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Session Descriptions

Keynote: Panayoti Kelaidis
Tough Gardening: It’s not for Weaklings
Clay soil? Sandy Soil? Too dry? What if you were growing the wrong plants the wrong way? So, you think you have it tough gardening? Maybe you just haven’t tried growing the right tough plants! Pueblo has gardens I have brought visitors from around the world to see—and the Arkansas valley is a hotbed of biodiversity. Quit trying to be Seattle and buck up, Pardner—you don’t HAVE to ride the bucking bronco in this rodeo!

Using Colorado’s Natural Landscapes as Inspiration for Creating Sustainable, Resilient Gardens and Landscapes
Presented by Mike Kintgen
Drawing from Colorado’s prairies, steppes, shrublands, forest and alpine tundra we will explore how these biomes can serve as inspiration and instruction in creating landscape that will hold up to climate change.

We will start with each of the biomes and then look at plant choices from each biome that make great garden plants.  We will also explore some nonnative plants that work into these biomes.

Home Gardening for Food Security
Presented by Monique Marez
Our food systems has never been more vulnerable.  At the same time a resurgence in edible gardens and landscaping is on the rise.  In this talk we will explore how the global supply chain is at risk, and why home gardening for food security is valuable in today’s day and age.

Successful Lawn Conversion
Presented by Tony Koski
Emphasis on water conservation in home landscapes has spurred interest in converting cool-season grass lawns (bluegrass, fescue) to native grasses (buffalograss, blue grama) or other warm-season species (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass), which require much less water. Successful conversion requires thoughtful planning: smart species selection, proper timing, readying the site for the new grass, planting, and post-plant care. This presentation will present information on how to plan and conduct a successful lawn conversion.

How to Propagate Edible Hers and Native Plants
Presented by Tammi Hartung
Tammi will share propagation tips, along with culinary ideas for a number of herbs and a number of native plants, which you can grow in your garden landscape or as a container plant.