GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

Join The Botanic Garden for Northern Michigan’s premier horticultural event and fundraiser.

Presented by The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park

September 24–26, 2026 | Traverse City, MI

Great Lakes, Great Plants returns this fall with a fresh lineup of lectures, tours, and immersive experiences celebrating horticulture, design, and the natural beauty of Northern Michigan. Designed for professionals and plant lovers alike, this three-day event includes inspiring talks, a rare plant auction, guided garden tours, and exclusive bonus experiences.

This year’s programming focuses on Defining the Modern Midwest Landscape, Treecycling, and The Wildland Garden, offering practical knowledge, innovative ideas, and plenty of inspiration.

The event is proudly sponsored by the Northern Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and hosted by The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, located in the heart of Traverse City.

REGISTRATION & PRICING

Early Bird (until August 24):

$199 – Both Days, Members (Botanic Garden or MNLA)

$225 – Both Days, Non-Members

$169 – Day 1 Only

$125 – Dinner & Auction Only

Regular Pricing (after August 24):

$225 – Both Days, Members (Botanic Garden or MNLA)

$249 – Both Days, Non-Members

$199 – Day 1 Only

$150 – Dinner & Auction Only

Not a Botanic Garden member yet? Learn more here!

WANT TO SPONSOR?

Reserve a VIP Table and enjoy premium perks!

Price: $2,000 for full table

Includes:

8 full Great Lakes Great Plants registrations

All events (minus boat ride) for all 3 days

A curated trio of plants for each guest

Recognition in the event program and digital promotions

Sponsor a Student: $225 for the full two-day event. If you know the name of the student you are sponsoring, please add that information in the notes section.

To sponsor, select the VIP Table option when purchasing tickets on Eventbrite or call The Botanic Garden at (231) 935-4077.

SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 – DAY 1: LECTURES & DINNER

Join us at The Botanic Garden for a full day of expert-led lectures and garden exploration, followed by a celebratory dinner and rare plant auction.

Morning & Afternoon Lectures:

9:00 AM – Welcome to Great Lakes Great Plants

9:30 AM – Nick McCullough

10:45 AM – Erin Presley

1:30 PM – Matthew Ross & Brian Zimmerman

2:45 PM – Tim Boland

Evening Events:

5:30 PM – Silent Auction Opens

6:00 PM – Cocktails & Networking

6:30 PM – Dinner & Dessert Served

7:30 PM – Silent Auction Closes & Live Auction Begins

Silent Auction

As part of the evening’s festivities there will be a selection of curated rare, unusual, and stunning plants up for the bidding. Each specimen has a pair, and the second plant will go into the permanent collection at The Botanic Garden. The bidding opens at 5:30 PM and runs until 7:30 PM. Winning bids will be announced at the end of the Live Auction.

Live Auction

You won’t want to miss your chance to bid on the coolest and most unusual groupings of plants in Northern Michigan. From rare trees to instant meadows, there are a plethora of plants with fun and entertainment too.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 – DAY 2: GARDEN & NATURAL AREA TOURS

Hop aboard the tour bus for a day-long exploration of inspiring gardens and landscapes across Northwest Michigan.

8:30 AM – Check-in & Overview

9:00 AM – Depart from The Botanic Garden

9:00–3:00 PM – Tours of four curated locations with lunch included

4:00 PM – Return to The Botanic Garden - approx time

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 - POST-CONFERENCE EXPERIENCES

Optional add-ons to extend your learning and enjoyment.

9:00–11:00 AM – Field Botany Walk with Matthew Ross

Explore the region’s natural landscapes in a guided walk designed for early risers. Limited to 40 participants. Location to be announced. Transportation not provided. $20 - separate registration required. GLGP attendees only.

12:00–2:00 PM – Nursery Open House at Four Season Nursery

Free for registered attendees! Enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, light refreshments, and expert insights from Brian Zimmerman and team. Free - separate registration required. Symposium attendees only.

6:30–9:00 PM – Sail with the Speakers

Set sail on West Grand Traverse Bay for a magical evening on the water with symposium speakers. Enjoy wine, refreshments, and a champagne toast as you cruise beneath the stars. Limited to 8 participants. $200 – separate registration required. GLGP attendees only.

QUESTIONS?

Call The Botanic Garden at (231) 935-4077 or visit www.thebotanicgarden.org

We can’t wait to welcome you for a vibrant and inspiring few days in the heart of Northern Michigan!

REGISTER NOW!

Join your peers for a creative and inspirational day of tours, featuring residential, commercial, and public landscapes in the Metro Detroit area.

8 LA CES Professional Development hours in HSW (Approved)

Pricing: $149 for MNLA Members, $199 for Non-members

Hotel Information: The headquarter hotel for the 2026 Landscape Design Tour is the Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Bloomfield Hills, located at 1951 South Telegraph Hwy, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48032. Rooms are available at a special rate of $139/night plus taxes. Reserve your room at this rate before July 30th by calling 248.454.5150 and requesting the MNLA room block, or CLICK HERE to reserve your room online.

Contact Emily for details.

Rescheduled to Thursday, August 20, 2026

REGISTER NOW!

Turf and Landscape Diagnostic Tour at Applewood Estate, Flint, MI. MDARD recertification credits (Approved): 2 CEUs in 3A, 3B, or 6.

Contact Emily for details and to register.

Generously sponsored by the MHI-Fund and RPS Regency.

Date: August 19, 2026
Time: 9:00a-3:00p each day
Location: East Lansing, MI

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. CLASS IS FULL.

This hands-on training program is designed for landscape managers seeking to enhance their field skills. Through a combination of hands-on demonstrations and real-world scenarios, participants will gain direct experience in essential aspects of landscape management. Attend one or both days!

PLEASE READ!!

• MNLA is pleased to offer this program at NO CHARGE to current member firms, however registration is required. Registrations will be on a first come, first serve basis.

• Attendees must be current employees of an MNLA member firm in good standing.

• Attendance is limited to 3 individuals per firm per day. You need only confirm the number of spaces desired each day – names are not needed. Different individuals may attend each day.

• Please indicate on the following form the number of spaces that you would like to reserve for each day. You need not attend all 3 days.

• Lunch will be provided daily. Parking is free, but is not located immediately adjacent to the building. If desired, parking is available directly outside the facility at the rate of $2/hour.

• Please be aware that if you confirm a space, attendance is expected. Program capacity is limited to 60.

On March 18, 2026, MNLA Members arrived in Downtown Lansing for our annual Green Industry Legislative Day. We met at MNLA’s lobby firm Governmental Consulting Services Inc. (GSCI) and our Lobbyist, Samantha Zandee, briefed us on our message and the protocol for our visits. We then walked over and visited every office in our Legislature to give our message and leave them with a beautiful plant.

Our message highlighted the size and scope of the Green Industry and our Legislative Priorities.

March 13, 2026 - 12:30-4:30 PM

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

4 MDARD Pesticide Credits Approved in Commercial Core, 3A, 3B, and 6.

MNLA Member: $40/class Non-Member: $50/class

Seminars held at the Macomb County MSU Extension, 21885 Dunham Rd., Clinton Twp, MI

For information on the subjects that will be covered at each seminar, please contact Emily at Emily@MNLA.org.

REGISTER NOW!

Location: Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Airport – 3026 Lake Eastbrook Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49515

Pricing: $149 for MNLA members, $199 for non-members

Elevate your skills as a Landscape Designer in a full-day workshop dedicated to enhancing your design process. You will expand your knowledge of sustainable design from plant selection to hardscaping and find effective, innovative ways to interview your clients and develop a comprehensive process that will ultimately save time and energy. With a strong emphasis on ecologically appropriate planting plans and water-wise techniques, you’ll develop a deeper palette of plants to choose from with experts Matthew Ross (The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park) and John Clese (Restoration Earth; Lake Effect Garden & Design, LLC). The program includes a series of hands-on design scenarios and is perfect for new designers and seasoned pros. All materials and a boxed lunch will be included.

Class Size is limited to 20 individuals.

Presented by Phil Harwood

REGISTER NOW!

The heart of this workshop is the Great Crew Leader Scoring Guide, which is a 5-part assessment for each crew leader and manager to complete during the workshop. Each part covers one of the five primary roles of a crew leader: worker, driver, supervisor, trainer, and leader. This scoring guide then becomes an excellent tool for reassessment and continued improvement.

Pricing: MNLA Members: $160 Non-Members: $195

REGISTER NOW!

Intended for both emerging and existing leaders in the Green Industry, this 4-part customized training program led by John Kennedy will address the common elements of effective leadership. Individuals in the program will also receive access to an online collection of training programs included with their enrollment.

MNLA is pleased to offer this program at NO CHARGE to current member firms, however capacity is limited to 1 individual per firm, and an application is required. There is a mandatory attendance component to receive the certificate of completion.

January 2026 at the Great Lakes Trade Expo
Module 4: “Creating New Leaders to Deepen Our Bench”

One of the most important questions a leaders can ask is “if not you, then who?” Who will own the role in the absence of leadership? Who trains the next generation of leaders as we build the current generation of leaders? The answer is simple..leaders build new leaders! The enrollees will focus on “planting your people” to grow into the role of the next leaders.

Speaker: John Kennedy is a speaker and author specializing in strategic planning, benchmarking, culture creation, on-boarding, retention processes, leadership development and teamwork, and accelerating sales within the horticulture industry. Over the past 25 years, Kennedy has presented to nearly 500,000 audience members worldwide, delivering a dramatic and sustainable impact on many companies and associations within the horticulture industry.

Pricing: MNLA is pleased to offer the Elite Training Program at No Charge to current member firms. Please contact Emily for Non-Member pricing.

Visit GLTE.org for all of the latest news, education & events that will be held at the 2026 Great Lakes Trade Expo!

REGISTER NOW!

Intended for both emerging and existing leaders in the Green Industry, this 4-part customized training program led by John Kennedy will address the common elements of effective leadership. Individuals in the program will also receive access to an online collection of training programs included with their enrollment. This is a hybrid program, with 2 sessions held virtually and 2 taking place in person.

MNLA is pleased to offer this program at NO CHARGE to current member firms, however capacity is limited to 1 individual per firm, and an application is required. There is a mandatory attendance component to receive the certificate of completion.

December 18, 2025 • 1:00-3:30pm • Virtual
Module 3: “Building a World-Class Team”

Employees will discover the 4 stages of building a team along with the 4 styles of people that exist within a team. They will also learn how to transform a group of people who can’t resolve conflict without management intervention to a team of employees who function as a solid and unified force, capable of decision-making and problem-solving with minimum leadership engagement.

Speaker: John Kennedy is a speaker and author specializing in strategic planning, benchmarking, culture creation, on-boarding, retention processes, leadership development and teamwork, and accelerating sales within the horticulture industry. Over the past 25 years, Kennedy has presented to nearly 500,000 audience members worldwide, delivering a dramatic and sustainable impact on many companies and associations within the horticulture industry.

Pricing: MNLA is pleased to offer the Elite Training Program at No Charge to current member firms. Please contact Emily for Non-Member pricing.

Intended for both emerging and existing leaders in the Green Industry, this 4-part customized training program led by John Kennedy will address the common elements of effective leadership. Individuals in the program will also receive access to an online collection of training programs included with their enrollment. This is a hybrid program, with 2 sessions held virtually and 2 taking place in person.

MNLA is pleased to offer this program at NO CHARGE to current member firms, however capacity is limited to 1 individual per firm, and an application is required. There is a mandatory attendance component to receive the certificate of completion.

November 13, 2025 • 1:00-3:30pm • Virtual
Module 2: “Communication is the Key to Leadership”

Enrollees will learn how to “Start with Why” in every communication strategy, understand the biases and beliefs that often cloud our ability to effectively communicate, balance the 2-way communication model of speaking and listening to improve our “personal connection” and “seek first to understand, then to be understood”.

Speaker: John Kennedy is a speaker and author specializing in strategic planning, benchmarking, culture creation, on-boarding, retention processes, leadership development and teamwork, and accelerating sales within the horticulture industry. Over the past 25 years, Kennedy has presented to nearly 500,000 audience members worldwide, delivering a dramatic and sustainable impact on many companies and associations within the horticulture industry.

Pricing: MNLA is pleased to offer the Elite Training Program at No Charge to current member firms. Please contact Emily for Non-Member pricing.

LOCATION: LANSING, MI

All Classes are Full. Registration is Closed.

Contact Emily if you have any questions.

These popular 2-day clinics offer different information each day. We’ll cover the latest in pesticide laws and regulations, pesticide labels, and environmental impacts of your application.

Location: Farm Bureau Pavilion at Michigan State University - 4301 Farm Lane, Lansing, MI 48910

Dates: November 12 & 13, 8:00am-4:30pm each day

November 12 Agenda‍ ‍November 13 Agenda

Pricing per day: MNLA members: $110, Non-members: $150

MDARD Pesticide Recertification Credits: 8 credits per day in Private & Comm. Core, 2, 3A, 3B, 6.

Breakfast, lunch and parking included.

LOCATION: WEBINAR (VIA ZOOM)

REGISTER NOW!

What do you do when seeds are scarce, cuttings won’t root, or disease risk makes propagation impossible? Plant tissue culture offers a solution. This session breaks down the science behind tissue culture in clear, grower-focused terms — showing how it’s being used to multiply clean, healthy plants that can’t be produced through conventional methods. Attendees will learn how tissue culture complements traditional propagation, where it fits economically, and how Michigan labs and growers are using it to protect valuable genetics, restore natives, and strengthen local plant supply chains.

About the Speaker: Della Fetzer is the Founder of Rebel Cultures, a Michigan-based tissue culture research lab for specialty and conservation crops. Della’s team partners with growers, universities, conservation nonprofits, and government programs across horticulture, agriculture, and forestry to develop tissue culture propagation methods, educate, and build local plant production systems across Michigan and beyond.

Price: MNLA members: $10; Non-members: $15

LOCATION: ANN ARBOR, MI

Detailed Schedule for both days

REGISTER NOW!

Dates: October 22 & 23, 2025. (Attend one or both days!)

Location: Held at Washtenaw County Extension Office (705 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor) and Parker Mill Park (4650 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor)

This 1.5-day professional training is designed for landscape industry professionals seeking practical, field-ready strategies for managing invasive plants and insects, navigating evolving regulatory requirements, and integrating sustainable site practices. Participants will gain up-to-date insights from state and local experts, engage in hands-on training with application equipment and invasive species ID/control, and explore real-world alternatives for turf management, pollinator protection, and stormwater site design.

Pricing (MNLA pricing/Non-member):

October 22: MNLA Member: $99 / Non-Member: $135

October 23: MNLA Member: $49 / Non-Member: $69

Nearby Accommodations:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ann Arbor West by IHG – Rooms from $145/night

Hampton Inn & Suites Ann Arbor West – Rooms from $122/night

LOCATION: ANN ARBOR

Detailed Schedule for both days

REGISTER NOW!

Dates: October 22 & 23, 2025. (Attend one or both days!)

Location: Held at Washtenaw County Extension Office (705 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor) and Parker Mill Park (4650 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor)

This 1.5-day professional training is designed for landscape industry professionals seeking practical, field-ready strategies for managing invasive plants and insects, navigating evolving regulatory requirements, and integrating sustainable site practices. Participants will gain up-to-date insights from state and local experts, engage in hands-on training with application equipment and invasive species ID/control, and explore real-world alternatives for turf management, pollinator protection, and stormwater site design.

Pricing (MNLA pricing/Non-member):

October 22: MNLA Member: $99 / Non-Member: $135

October 23: MNLA Member: $49 / Non-Member: $69

Nearby Accommodations:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ann Arbor West by IHG – Rooms from $145/night

Hampton Inn & Suites Ann Arbor West – Rooms from $122/night

LOCATION: TRAVERSE CITY, MI

View the Schedule/Pricing and REGISTER HERE!

Sept. 25–27, 2025

The Great Lakes, Great Plants Symposium returns this fall with a fresh lineup of lectures, tours, and immersive experiences celebrating horticulture, design, and the natural beauty of Northern Michigan. Designed for professionals and plant lovers alike, this two-day symposium includes inspiring talks, a rare plant auction, guided garden tours, and exclusive bonus experiences.

This year’s programming focuses on Gardening in the Midwest, Wild Designs, and Art in the Landscape, offering practical knowledge, innovative ideas, and plenty of inspiration.

The event is proudly sponsored by the Northern Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association and hosted by The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park, located in the heart of Traverse City.

REGISTER HERE!

Location: Midwest Groundcovers (1517 66th St. Fennville, MI 49408)

Midwest Groundcovers and MNLA invite you to a special event celebrating the beauty and resilience of perennials. Join us at our Fennville nursery for an inspiring presentation by Meredith Simpson of Oudolf Garden Detroit, as she shares successful plant combinations and design insights from one of the country’s most renowned perennial gardens. Following the talk, enjoy a relaxed picnic lunch and guided tours of Midwest Groundcovers’ expansive Fennville nursery—an opportunity to explore plants in the field and connect with fellow landscape professionals.

Price: $25 for MNLA Members, $35 for Non-members

Find out more about Midwest Groundcovers.

Join us in Holland, Michigan, for the HGSA’s Summer Meeting August 4-7, 2025. Our welcome reception will be on Monday evening, August 4th and our closing banquet will be on Wednesday evening, August 6th, with a lot of interesting tours and stops during the days in between. A big thank you to Walters Seed for hosting this year’s meeting.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND TO REGISTER.

LOCATION: MARQUETTE, MI

REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. CLASS IS FULL.

Taught by John Stone, owner of PACandT (Pesticide Applicator Certification and Training) & MNLA IPM Consultant. Additional presentations by MDOT, Michigan DNR, MDARD.

See the Agenda here.

Pricing: $99 MNLA members & returning attendees; $135 Non-members (Lunch provided with registration)

MDARD Pesticide Recertification credits: 8 credits in Commercial Core, Private Core, 2, 3A, 3B or 6 (Applied for)

LOCATION: FLINT, MI

Taught by John Stone, MNLA IPM Consultant

REGISTER NOW!

Pricing: $40 MNLA members; $50 Non-members

MDARD Pesticide Recertification credits: 2 credits in 3A, 3B or 6 Approved

Attendees will be taken on a hands-on walking tour focusing on ornamental landscape and turfgrass pests and diseases. This class will benefit those wanting to improve their abilities to diagnose landscape issues.

LOCATION: PIZZO NATIVE PLANT NURSERY – 10729 PINE RD, LELAND, IL 60531

We invite you to attend our annual Summer Solstice, a day filled with engaging tours, presentations, roundtable discussions, and networking. Event attendance will also earn you a CEU.

Presented by The Pizzo Group

Cost: $35 per person (lunch + refreshments included)

When: Friday, June 20, 2025 — 8am-4pm

Where: Pizzo Native Plant Nursery – 10729 Pine Rd, Leland, IL 60531

Click here for details about the Summer Solstice Event.

LOCATION: DEVOS PLACE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI

Good vibes and positive energy only at the 28th Annual Snow & Ice Symposium! Join us June 17-20, 2025 as we bring the Best Show in Snow to Grand Rapids, MI.

For Registration & Information, click HERE.

LOCATION: PORTAGE CITY HALL, PORTAGE, MI

In honor of Arbor Day, the Southwest Michigan Landscape Association (SWMLA) will plant a native Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) at Portage City Hall on Friday, April 25, at 4 PM. The public is invited to attend the planting and join in recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship and urban reforestation.

“Arbor Day is a tradition we hold close,” said Bruce Snyder of Gull Lake Landscape Co. “As Green Industry professionals, we take pride in contributing to the health and beauty of our communities – not just through our work, but through collective action. Planting this tree is a way to give back and demonstrate our commitment to reforestation, especially following the devastating tornado that impacted so many trees in Portage.”

The Eastern Redbud, native to Michigan, is a small flowering tree known for its early spring blossoms and wildlife value. Its planting at City Hall will contribute to Portage’s ongoing effort to rebuild the city’s tree canopy following widespread storm damage earlier this year. The tree and all materials needed for planting will be provided by SWMLA members, who will gather for the ceremony in a show of unity and environmental care.

About the Southwest Michigan Landscape Association:

A Chapter of the Michigan Landscape Association, SWMLA was established more than 80 years ago to support Green Industry professionals throughout southwest Michigan. Today, the organization includes nearly 100 members from Calhoun, Barry, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Van Buren, Berrien, Branch, St. Joseph, and Cass counties. Members include landscape designers, contractors, nurseries, irrigation specialists, sod and Christmas tree farmers, golf course managers, and other Green Industry suppliers. Many businesses are multi-generational and remain active in SWMLA decades after their founding.

TREE Fund webinars bring you the latest in tree research, directly from the scientists themselves.

TREE Fund’s one-hour webinars are free and offer 1.0 CEU (only for live broadcast) from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Society of American Foresters (SAF), the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and sometimes the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LACES).

Visit treefund.org/webinars for details about each webinar and about TREE Fund.

Tuesday, April 1, 2025 - 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Location: MNLA Office - 2149 Commons Parkway, Okemos

Register Now!

Looking for something new to add to your landscape design toolkit? Join Matthew Ross as he shares new concepts and ideas that could revolutionize the way you approach landscape design. From insightful ways of exploring the needs and desires of your clients and finding ways in which to approach creating a narrative through techniques for reducing the time spent on plant selection, this is a can’t miss opportunity. The course is a hands-on workshop developed for landscape designers and those seeking to be designers to elevate their techniques and have some fun along the way.

Pricing: MNLA members – $149; Non-members – $199 (Registration cost includes lunch. Class is limited to 30.)

Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Location: MNLA Office - 2149 Commons Parkway, Okemos

Register Now!

Join Kevin Adams, Regional Lighting Business Manager at Central Turf and Irrigation Supply, as he covers landscape lighting basics, design, install basics and smart control options.

Pricing: MNLA members – $45; Non-members – $60 (Registration cost includes lunch. Class is limited to 30.)