Workshops
GNPS occasionally hosts workshops that focus on topics related to plant identification or plant ecology. Some workshops offer hands-on learning about topics such as pruning or transplanting plants. Educational materials and a chance to practice your new skills are typically provided to give our members more in-depth learning and a way to take home what you learned. Workshops are also conducted by individual chapters.
Check our calendar for listings of upcoming Georgia Native Plant Society workshops. We would love to hear from you if you are interested in leading a workshop or have a topic that you would like to learn more about.
News & Events
2020 Symposium Registration is Open
JOIN US for the GNPS 2020 NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Middle Georgia State University Conference Center, Macon, GA
Inspired by the February book release of Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Yard from Doug Tallamy, we invite you to be among the first to hear his new message.
This symposium is about connections between native plants and the fauna that rely upon them. Growing more native plants, creating native habitats, and connecting our greenspaces to sustain all of nature is needed more than ever. We all have an important role to play.
Come learn how you can help. Register now for early bird savings and join us in our mission to promote the stewardship and conservation of Georgia’s native plants and their habitat. (Vendors can register by emailing symposium@gnps.org.)
The speakers and full agenda are described here.
Georgia’s Native Azaleas Workshop
Azaleas are among Georgia’s most beautiful plants and are stunning in our gardens. On March 11 a half-day program (9am – 1pm) at the Chattahoochee Nature Center will be led by two of the State’s experts on azaleas. They will use photographic slides to discuss all twelve native azaleas of Georgia. Topics will include learning detailed identifying characteristics; where each species is found naturally; proper gardening techniques; and native azalea hybrids. A tour of the grounds of the Chattahoochee Nature Center will supplement the identification information.
The program will be led by Ken Gohring, who has held many leadership positions in the Georgia Native Plant Society, and Charles Andrews, who is a historian and has been involved in studies on the genetics of azaleas.. Both have served as president of the Azalea Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society (Charles is the current president) and are members of the Vaseyi Chapter of Azalea Society of American. They have both gardened extensively with azaleas; Charles owns property with thousands of native azaleas.
You may register HERE . There is a $5.00 fee, which includes all program materials and entry into the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Questions may be addressed to workshop4@gnps.org.
Directions to the CNC can be found on the GNPS Calendar.
Corrective Pruning Workshop
It’s the season to prune your shrubs! The upcoming Corrective Pruning Workshop will teach you how. Details below.
2017 Workshop Schedule
We have a series of great workshops lined up for 2017! The first two are posted to the Events Calendar, and the rest will be posted after the Symposium, with details to follow on the Workshops page.
Feb 18: Native Seed Propagation with Karen McCaustland & Elaine Nash. Stone Mountain
Feb 18: Corrective Pruning with Barbara Dorfman. Stone Mountain
March 11: Native Azaleas of Georgia with Ken Gohring, partnering with the Azalea Chapter. Chattahoochee Nature Center
May 20: Magnolias with Leslie Edwards, partnering with Woodlands Garden, Atlanta
May 27: Birds and Native Plants with Vinod Babu. Kennesaw Mountain
August 19: Composites ID with Ellen Honeycutt, partnering with the Georgia Botanical Society. Chattahoochee Bluffs
October 7: Birds and Native Plants with Vinod Babu. Kennesaw Mountain
October 14: Native Plants and Pollinators with Eddi Minche. McDaniel Farm, Duluth
October 28: Grasses Workshop with Walter Bland.
WGA Chapter Hosts 7th Annual Fall Festival
Mark your calendar for the Georgia Native Plant Society – West Georgia Chapter 7th Annual Fall Workshop. The WGA Chapter has been putting on this free event for 7 years in a row to help the public learn more about native plants.
Registration is from 8-8:45 and the program features 3 presentations:
Gail Woody will speak on “The 3 B’s of a Flower Garden: Birds, Bees, and Butterflies”
Robert Barr will speak on “Container Bog Gardening with Carnivorous Plants”
The keynote speaker will be Wilf Nichols, PhD, director of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Dr. Nichols will talk about “Growing Native Plants-Some Pitfalls, Pratfalls, and Downfalls”
Breaks throughout the day will allow for visiting vendors who will be selling plants and garden items until the event ends at 12:30 pm.
No pre-registration required, free admission ($5 donation to cover costs is suggested).
Native plants will be available for purchase from vendors including:
- Ernest Koone of Lazy K Nursery and Garden Delights Garden Center in Pine Mountain, GA – native azaleas and shrubs.
- Robert and Patsy Barr of Barr Gardens – bog and pitcher plants.
- Night Song Native Plant Nursery – perennials and shrubs.
For location details, please see our calendar event: https://gnps.org/calendar-event/annual-fall-workshop-wga-chapter/