Native plants were the hot of the Mid-Atlantic Ornamental Horticulture Day that was sponsored by the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society, hosted by Longwood Gardens, and supported by the PA, DE, NJ and MD Landscape and Nursery Associationsus on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The day of discussions and tours explored the flourishing ornamental horticulture industry in the Mid-Atlantic.

Following welcoming remarks by Paul Redman, President of Longwood Gardens, a panel moderated by Andrew Bunting of PHS and consisting of Vanessa Finney of the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse Association, Tom Knezick of the New Jersey Association, Carrie Wiles of the Delaware Association, and Larry Shehan of the Pennsylvania Association described the nature of the industry in the region and highlighted the trends in ornamentals.

After the panel discussion, attendees took one of two guided tours—Longwood’s floriculture production greenhouse, where the magic begins; or the new West Conservatory, Bonsai Pavilion and the recreated Roberto Burle Marx Cascade Garden. 

During the lunch break, PSPA Secretary Dr. Scott Sheely recognize Colton del Collo, one of the winners of the Winter Memorial Scholarship in Horticulture who was there with his parents.  Colton is working at Longwood Gardens over the summer and headed for Cornell University in the fall to start a graduate degree in horticulture management.

After lunch in the Fountain Room, the group travel to nearby North Creek Nurseries, an industry leading grower of perennials and native plants, for a guided tour by owner Steve Castorani. North Creek pioneered the production of Landscape Plugs and grows 250 million plants per year. from seed, cuttings, division, and tissue culture.

Great thanks to Robert Grenfell, PSPA Vice-President and Chair, Publicity Committee, for being the primary organizer of the event.