About the Symposium

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

This year’s full-day horticultural symposium will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026, at the Bayway Arts Center, 265 East Main Street, East Islip, NY. A shoreline tour and discussion will follow at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River, NY.

For additional details, contact Kevin Wiecks at kevin.wiecks@parks.ny.gov or Doreen Monteleone at doreenmn88@gmail.com.

Registration & Refreshments

8:30 – 8:45 AM

Welcome

Kevin Wiecks, Director, Bayard Cutting Arboretum & Doreen Monteleone, Ph.D., Symposium Chair, Bayard Cutting Arboretum Horticultural Society

8:45 – 9:45 AM

Designing for the Coast: New Strategies for Salt Marsh Habitat Restoration
Christopher Pickerell, Marine Program Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Methods for restoring salt marshes on the east coast of the US have necessarily focused on planting the dominant ecosystem engineer, Smooth cordgrass (Sporobolus alterniflorus). While this approach has proven mostly successful, recent advances in our understanding of intra- and interspecific facilitation within and between dominant marsh species, including plants and bivalves, have hinted at new opportunities to refine our approach. This presentation will explore various innovative planting methods being tested, including the incorporation of hatchery-reared mussels to enhance marsh grass plantings. Attendees will gain insight into these new approaches that promise to revolutionize coastal habitat restoration.

9:45 – 10:45 AM 

Salt in the Soil: Challenges and Solutions for Tree Health
Glynn Percival, Ph.D., Senior Arboricultural Research Manager, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory

Salt stress is an increasingly common challenge for trees in urban and roadside environments throughout the US, driven by de-icing practices, irrigation with saline water, and soil contamination. Elevated salt levels disrupt water uptake, impair physiological processes, and lead to decline or mortality in sensitive species. This presentation will explore factors contributing to salt tolerance in trees. These factors provide a framework for future tree selection aimed at resilience to extreme salt conditions. Attendees will gain actionable insights to mitigate salt damage and promote tree resilience in landscapes under challenging salinity conditions.

10:45 – 11:15 AM 

Refreshment & Networking Break 

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Native Plants for Living Shorelines
Heather Coste, Director of Ecological Sustainability, Sisters of St. Joseph, Brentwood

Planting on shorelines and in coastal gardens presents unique challenges. Native coastal plants are adapted to the combination stresses of salt, sun, wind, flooding, and drought, while protecting shorelines from erosion and offering habitat to wildlife. Walk through a selection of native shoreline plants, from beach plum to Spartina, to help pick the right plant for this particular and spectacular ecosystem.

12:15 – 1:15 PM

Lunch Break

1:15 – 2:15 PM

Improving Coastal Resilience for Birds and People
Victoria O’Neill, Director of Coastal Resilience, Audubon CT/NY, National Audubon Society

Coastal ecosystems provide critical breeding, feeding, and resting habitat for a variety of birds and other species. These habitats also protect communities from storm surge and improve water quality. Despite their importance, humans have altered and degraded our coastlines for decades, impacting ecosystem function and threatening community safety. Currently, coastal habitats face even greater threats from the impacts of sea level rise. Implementing habitat restoration and living shoreline projects can restore ecosystem function and improve coastal resiliency. This presentation will highlight the value of our coastal habitat and provide examples of how to increase coastal resilience along our shorelines.

2:15 – 2:45 PM 

Refreshment Break at Bayard Cutting Arboretum Visitor Center

1 mile east of Bayway Arts Center

2:45 – 3:45 PM

A Coastal Case Study: Walking Tour at Bayard Cutting Arboretum – OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
Joy Arden, Landscape Curator, Bayard Cutting Arboretum

Bayard Cutting Arboretum spans over one and a half miles of coastline along the Connetquot River. Rising tides and frequent flooding have been ongoing problems for the Arboretum over the last ten years. This presentation will be conducted as an educational walking tour (.5 mile), focusing on the critical issues impacting the coastline today. In collaboration with PW Grosser Consulting, efforts are underway to survey and develop solutions for the most affected sections of the River Walk. Discussions will have an emphasis on suitable coastal solutions and navigating the delicate balance between preserving the site’s historic landscape design and addressing modern climate challenges. By integrating well-chosen plant species and implementing living shoreline designs, these efforts aim to tackle the current concerns while fostering biodiversity and strengthening coastal resilience.