Woody Plants & Landscape Symposium

“Science, Stewardship, and Selection for the Modern Landscape”

 

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Hosted by Boone County Arboretum, this one-day conference brings together public garden professionals, green-industry leaders, municipal arborists, designers, and plant enthusiasts for practical talks on trees and shrubs in the modern landscape.

Boone County Enrichment Center, Burlington, KY (Greater Cincinnati, 1 mile from CVG Airport)

Doors open 8:00 AM • Program 8:50 AM – 4:30 PM • Lunch provided  • Many CEUs being organized

 

Registration Opens Soon

• General: $109
• Students: $49 (with valid ID)

Registration includes: Lunch*, coffee & snacks, free parking, and expected CEUs.

If you can't attend the event but would still like to support the Arboretum and FBCA initiatives, you can make a financial gift here.

 

A Simultaneous Silent Auction

• Our silent auction will include a great selection of plants, hand-crafted fall decor, beaded jewelry - a little something for everyone!
• Bidding is online only, but the items will be on display at the event and available for winners to pick up at the conclusion of the symposium. If a winner is not in attendance, they can schedule a time to pick up their items from the Arboretum Office in the days following the event.

 

Continuing Education Units Being Requested:

• ISA
• Ohio Pesticide Applicator
• Kentucky Pesticide Applicator
• Indiana Pesticide Applicator
• ALPD
• OGIA
• ASLA - Ohio
• ASLA - Indiana
• ASLA - Kentucky
• PGMS

 

Program Schedule, Session Summaries, and Speaker Bios will be posted soon.

 

 

Venue & Travel

Boone County Enrichment Center
1824 Patrick Drive, Burlington, KY 41005
Open in Google Maps

• Greater Cincinnati location — 1 mile from CVG Airport
• Free on-site parking
• 15+ hotels located within 10 minutes of both venue and airport

 

Sponsors & Exhibitors

Support a full day of education and networking for landscape pros, arborists, and public garden leaders across the Ohio Valley.

• Gold — $1,000: premium logo placement; verbal recognition; complimentary exhibitor table; 4 registrations
• Silver — $500: logo placement; program recognition; complimentary exhibitor table; 2 registrations
• Bronze — $250: name recognition; program recognition; 1 registration
• Exhibitor Table — $150: one 6-ft table; program recognition; 1 registration
   

To sign up for this sponsorship opportunity, contact Amanda Rehkamp, Development Director, Friends of Boone County Arboretum
9190 Camp Ernst Road, Union, KY 41091 • Office: (859) 384-4999 • Mobile: (859) 242-5902 • E-mail

 

 

 

Past Symposium Presentations/ Themes:

In 2018, Friends of Boone County Arboretum (FBCA) established this Symposium to bring attention to the various ecological challenges our trees are facing, as well as highlight the need for and successes in various tree conservation efforts, and expand plant acquisition and research projects at the Arboretum.

• 2025 - Resilient Landscapes Through Plant Selection, Design, and Pest Awareness
• 2024 - Tough Trees for Urban Landscapes
• 2023 - State of the Trees
• 2022 - Plant Exploration: Geekiness with a Purpose
• 2020 - State of the Trees
• 2019 - Seeking New Plants: Pursuits of the Rare, the Cool, and the Weird
• 2018 - Plant Exploration with Chicago Botanic Garden and The Morton Arboretum