FORREST KEELING Fall Field Day
Rooted in Natives
September 17, 2026
Forrest Keeling Nursery invites conservation professionals, planners, urban foresters, restoration practitioners, growers, and landscape leaders to a full-day educational Field Day focused on how native plants, native cultivars, and compatible non-invasive species perform in real-world systems.
Rooted in Natives explores how thoughtful plant selection and production quality directly influence:
• Habitat restoration success
• Pollinator and songbird corridors
• Soil health and hydrologic function
• Long-term maintenance costs
• Risk reduction and project reliability
• Profitable, scalable planting strategies
This practitioner-driven event is designed for professionals specifying, growing, installing, and managing plants at scale.
Registration is FREE, Advance registration will be required. Sign up now to save your place. We may send an occasional email update for this event.
Featured Keynote Speaker
David Mizejewski
Naturalist & Spokesperson, National Wildlife Federation
Keynote speaker David Mizejewski (National Wildlife Federation) will present a scalable framework for advancing native plant adoption—from individual sites to regional systems—highlighting how rewilding efforts shape specifications, reduce risk, and improve project outcomes.
David connects big-picture conservation goals with real-world implementation, helping professionals translate ecological intent into landscapes that perform, endure, and gain stakeholder support.
Learn more about David and his work at https://naturalist.nwf.org/
Breakout Sessions (In Development)
We are curating a small group of highly respected practitioners, researchers, and extension professionals whose work demonstrates measurable results in the field. Sessions will be practical, focused, and discussion-oriented.
Expected topic areas include:
• Native trees that perform under urban stress, stormwater loads, and compacted soils
• Agroforestry systems using native and compatible species that generate income
• Specialty native crops that pencil out (elderberry, pawpaw, persimmon, hazelnut, and more)
• Why native projects succeed—or fail—from nursery stock to long-term management
• Meeting mitigation and regulatory requirements with native systems
Check back for updates!
Nursery Production Tours
Guided tours through Forrest Keeling’s production systems will highlight:
• Native tree and shrub propagation
• Container and bare-root production
• Quality control, grading, and handling
• Matching plant genetics and form to application
See how production decisions translate into field performance, survivability, and project reliability.
Farmhaus Luncheon in the Cypress Grove
A special onsite lunch prepared by Kevin Willmann, chef/owner of Farmhaus, returning by popular demand. Seasonal, ethically and sustainably sourced local cuisine, served at Forrest Keeling’s Cypress Grove, provides space to connect, recharge, and continue conversations.
Space is Limited! Register Today!
Cypress Grove Happy Hour & Peer Networking
Close the day with informal networking among peers, speakers, and Forrest Keeling staff in a relaxed outdoor setting.
Who Should Attend
This Field Day is designed for professionals working at scale, including:
• Conservation and restoration practitioners
• Urban and community foresters
• Planners and landscape architects
• Agroforestry and specialty crop growers, landowners
• Nursery, landscape, and installation professionals
• Agency, NGO, and institutional land managers
