New Voices in 2026

BUY TICKETS ONLINE

February 18-22, 2026

Seattle Convention Center

BUY TICKETS

Let’s give a warm welcome to NWFGF newcomers…

Every year, the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival’s world-renowned education program welcomes a mix of beloved favorites and exciting new talent… and this year’s New Voices lineup is one to celebrate.

From first-time speakers taking the stage with fresh ideas and new perspectives to nationally recognized experts joining the Festival for the first time, these presenters bring passion, innovative techniques, and personal stories that will inspire gardeners of every level. Expect fresh takes on timeless topics, new discoveries, and creative approaches that challenge how we think about plants, people, and place.

Join us in cheering on the newest additions to our speaker community as they share their passion, expertise, and unique points of view. You might just find your next favorite garden guru among the New Voices of the 2026 Northwest Flower & Garden Festival.

Want to know more about a speaker? Simply click on their name to find their biography, and either a pop up box will appear or scroll down to the bottom of the Speaker list and the information will be there.

The speakers are listed below alphabetically by last name. All seminars are FREE with your ticket! No ticket refunds for Speaker cancellation.

Briana Selstad Bosch Author, Founder of Blossom and Branch Farm

Session: Native Plants in Flower Gardens: Beauty for Bouquets, Strength for Ecosystems | Adams Room, 2/18/2026,1:30pm

Briana Selstad Bosch is the author of The Regenerative Gardener’s Handbook (Storey Publishing, 2025) and the founder of Blossom and Branch Farm, a two-acre microfarm in Colorado dedicated to growing flowers and native plants using organic and regenerative practices. Her work focuses on cultivating beauty while restoring habitat for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.

Through her teaching, writing, and workshops—both online and in person—Briana empowers gardeners to adopt regenerative techniques that build soil health and biodiversity in any space. She shares practical advice, seasonal inspiration, and insights from life on the farm with a wide audience through her social media presence at @blossomandbranchfarm.

Marc W Boucher-Colbert Garden Specialist, Educator, Urban Agriculture Innovator

Session: 20 Years of Rooftop Gardening at Portland's Noble Rot | Adams Room, 2/19/2026, 10:30am

Marc Boucher-Colbert is the Garden Specialist at the Franciscan Montessori Earth School in Portland, Oregon, and principal of Urban AG Solutions, where he has managed the Noble Rot rooftop garden since its creation in 2006. A pioneer in Portland’s urban farming movement, he founded Urban Bounty Farm—one of the city’s first community-supported urban farms—and later co-founded Zenger Farm, now a thriving hub for agricultural education.

Marc holds a master’s degree in education from Portland State University, focused on sustainability leadership and school gardens. His work bridges teaching, design, and ecological stewardship, helping communities grow closer to the land through hands-on learning.

He is the creator of the Design Your Eden garden design card deck and the online course Things They Didn’t Teach You in Garden School, available on Udemy and Skillshare. Marc continues to inspire new generations of gardeners to grow with curiosity, creativity, and care for the earth.

Elizabeth Brown Author, Founder of Foxglove Farmhouse

Session: How to Create a Cut Flower Garden | Adams Room, 2/21/2026 10:30am

Elizabeth Brown is the author of A Beginner’s Cut Flower Garden (Timber Press, 2025), a certified therapeutic horticulturist, and a Maine Master Gardener Volunteer. She is the creator of Foxglove Farmhouse, a quarter-acre cut flower garden known for its chemical-free mix of annuals, perennials, and native blooms that provide sustainable, locally grown flowers to florists and markets.

Through her business and her year-long virtual program, the Foxglove Garden Club, Elizabeth helps beginning gardeners gain confidence in growing, arranging, and enjoying their own flowers. She regularly teaches workshops on cut flower design, floral arranging, and seed sowing, blending professional expertise with a warm, approachable teaching style.

In addition to running her educational programs, Elizabeth serves as the Resident Gardener at Cliff House Maine, where she continues to share her love of gardening, creativity, and community.

Susan Browne Award-winning Landscape Designer, Educator

Session: Container Showdown | Main Stage, 2/22/2026, 11:00am

With more than 38 years in the horticulture industry, Susan Browne brings a lifetime of design expertise and creative vision to every project. As the owner of Susan Browne Landscape Design for the past 25 years, she specializes in residential master plans, commercial landscapes, container gardens, and seasonal décor.

A designer of 19 display gardens over the years for the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival, Susan’s work has earned multiple Gold Medals, the Fine Gardening Award, the Fred Palmer Award, and recognition for Best Use of Color.

Beyond her professional work, Susan volunteers with Snohomish County 4-H, leading youth gardening programs for nearly a decade. She is passionate about teaching the next generation the fundamentals of soil health, pollinator support, and plant identification.

Nick Cutsumpas NWFG26 Judge, Plant Coach, Award-winning Designer, Environmentalist

Session 1: Container Showdown: Celebrity Edition | Main Stage, 2/19/2026 1:00pm

Session 2: TBD | Main Stage, 2/19/2026 4:00pm

Session 3: TBD | Rainier Room | 2/22/2026, 1:00pm

Nick is an award-winning landscape designer, full-time plant coach, and environmentalist whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Architectural Digest, Business Insider, Food Network, and The Washington Post. He’s appeared on the Netflix series The Big Flower Fight, Instant Dream Home, and on the TEDx stage.

The author of Plant Coach: The Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Plants and the Planet (Harper Design, 2022), Nick also created The Adventures of Farmer Nick and Plant Kids show and course. With more than 150 clients between New York and Los Angeles, this self-described “plantrepreneur” is passionate about giving people the knowledge and confidence to create their own green spaces—and to leave the earth greener than they found it.

Chris Dixon Award-winning Designer, Owner of Vescas Gardening

Session: Moveable Mountains | DIY Stage, 2/18/2026, 1:30pm

Chris is the owner and operator of Vescas Gardening, where he designs and installs rock and alpine gardens that showcase plants from high-altitude regions around the world. Using local stone to recreate the feel of mountain landscapes, Chris brings natural beauty and structure into every setting. His award-winning trough gardens offer year-round interest and plant diversity, making alpine design accessible to gardens of any size.

Born and raised in London, England, Chris spent several years backpacking through Southeast Asia, Europe, and South America, and has lived in Australia, Ecuador, and India. He moved to Victoria, British Columbia, fourteen years ago to pursue a horticultural education and career.

When not designing or tending gardens, Chris can be found exploring the trails, beaches, and wild places of Vancouver Island—continuing to find inspiration in the landscapes that inform his work.

Krystal Duran Houseplant Educator, Creator of PlantswithKrystal

Session 1: House of Plants | 2/20/2026, 11:30, 1pm, 3pm

Session 2: The Indoor Jungle Blueprint: Designing HousePlant-Filled Spaces That Thrive | Main Stage, 2/21/2026, 4:00pm

Krystal is a plant educator and digital creator known for making plant care approachable, inclusive, and fun. Through her platform PlantswithKrystal, she shares practical tips and gentle encouragement to help people gain confidence in their green spaces—reminding her followers that no one is “bad” at plants, they just need a little practice and perspective.

Her philosophy is rooted in celebrating growth—of both people and plants. Krystal’s down-to-earth teaching style has built a loyal online community of new and seasoned plant lovers alike. She believes that every space can thrive when we choose plants that fit our environments and our lives.

Brenna M Estrada Flower Farmer, Author, Pansy Fan

Session: Reimagining Pansies | Hood Room, 2/20/2026, 1:15pm

Brenna Estrada is an accomplished flower farmer whose passion for pansies has inspired a devoted following of gardeners and artists around the world. Through her work, she celebrates the beauty and diversity of this often-underestimated flower, cultivating and sharing extraordinary varieties that have captivated the floral community.

Brenna is the author of Pansies (Timber Press, 2025), a book that reflects her commitment to honoring the flower’s history while expanding its creative possibilities. At her farm, Three Brothers Blooms on Camano Island in the Pacific Northwest, she focuses on breeding and growing specialty pansies and making their seeds more accessible to both small-scale growers and home gardeners.

With an artist’s eye and a farmer’s heart, Brenna continues to connect people to the beauty of seasonal blooms and to inspire a new appreciation for the humble yet extraordinary pansy.

Felicia A Feaster Journalist, Author, Former HGTV Editor

Session 1: Strange Garden Follies and Obsessions of the Victorian Gardener |Adams Room, 2/20/2026, 3:00pm

Session 2: Grow a Goth Garden | Adams Room, 2/21/2026, 3:00pm

Felicia Feaster is an award-winning journalist and author whose work explores the intersections of gardens, design, and culture. A former managing editor at HGTV.com and editor-in-chief of the HGTVGardens.com site, her writing has appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Martha Stewart, Garden & Gun, and Travel Channel.

Her forthcoming book, The Goth Garden: The Mystery, Beauty, and Lore of Dark Gardening (Simon & Schuster, 2025), examines the growing fascination with moody, mysterious landscapes inspired by Victorian design, gothic literature, and a new generation of gardeners enchanted by deep-hued and unconventional plants.

Filled with rich plant history from ancient Greece to today, The Goth Garden is the first book to chronicle this viral social media–fueled gardening movement, where shadow and beauty meet in striking, one-of-a-kind gardens.

Jennifer Gulizia Flower Farmer, Educator, Podcast Host

Session: Regenerative Flower Farming: How Beauty Can Heal the Earth | Adams Room, 2/22/2026, 10:30am

Jennifer Gulizia is a flower farmer, dahlia hybridizer, educator, and podcast host based in Hood River, Oregon. As the founder of The Flowering Farmhouse and host of The Backyard Bouquet Podcast, she blends hands-on expertise with heartfelt storytelling to inspire gardeners across the country.

After 12 years as a professional photographer, Jennifer followed her dream of farming full-time and now stewards a 20-acre regenerative flower farm with her family. She also leads The Dahlia Patch, an online learning community for flower lovers, and is currently filming a documentary on sustainable flower farming.

Through her teaching and storytelling, Jennifer helps gardeners rediscover the joy of growing with intention... where beauty, meaning, and resilience take root.

Brandy Hall Author and Founder, Shades of Green Permaculture

Session: Smart Stormwater: Practical Solutions for a Resilient Future | Adams Room, 2/19/2026, 12:00pm

Brandy Hall is the founder of Shades of Green Permaculture, a certified B Corp that has worked with more than a thousand clients to design landscapes that restore ecological health and beauty. Since founding the company in 2008, she has grown it into a thriving practice with a team of twenty, dedicated to creating systems that nourish both people and the planet.

Brandy’s roots are in building. After earning her General Contractor’s license at age twenty, she trained as a stonemason and fell in love with how thoughtful design responds to the natural world. She holds a Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC), a master’s degree in Contemplative Education from Naropa University, and a B.A. in English Literature.

Her upcoming book, The Complete Guide to Home Permaculture (Cool Springs Press, 2026), shares practical ways to bring regenerative design principles into everyday life. Recognized by Garden & Gun as “part of a new guard of landscape designers,” Brandy also serves as Mayor of Pine Lake, Georgia, where she spends lots of time outdoors with her husband, Aaron and their daughter.

Dee Hall Goodwin Flower Farmer, Designer, Founder of Mermaid City Flowers

Session 1: Living Wreaths: Seasonal Design with Plants | DIY Stage, 2/21/2026, 5:00pm

Session 2: Blooms & Bubbles: Designing With Lillies [additional ticket required] | Main Stage | 2/22/2026, 2:30pm

Dee Hall Goodwin is a flower farmer, floral designer, and community organizer based in Norfolk, Virginia. She founded Mermaid City Flowers, an urban flower farm and design studio growing on small borrowed plots with a focus on sustainable practices, native plants, and climate-conscious floristry. Her work blends cultivation, craft, and culture—bringing together fresh design, ecological awareness, and community connection.

Dee has been featured in Garden & Gun, Country Living, Black Flora, NPR, and PBS. She is the founder of the Black Flower Farmers Collective, which is partnering with the Slow Flowers Summit in 2026 to highlight and support BIPOC voices in floriculture. She also serves on the Community Engagement and Outreach Committee for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and on the President’s Council on Inclusion and Diversity at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

A sought-after speaker, Dee has presented for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, the Slow Flowers Summit, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Garden Club of America. Her current work explores how flowers tell stories of resilience, heritage, and renewal—whether through design, speaking, or teaching.

Grace Hensley Certified Horticulturist, Photographer, Science Communicator

Session: Small Space Gut Gardening: A Kitchen Counter to Patio Garden Guide for Supporting Your Gut Microbiome | Adams Room, 2/18/2026 4:30pm

Grace Hensley is a Certified Professional Horticulturist, published garden photographer, and science communicator who blends botanical beauty with research-based insight. With a degree in biochemistry and decades of hands-on experience, she brings clarity and creativity to complex gardening topics.

Her photography and writing have appeared in The Garden (RHS), American Horticulturist, and APLD publications, celebrating the natural elegance of cultivated and wild spaces alike. A sought-after speaker, Grace has presented at garden clubs, trade shows, and national conferences, known for her calm, clear delivery and science-driven storytelling.

Her current work, The Microbiome Gardener, explores the connection between healthy soil, edible plants, and the human gut microbiome. Whether discussing container gardens, native plants, or wellness-focused edible landscapes, Grace offers accessible, inspiring ideas for gardeners seeking beauty, nourishment, and resilience.

Staci & Jeremy Hill Authors, Owners of Gooseberry Bridge Farm

Session: Why Succession Planting Matters for Preservers | Rainier Room, 2/22/2026 2:30pm

Staci and Jeremy Hill are the owners of Gooseberry Bridge Farm (@gooseberrybridgefarm) in the Ozark Mountains of southwestern Missouri. In 2016, they traded subdivision life for an 11.6-acre farm... and haven’t looked back since.

On their farm, the Hills grow, harvest, and preserve much of their own food through canning, freezing, dehydrating, and freeze-drying. They also operate a you-pick flower farm that blooms with seasonal color throughout the year, sharing their love of gardening and self-sufficiency with the community.

Their first book, The Preserver’s Garden (Quarto Publishing, 2025), offers a comprehensive guide to growing and preserving homegrown food using both traditional and modern techniques for year-round enjoyment.

Frank Hyman Award-winning Garden Designer, Author, Horticulturist

Session: How Can Italians Grow Great Tomatoes While Yours Crap Out Every Year? | Hood Room, 2/21/2026, 4:00pm

Frank Hyman is an award-winning garden designer, carpenter, stone mason, and writer whose career began after earning a double major in horticulture and design at North Carolina State University, where he studied under renowned plantsman Dr. J.C. Raulston. Before returning to school at 27, Frank managed an organic tomato farm and worked as an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) scout for conventional growers... experience that shaped his practical, sustainable approach to gardening.

His writing has appeared in Horticulture, Organic Gardening, Fine Gardening, Modern Farmer, Mother Earth News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. He is the author of three books, with Ripe Tomato Revolution (Cool Springs Press) coming out next in 2026.

Frank lives and gardens in Durham, North Carolina, where his creative, hands-on approach continues to inspire gardeners everywhere.

Wambui Ipolito Horticulturalist, Award-winning Landscape Designer, Author

Session 1: TBD | Rainier Room, 2/18/2026 1:00pm

Session 2: TBD | Rainier Room, 2/19/2026 10:00am

Wambui Ippolito is a New York–based horticulturalist, landscape designer, and author celebrated for her artistry, cultural insight, and ecological sensitivity. A graduate of the prestigious New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture, she has designed gardens for residential, commercial, and public spaces across the United States.

Born in Kenya, Wambui brings a global perspective to her work, blending traditional influences with modern design. Early in her career, she served as a horticulturist at several renowned private estates, including those of Martha Stewart and David Letterman, and today maintains a select roster of private clients spanning business, media, and the arts.

In 2021, Wambui won the Philadelphia Flower Show by unanimous decision and was named by Veranda magazine as one of “11 Revolutionary Female Landscape Designers and Architects Everyone Should Know.” A sought-after speaker, she lectures nationwide and collaborates with museums, botanical gardens, and cultural institutions on design and educational programming.

Kara Jamison Cut Flower Grower, Designer, Educator

Session: Cut Flower Garden 101: The Best Blooms to Grow for Beginners | Hood Room, 2/20/2026, 4:00pm

Kara Jamison is a cut flower grower, floral designer, and educator who has been cultivating beauty at her Tennessee farm, Blooming Joy Flower Co., since 2018. Over the years, she has become a respected voice in the cut flower industry, teaching gardeners and aspiring farmers how to grow and design with confidence.

Her floral work has appeared in weddings, bouquet subscriptions, and pop-up events, and her expertise has been featured on Talk of the Town Nashville, Volunteer Gardener, and Bloom TV Network, as well as in The Turquoise Iris Journal and the University of Tennessee’s Cut Flower publication. She also writes a popular weekly blog that inspires readers to bring more beauty into their gardens and homes.

A sought-after speaker, Kara has presented at the Pick TN Conference, Women in Ag by UT Extension, and the Fleursociety Floral Design Summit. She also partners with leading garden and lifestyle brands to promote creativity, community, and the simple joy of growing flowers.

Robin Jennings Senior Brand Marketing Manager, Heirloom Roses

Session: Top 10 Roses to Grow in the PNW | Hood Room, 2/20/2026, 9:30am

Growing up in a major city in Canada, Robin Jennings had little interest in following in her grandfather’s farming footsteps... until a move to Oregon’s Willamette Valley and a vibrant backyard garden changed everything. Now she can be found among her roses whenever the sun is shining, and often when it’s not.

As Senior Brand Marketing Manager at Heirloom Roses in St. Paul, Oregon, Robin collaborates with hybridizers, rosarians, rose societies, and garden enthusiasts to celebrate the beauty of own-root roses and preserve heritage varieties. Over the past decade, she has combined her background in education with her love of communication to help grow several family- and women-owned businesses across the U.S.

Robin is passionate about learning, writing, and empowering gardeners to create beauty in any space. When not tending her garden, she enjoys traveling with her husband and three children, spending time with her labradoodle, and serving her community and church.

Rhonda Kaiser Author, Designer, Creator of Southern Home & Farm

Session 1: Container Showdown | Main Stage, 2/21/2026, 11:00am

Session 2: Vintage Farmhouse Style | Adams Room, 2/21/2026, 4:30pm

Rhonda Kaiser is a Texas-based author, designer, and creator of Southern Home & Farm, where she shares her love for gardening, vintage style, and outdoor living. A certified Texas Master Gardener and longtime advocate for accessible design, Rhonda inspires her audience to create spaces that are both beautiful and deeply personal.

Her work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, American Farmhouse Style, In Her Garden, and Garden Gate, as well as on Houston’s NBC affiliate program Houston Life, where she is a recurring guest expert. In 2023, she was recognized as a Better Homes & Gardens Stylemaker.

Rhonda’s new book, The Vintage Farmhouse Garden (Quarto, 2025), celebrates timeless design and the joy of cultivating beauty at home. She lives with her husband on their Texas farm, where her garden, greenhouse, and historic 1890s silo continue to inspire her creative work. Find her on Instagram @SouthernHomeandFarm.

Claire Lidell Hanna Award-winning Designer, Educator, Founder of Relish Gardens

Session 1: Container Showdown | Main Stage, 2/18/2026, 11:00am

Session 2: More Than Just a Pretty Space: Designing Gardens That Work for Your Life | Hood Room, 2/20/2026, 2:45pm

Claire Lidell Hanna is a garden designer, educator, and the founder of Relish Gardens, a Seattle-based business that designs and maintains gardens reflecting each client’s unique style and needs. Her practical, no-guilt approach to gardening empowers people to make confident decisions and trust their instincts.

A two-time Best in Show winner at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival for her innovative show garden designs, Claire’s work is rooted in sustainable practices, four-season interest, and creative reuse of materials. She believes gardens should be both beautiful and deeply personal—spaces that evolve naturally and bring lasting joy.

Meagan Lloyd Gardening Creator, Sustainable Living Advocate

Session: More Than Canning: Creative and Easy Ways to Preserve the Harvest | Adams Room, 2/22/2026, 12:00pm

Meagan, known online as @meggrowsplants, is a North Carolina–based gardening creator who inspires others to grow, preserve, and cook their own food. With a low-effort, ecosystem-based approach, she promotes gardening in harmony with nature, encouraging others to “garden like nature.” Her engaging content celebrates the beauty of balance—showing how thriving gardens can coexist with busy lives.

At home, Meagan’s lively backyard includes chickens, bees, and an ever-evolving mix of edible and ornamental plants. Through her approachable style and practical wisdom, she helps others cultivate abundance, sustainability, and joy right where they are.

John R McCallen Ecologist, Garden Designer

Session: Succession in the Garden | Adams Room, 2/20/2026, 12:00pm

John is a lifelong gardener with a deep passion for biodiversity and the intricate relationships between plants, animals, and people. He holds a degree in biology from Stanford University, where he focused on ecology and evolution, and brings that scientific understanding to every garden he creates.

Designing species-rich West Coast gardens in zones eight through ten, John emphasizes living landscapes that nurture wildlife while offering beauty and connection for those who inhabit them. His work blends ecological insight with artistry, creating outdoor spaces that thrive as dynamic, interdependent ecosystems.

Evan Meyer President and CEO, Bloedel Reserve

Session: If A Tree Falls, Leave It! | Rainier Room, 2/20/2026, 10:00am

Evan Meyer is President and CEO of the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island, where he leads one of the Pacific Northwest’s most celebrated public gardens. Before joining Bloedel, he served as Executive Director of the Theodore Payne Foundation, a nonprofit native plant nursery and educational center in Los Angeles.

Earlier in his career, Evan held positions at UCLA Botanical Garden, California Botanic Garden, Harvard University Herbaria, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and the Native Plant Trust. His extensive experience spans horticulture, conservation, and education.

Evan’s professional interests lie in the intersections between the cultural and natural worlds... where art, ecology, and human experience meet to shape how we understand and care for landscapes.

Dee Montpetit Garden Designer, Founder of Ma Petite Gardens

Session: Container Showdown | Main Stage, 2/22/2026, 11:00am

Dee Montpetit began her career in the garden industry in 2006 and spent many years as a sales representative for Aw Pottery before launching her own design business, Ma Petite Gardens, in 2015. She specializes in maximizing each garden’s potential and creating beautiful outdoor spaces that are low-maintenance and reflect the owner’s personal style.

In addition to her design work, Dee draws on her first career as a travel agent to combine her love of gardening with her passion for exploration. Through Ma Petite Garden Tours, she creates and leads small-group garden adventures around the world, offering travelers an opportunity to experience diverse landscapes, plants, and garden traditions firsthand.

Whether she’s designing a tranquil backyard retreat or curating a global garden journey, Dee’s work reflects her belief that gardens—like travel—are about discovery, connection, and beauty.

Larry Opperman Radio Host, Master Gardener, Educator

Session: Gardening in Alaska’s Zone 4: Cultivating Success on the Kenai Peninsula | Hood Room, 2/19/2026, 4:00pm

Larry Opperman has been gardening for nearly 65 years, from large family plots in the Midwest to container gardens on porches and balconies. Originally from Illinois and Missouri, he moved to Alaska in 1991 and has spent the past three decades cultivating food and community in the challenging but rewarding climate of Southcentral Alaska.

A certified Master Gardener through the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Larry is a member and former board director of the Central Peninsula Garden Club, as well as a past member of the local Soil & Water Conservation District board.

He also hosts Growing a Greener Kenai, a twice-monthly radio program on Alaska’s NPR station KDLL, now in its fourth season. The show features local and national gardening experts and focuses on providing accurate, practical advice for gardeners in zones 4a and 4b.

Scott Pessarra Farmer, Educator, Founder of Mindful Farmer

Session: Organic Farmer Techniques for Thriving Backyard Gardens | Hood Room, 2/22/2026, 1:15pm

Sean Pessarra is the founder and owner of Mindful Farmer, a farm and garden supply company based in Central Arkansas. Mindful Farmer designs and manufactures high tunnels and tools for growers, as well as blends and curates premium organic potting mixes and fertilizers.

An ecologist-turned-sustainable farmer, Sean has spent more than a decade advancing organic and regenerative agriculture. He has operated a large-scale organic farm, trained farmers across the country, and launched multiple agricultural enterprises producing cut flowers, vegetables, honey, and value-added products. His work bridges science and soil, helping growers cultivate abundance with intention and care.

Chia-Ming Ro Garden Designer, Founder of Coastal Homestead

Session: The Modern Potager: Blending Food, Flowers & Function | Adams Room, 2/21/2026, 12:00pm

Chia-Ming Ro is a garden designer, educator, and content creator who specializes in kitchen and cut flower gardens. Through her platform, Coastal Homestead, she shares stories and practical guidance that inspire others to grow with purpose and style.

Her work blends design and cultivation, encouraging gardeners to create spaces that are both beautiful and productive. With a focus on intention and creativity, Chia-Ming helps people connect more deeply to their gardens—and to the joy of growing something uniquely their own.

Lindsay Sisti Author, Plant Shop Owner, Houseplant Hybridizer

Session 1: Advanced Houseplant Propagation | DIY Stage, 2/20/2026, 3:15pm

Session 2: Trending Houseplant Propagation Techniques | Main Stage, 2/22/2026, 4:00pm

Lindsay Sisti, known to her thousands of followers as @alltheplantbabies, is a houseplant entrepreneur, shop owner, and hybridizer whose mission is to help people appreciate nature from within their own homes... and have fun doing it. Her specialties include growing rare tropical houseplants, propagation, and hybridization.

Lindsay holds a patent on a new species of Alocasia and has developed more than 15 unique Anthurium and Alocasia hybrids. Her book, The Ultimate Guide to Houseplant Propagation (Cool Springs Press, 2024), blends science with humor, making complex information accessible to both beginner and advanced plant enthusiasts.

Doug Tallamy T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture, University of Delaware

Session 1: Are “Alien” Plants “Bad”? | Rainier Room, 2/21/2026, 10:00am

Session 2: Interview with Doug Tallamy: Saving Nature at Home | Adams Room, 2/21/2026, 1:30pm

Session 3: Next Steps for Nature: Questions (and Answers) for How to Save Nature in Our Yards | Rainier Room, 2/22/2026, 10:00am

Doug Tallamy is the T. A. Baker Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, where he has authored more than 100 research publications and taught insect-related courses for over four decades. His research explores how insect–plant interactions shape the diversity and health of entire ecosystems.

He is the author of Bringing Nature Home (Timber Press, 2007), The Living Landscape (with Rick Darke, 2014), Nature’s Best Hope (2020), and The Nature of Oaks (2021), all of which have inspired a nationwide movement toward more ecologically responsible gardening. His newest book, How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard, empowers readers to restore biodiversity at home through simple, practical steps that make a measurable difference.

Tallamy’s work has earned recognition from the Garden Writers Association, Audubon, the National Wildlife Federation, the Garden Club of America, and the American Horticultural Association. He and his wife, Cindy, live on their restored property in Oxford, Pennsylvania, where their research—and passion—continue to take root.

Kossi Tchenawou Plant Daddy, Creator, Growth Coach

Session 1: Houseplant Hints from the Plant Daddy | Main Stage, 2/20/2026, 4:00pm

Session 2: House of Plants | 2/21/2026,11:30, 1pm, 3pm

Kossi - known online as Plant Daddy Koss - is a houseplant creator who mixes humor, heart, and a whole lot of greenery to show how caring for plants can help you care for yourself. With a background in real estate and brand development, he discovered that watering, pruning, and repotting weren’t just chores... they were lessons in patience, growth, and self-compassion.

Today, Kossi brings his playful energy to workshops and social media, inspiring plant lovers everywhere to embrace the joy (and the occasional chaos) of growing something green. His motto? Growth always starts with what you choose to nurture

Frances Tophill TV Presenter, Author, Educator

Session 1: TBD | Rainier Room, 2/18/2026, 10:00am

Session 2: TBD | Rainier Room, 2/19/2026 1:00pm

Frances Tophill is a British horticulturist, landscape designer, and television presenter celebrated for her work on BBC’s Gardeners’ World and ITV’s Love Your Garden. A graduate of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, she holds a degree in Horticulture with Plantmanship and brings both expertise and warmth to her teaching and on-screen work.

She currently serves as Head Gardener and Grower at the Sharpham Trust, where she focuses on sustainable growing practices and community engagement. Frances also works with the Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening, inspiring young people to connect with nature through hands-on learning.

An accomplished author, Frances has written several books, most recently A Year in a Small Garden (BBC Books, 2022), which encourages gardeners of all levels to create beauty and biodiversity in any space.

Andrew & Mary Tuttle & Marshall Educators, Designers, Edge Perma & Redtail Edge Design Co-founders

Session 1: Virtual Garden Tours: Edible and Ecological Landscapes of the PNW | Adams Room, 2/18/2026, 3:00pm

Session 2: Designing Regenerative Homesteads & Urban Farms | Hood Room, 2/22/2026, 10:45am

Andrew Tuttle and Mary Marshall are the cofounders of Edge Perma and Redtail Edge Design, instructors at Edmonds College, and land stewards of Pragtree Farm—the birthplace of the Tilth movement. With backgrounds in horticulture, ecological design, and regenerative agriculture, they create immersive educational experiences that empower gardeners, growers, and landscape professionals to design resilient, biodiverse systems.

At the heart of their work is a commitment to blending beauty with function. Andrew and Mary guide others in cultivating thriving gardens, farms, and community spaces that support both people and the planet. Through teaching, design, and hands-on stewardship, they continue to advance the practice of regenerative living—helping others reconnect with the land and design spaces that sustain life in all its forms.

Sarah Wagstaff Flower Farmer, Educator, Owner of SUOT Farm

Session: Hugelkultur Gardening in the PNW | Rainier Room, 2/19/2026, 5:30pm

Sarah Wagstaff is the owner of SUOT Farm, a no-till urban flower farm in Skagit Valley, Washington. Her vibrant space features hugelkultur cutting gardens, a seasonal farmstand, a retail flower shop, and an educational workshop venue... all rooted in sustainable, community-centered growing practices.

SUOT stands for Small Units Of Time, a reflection of Sarah’s belief that connection to the earth is built through small, intentional acts of stewardship: day by day, season by season. Dedicated to honoring natural cycles, she provides 100% Washington-grown flowers and foliage while inspiring others to find meaning and beauty in local, seasonal abundance.

Cory Webster Floral Designer, Instructor, Slow Flower Advocate

Session: Blooms & Bubbles: Designing with Roses [additional ticket required] | Main Stage, 2/18/2026, 2:30pm

Cory Webster is a seasoned floral designer and instructor with more than ten years of hands-on experience across every corner of the floral industry. As the Market Floor Supervisor at the Seattle Wholesale Growers Market, she brings a well-rounded perspective shaped by years of work in grocery floral departments, boutique shops, weddings, greenhouses, and wholesale operations.

Cory’s designs celebrate sustainability, regional beauty, and the rhythm of the seasons. Her passion lies in using locally sourced blooms and greenery to create floral art that reflects both place and purpose. Dedicated to teaching and mentoring others, she shares her knowledge generously—helping floral professionals and enthusiasts alike discover the joy of working with seasonal flowers.

Shop, Compare, & Save!

Vendor List

Read More
Subscribe & Save

Read More
Show Specials

Read More