2026 APGA Workshops

August 4th & 5th, 2026 | Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE 19807

Sentinel Plant Network Workshop (SPN)

This USDA grant funded workshop is FREE to APGA members. Registered attendees are awarded a travel stipend (reimbursement, limited spaces) to cover transportation to and from the workshop, as well as one hotel night per attendee at the Inn at Mendenhall (booking deadline extended to July 10!).

The workshop will cover plant health basics, information on the most significant pest threats to ornamentals, as well as a field walk to sharpen pest monitoring skills, and a case study on Winterthur’s action plan for the ongoing beech leaf disease epidemic.

Cost: Free for APGA Members (limited travel stipends available)

Workshop Schedule:

10:30–11:00 am: Workshop Introduction

11:00–12:00 pm: Plant Diagnostics 101

12:00–1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 3:00 pm: Field/Lab

3:00–3:15 pm: Break

3:15–4:15 pm: Regional Update (incl. Beech Leaf Disease)

4:15–5:30 pm: Case studies on pest resilience

5:30–6:30 pm: Dinner, Reporting Introductions, Chain of Communication

Spots and stipends are limited. Sign up for one workshop or both (stipend only applies to SPN workshop). Please book your hotel room and make any necessary travel plans as soon as possible. You will be contacted individually regarding your stipend reimbursement.

SPN Workshop Questions? Contact Program Manager, Tyler Hale, at thale@publicgardens.org.

Building a Disaster Readiness Program at Your Garden Workshop (DRI)

This new advanced workshop reinforces the need for proactive disaster management planning to mitigate impacts on public gardens. Our Disaster Readiness Specialists will give you the tools to build and sustain a comprehensive disaster program for your garden. You’ll participate in a facilitated scenario-based exercise to work through how best to respond when disaster strikes.

Cost: $50.00 USD (APGA Members only, SPN stipend not applicable)

Workshop Schedule:

8:30–9:00am: Check-In

9:00–9:15am: Introduction & Welcome Notes

9:15–9:45am: Session 1: Disaster Impacts on Public Gardens

1. What is Disaster Management?
2. Disaster Impacts on Public Gardens
3. Emergent Pest/Pathogen Case Study

9:45–10:00am: Morning Break

10:00am–12:00pm: Session 2: Building a Comprehensive Disaster Program

1. Pillars of a Comprehensive disaster Management Program
2. Developing Your Disaster Management Plan
3. Building & Sustaining Your Program
4. Training & Staff Engagement
5. Community Coordination & Partnerships
6. Program Maintenance, Evaluation, & Continuous Improvement

12:00–12:30pm: Lunch/ Q&A Session

12:30–2:30pm: Session 3: Tabletop Exercise – Industrial HazMat upstream/wind scenario

2:30–3:00 pm: Hotwash/Wrap Up

Spots are limited. Sign up for one workshop or both (stipend only applies to SPN workshop). Please book your hotel room and make any necessary travel plans as soon as possible. SPN workshop registrants will be contacted individually regarding your stipend reimbursement.

DRI Workshop Questions? Contact Pam Allenstein, Senior Program Manager, Collections, Conservation & Disaster Readiness, at pallenstein@publicgardens.org.