Blog

Symposium welcome at the Visitors Center

Inspiring Native Plant Conservation: Landscaping Ecologically at The Arboretum with Shana Byrd, Senior Director of  Science & Conservation, The Dawes Arboretum

Livable Landscapes: Bringing Your Landscape to Life for Wildlife with Mark Dilley, Founder, Mad Scientist Associates

As human populations have increased, landscapes have been drastically altered – and most of these changes have degraded habitat and reduced wildlife populations and biological diversity. Landowners who are concerned about environmental degradation, bird and pollinator declines, and a general loss of habitat and biodiversity can help reverse these trends by making deliberate choices to change how they manage their little piece of the planet. Mark will talk about the (slowly) changing attitudes toward the American lawn and introduced species and discuss the benefits of using native species to restore balance, beauty, and function to our natural ecosystems – even in urban settings. 

Edible Landscapes: Planting a Feast for You and Nature with Holly Latteman, Conservation Project Manager, The Dawes Arboretum

Looking to experiment with foraged foods? Join us to learn how you can add edible plants into your landscape to enjoy year-round! Planting native edible plants will benefit you and wildlife. Learn how to plant, forage and share native edible plants with nature. 

Lunch Break! Enjoy your lunch, visit pollinator gardens, the gift shop and restrooms. Lunch is being catered by Palumbo's Italian Market in Granville, Ohio

Medicinal Landscapes: Plants as Medicine with Greg Payton, Director of Living Collections, The Dawes Arboretum

Learn about the Doctrine of Signatures (what plants look like is what they cured), and find your way to a conversation about the Herbal Pharmacopeia of the 1950's and '60's.  We will finish our discussion with cutting edge science discoveries like plant derivatives in RNA vaccines.

Edible, Medicinal and Livable Landscapes: Beyond the Pretty Garden with Peter Lowe, Senior Coordinator of Horticulture Education & Community Impact, The Dawes Arboretum

Start your journey to a healthier, happier you as we dig into how your garden can be a place of healing both physically and mentally. We’ll combine the elements of livable, medicinal, and edible into a community that reconnects you to the tranquility of nature. Our gardens are more than just beautiful spaces. Together we’ll explore how they go beyond pretty.

Learning and Engagement: A Look Ahead... There is More to Explore! with Karla Long, Director of Learning & Engagement, The Dawes Arboretum

Touring Native Plant Collections and Gardens with The Dawes Arboretum Team

1: Wagon Tour of Native Trees in The Dawes Arboretum Living Collections - South with Greg Payton, Director of Living Collection

2: Walking Tour of the Deep Woods  of The Dawes Arboretum with Holly Latteman, Conservation Project Manager

3: Walking Tour of Themed Gardens & Landscapes of The Dawes Arboretum with Peter Lowe, Senior Coordinator of Horticulture Education & Community Impact

Shana Byrd joined The Dawes Arboretum in 2015 as Director of Land Conservation, overseeing management of The Arboretum’s nearly 2,000 acres of natural woodlands, wetlands, meadows and streams. Her current role is Senior Director of Science & Conservation, providing oversight for the nearly 17,000 living plant collections, herbarium, natural area restoration, plant conservation research, nursery, and greenhouse facilities.

Shana has been involved with natural resource management and education since 2001. She spent several years directing the Wilds Restoration Ecology Program, focused on biological monitoring, research and habitat conservation. During her time with the Sustainable Forestry Program of Rural Action, she facilitated landowner education events and presented on a range of ecological subjects. Shana continues raising public awareness on native plant conservation through service on the Board of Directors for the Licking Land Trust as well consecutive terms of service on the Ohio Invasive Plant Council as Vice President.

Shana received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental & Plant Biology with a specialization in Field Botany from Ohio University. She went on to earn her Master of Arts in Zoology in the Global Field Program at Miami University, encouraging environmental stewardship and global conservation awareness. In the future, her goal is to continually grow and inspire those conservation values through helping fulfill the mission of The Dawes Arboretum.

Mark Dilley earned a B.S. in Natural Resources (Fisheries Management) in 1991 and a M.S. in Environmental Science (specializing in wetlands) in 2003, both from The Ohio State University School of Environment and Natural Resources. He and his wife Christine are co-owners of a WBE, WOSB, and EDGE-certified environmental consulting firm, MAD Scientist Associates, specializing in ecological and wetland consulting. Their company strives to Make A Difference – through Science, Service and Education. Mark is also a lecturer at The Ohio State University, where he teaches Wetland Ecology & Restoration, and he currently serves as the President of the Ohio Wetlands Association. Mark and Chris are also part owners of Scioto Gardens in Delaware, OH, a nursery that specializes in native plants. They have been gradually “nativizing” their landscape and now have their yard certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Mark has nearly 30 years of experience as a field biologist, ecologist, and wetland scientist. He is an Ohio EPA-certified Level 3 Qualified Data Collector (QDC) for fish and habitat studies in Ohio, a Certified Senior Ecologist, Certified Ecological Restoration Professional (CERP), and Senior Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS). Mark has conducted ecological surveys and ecological risk assessments on RCRA and Superfund sites in over 11 states for a variety of clients, including Department of Energy, NASA, the U.S. military, landfills, and the manufacturing industry. His academic research has focused on biological monitoring of streams and rivers and atrazine (agricultural herbicide) fate and transport processes in constructed wetlands. In his current role as Chief Scientist at MAD Scientist Associates, he manages several dozen projects annually involving ecological surveys; environmental education; wetland delineation, permitting, and assessment; and wetland restoration and creation - ranging conventional storm water detention basin wetland retrofits and landscape-scale restoration projects covering dozens to hundreds of acres. Mark and the MAD Scientist Team also provide construction oversight, planting, and invasive species control services for a wide variety of public and private clients.

As the Conservation Project Manager at The Dawes Arboretum, Holly works to promote native species conservation and research. She leads a team of researchers at The Arboretum to conduct research on native plants, reforestation plantings and vegetation. Holly works to restore landscapes through prairie and reforestation plantings and research on over 1,300 acres of natural areas. She also works closely with the next generation of environmental professionals to prepare them for a career in the field.

Greg Payton has been with The Dawes Arboretum since 1996.  He was hired as the Plant Records Coordinator in 1996 and became the Director of Living Collections in September 2018.  Greg began his love of Botany by studying wildflowers and botanical references as a child.  He has volunteered over 1,000 hours with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park which included serving as a naturalist leading wildflower hikes and doing security patrols. Greg’s career in horticulture began with nearly ten years in the retail nursery industry and, before coming to The Arboretum, he was employed at The Holden Arboretum for five years. Currently, Greg oversees the Living Collections department, ensuring the collections are cared for and well curated.  He also assists in coordination of the Legacy Tree program, manages tree care, oversees collections planning as well as daily departmental operations.

Peter Lowe brings 20 years of horticulture experience to Learning and Engagement as the Senior Coordinator of Horticulture Education and Community Impact. In this capacity he develops transformative horticulture opportunities for the community to further knowledge and appreciation for plants of all types.

Karla joined The Dawes Arboretum in July 2021 as the Director of Learning & Engagement.  With 25 years of experience as an independent school educator and administrator around the country, she focuses on building a positive culture and creating programming that highlights the mission of The Arboretum.

Before coming to The Arboretum, Karla served as the Head of Middle School at All Saints Episcopal School of Tyler (Tyler, TX), Columbus Academy (Columbus, OH) and Trinity Valley School (Fort Worth, TX); Middle School Dean of Students at Bryn Mawr School for Girls (Baltimore, MD); Assistant Director of Middle School at Dana Hall School (Wellesley, MA); and as History / Language Arts teacher at Keith Country Day School (Rockford, IL). Karla completed a Masters degree in Education with a concentration in Administration, Planning and Social Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Smith College. Beyond academic credentials, Karla has been Wilderness First Responder certified and High Ropes Leader certified, co-led a wide array of experiential education trips, developed an outdoor classroom and low ropes course, and championed service-based learning projects.