W**d by Name, Native by Nature [Virtual Program]

What if a plant’s name, or the way we perceive it, has shaped how we value it? This virtual program takes a closer look at misunderstood native plants such as Burnweed (Erechtites), Jewelweed (Impatiens), Viola (Viola), and Pokeweed (Phytolacca), exploring their ecological value and the surprising roles they play in our landscapes and how to embrace them.

REGISTRATION:
Pay what you wish; advance registration required to receive the zoom link.
Click here to register: bit.ly/4BbyQfv

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
In 2024, Renée Kemmerer joined the Horticulture Team at the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art as Senior Horticulturist. In this role she oversees the everyday challenges of running the many facets of the Gardens department. After earning a B.S. in Plant Science and a minor in Entomology from the University of Delaware, she spent the next 20 years working professionally with native plants and ecological gardening. She continues to pursue her lifelong passion for native plants in designed and wild landscapes, discovering the life that inhabits them, foraging and creating a “spark” for the natural world within others.
Welcome to a gardening series offering a varied focus on native plants throughout the seasons for gardeners of all levels and learning styles. The 2026 “Misunderstood Natives” theme aims to explore diverse perceptions of native plants, inviting audiences to see them through a new lens—one that offers fresh insights and practical tools for understanding the value native species bring to people, wildlife, and the places we live.