of the Southeastern United States, in recognition of our less than perfect world, offer compassion for our more than human kin, establish justice for the light eating species, advance a viable future for biological diversity, provide for regional ecological stability, promote the general welfare, and share the blessings of the tribe of gardening humans of the earth, do ordain and establish this Southeastern Native Plant Conference for the plants.

The purpose of the Southeastern Native Plant Conference is to continue the goals of it’s previous iterations, The Landscaping with Native Plants Conference, and the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference. These goals are to increase interest in and knowledge of propagating and preserving native southeastern plant species in the landscape. Past participants of the conference have included landscape architects, commercial nursery operators, garden club members, botanists, and horticulturists from state highway departments, universities, native plant societies, botanical gardens, and arboretums. Both professionals and laypersons gain valuable knowledge from the informative field trips, lectures, and workshops.

The goals of the Conference are to:

• Provide forums for presentations and discussions about ecological philosophy, horticulture, landscape design and installation, gardening methods, and ecological investigation

• Increase interest in and knowledge of native plant propagation

• Promote knowledge of native plant and native plant community ecology

• Encourage the use of native plants in landscaping and ecological restoration

• Provide field, workshop, and lecture activities designed as valuable educational experiences

• Advance dialog and cooperation between all participants in native and cultural landscape management