Seminars & Demonstrations

Get ready for an exceptional speaker lineup at the 2026 Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo! This year brings together horticultural experts, floral designers, ecological landscape educators, business leaders, and garden center professionals—all eager to share their knowledge and passion. Enjoy fresh ideas, expert advice, trending topics, and inspiring live demos. All seminars, lectures, and demonstrations are FREE with paid admission.

Seminar

Schedule

Friday, March 27, 2026

TimeTopicSpeakerAffiliationRoom
11:00 amPromoting Plant Health Through Proper PruningFred Breglia

Landis Arboretum

1A
11:00 amManaging Invasive Species in your BackyardAddison Kubik

Capital Region PRISM

Eco 1B
11:30 amSchenectady’s Central Park: A Park for the PeopleMarge Rizzo | Arden Lawand

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady County

2A
12:00 pmCut Flowers and How to Make Them LastSuzanne Balet-Haight

Balet Flowers & Design

1A
12:00 pmBuilding a Bird GardenKristi SheplerEco 1B
12:30 pmAll About HostasDave Jennings
Upstate NY Hosta Society

2A
1:00 pmImproving Soils for Better Results in All LocationsFred Breglia

Landis Arboretum

1A
1:00 pmFrom Lawn to Garden in Two WeeksKate Brittenham 🌱

Front Stoop Gardens, LLC

Eco 1B
1:30 pmThe Wheel of the Year: Herbs of the SpringJanis Fallon

Cornell Cooperative Ext. Rens. Co.

2A
2:00 pmWinning the War on WeedsJoanne Strevy

Rosewood Gardens

1A
2:00 pmWhat You Can Do to Help NatureRhonda Rumsey van Heuveln 🌱

Capital Native Plants

Eco 1B
2:30 pmAging in the Garden: Green Thumbs Never DieRobert & Marie Wieboldt

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County

2A
3:00 pmGrowing Citrus Trees in the NortheastBarb Melera

Harvesting History

1A
3:00 pmGarden Gold: Why Worms Are Every Plant’s Best FriendCody Futia

Vermiluv

Eco 1B
3:30 pmYou Can Grow Orchids! They Are Different But Not Difficult.Donna Wardlaw

Northeastern NY Orchid Society

2A
4:00 pmThe Mayor's GardenKathryn Kosto

Ten Broeck Mansion

1A
4:00 pmHome CompostingGlen Culbertson

Home Earth Alliance 🌱

Eco 1B

Saturday, March 28, 2026

TimeTopicSpeakerAffiliationRoom
10:00 amSeed Starting WorkshopRhonda Rumsey van Heuveln 🌱

Capital Native Plants

Eco 1B
10:30 amStunning SucculentsDenise Maurer

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer

2A
11:00 amImproving Soils for Better Results in All LocationsFred Breglia

Landis Arboretum

1A
11:00 amNative Plants and the Birds Who Love ThemKate Brittenham 🌱

Front Stoop Gardens, LLC

Eco 1B
11:30 amThe Wheel of the Year: Herbs of the SpringJanis Fallon

Cornell Cooperative Ext. Rens. Co.

2A
12:00 pmLiving Wreaths & Kokedame with SucculentsSuzanne Balet-Haight

Balet Flowers & Design

1A
12:00 pmCircle of Life in the GardenRhonda Rumsey van Heuveln 🌱

Capital Native Plants

Eco 1B
12:30 pmYou Can Grow Orchids! They Are Different But Not Difficult.Donna Wardlaw

Northeastern NY Orchid Society

2A
1:00 pmPromoting Plant Health Through Proper PruningFred Breglia

Landis Arboretum

1A
1:00 pmSustainable Landscapes: Creating a Pollinator GardenAddison Kubik

Capital Region PRISM

Eco 1B
1:30 pmGrowing A Great LawnDavid Chinery

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer

2A
2:00 pmEveryone Love TomatoesJohn Martin

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Albany County

1A
2:00 pmNative Carnivorous PlantsShobha Chengalur-Smith

Cornell Cooperative Ext. Sch'dy Co.

Eco 1B
2:30 pmKodak Moments in the GardenChet Boehlke

Independent Photographer, Instructor

2A
3:00 pmCreating a Backyard Vegetable GardenJohn Martin

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Albany County

1A
3:00 pm50 Eco-Friendly Things You Can Do BingoPam Skripak 🌱

Home Earth Alliance

Eco 1B
3:30 pmCarnivorous Plants: Plants with PersonalityBill Schwartz

Clever Carnivores

2A
4:00 pmStyling Cut FlowersChris Grigas

Bill Doran

1A
4:00 pmGarden Gold: Why Worms Are Every Plant’s Best FriendCody Futia

Vermiluv

Eco 1B
4:30 pmBuilding a Japanese Garden: Essential Dos and Don’tsDavid Besozzi

Educator, Passionate Gardener

2A

Sunday, March 29, 2026

TimeTopicSpeakerAffiliationRoom
10:30 amJapanese Flower ArrangingEllen White Rook

NYCD Sogetsu Study Group

2A
11:00 amGrowing Plants in ContainersBarb Melera

Harvesting History

1A
11:00 amLet's Thank the Trees!Margaret Blohm

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady

Eco 1B
11:30 amHerbal Tea from Your GardenMatthew Zacharewicz

Short and Stout Tea Company

2A
12:00 pmAnyone Can Grow English RosesJoanne Strevy

Rosewood Gardens

1A
12:00 pmA Bug’s Eye View: Caring for Our Gardens with CompassionKate Brittenham 🌱

Front Stoop Gardens, LLC

Eco 1B
12:30 pmCarnivorous Plants: Plants with PersonalityBill Schwartz

Clever Carnivores

2A
1:00 pmPetal TalkMichele Peters, AIFD

Ambiance Florals & Events

1A
1:00 pm10 (Underrated) Trees For Your Landscape & How To Plant ThemWill Vitagliano 🌱

Home Earth Alliance

Eco 1B
1:30 pmOrchid RepottingElyse DuBois

North Eastern NY Orchid Society

2A
2:00 pmDaring or Demure, DayliliesKathryn Mohr

Hudson-Adirondack Daylily Society

1A
2:00 pmGardening for WildlifeTami Sheiffer🌱

Home Earth Alliance

Eco 1B
2:30 pmModern TablescapesBen Felthousen

Felthousen Florist & Greenhouse

2A
3:00 pmWinning the War on WeedsChris Grigas

Bill Doran

1A
3:00 pmFamily Food ForestsZachary Lynn

Roots Learning Lab

Eco 1B
3:30 pmOrchid Q&A: Ask the ExpertsElyse DuBois

North Eastern NY Orchid Society

2A

People Involved

Meet Our Experts

 
View a description of each topic by clicking the photo of the expert giving the talk.
 
🌱 is a Home Earth Alliance presenter.
Suzanne Balet-Haight
Suzanne Balet-Haight

Balet Flowers & Design

Fred Breglia
Fred Breglia

Landis Arboretum

Kate Brittenham 🌱

Front Stoop Gardens, LLC

Michele Peters
Michele Peters, AIFD

Ambiance Florals & Events

David Besozzi

Educator, Passionate Gardener

Margaret Blohm

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady

Chet Boehlke

Independent Photographer, Instructor

Shobha Chengalur-Smith

Cornell Cooperative Ext. Sch'dy Co.

David Chinery
David Chinery

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer

Glen Culbertson

Home Earth Alliance 🌱

Elyse DuBois

North Eastern NY Orchid Society

Janis Fallon

Cornell Cooperative Ext. Rens. Co.

Ben Felthousen

Felthousen Florist & Greenhouse

Cody Futia

Vermiluv

Chris Grigas
Chris Grigas

Bill Doran

Dave Jennings
Upstate NY Hosta Society

Kathryn Kosto

Ten Broeck Mansion

Addison Kubik

Capital Region PRISM

Zachary Lynn

Roots Learning Lab

John Martin

Cornell Cooperative Extension, Albany County

Denise Maurer

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer

Barb Melera

Harvesting History

Kathryn Mohr

Hudson-Adirondack Daylily Society

Marge Rizzo | Arden Lawand

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schenectady County

Rhonda Rumsey van Heuveln 🌱

Capital Native Plants

Bill Schwartz

Clever Carnivores

Tami Sheiffer🌱

Home Earth Alliance

Kristi Shepler
Pam Skripak 🌱

Home Earth Alliance

Joanne Strevy

Rosewood Gardens

Donna Wardlaw
Donna Wardlaw

Northeastern NY Orchid Society

Will Vitagliano 🌱

Home Earth Alliance

Ellen White Rook

NYCD Sogetsu Study Group

Robert & Marie Wieboldt

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County

Matthew Zacharewicz
Matthew Zacharewicz

Short and Stout Tea Company

Our

Sponsors

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