38th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium

Join the U.S. National Arboretum for a day of engaging presentations about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems during the 38th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium. Learn about supporting native pollinators, utilizing native plants in a historic estate garden, uses of preserved specimens from USNA’s Herbarium (demonstration included), species versus cultivars in regional trial gardens, backyard stormwater management, and foraging locally from this year’s slate of experts!

The Lahr Native Plant Symposium is perfect the home gardener. The symposium features seven expert speakers, and will take place in the Arboretum’s Visitor Center Auditorium. Lunch is included in the cost of registration (please note your dietary preference when registering).

PAY WHAT YOU CAN REGISTRATION

The suggested registration cost is $95 (or $76 for FONA members), but please pay what you can to attend starting at $50. We want this educational program to be accessible to as many people as possible. The base fee of $50 covers the Arboretum’s costs to pay for speakers and lunches. Any amount you pay over $50 directly supports the Arboretum’s Fern Valley Native Plant Collection.

PROGRAM & SPEAKERS

The Lahr Symposium will run from 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, March 29th. Event check-in will begin at 8:30 that morning. The symposium will feature seven expert speakers:

• Sam Droege, Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Geologic survey
• Dr. Harlan Svoboda, Herbarium Curator, U.S. National Arboretum
• Ethan Kauffman, Director, Stoneleigh Garden
• Sam Hoadley, Manager of Horticultural Research, Mt. Cuba Center
• Joint presentation by Dr. Stacy Smalls-Lorenz, Residential Landscape Ecology Specialist, and Amanda Rockler, Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist, University of Maryland Extension
• April Thompson, Master Naturalist based in Washington, D.C.

NATIVE PLANT SALE

FONA’s annual Native Plant Sale is held in conjunction with the Lahr Symposium on March 29th from 8 AM to 1 PM. Browse from a small number of plant vendors before the symposium starts or during the lunch hour. Please note in the past, some vendors have sold out by lunchtime. Visit FONA’s website for more information about the Native Plant Sale.

This course is hosted by the U.S. National Arboretum, with registration support by Friends of the National Arboretum. You will receive reminders from the USNA team closer to the event. If you have questions about the event’s content or schedule, please email Kamala Codrington-White at K.Codringtonwhite@usda.gov. If you have questions about your registration or to request a refund, please email FONA at info@fona.org.

Refund Policy: Full refunds are provided for refund requests received up to 3 days prior to the program date. Please email info@fona.org to request a refund.