2026 Home Gardening Lecture Series
2026 HOME GARDENING LECTURE SERIES & TOUR
- Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- Wednesday, June 17, 2026, 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM
The 2026 Home Gardening Lecture Series will contain 5 lecture webinars on Seed Starting, A Homeowner’s Guide to Robot Mowers, The People-Plant Connection, Structural Defensive Gardening, and Climate Anxiety: How to Help. Also offered is a private garden tour of Lasdon Park & Arboretum & Veterans Memorial. Registration is available for individual or all webinars. Please note that garden tour spots fill quickly!
SEED STARTING - SESSION 1
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
REMOTE ON ZOOM
Speaker: Gilda Forseter
Speaker:Gilda Forseter
Why purchase expensive plants from a garden center when you can start them from seeds for a fraction of the price, no greenhouse needed! Learn about the many benefits of seed starting and how to avoid the $50 tomato.
Gilda Forseter is a Westchester CCE Master Gardener Volunteer. Since retiring from a 45 year career as a nurse and nurse practitioner she has had more time to focus on her garden of 25 years. She has been growing all of her vegetables and many of her flowers from seeds for the past 10 years.
THE PEOPLE-PLANT CONNECTION
Wednesday,
February18, 2026
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
REMOTE ON ZOOM
Speaker: Judy Rozanski
What are the relationships between humans and plants? Learn about the physiological, emotional and social impacts of plants on us as individuals and on our communities. You will come away with an understanding and appreciation for our longstanding connections to nature, our gardens, and green spaces.
Judy Rozanski is a Westchester CCE Master Gardener Volunteer. She pursued her interest in horticulture after retiring from teaching. She holds certificates from the New York Botanical Garden in Horticultural Therapy and in Gardening. Judy enjoys sharing her horticultural knowledge with others as a Master Gardener Volunteer
CLIMATE ANXIETY: HOW TO HELP
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
REMOTE ON ZOOM
Speaker: Dr. Matthew Aiello-Lammens
This program explores climate anxiety, how it may impact gardeners, and how gardening can help us cope with uncertain times.It discusses adaptation through variable weather including droughts, floods, heavy rains, and changing frost dates while fostering hope and resilience.
Matt Aiello-Lammens is an Associate Professor in the Environmental Studies and Science department at Pace University. He has studied anthropogenic impacts on plant communities, risks associated with species declines,and factors leading to invasive species spread with an eye toward understanding and protecting northeastern forests.Matt Aiello-Lammens has BA in Physics,a PhD in Ecology and Evolution,and was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Connecticut.
A HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE TO ROBOT MOWERS
Wednesday, April15, 2026
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
REMOTE ON ZOOM
Speaker:Carl Schimenti
Autonomous mowers have rapidly advanced to market,making it difficult to keep up with the changes in technology and applicability. We will discuss the current landscape of autonomous mowers including the various technologies, price points, comparisons to traditional mowers, and what situations are most applicable for these units.Homeowners will walkaway with a general understanding of how these units work, and if robot mowers are suitable for their home landscape.
Carl Schimenti is an Urban Environmental Scientist in the Turfgrass Science Research Unit at Cornell University. He has worked on reduced-risk turfgrass management of NY State Park golf courses through judicious use of pesticides, nutrients, and water,and now focuses on data-driven management to maximize ecosystem service value of urban green spaces.
STRUCTURAL DEFENSIVE GARDENING
Wednesday, May13, 2025
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
REMOTE ON ZOOM
Speaker:Lou Petralia
This program covers a survey of practical techniques and strategies to protect your garden from varmints, large and small. It will cover simple, common-sense methods to critter proof your vegetable garden, your flowers, shrubs and fruit trees, without major expense or special skills, and without chemicals!
Louis Petralia is a Westchester CCE Master Gardener Volunteer, as well as an attorney, teacher and lawn enthusiast. As a CCE Master Gardener Volunteer, he spends his time working the Demonstration Garden at Hart’s Brook Park and Preserve in Hartsdale, NY.
GARDEN TOURS
Wednesday June17, 2026
Lasdon Park,Arboretum&Veterans Memorial
RAIN OR SHINE
Guide:Jessica Schuler, Director
Take a walk around the beautiful gardens and see what’s in bloom with Jessica Schuler, the Director of Lasdon Park!
No-Walk Ins – 10:00 AM Arrival OR 11:15 AM
Arrival Carpooling is
suggested.
PLEASE NOTE: Tours are popular and fill up quickly. First come, first served. Please feel free to contact our office at 914-285-4640, 914-285-4620 or westchester@cornell.edu regarding availability.
No-Walk Ins–10:00 AM Arrival OR 11:15 AM Arrival
Carpooling is suggested.
The Garden Tour displays a variety of plants and crops that are well-adapted to local growing conditions. As the season progresses, mature crops are harvested and new crops are planted. Fallow plots contain cover crops and plants that support pollinators, suppress weeds, and improve the soil.
Pollinator pathway gardens include native plant design examples for creating pollinator gardens in your own yard and community.
2026 HOME GARDENING WEBINAR SERIES FLYER and REGISTRATION FORM
Pre-registration required.
Payment by check, cash, or money order: Complete the form inside this brochure and mail with payment to:
CCE Westchester County
3 West Main Street,Suite.112
Elmsford, NY10523
Attn:Home Garden Lecture Series
Checks can be made out to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County. Payment must be received at our office at least 10 days prior to the first lecture for full season virtual subscribers, or 10 days prior to individual lectures purchased separately.
PAYING BY CREDIT CARD:Please contact our office at 914-285-4640, 914-285-4620.
FULL SERIES SUBSCRIBER: Once we receive your registration and payment,you will receive email invitations from Zoom for all lectures, approximately a week prior to each lecture. Each lecture has a unique link and password.
INDIVIDUAL LECTURES: Once we receive your registration and payment, you will receive an email invitation from Zoom approximately a week prior to the chosen lecture. Each lecture has a unique link and password.
PLEASE NOTE:
Registration is not complete until payment is received.
Fee
$5.00 PER LECTURE AND TOURS ARE $20 EACH ($45 TOTAL)
Learn More
https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.cce.cornell.edu/attachments/75293/HGLS_Brochure_2026.pdf?1762364321
Register
Contact
Hillary Jufer
Horticulture Program Manager
westchester+1@cornell.edu
914-285-4640
Last updated November 5, 2025