Sustainable Land Development

Our Master Gardner is Education Chairman and on the Board for The Mercer Society and again has been involved in the production of the following event.    This is the second year Mercer Arboretum has put on a professional conference on sustainable development.  Part of this year’s conference will be a trip to Mandolin Gardens .  Stop by and visit this remarkable example of a Sustainable landscape project.

Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is hosting the 2nd annual Sustainable Landscape Conference Friday, October 25, from 8 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Big Stone Lodge at Dennis Johnston Park, 907 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring.   (I am kind of late on this but you could still sign up)

Presentations include:

• "SITES Rating System: Encouraging and Rewarding Leadership in Site Sustainability" by Jonathan Garner, SITES Coordinator, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center;
• "Lower Resources, Higher Performance: Native Grasses for Turf, Roadsides, Green Roofs, Golf Courses and Parks for the Urban Landscape" by Mark Simmons Ph.D., Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center;
• "Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center: A Commitment to Environmentally Responsible Practices" by Rick Lewandowski, Director, Shangri La;
• "Turning Scarce Resources into a Bountiful Harvest (Financial & Natural)" by Commissioner R. Jack Cagle, Harris County Precinct 4;
• "Mandolin Gardens - Converting a Traditional Detention Basin into an Award-Winning Park Amenity" by Merrie Talley, RLA, ASLA, LEED.

The day of the conference will include remarks from Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens Director, Darrin Duling, Lunch, and will conclude with a site visit to Mandolin Gardens Park.

Professional Conference Fee (including CEU credits) is $135 for Mercer Society members and $150 for non-members. General Conference Fee (without CEU credits) is $112 for Mercer Society Members and $125 for non-members.

To register or for additional information, contact The Mercer Society at 281-443-8731, or you can email them msociety@hcp4.net.