Take part in the 4th Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future Conference on January 21, 2023 at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave, Vero Beach, Florida. Check back for more information, including the speaker lineup as the plans are finalized in the next few months, purchase tickets, and more.
The goal of the conference is to showcase the need to reverse course on how communities, developments, and individual private homes develop their outdoor landscapes. The use of non-native plantings that require fertilizing and pesticides have also contributed to the decline of the Indian River Lagoon, the St. Sebastian River, and our lakes and ponds. Smart landscaping can play a vital role in protecting water quality and providing habitats for plants and animals. Our target audience for this conference is broad: local governments, homeowner’s associations, developers, landscape architects, consulting engineers and concerned residents. The conference can be transformative for our community if we all come together to work on solutions for modifying landscapes for a sustainable future.
2018 Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future Conference Photo Gallery
2018 Landscape Conference at the Emerson Center in Vero Beach, FL 
2018 Landscape Conference at the Emerson Center in Vero Beach, FL 
Dr. Edie Widder – “Health of the Indian River Lagoon,” CEO & Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Ft. Pierce, FL 
Dr. Edie Widder – “Health of the Indian River Lagoon,” CEO & Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Ft. Pierce, FL 
Dr. Edie Widder – “Health of the Indian River Lagoon,” CEO & Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Ft. Pierce, FL 
Dr. Edie Widder – “Health of the Indian River Lagoon,” CEO & Senior Scientist, Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Ft. Pierce, FL 
Steve Turnipseed, “Transformation of a Turfgrass Lawn into a Native Plant Landscape,” President of the Villages Chapter of the Native Plant Society, The Villages, FL 
Steve Turnipseed, “Transformation of a Turfgrass Lawn into a Native Plant Landscape,” President of the Villages Chapter of the Native Plant Society, The Villages, FL 
Steve Turnipseed, “Transformation of a Turfgrass Lawn into a Native Plant Landscape,” President of the Villages Chapter of the Native Plant Society, The Villages, FL 
Steve Turnipseed, “Transformation of a Turfgrass Lawn into a Native Plant Landscape,” President of the Villages Chapter of the Native Plant Society, The Villages, FL 
Steve Turnipseed, “Transformation of a Turfgrass Lawn into a Native Plant Landscape,” President of the Villages Chapter of the Native Plant Society, The Villages, FL 
Pelican Island Audubon President Dr. Richard Baker with Dr. Douglas Tallamy, Keynote Speaker, who presented a talk based on his book, Bringing Nature Home and How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE. 
Pelican Island Audubon Board Members & Volunteers Tina Marchese, Steve Goff, & Darlene Halliday 
Tod Winston, “Plant It and They Will Come,” Program Manager, Plants for Birds, National Audubon Society 
Tod Winston, “Plant It and They Will Come,” Program Manager, Plants for Birds, National Audubon Society 
Dr. Juanita N. Baker, “Why should we attract the birds? What habitats do they need in our yards?” Pelican Island Audubon Society, Professor Emeritus, Florida Institute of Technology 
Dr. Juanita N. Baker, “Why should we attract the birds? What habitats do they need in our yards?” Pelican Island Audubon Society, Professor Emeritus, Florida Institute of Technology 
Pelican Island Audubon Board Members Bill Halliday, Darlene Halliday, & PIAS Executive Director Donna Halleran 
Pelican Island Audubon Society President Richard H. Baker, Ph.D. 
Taryn Evans, “Creating a Sustainable Landscape for Native Pollinators,” President, Marion County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society 
Taryn Evans, “Creating a Sustainable Landscape for Native Pollinators,” President, Marion County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society 
Taryn Evans, “Creating a Sustainable Landscape for Native Pollinators,” President, Marion County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society 
Taryn Evans, “Creating a Sustainable Landscape for Native Pollinators,” President, Marion County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society 
Robin Pelensky, “Lagoon Gardens to save the Lagoon,” Landscape Architect, Surlaterre Landscape Architecture 
PIAS Environmental Educator Katheryn Nix with student volunteers 
Nickie Munroe, “What is Florida Friendly Landscaping?,” Indian River County Environmental Horticulture Agent 
Nickie Munroe, “What is Florida Friendly Landscaping?,” Indian River County Environmental Horticulture Agent 
Nickie Munroe, “What is Florida Friendly Landscaping?,” Indian River County Environmental Horticulture Agent 
Pelican Island Audubon Society Board Member George Glenn introducing Jacob E. Ensor 
Jacob E. Ensor, “Florida Friendly Landscaping and Community Associations,” Ross Earle Bonan & Ensor, P.A. 
Jacob E. Ensor, “Florida Friendly Landscaping and Community Associations,” Ross Earle Bonan & Ensor, P.A. 
Jacob E. Ensor, “Florida Friendly Landscaping and Community Associations,” Ross Earle Bonan & Ensor, P.A. 
Ending the conference with questions from the audience.
Previous Conference Flyers
2020 Conference Flyer
2019 Conference Flyer
2018 Conference Flyer