Gardening Symposium

Discovering the Secret Lives of Insects: A Pathway to Greener Gardens – Madeline Potter

Madeline Potter will take you on a fascinating journey through the world of insects and their extraordinary relationships with plants. Together, we’ll explore how these tiny creatures can open our eyes to the beauty and importance of sustainable gardening.

Madeline Potter, M.S. is a Faculty Specialist for Entomology and Integrated Pest Management with the University of Maryland Extension, Home and Garden Information Center.

Growing Wild – Vickie Shufer

"Growing Wild" focuses on transforming your landscape into a thriving foraging ground, providing edible and medicinal plants, as well as pollinator-friendly species that benefit both people and wildlife

Vickie Shufer is an herbalist and forager with a Master’s Degree in Therapeutic Herbalism. She teaches classes on edible and medicinal plants, including medicine making and wild food cooking classes. She is the author of The Forager’s Handbook and The Everything Guide to Foraging and is the owner of Wild Woods Farm, a certified native nursery in southern Virginia Beach and northeastern North Carolina. The focus at Wild Woods Farm is on growing both native and cultivated medicinal herbs, and creating teas, vinegars and salves for healing.

Keynote: Understanding Garden Soil – Bryce Lane

Bryce Lane is a teacher, speaker, horticulturist and TV show host. He is a semi-retired award-winning horticulture teacher at North Carolina State University. He continues to teach at NCSU and at the JC Raulston Arboretum. Lane produced and hosted a three-time Emmy-winning PBS North Carolina television show called "In the Garden with Bryce Lane" from 2003-2013.