2026 MNLA Down to Earth Summer Conference

MNLA Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show
July 23, 2026 – Thursday
Savage Farms
128 Lower Road
Deerfield, MA  01342

The Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association has officially signed on as an event sponsor of the Down to Earth Summer Conference & Trade Show, hosted by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association!  VNLA members receive a discounted rate on registration!

This year’s event brings together green industry professionals from across the region for a full day of education, networking, and hands-on learning. Attendees will hear from renowned horticulturist Michael Dirr, along with a lineup of expert educators covering timely and practical topics for today’s landscape and nursery professionals.

Keynote speaker Michael A. Dirr, is the author of seven books, including Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture and Propagation and Uses, a widely used and best-selling reference text.  A Mercer scholar, Dirr is considered one of the green industry’s most celebrated plant experts. A professor of horticulture at the University of Georgia, his teaching, lectures, seminars, garden study tours and plant introduction programs have contributed to industry awareness.

The Summer Conference will be a nostalgic journey through decades of landscaping and nursery innovation, style, and culture—from the ‘60s to the early 2000s.  “Down to Earth” also offers valuable opportunities to earn pesticide and professional certification CEUs, making it not only an engaging summer event, but a meaningful investment in workforce development.

Through this partnership, VNLA members are invited to take advantage of MNLA’s early registration Member Rate of just $75 when registering on or before June 30.

More than a conference, “Down to Earth” is an opportunity for business owners and managers to recognize, empower, and thank their teams—providing access to professional development, peer networking, and a well-earned day of learning and fun in a collaborative outdoor setting.

MNLA looks forward to welcoming VNLA members to Deerfield this July for a truly “down to earth” experience that strengthens both businesses and the broader green industry community. Learn more and register HERE.