I don't think anyone has posted this yet, but I just found out about it. Two conferences at UCONN-the first (March 8) is geared toward the professionals and the second (March 9) is tailored more toward home gardeners. Anyone can attend either one. I believe each day is $80. Here is the info, but I put listed the websites:

MARCH 8, 2007

2007 Perennial Plant Conference

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/2007ppc/

Session A (Attendees may move freely between both sessions):

9:10 Garden Design and Plant Selection by Habitat

Robert Herman, Uncommon Plants, New Hartford, CT

10:10 New and Exciting Perennials

Dan Hinkley, Heronmedia, Indianola, WA

11:10 - 11:30 Break

11:30 Organic Materials in the Landscape (pesticide credit)

Brad Roeller, Institute of Ecosystems Studies, Millbrook, NY

12:30 - 1:45 Lunch

1:45 Finding New Plants and Getting Them to Market

Dan Hinkley, Heronmedia, Indianola, WA

2:45 -3:00 Break

3:00 Managing Diseases of Perennials in the Landscape

Sharon Douglas , Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT

Session B (Attendees may move freely between both sessions):

9:10 False Lupines, Lilies, and Coneflowers, Oh My! Breeding New Garden Plants

Jim Ault, Chicago Botanic Gardens, Glencoe, IL

10:10 Native Plants and Ecological Design: Myths and Realities

C. Colston Burrell, Native Landscape Design and Restoration, Free Union, VA

11:10 - 11:30 Break

11:30 Marketing to the Next Generation of Potential Gardeners

Bridget Behe, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

12:30 - 1:45 Lunch

1:45 GOOD BONES: Creating a Framework for the Garden

C. Colston Burrell, Native Landscape Design and Restoration, Free Union, VA

2:45 - 3:00 Break

3:00 Offering Your Customers the Plants They Want at a Profit!

Steve Frowine, Natural Wonders, New Hartford, CT

MARCH 9, 2007

2007 Conference for the Home Gardener

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/2007garden/2007program.htm

9:15 AM

Warren Leach: Surmounting the Site Challenged Garden

Warren is a landscape horticulturist and co-owner of Tranquil Lake Nursery, Inc., a prominent grower of beardless iris and daylilies in Rehoboth, MA.

10:15 AM

Holly Shimizu: Using Herbs in the Garden

Holly is the Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, DC on the National Mall. Herbs are one of her areas of special interest and have been since her early days as curator of the National Herb Garden.

11:15 - 11:30 AM Break

11:30 AM

New England Invasive Plant Center Sponsored Presentation

C. Colston Burrell: MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE: Native Alternatives to Invasive Exotic Plants

Cole is a garden designer, photographer, naturalist and award-winning author. He is an avid and lifelong plantsman, gardener, and bird watcher.

12:30 - 1:45 PM Lunch

1:45 PM

Featured Presentation

Judy Glattstein: Consider the Leaf: Foliage for Garden Design

Judy is an experienced garden consultant specializing in the design of informal naturalistic and country style landscapes incorporating trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and bulbs for residential clients. She is an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden teaching certificate program.

3:15 - 3:30 PM Break

3:30 PM

Fine Gardening Sponsored Presentation

Steve Aitken: Designing with Containers

Steve is the managing editor of Fine Gardening.

Here is a link that might be useful: UCONN Home Gardener Conference