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Gardening Green Expo 2026

March 16 @ 10:00 am - March 21 @ 8:30 pm

Monday, March 16 – Friday, March 20 – Zoom lectures @ 7:00pm
Live Expo at Kennedy’s Country Gardens on Saturday, March 21 from 10:00am-2:00pm

The theme for this year is: Help Heal the Planet
Most of us remember a time when windshields needed frequent cleaning from insects and yards were alive with birds and butterflies. Fields once held cocoons, chrysalises, and egg cases, and backyards teemed with insect and bird life. Today, these are far less common, raising the question: where have all the birds and bugs gone?

Since the 1970s, North America has lost more than three billion birds—nearly one-third of its population. Insects, the foundation of the food web, have declined by over 40%, with some regions experiencing losses of up to 75% of flying insects. A single chickadee requires nearly 9,000 caterpillars to raise one brood; when insects disappear, birds cannot survive. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change are the primary drivers of these declines.

We can do our part to help heal the planet by making thoughtful choices at home. Planting native species that require less water and fertilizer, avoiding pesticides and herbicides, and creating backyard habitats for insects can make a meaningful difference. Gardens can become vital links in pollinator corridors, helping restore ecosystems one plant choice at a time.

Featuring Doug Tallamy on Tuesday, March 17 @ 7:00pm
“Next Steps for Nature,” featuring the renowned Doug Tallamy. In this talk, Tallamy addresses common concerns on biodiversity, invasive species, native plants, and conservation strategies, providing practical guidance and motivation to restore nature in everyday spaces.

This webinar offers real-world solutions to the challenges people face when turning their landscapes into functional ecosystems. He addresses 500 of the most frequently asked questions about ecological landscaping. Topics include biodiversity, invasive species control, native vs. non-native plants, oak biology, monarch butterflies, urban habitat restoration, and more. Whether you’re wondering which plants are truly native to your region, how to reduce your lawn’s impact responsibly, or how to support pollinators and birds throughout the seasons, this session will help clarify your next steps.

About the Presenter: Doug Tallamy, entomologist, ecologist, and author, has transformed the native plant movement through his research and advocacy. A professor at the University of Delaware, he is known for showing how native plants support biodiversity and food webs. He co-founded Homegrown National Park, authored a number of books, including Nature’s Best Hope, and has been recognized as a Lifetime Honorary Director of Wild Ones.

Zoom Presentations at 7:00pm

Monday, March 16 – Theme TBA – Kristen Nicholson, Blue Stem Natives

Tuesday, March 17 – Next Steps for Nature – Doug Tallamy, entomologist, conservationist, author, and professor at the University of Delaware

Wednesday, March 18 – Restoring Personal Ecology: How Principles of Nature Heal Our Overwhelm – Todd Breitenstein, South Shore Permaculture/Our Grateful Garden

Thursday, March 19 – When the Lights Go Out: The Secret World of Fireflies – Blake Dinius, Plymouth County Extension

Friday, March 20 – Habit to Habitat: Transforming Landscapes into Resilient Ecosystems, from Conception to Maintenance – Evan Abramson, Founder and Principal of Landscape Interactions

REGISTER FOR ZOOM PRESENTATIONS

Live Presentations at Kennedy’s

10:00am – Path to the Perfect Plants – Chris Kennedy, Owner, Kennedy’s Country Gardens

11:00am – Less Raking, More Biodiversity – Lisey Good, Founder, Wild Cohasset

12:00pm – TBA

1:00pm  – Caring for the Soil, Making Compost and Leaving the Leaves – Jon Belber, Friends of Holly Hill Farm

Exhibitors and Vendors at Kennedy’s

Register to Win Prizes!

REGISTER TO WIN PRIZES

Give-aways, Downloads, and More

  • $35 Special NSRWA NEW Member Deal with $25 Kennedy’s Gift Card and $10 Explore South Shore Guide Map (For NEW NSRWA members only)
  • FREE Trees from Bartlett Tree Experts
  • Free native plant seeds
  • FREE Edible Southeastern Massachusetts magazines
  • Get your FREE Help Save Water lawn sign
  • Download our 16-page Greenscapes Guide  – With tips on how to create a beautiful healthy yard the natural way. (After filling out the online form you will be redirected to the guide.)
  • Watch past Gardening Green Expo videos below

Plant Resources

From Kennedy’s Country Gardens, UMass, and CZM

Plant and Garden Resources

From Blue Stem Natives, Doveflower Cottage, Blake Dinius, Doug Tallamy, and National Wildlife Federation, Wild Ones, Mass DEP, and the Buy Nothing Project

Want to see more programs like this? Please make a gift to the NSRWA to protect local waters.

 

 

 

This FREE expo is sponsored by the WaterSmart program, North and South Rivers Watershed Association, and Kennedy’s Country Gardens. WaterSmart is a nonprofit partnership between the NSRWA and 12 towns on the South Shore: Cohasset, Duxbury, Hanover, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Rockland, Scituate and Weymouth. Our programs are based on the belief that education is key. Since its creation, WaterSmart has educated thousands of local school-age children, adults, and businesses on water conservation, stormwater pollution, where their water comes from, and how to care for it. 

Please Enjoy These Videos From Past Expos

The Magic of Butterflies – Blake Dinius, Plymouth County Entomologist Educator

Planting for the Future: The MA Native Plant Palette – Jason Duff & Anne Carroll, DCR Office of Water Resources

Less Lawn, More Plants! – Rebecca Warner, Author of The Sustainable-Enough Garden

How Can I Help? Saving Nature with Your Yard – Doug Tallamy – Author, and Founder of Homegrown National Park

Ways to Honor Nature in your Home Landscape – Susan Leigh Anthony, Doveflower Cottage Garden Designs

Permaculture: How to Design Resilient Systems for People and Planet – Jessica Fox, South Shore Permaculture

Myco-Gardening: Companion Planting with Culinary Mushrooms for Soil, Compost and Human Health – Sally Rossi-Ormon, Sally RO Outdoors

Ecological Justice: Identifying, Removing and Managing Invasive Species and Restoring Ecological Balance – Samuel Mohnkern

Help for Hummingbirds – Seven Common Mistakes Gardeners and Bird Lovers Make That Harm These Amazing Birds – Lisey Good, Founder Wild Cohasset

Bokashi: 30 Day Composting – Peter Swanson, Sustainability Project – Honduras

The Secret Lives of Bugs – Blake Dinius, Plymouth County Entomologist

I Know You’re Very Busy but… I Want to Learn More About Nature Gardening – Doug Tallamy

The Nitty-Gritty of Building a Sustainable Garden – Kristen Nicholson, Blue Stem Natives

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Achieving a Beautiful Garden with Drought Tolerant Plants – Susan Leigh Anthony, Doveflower Cottage Garden Designs

The Joy of Composting – Turning Garbage to Gold – Ann McGovern, Mass DEP (Retired)

Rain Gardens: Gardening for a Greener Future! – Brian Taylor, NSRWA

Rewilding 101: Attract More Wildlife While Saving Time and Money: Step-by-step guidelines on how to let nature reclaim a tiny portion of your lawn – Lisey Good, Wild Cohasset

Nibbling on Native Plants in Your Back Yard and Beyond – Russ Cohen, Naturalist and Wild Edibles Instructor

Regenerative Farming and Our Practices at Holly Hill – Jon Belber, Holly Hill Farm

Protecting Our Waters Through Gardening – Brian Taylor, NSRWA

Attract More Butterflies to Your Garden! – Lisey Good, – Founder, Wild Cohasset

Biochar – For Healthy Plants and a Healthy Planet – Debbie Cook, Biochar Afficionado

Climate Conscious Gardening: Building Sustainable Landscapes – Kristen Nicholson, Blue Stem Natives

The Nature of Oaks – Doug Tallamy, Renowned author and Professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware

Building Good Healthy Regenerative Soil in a Changing Climate – Jon Belber, Holly Hill Farm

Composting and Mulching for Climate-Wise Gardening – Ann McGovern,  Compost Specialist, Mass Dept. of Environmental Protection (Retired)

The Ecosystem Native Plants Support – Blake Dinius, Plymouth County Entomologist

The Drought Resistant Yard: Creating Beautiful Spaces Using Native and Non-native Plants with Less Water – Susan Leigh Anthony, Doveflower Cottage Garden Designs

Pollinators and Their Host Plants – Blue Stem Natives 

Kid-Friendly Gardens – Susan Leigh Anthony, Doveflower Cottage Garden Designs

Garden for Wildlife: Remove Invasives & Plant Natives to Help Birds, Butterflies and Other Wild Creatures
By Lisey Good, Founder, Wild Cohasset – The Lisey Good Zoom presentation video had a conversion error, however, you can download the presentation and listen to the audio with the links below:
Download Lisey Good’s Presentation here.
Listen to Lisey Good’s Presentation here 

The Importance of Insects and Gardening for Native Bees – Blake Dinius, Entomologist Educator at County of Plymouth

Audubon Plants for Birds Presentation by Don Eaton, Bower & Branch

Growing Tasty Edible Greens and Snacks – Jon Belber, Holly Hill Farm

Building a Rain Garden – Samantha Woods, NSRWA

Composting for Zero Waste – Ann McGovern, Retired MassDEP Compost Specialist

Backyard Birding – Doug Lowry, Mass Audubon South Shore Sanctuaries

Details

Start:
March 16 @ 10:00 am
End:
March 21 @ 8:30 pm
Event Category:

Organizers

North and South Rivers Watershed Association
Kennedy’s Country Gardens