Beautiful gardens and well-designed landscapes are pleasing to the eye and give us a place to enjoy nature, right? Wrong. Though it might look green and natural, the standard American landscape is anything but and often does more harm than good to our planet. But it doesn’t have to be that way! National Wildlife Federation Naturalist David Mizejewski will break down the five common gardening practices that hurt the natural world and offer alternatives that will help you create the perfect slice of nature, right outside your door for you and the wildlife that calls your space home, too.

It’s time to talk about how much water we are using in our gardens. Groundwater supplies throughout the country are decreasing quickly due to drought and water overuse. Many regions are experiencing higher temperatures and less rain, which means that we are having to water our plants more.

In this session, Dr. Juliet Sargeant explores how to embrace your local soil conditions, choosing plants specifically adapted to thrive in your garden’s natural environment. Blending her 30 years of expertise in garden design and her passion for sustainable gardening, Juliet will offer practical strategies and creative insights to help you grow a beautiful, flourishing garden—starting from the ground up.

Jennifer Gulizia is a flower farmer and owner of The Flowering Farmhouse in Hood River, Oregon. As the host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer shares tips, stories, and insights from fellow cut flower growers. Through The Dahlia Patch, her online garden community, she educates and inspires others to grow their own dahlias. Jennifer’s mission is to help others cultivate gardens that bring beauty, joy, and fulfillment.

Jennifer Gulizia is a flower farmer and owner of The Flowering Farmhouse in Hood River, Oregon. As the host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, Jennifer shares tips, stories, and insights from fellow cut flower growers. Through The Dahlia Patch, her online garden community, she educates and inspires others to grow their own dahlias. Jennifer’s mission is to help others cultivate gardens that bring beauty, joy, and fulfillment.

Each spring brings the opportunity to try new things in the garden. Kevin and Jacques have their tried and true favorites like we all do but in this three part series discover the crops, varieties and stories behind what’s getting them really excited for the 2025 season.

Elizabeth is the founder of Adorn, a custom container garden and outdoor décor company based in Oklahoma City. With over 20 years of gardening experience, she launched Adorn in 2013 to help clients create stunning first impressions for their homes and businesses. Inspired by her parents’ love for gardening, Elizabeth combines creativity and expertise to design impactful, unique planters that enhance curb appeal.

Is 2025 the year you go beyond the garden and take your first steps toward your own homestead? Jacques Lyakov from Epic Gardening hosts a panel of some of social media’s brightest voices in growing beyond the garden… Shannie McCabe, Meagan Lloyd and Nikki Husted share their expertise on food forests plus keeping bees and chickens. Get a chance to ask your burning questions during this panel then watch their unique sessions afterwards – and ask more questions!

Meagan, known online as @meggrowsplants, is a North Carolina-based gardening creator who encourages others to grow, preserve, and cook their own food. With a low-effort, ecosystem-based approach, she promotes gardening in harmony with nature, embracing a philosophy of “garden like nature.” Her lively backyard includes chickens and bees, adding to her mission of sustainable, nature-focused living.

Each spring brings the opportunity to try new things in the garden. Kevin and Jacques have their tried and true favorites like we all do but in this three part series discover the crops, varieties and stories behind what’s getting them really excited for the 2025 season.