Join ecological landscape designer and noted speaker Marie Chieppo to learn how gardens can withstand climate extremes while still looking beautiful. Landscapes that can recover, adapt, and thrive are the gardens of the future. But what do those gardens look like in practice? And what does climate resilience mean for the plants we already have on our properties? Marie will share practical, proven strategies for creating healthier, more resilient landscapes.

This session will be divided into two parts. The first segment is a focused lecture introducing key principles and actionable steps for enhancing resilience through soil health, plant selection, and water-smart design. The second segment is an interactive discussion built around several case studies, illustrating real-world decisions and site-specific strategies—so participants leave with clear, transferable approaches they can apply to their own projects.

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Marie Chieppo has been practicing ecological landscape design for 30 years in the metro-Boston area and more recently on Cape Cod. Many of her projects range from large ecological restoration efforts to enhancing wildlife on small properties. In 2023, she co-wrote the Association to Preserve Cape Cod’s “Guidelines to Cape-friendly Landscapes for Clean Water, Healthy Yards, and Our Local Ecology.” She is a certified Landscape Designer who holds an advanced certificate in native plant design and horticulture from the Native Plant Trust and is accredited as an Organic Landcare Professional. She is an instructor at the Native Plant Trust and The Conway School of Ecological Design. Marie is a board member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance and has been a featured speaker for many organizations, including the American Horticultural Society, Grow Native Massachusetts, and the Master Gardeners Association. She shares the message that we can all contribute to a healthy environment by working with nature in our gardens.