We invite you to attend this educational opportunity that will inspire the way you look at native plants. The workshop will be held at one of our favorite venues, the Bergamo Center in Beavercreek, Ohio. We offer informative presentations, hands-on learning opportunities and field trips for home gardeners, native plant activists, landscape designers, and anyone interested in learning about the remarkable world of native plants and their interactions with our local wildlife. Rooms are available to rent at the Bergamo Center on Friday night. $72 single, $95 double. Email midwestnativeplants@gmail.com for more information. Go here for detailed information about the Speakers and Programs. A special thank you to Dayton Area Wild Ones and Greater Cincinnati Wild Ones Chapter.

Keynote Speaker Donald Pell, Fumblings of a Garden Designer: The Journey of an Ecological Sensualist

Workshop Agenda
Registration opens promptly at 9:00 am. Please enter through the main front doors of the Bergamo Center. We encourage all attendees to arrive early to ensure they have time to check in and settle before the day’s activities begin. At 9:30 am, we will kick off the workshop with a session led by the renowned Landscape Designer, Donald Pell, who has received numerous awards for his work in the field. Following his presentation, participants will be able to engage in various educational programs designed to enhance their knowledge and appreciation of landscaping and ecology. Programs will take place both indoors and outdoors. 

At noon, Lunch will be provided and served in the Bergamo dining room. Options will be available for vegetarians. This will be a great time to network with fellow attendees and reflect on the morning’s sessions. After lunch, we will continue our educational journey with additional programming, concluding the day with an informative presentation by well-known naturalist Jim McCormac. Jim will share his insights on sparrows, highlighting their behaviors and habitats, and how native plants sustain them during the winter months.

At 4:00 pm, for those interested in a more hands-on experience, we will offer an optional field trip after the presentations. This trip, led by Kelly Capuzzi, will take place on the grounds, where we will search for fascinating native plants and observe local wildlife, with a special emphasis on spotting winter sparrows in their natural habitat. Team members and speakers will be leading additional trips in the field, weather depending.