Monday August 24th

8:00-8:15 Welcome and opening remarks- Joe Willimas AZH President

       

8:20-9:15 Cathy Jean Maloney Key note Speaker

Olmsted's Landscapes - Timeless Guidance for Today

Frederick Law Olmsted, the "Father of American Landscape Architecture," developed landscape designs that are enjoyed today in many of America's signature outdoor spaces (e.g. New York's Central Park, the Capitol grounds, major university campuses and national parks). His ideas influenced the layouts of major public spaces and cities today, including American zoos. The plant palettes used in his designs were both inspired and practical, and hold lessons for us today. Preservation of these historic and relevant landscapes is critical.

9:20-9:45 Chandra Methany

Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil – Conservation Efforts for an Endangered Ecosystem, the Golden Lion Tamarin and Inspirations for a Biodome

The Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil is one of the top biodiverse conservation hot spots, today containing less than 2% of it’s remaining forest as an endangered ecosystem which also hosts the endangered Golden Lion Tamarin, a species which requires over 25,000 hectares of unfragmented rainforest for viable population survival. Take a journey through an analysis of rainforest species in Silva Jardim in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as I traveled to assist with restoration efforts, conservation strategies in agroforestry with the farming community, study GLT behavior within the forest structure in partnership with Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) (aka Save the Golden Lion Tamarin), and look at ways to reflect these efforts into interpretation and horticultural design as a lens for public awareness in The Greensboro Science Center’s future development, Expedition Rainforest: Biodome

9:50-10:15 Brad Trentham

The Canopy Keepers: Saving Big Trees and Scaling Up Habitat Canopies

• Mastering large tree transplanting methods — Understand and differentiate between spade, balled-and-burlapped, boxed, and container transplanting, including method selection criteria, cost-benefit tradeoffs, and site considerations specific to zoo environments. 
• Applying custom grow methodology — Evaluate how custom-grown large tree programs address population-scale canopy goals, enabling practitioners to sidestep nursery stock limitations and deliver impact trees on a predictable timeline and budget. 
• Implementing post-transplant care in restricted environments — Translate ISA Best Management Practices and ANSI A-300 post-transplant care standards into actionable protocols for the zoo context, navigating limited access, animal occupancy, and the unique horticultural demands of living exhibits. 
• Transplanting & post-transplant care for large trees in complex zoo environments

10:20- 10:45 Graig Mason

Conservation through Gardening

Brookfield Zoo Chicago offers exploratory learning experiences rooted in everyday sustainable gardening practices – allowing families to foster positive interactions with the environment and engage in intergenerational learning, which sows the seeds of meaningful relationships, with each other, the community, and wildlife. Through planting, maintaining, growing, and developing garden spaces, STEAM skills are facilitated in an authentic context that supports immediate practice. Families creatively problem-solve together to address irrigation concerns, create habitat supports, and tend to native and produce plants.   A lens of conservation awareness guides project-based learning and play-based activities that nurture the foundations of individual resiliency while also increasing access to nature and provides confidence in managing healthy landscapes. 

10:50-11:10 Break/poster session

11:10-11:35 Lou Meyer  

Storm Response for Your Green Assets

Presenting on how zoos can prepare and respond to storm situations regarding their tree canopies. I would start by discussing potential consequences of avoiding preplanning, including structural damage and asset loss, and perhaps animal health if I can get ahold of some data there. I will also highlight the value of tree inventories. Next, I will outline how zoos should approach routine maintenance to mitigate potential storm damage, focusing on hazard reduction, clearance pruning, and canopy lifting to allow egress during emergencies. Plant Health Care will play a part of the presentation as healthy trees and shrubs can withstand damage better than plants with preexisting conditions. Finally, I will pivot to storm response. This section will cover expectations, how to communicate with your vegetation management provider, and mitigation actions to recover what was lost.

11:40-12:05 Kaley Hubbard  

Growing Your Browse Capacity 

At the Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo we have a robust browse program with a large capacity and many resources. I'd like to offer knowledge and advice to other zoos on how to start a browse program or how to work across departments to help animals get nutritional and behavioral benefits from extra browse. Sharing our approved species, how we get approval and feedback for new species, talk about how we harvest and distribute material, and how we preserve material for winter (if interested).

12:05-1:05 Business lunch

1:05- 1:30 Neus Alcon Bou

Preliminary Assessment of Pruning Strategies in Willow (Salix caroliniana) for Browse Biomass Production

In zoological institutions, many herbivorous species rely on browse (leaves, young shoots, and woody material) as a key component of nutrition and natural foraging behavior. Sustainable production of plant biomass for animal feed requires a consistent supply of plant material. Willow (Salix spp.) is a fast-growing woody species commonly used as browse due to its rapid regrowth and high palatability. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK), willow is grown as part of a large-scale browse system that supplies fresh plant material for animal feeding. The existing willow trees are mature (approximately 20 years old) and show signs of structural decline, including areas of dead or unproductive bark tissue, which may impact productivity. This study evaluates different pruning strategies aimed at rejuvenating tree structure with the objective of promoting new growth and improving both biomass yield and browse quality. Treatments included no pruning (control), thinning, pollarding, de-knuckling, and coppicing. Treatments were applied before spring regrowth, and plant response was monitored throughout the growing season. Main measurements included shoot length, shoot diameter, canopy volume, and leaf area. Preliminary observations indicate differences in growth patterns among treatments. Trees receiving intensive pruning; de-knuckling, pollarding, and coppicing, produced more vigorous shoots compared with trees receiving limited canopy removal. These treatments also appeared to stimulate faster bud development while removing dead bark tissue from the trees. Ongoing evaluations will help determine whether these pruning strategies can support long-term productivity and browse quality in aging willow systems.

1:35-2:30 Christy Powell Panel Discussion

Plant Conservation Projects - How to get started

Worldwide there are approximately 391,000 vascular plant species and about 21% are threatened with extinction. Of those, approximately 58,000 plant species are trees and 29% are threatened with extinction. Zoos, Aquariums, Botanical Gardens, Arboretum and Universities have a unique roll to play in plant and animal conservation. Plants can be protected in ex situ conservation collections in our institutions and be part of a larger meta collection to preserve genetic diversity. This panel will give AZH member resources and experience on which to draw to begin their own plant conservation projects with minimal resources.

                               

2:35- 3:00 Andrea Brennan

ArbNet the International Community of Arboreta of All Shapes and Sizes

ArbNet is the award-winning, international community of arboreta and tree-focused professionals, and is instrumental in helping establish, grow, and network arboreta around the world. The program was launched in 2011 by The Morton Arboretum to identify and support arboreta, define professional standards, and facilitate exchange of knowledge, experience, and resources. The ArbNet community has grown to nearly 1000 accredited arboreta across 43 countries and engages with diverse audiences and arboreta, including zoos, municipal arboreta, parks, universities, schools, cemeteries, retirement communities, and other types of community-led organizations that plant and care for trees. Through ArbNet, arboreta and tree professionals can work collaboratively as part of a broad, inclusive network to elevate awareness of the importance of trees and other woody plants, support tree planting and care, increase tree equity and access, and advance tree research and conservation around the world. 
 
ArbNet provides a variety of resources and services - all free - to support arboreta and help them meet their institutional goals and increase organizational resiliency. These include the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program to recognize standards of excellence and provide a roadmap for growth in tree-focused gardens; a curated library of arboretum- and tree-related resources; the Arboretum Research Partner Initiative to increase the visibility of arboreta as research and conservation partners; and funding opportunities, such as the ArbNet / BGCI Partnership Programme, which supports conservation and collaboration of accredited arboreta. With the numerous resources and opportunities available through ArbNet, arboreta of all types and capacity are enabled to advance collections curation, engagement and educational programming, garden operations, research, and conservation.

 

3:00-3:25 Break/ Poster session

3:30-4:25 Emily Conn panel discussion

Urbs in Horto: Wild Gardening in Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo is an accredited zoo, arboretum, and botanical garden, nestled in downtown Chicago. Our urban gardens are flourishing with diverse taxa and intentional design to maximize benefits to urban wildlife and the animals in our care by utilizing native plants, thoughtful garden design, and ecological stewardship across 49 acres. Learn from our team how we make the magic happen!

4:30-4:55 Havard Ostgaard

Increase the Potential Impact of Your Garden with Reliable Collection Data

The plants in your collection are your garden's greatest asset. Living specimens that embody your institution's mission, whether in conservation, research, education, heritage, or horticulture. Yet for many zoo's and botanic gardens, the knowledge that makes these collections truly valuable remains locked away in spreadsheets, handwritten notes, or the memory of individual staff members. Data that is inaccessible is data that cannot work for you. 
This session explores what becomes possible when your collection data is reliable, structured, and shareable. Good data transforms how a garden operates and how it connects with the world around it, strengthening internal decision-making, supporting scientific research, deepening visitor engagement, and enabling meaningful contributions to regional and global initiatives. Using Hortis as a case study, we demonstrate how modern tools can reduce friction through intuitive design, accessible pricing, and low total cost of ownership. The session includes live demonstrations and closes with an open Q&A

           

Wednesday August 26^th

8:00-8:25 Jonathan Stechschulte  

See Like a Designer: A Spatial Design Toolkit for Zoological Horticulturalists 

Horticulture unequivocally shapes how guests emotionally experience space. Through planting, grading, screening, canopy curation, and spatial sequencing, the way plants are maintained is integral to helping create anticipation, immersion, surprise, and discovery throughout the zoo or aquarium experience. 
 
This session introduces practical spatial design concepts and terms commonly used in landscape architecture, themed entertainment, and exhibit design. Some examples include hide-and-reveal, framed views, compression and release, prospect and refuge, and environmental storytelling. The session will explore these examples and others with the intent of demystifying “design” principles and in turn empowering horticulture professionals to apply these concepts for themselves. Attendees will leave with new ways to think about horticultural practice as a powerful tool for shaping spatial perception, human movement, and experience memories. 

8:30-9:25 IPM Panel Speakers 55min

9:25-9:40 Break/ Poster session

9:45- 10:25 Dr. Schepis

               

10:30-10:55 Chester Jankowski Jr 

The Invisible Exhibit: Why Horticulture Matters More Than Visitors Realize

Zoo horticulture is far more than landscape maintenance—it is an immersive exhibit that influences every visitor's experience. This presentation explores how thoughtful planting design, seasonal interest, and functional landscapes can foster connections, support conservation messaging, enhance animal welfare, and improve operational efficiency. Through practical examples and design principles, attendees will discover how horticulture quietly shapes the way guests explore, learn, and remember a zoo, transforming plants from background scenery into an essential part of the institution's mission.

11:00-11:25 Emily Conn  

Leveraging Horticulture Programming For Wildlife, For All 

With our 2024 accreditations as a botanical garden through Botanical Garden Conservation International and elevated accreditation as an ArbNet Level 3 Arboretum, the Horticulture team at Lincoln Park Zoo continues reaching new heights! Learn how our team has curated the Plant Collection's Network Nationally Accredited Herbaceous Perennial Hibiscus collection, developed a well-rounded scientific project-based Public Horticulture Internship, free and revenue-generating tour programs that target diverse audiences, and how we leverage our expertise to supplement other departments’ established programming with thoughtful horticultural design and function.

11:30-11:55 David Farrow  

ZooFlora: Currents of Life

ZooFlora is an immersive horticulturally focused show that uses curated landscape design to capture the attention of guests and to encourage curiosity of our living world. The seasonal displays of ZooFlora elevate the guests’ park experience, and invite the viewer to delve deeper into the message behind the design. Woven throughout the framework of ZooFlora are the interconnected stories of plants and animals and how they live in tandem with one another. The first ZooFlora installation, An Orchid Safari, was centered around the diverse plant family of Orchidaceae. This year we welcome ZooFlora: Currents of Life, a showcase of ocean ecosystems and the stories of keystone animal and plant/algae species within them. Using terrestrial plants to paint a picture, ZooFlora has yet again invited the viewer to discover an integral part of our living world through horticulture. 

12:00- 12:30                Game of Knowledge

Posters

Amber Yates Jacksonville Zoo

Browse for Our Giraffe Feeding Experience

Jacksonville zoo and botanical gardens offer our guests an opportunity to feed the giraffes with our Total Experience tickets. Harvesting for this experience is done by our staff on zoo grounds. I will talk about the process from how we communicate with our education team to order the browse for the day, how it is harvested, processed, and the guest interaction. This will include how we quantify browse as well. I'm looking to highlight some of the hurdles we’ve had with resources and hope to share with my peers for feedback

Aaron Lynn-Vogel Lincoln Park Zoo

Trialing Marginally Hardy Species in the Chicago Area 

The greater Chicago area climate has been shifting warmer with global warming, changing the makeup of plants that are possible to grow in the area. Last year we Trialed a number of different marginal species ranging from hardy begonias to canna lilies. See the results of what survived, what didn't, and our thoughts on what we think might be reliable in the future.

Elliot Foley Lincoln Park Zoo

Perennial Herbaceous Hibiscus: A Study of Flower Phenology

Participants stopping by the poster will be able to easily understand and replicate our recommended method for standardizing and collecting flowering data. By highlighting the development of Lincoln Park Zoo’s approach to the collection of data from the beginning through various stages, other gardens can gain insight into standardizing their own methods based on species they are monitoring. Graphs and photographs will integrate nature, art, and science, presenting the data in an engaging manner for attendees. Included will also be a picture of an illustrated poster created by our graphic artist of variety highlights in our collection – a visual tool used to not only bring awareness to the importance of our accredited collection, but also as a revenue-generating add-on for events. Whether working to build out their core collections or growing an interest in collecting their own phenology data, garden representatives can use the knowledge we have gained through years of data collection to start their own phenologic studies. 

Native hardy hibiscus are charismatic giants of the summer garden, but how well do we truly understand their flowering cycle? After six years of collecting phenology data of the flowering cycle of the accredited herbaceous perennial hibiscus collection at Lincoln Park Zoo, we have learned a lot and have created a method that may work for other gardens looking to add the collection of phenologic flowering data to their research priorities. Internally our goals have been to improve the accuracy of our data sets by standardizing data collection procedures, continuing to build our ‘living library’ acting as a source of germplasm, increasing the interpretation of our collection for the public, marketing, and events, and making our research available to interested parties. With the development of a standardized phenophase guide, increasing the data collection window, and increasing the frequency of data collection, we gained a better understanding of the flowering cycle of herbaceous perennial hibiscus which over time will allow us to make inferences into the impact of climate changes on the duration of flowering cycles and will help us manage the collection moving forward.

Bridget Whittaker St Louis Zoo

Theme Gardens at St. Louis Zoo

Herb enrichment bed, a native garden design featuring several yarrow cultivars, parking lot xeriscape beds which feature unique and drought tolerant plants, and a reptile/amphibian themed garden in front of the Herpetarium.  A list of notable species will be included.  Zoo Theme Gardens can start conversations about conservation, animal care, and spark curiosity and a sense of whimsy!    Another element to this poster will be simply to encourage new ideas and creativity from your Zoo's horticulturists.  The Saint Louis Zoo landscape is diverse, interesting, and unique thanks to the creativity and hard work of our team.  Giving Zoo horticulturists an opportunity to bring a vision to life can lead to educational and beautiful displays!