By Craig Maxwell
Relatively speaking, I’m a newbie to native plants and all of the ways that people are engaging with them. Professionally, I don’t deal with plants or anything to do with the outdoors, so attending a native plant conference was never on my radar until I joined the NC Native Plant Society. But after countless recommendations, last year I traveled to Cullowhee for the first time to see what all the buzz was about. I’ve got to say, sometimes peer pressure can be a good thing because I can’t wait to return this summer to this retreat in the mountains of North Carolina.
The Cullowhee Native Plant Conference
From July 19-22, professionals and lay people from across the country will attend this prestigious annual Cullowhee Native Plant Conference, which is widely regarded as the place to learn the latest in horticulture, landscape design and installation, gardening methods, ecological investigation, and native plant propagation. The NC Native Plant Society provides scholarship funds for North Carolina students and beginning professionals to attend. Registration to the conference is still open.
Not sure, but I went anyway
Going into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew I felt out of my depth when I arrived. Everyone I met that first day was either in the landscaping business or doing research or something else that had me wondering if I’d have anything worthwhile to contribute to the conversation. But the more people I met and spoke with, not only did I feel more at ease, I felt excited! Everyone there showed up ready to share ideas and make connections and figure out how we ALL could help contribute to the issues facing native plants and the larger ecosystem. Biodiversity was not just a principle being applied to plants, but also to ideas and the types of people the event attracts. By the second day I felt like I’d gotten my bearings and was ready to branch out.
A wide mix of activities
Each day at the conference offers something different for everyone. From a vendor area (vendors can still register) to strenuous wildflower hikes and leisurely walks to classroom workshops and fantastic speakers, you have the option to tailor your experience for your interests and abilities — as long as you plan ahead and register early! Last year I enjoyed a tough all-day hike on Wednesday and a relaxing forest bathing experience on Friday. In between, I heard from speakers ranging from non-profit projects to field research to new gardening methods. Pair all that up with the vendors who can help give you the plants and tools to put everything you’ve learned into practice and it really is a recipe for success.
With the current state of native biodiversity and the obstacles in our way to affect real change, it can feel daunting to tackle it all at once. But this conference reinvigorated me, empowering me with knowledge, new connections to passionate people, and the means to get to work. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s in such a beautiful part of the state. Whether you’re brand new to native plants or an expert in the field, Cullowhee has something to offer you if you are willing to engage. I hope to see you all there!
The 39-year-old Cullowhee conference is held at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC close to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The NC Native Plant Society is a sponsor.
By Craig Maxwell
Native Plant News – Summer 2023
Craig Maxwell is the current chapter chair for the Southern Piedmont. He joined NCNPS at the end of 2020 to help create and edit YouTube videos for the chapter. When he’s not organizing chapter events, he spends time cleaning up his local greenway and helping his friends to introduce native plants to their home landscapes.