychologist and her personal journey of living with a rare vision impairment to guide you in cultivating your mental garden. She weaves together captivating brain science, heartfelt storytelling, and practical strategies to show you how to weed out unhelpful thoughts, nurture empowering beliefs, and cultivate a mindset that fuels courage, confidence, and happiness. She’ll help you discover your strength to thrive in uncertainty, overcome obstacles and make the most of your unique potential. You’ll leave inspired, energized and equipped to take bold action to create a lasting difference in your life and the world around you.

10:30-10:45 What’s for Sale at the Plant Sale?
horticulture & conservation departments, State Botanical Garden of Georgia

10:45-11:30 Break, Plant Sale & Book Sale

11:30-12:15  Grow with Purpose: The Basics of Propagating Native Plants from Seed
Emily Laske, assistant conservation horticulturalist, State Botanical Garden of Georgia

The mission and wisdom behind returning native species to our landscapes has gained significant traction over the past decade. Native plant availability and the knowledge behind propagating native species has not yet been able to catch up with the growing demand. So we ask- if you can't find all the plants you want, why not try growing your own? Emily will discuss the basics of how to propagate native plants from seed - from obtaining seed, to navigating dormancy, to start-of-life care- and suggest additional resources for those wishing to try their hand.

12:15-1        Lunch & Certificate in Native Plants Graduation Ceremony
Terrace room, Garden Club of Georgia Headquarters

Graduation ceremony begins at 12:45.

1-1:30          Plant Sale & Free Time around the Garden

1:30 – 2:15    The Georgia Native Seed Network: Ensuring Native Seed Supply for Habitat Restoration
Zach Wood, Georgia Native Seed Network manager, State Botanical Garden of Georgia

In Georgia and the Southeast, there's a pressing need for native plant seeds that are well-suited to local conditions. Unfortunately, the current supply isn't meeting this demand, which is vital for wildfire recovery and habitat restoration. To address this, we've launched the Georgia Native Seed Network. This initiative connects experts and producers with those in need of native plant materials, ensuring these resources are more accessible. We're actively and ethically collecting seeds from wild populations, following the Seeds of Success protocol, focusing on common workhorse species. This effort supports future production and benefits both the local ecosystem and economy.

2:15-2:45         Postcards
Certificate in Native Plants graduates will share how their experiences in the program not only increased their botanical literacy but developed community connections through conservation and restoration projects.

2:45-3:30     Seed Testing Native Species: Where Ecology Meets the Laboratory
Tia Tyler, PhD, laboratory supervisor, US Forest Service National Seed Laboratory

Seed testing is a fundamental tool to assess the quality of seeds for propagation. However, testing native species has unique challenges due to natural variation in seed traits and a lack of standardized methods. The US Forest Service National Seed Laboratory, located near Macon GA, specializes in providing testing services for seeds of trees and other native species. Tia will introduce us to seed testing techniques and share the role that the National Seed Laboratory plays in the world of native plants.

3:30             Closing Remarks & Adjourn

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

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