Workshop about invasive plantsA half-day workshop titled "New York State's New Invasive Plant Species Regulations: Impacts and How to Adapt" will be held on Thursday, April 2, at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. The workshop, offered by Westchester County's Department of Planning and Soil and Water Conservation District, will address the portion of the state's new regulations intended to help control invasive plants by reducing the introduction or spread of new and existing populations of these species.

The workshop, geared towards landscape architects and professionals in nursery and garden center management, landscape maintenance, garden design and property management and development, will also be relevant to homeowners and gardeners who may be interested in attending.

"Westchester's beautiful landscapes come to life in the spring," said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "As we work to maintain our lawns, gardens, parks and corporate properties, it's important that we strive to protect our native plants. This workshop will advance the best practices in landscape management consistent with the new state regulations."

The scheduled topics and speakers are:

  • New York's Prohibited and Regulated Plant Species: What You Need to Know; Leslie Suprenant, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Christopher Logue, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
  • Native Plant Alternatives to Invasive Species; Carolyn Summers, author of Designing Gardens with Flora of the American East
  • Genetic Integrity of Native Plants: Provenance is Forever; Thomas Knezick, Production Analyst, Pinelands Nursery & Supply, Columbus, NJ.

The April 2 workshop will run from 8:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Registration and breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. The $10 workshop fee includes a continental breakfast and the program materials. Advance registration and payment is required by March 31. Parking at the County Center, located at 198 Central Avenue in White Plains, is $7. For additional information, download the event flyer at www.westchestergov.com/soilwater or contact Robert Doscher at (914) 995-4423 or .

The workshop is New York State-approved for 3.0 continuing education credits for licensed landscape architects. It also is approved for 2.5 recertification credits for pesticide applicators by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Cornell University's Cooperative Extension of Westchester and the Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College.