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Living Landscapes Conference

• Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 7:30 AM - 4:15 PM

Understanding the Ecological Benefits of Ornamental Horticulture

This full-day, in-person workshop explores the beauty of designed landscapes while emphasizing their ecological role and protecting them from invasive pests.

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Online registration is OPEN.

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Agenda:

7:30 AM – 8:15 AM - Sign-in. Light breakfast provided.

8:15 – 8:30 AM - Welcome and Announcements
Mina Vescera, CCE Suffolk, and Vinnie Simeone, Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park

8:30 – 9:30 AM - Jumping Worms: Effects, Distribution, and Potential Management

Josef Görres, University of Vermont, Healthy Soil Collaborative

Jumping worms have now been found in at least 39 US States and 4 Canadian Provinces. They have major effects on soils, plant communities and people. Scientists from across North America are dedicated to the study of jumping worm ecology, their effects on soil fertility, water quality, pollinators, and ways of managing them. This talk will give an overview of the current research efforts.

9:30 – 10:30 AM - What Can We Learn About Urban Biodiveristy from New York’s Most Common Street Trees?
Lena Hunt, Ph.D., New York University

Street trees are among the most visible components of New York City's urban forest, providing ecosystem services such as cooling neighborhoods, improving air quality, reducing stormwater runoff, and enhancing quality of life. Yet an important question remains: do the species of trees we plant influence urban biodiversity, and could different planting decisions better support wildlife? This presentation highlights an ongoing study in Manhattan's Village neighborhoods (East Village, Greenwich Village, and West Village) examining the ecological value of the ten most common street tree species. We compare native and non-native trees to evaluate how tree species influences biodiversity in a dense urban environment. The presentation will discuss the ecological trade-offs that influence urban forestry decisions—including resilience, maintenance, and ecosystem function—and consider how emerging monitoring techniques can inform evidence-based management.

10:30 – 11:00 AM - Stretch Break

11:00 – 12:00 PM - An Integrated Approach  to Addressing Heavy Metals in Urban Soils
S. Perl Egendorf, Ph.D., Pace University

Urban soils are a record of the legacies of industrialization, where toxic elements like lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) can accumulate. Given the invisibility of soil toxicants, recognizing their presence requires listening through geochemical tools. In this presentation, we will consider the roles of geochemistry in listening to soils, locating contaminants, identifying clean soil alternatives, and discussing testing options for landscape professionals. Lastly, soils data from the NYC Clean Soil Bank initiative will be discussed to demonstrate the need for high-quality soil amendments.

12:00 – 1:00 PM - Lunch included with registration.

1:00 – 1:30 PM - Battling Mugwort in Meadows
Darcy McDowell, North Shore Land Alliance

In 2023 the North Shore Land Alliance began experimenting with a sheet mulching technique to manage monocultures of mugwort. Although the trial is still in its early stages, preliminary results revealed that there may be a correlation between the timing of the sheet mulch application and regrowth of mugwort in an area. Darcy McDowell will talk about the method, the initial trial results and how the methods for this experiment are evolving to further investigate how much timing affects mugwort survival.

1:30 – 2:30 PM - Restoring Healthy Habitat: A Transformation from Invasives to a Native Grassland

Robin Simmen, North Fork Audubon Society, Andy Senesac, Ph.D. , CCE-Suffolk

A visible quarter acre of land at Inlet Pond County Park in Greenport, NY was converted from a neglected waste area loaded with highly invasive plant species to a native grassland that supports more than thirty species of native grasses and forbs. The project was conceived and established through the efforts of a few dedicated volunteers and many hours of effort. The presenters will review the process of clearing the land, planning, and obtaining the native species, planting and fostering the seeds during the period of establishment, and steps that have been needed to complete the establishment of the grassland.

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2:30 – 2:45 PM - Quick Break

2:45 – 4:00 PM - Piet Oudolf Gardens at Planting Fields
Peter Slothower, Planting Fields Foundation

Peter will close the conference with a lecture and guided walking tour of Planting Fields' newest horticultural masterpiece, the Oudolf Garden. Home to more than 24,000 plants, the garden is a living work of art designed to inspire, educate, and foster a deeper connection between people and the natural world. Renowned for creating landscapes that celebrate the beauty of plants in every season, Piet Oudolf has transformed contemporary garden design through his naturalistic approach and emphasis on year-round interest. Scheduled for completion in fall 2026, the Oudolf Garden will be a bold new addition to the richly layered landscape of Planting Fields, marking the site's most significant landscape enhancement since the Olmsted Brothers' work of the 1930s.

4:00 – 4:15 PM - Closing Comments & Distribution of CEUs

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Fee

Pre-registration fee is $85 per person. After October 13th, registration fee is $100.

Register

http://weblink.donorperfect.com/LivingLandscapes2026

Location

Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park
1395 Planting Fields Road
Oyster Bay, New York 11771

Last updated August 7, 2026