Urban Tree Symposium
Friday, February 27, 2026, 9AM–4PM
Location: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

New England Botanic Garden’s annual Urban Tree Symposium is dedicated to exploring the importance of urban forests and ways we can improve our green spaces. Each symposium brings together experts in the fields of forestry, horticulture, biology, technology and more. You can expect to hear current and important information that will impact your work in our communities and your own home. The Urban Tree Symposium is geared toward current and aspiring professionals, but all are welcome. This event is co-hosted in partnership with the Ecological Landscape Alliance. CEU’s will be available.

Please click here for an archive of our CEU (Continuing Education Unit).

Early bird registration begins mid-November and closes December 31. Check back often for the most up-to-date information regarding speakers and registration. 

SPEAKERS

Matthew Borden, Doctor of Plant Medicine
Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

Matt is a plant pathologist at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in Charlotte, NC. Current work focuses on beech leaf disease, bacterial leaf scorch, and management of boxwood and other broadleaf evergreens. He has experience in orchard and botanical garden pest management, plant problem diagnostics, and writing for green industry magazines. Matt gained a deep appreciation for integrated pest management while at Virginia Tech, followed by studies in landscape health and sustainable management strategies at the University of Florida.

Robert Graham, Land Steward
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Robert Graham is an ecologist, horticulturalist and botanist. He is currently the Land Steward Supervisor at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill located in Boylston, MA. He has been with the organization since 2017 and is responsible for overseeing all formal groundskeeping and equipment, as well as management of all natural areas including meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. His work ranges from habitat restoration and invasive species management to sustainable equipment and arboriculture. Robert serves as the Vice-Chair of the Native Plant Community for the American Public Gardens Association, and he frequently teaches and volunteers for organizations like the Ecological Landscape Alliance, New England Botanical Society and the Native Plant Trust. 

Hunter Blanchard, Horticulturist II
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Hunter Blanchard is a horticulturist at New England Botanic Garden, where he has worked since 2018. He leads a three-person team managing 10 acres of naturalistic gardens that support plant biodiversity and pollinators, with a focus on North American natives. Passionate about making plants accessible, he engages visitors through tours and talks. Hunter also serves on the board of F.E.R.N. and the Symposium Planning and Education Committees for the Ecological Landscape Alliance. He holds an A.S. in sustainable horticulture from Stockbridge and a B.S. in plant soil science from UMass Amherst. 

Hunter Blanchard, a Horticulturalist II at the Garden smiles in the Shade Garden

MORE SPEAKERS INFO COMING SOON!

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

7:30 – 9:15 AM: Registration, Coffee and tea.

8:15 – 8:45 AM (30 min): Early Morning Walk and Talk: Designing and Maintaining Trees in Urban Landscapes

Hunter Blanchard, Horticulturist I
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

Kick off the day with an insightful walk through the garden led by our horticulturist and natural lands steward. From 8:15 to 8:45 AM, explore how tree design, plantings, and maintenance practices in our display areas can be applied to urban spaces. Gain unique perspectives on creating sustainable and visually striking landscapes from both cultivated and natural land management viewpoints.

9:00 – 9:15 AM: Welcome

9:15 – 10:15 AM (60 min): Fagus forethought and Carpinus conundrums

Dr Matthew Borden

Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

This session we will cover several emerging tree diseases that you should be aware of and able to recognize by their signs and symptoms. Further, we will discuss what is known of management approaches and their rationale. Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) has swept through much of New England at a dizzying pace. Caused by an invasive foliar nematode, the disease quickly became a top concern of homeowners, arborists, foresters, and nursery growers. A research team with Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories has been at the forefront of BLD management trials, learning from both impressive failures and exciting successes as they developed two novel treatment programs now in wide use. Meanwhile, we cannot forget other emerging issues. A mysterious problem has been increasingly observed in European hornbeam, causing severe branch canker and dieback. Nursery growers and homeowners seek answers, but the first step is figuring out what we are dealing with – and exciting work is underway.

10:15 – 10:30 AM (15 min): Break

10:30 – 11:30 PM (60 min): Coming soon …

11:30 – 12:15 PM (45 min): Coming soon …

12:15 – 1:15 PM (60 min): Lunch

1:15 PM – 2:00 pm (45 min): Planting Trees of Change: The Return of the Chestnut Tree

Robert Graham, Land Steward Supervisor
New England Botanic Garden

Join NEBG’s horticulturist and land steward, Robert Graham, as he shares the inspiring story of the American chestnut tree’s revival and its transformative role in our landscapes. Learn about innovative restoration efforts, urban tree management practices, species selection, and the vital impact of underground ecosystems. Gain insights into the ecological significance of this iconic species and explore how planting these trees can foster a more resilient and sustainable future.

2:00 – 3:00 PM (60 min): Keynote Speaker will be announced soon!

3:15 – 4:30 PM (60 min): Walk & Talk with the Keynote Speaker

5:00 PM: Garden Closes