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POST CONFERENCE INFO |
GENERAL SESSION |
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM General Session - Part 1
Lessons from Trees | Tanya M. Quist, Ph.D., University of Arizona Campus Arboretum
This talk will present stories about special trees found throughout the world which are valued for the heritage they embody. The term “heritage” refers to something that is “inherited” or “passed along from the past into the future." Indeed, studying history can give us insights to guide us toward a better future and, in the case of trees, we have a tangible bridge connecting past and future. They often live longer than us, precede us in time, or persist long after we leave. This experience gives us perspective and encourages us to take the long view. While a growing body of research points to a practical role for trees in global sustainability initiatives through the tangible ecological benefits they contribute, necessary actions in this regard are often met with barriers. If the benefits of trees are to be leveraged, those working with them must maintain a clear perspective and strong convictions. To this end, in this talk, we will explore examples of trees valued or revered for their cultural and historical significance throughout the world. Each story aims to expand your understanding of their value to individuals and societies past and present and to deepen your conviction to plant and care for them with the future in mind.
| Presenter Bio: Tanya Quist received degrees in Horticulture Science and a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology from Purdue University where she studied the physiological and genetic regulation of plant stress response. This background informs her work in instruction as an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Plant Sciences where she teaches plant propagation, plant biology, plant physiology, and introduction to urban horticulture. In her role as Director of the University of Arizona Campus Arboretum, Tanya provides university leadership relating to landscape curation, plant selection, and other sustainable landscape management practices. The arboretum program also aims to promote both by example and through outreach activities, the application of university science on campus and in other urban landscapes throughout the state. Learn more about Tanya: Tanya M. Quist | Plant Sciences (arizona.edu) Dr. Tanya Quist, Universtiy of Arizona Arboretum (youtube.com) |
Tanya M. Quist, Ph.D.9:15 AM - 10:15 AM General Session - Part 2Deeply Rooted | Alfonso Chavez, Cultiva & Jacob Robles, Cultiva Join as we explore the profound relationship between Indigenous communities and the arboreal world. Delve into the cultural, spiritual, and practical significance of trees in various Indigenous traditions, highlighting how our communities view trees, not merely as resources but as sacred beings with intrinsic value and agency. Through a collection of storytelling, ethnographic studies, and visual documentation, this presentation illustrates how trees feature prominently in storytelling, rituals, food systems, and daily practices. This places emphasis on the reciprocal relationships that Indigenous peoples cultivate with their environments, fostering sustainable living and deep ecological awareness. |
| Presenter Bio: As an indigenous environmentalist, artist, business owner, and member of Flowers & Bullets, I value my connection to community and the natural world. By way of social, environmental, and food justice activism, I am working to provide accessibility to the oppressed and underserved with a cultural lens to honor our past and future generations to come. Learn more about Alfonso: Saguaro cacti struggle to survive in excessive heat (kgun9.com) The Desert Can Yield a Bounty of Vegetables—Just Ask One of Arizona’s Sustainable Farmers - Dwell Flowers and Bullets: Linking Generations through Art & Sustainability – Why I Love Where I Live |
Alfonso Chavez Jacob Robles | Presenter Bio: Jacob Robles is one of the Co-founders of the Flowers and Bullets Collective. Much of his work is centered around maintaining traditional indigenous knowledge around food, farming, ceremony, and culture. He has served as a community organizer for over 10 years, primarily organizing around food justice and social justice in the Barrio Centro/Julia Keen neighborhoods. He currently works with high school youth teaching holistic wellness. Learn more about Jacob: COMMUNITY IMPACT | flowersandbullets Flowers & Bullets (3storymagazine.com) In Tucson, ‘Barrio-Supported Agriculture’ Feeds the Latino Community | Civil Eats Pueblos del Maíz in the Arizona-Sonora Borderlands - Borderlore |
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: TRACK 1 |
10:30 AM - 11:30AM TRACK 1: Breakout Session #1Arizona Magnificent Tree Program | Jon Orona, Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management The Arizona Magnificent Tree Program is sponsored by the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. This program seeks to create a living record of magnificent and notable trees in our state’s forests and communities by publicly recognizing trees that are the largest of their species, Champion Trees, or trees that have cultural significance and a direct connection to people, Heritage Trees, and trees that are proven to have been in their same location before Arizona's Statehood, Witness Trees. This presentation will give an inside look into this program and showcase some of these noteworthy trees. |
Presenter Bio: Jon has a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from Northern Arizona University with an emphasis in Wildlife Ecology and Management. He has been employed with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (DFFM) for 6 years, where he has worked in the Urban & Community Forestry, Forest Health, Invasive Plants, Forest Stewardship, and the Healthy Forest Initiative Programs. He has visited seventy plus Arizona Magnificent Trees across Arizona during his time as the Arizona Magnificent Trees Coordinator. As the Northeast District Forester, Jon leads a team of Foresters in coordination with the Northeast District Fire Team to plan and implement fuels reduction, watershed, and landscape scale forest restoration projects but still enjoys finding and visiting Arizona's Magnificent Trees with his family. Learn more about Jon: Tree hunters stalk giants for Arizona's growing list of champions (tucson.com) |
Jon Orona12:30 PM - 1:30 PM TRACK 1: Breakout Session #2
The History of Honeybees and Trees | Anne LeSenne, MS, The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Pinal County
Honeybees in nature prefer to make their homes in the cavities of trees, so there is a long and interesting relationship between the two. While arborists might look at a hollow or column of decay in a tree as a negative thing, many types of wildlife depend on these hollows for their nesting sites. We will discuss how these hollows develop and the different types of wildlife that use them as they grow larger. We’ll also discuss how climbing arborists can keep themselves and their ground crew safe when working around hives in trees.
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Anne LeSenne, MS | PresenterBio: Anne LeSenne is currently the Assistant Horticulture Extension Agent for Pinal County Arizona through the University of Arizona. She has a master’s degree in Horticulture from Texas Tech University and a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture from Brigham Young University Idaho. Anne became a certified arborist with ISA in 2006 and has also been a Municipal Specialist and TRAQ certified for a few years. She became a Board-Certified Master Arborist in 2017. She has specialized in Tree Preservation during and after construction and prepared numerous Tree Mitigation reports which included collecting data on over 30,000 native oak trees in California. She has been an Expert Witness in Tree litigation cases for both defense and prosecution lawyers. She taught Horticulture related classes at two community colleges in the Portland Oregon area for a decade including Plant Identification, Pesticides, Landscape Design, and Beekeeping. She was the driving force behind one of those colleges becoming certified as a Tree Campus USA, and then maintained the certification for six years. She now lives and works in the low desert of Arizona and is working to help more people get ISA trained and certified. She volunteers on the Arizona Community Tree Council board and the advisory board of Trees Matter who are working to increase the tree canopy of Phoenix. Learn more about Anne: Honeybee Series: Feeding Your Bees | Cooperative Extension | The University of Arizona |
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM TRACK 1: Breakout Session #3Saguaro Salvage Success | Judy Mielke, Logan Simpson Saguaros are iconic plants of the Sonoran Desert. Their slow growth rate and longevity are compelling reasons to salvage plants that are in the path of construction. Judy’s presentation will cover how to evaluate saguaro viability and transplantability for determining salvage status. She will highlight the results of ADOT’s research project that evaluated the transplant success of 1,000 saguaros on four different ADOT roadway projects. The presentation will also cover best practices for salvaging saguaros and providing maintenance following transplant. |
Judy Mielke | Presenter Bio: Judy Mielke is a Senior Landscape Architect with Logan Simpson in Tempe. She has conducted native plant inventories that resulted in the salvage of thousands of plants, including saguaros, for habitat restoration projects. As a landscape architect, Judy frequently incorporates saguaros into her designs and often has the opportunity to oversee the installation of the projects. She is author of the award-winning book “Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes.” Judy has taught courses in Landscape Plant Materials and Arizona Native Plants at ASU and is an instructor for the Smartscape program. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Washington State University, and she worked for nine years as a horticulturist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix before returning to school for her Master of Environmental Planning degree from ASU. Learn more about Judy: Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes: Mielke, Judy: 9780292751477: Amazon.com: Books |
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM TRACK 1: Breakout Session #4Fruit Trees from Yesterday for Today and Tomorrow | Dena Cowan, Mission Garden Tucson’s agricultural heritage museum called “Mission Garden” grows desert adapted and native crops. This twelve-year-old public ethnobotanical garden project has been experimenting with heritage fruit tree cultivation, including introduced plants such as pomegranate, fig, and quince as well as selected natives like prickly pear and mesquite. Mission Garden caretakes and propagates the majority of the Kino Heritage Fruit Trees Project collection. The presentation will offer details and observations about these specific heritage varieties, desert hardiness, and drought tolerance as well as insight about their roles in the cultural traditions of the region. Cultivation and maintenance techniques will be discussed with regards to water efficiency and mitigating the impact of extreme environmental conditions. |
Dena Cowan | Presenter Bio: Dena Cowan is currently the Curator of Collections at Mission Garden, Tucson’s Agricultural Heritage Museum, where she has also served as Garden Supervisor and Community Outreach Coordinator. For the past two years she has also created a farm plan and consulted for Arizona’s first certified organic regenerative farm, Oatman Flats Ranch. Learn more about Dena: |
BREAKOUT SESSIONS: TRACK 2 |
Certified Arborist Review |
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM TRACK 2: Breakout Session #1Certified Arborist Jeopardy: Session #1 | Dalton Gormey, Serious Landscaping & Grounds Care LLC Back by popular demand: Certified Arborist Jeopardy! During each session, we will go over the most important aspects of the exam reviewing critical areas using a fun approach called Certified Arborist Jeopardy! Two teams of class participants will battle off as we review all the domains that are on the Certified Arborist exam. This will be a fun and challenging way to prepare for the exam without accruing all the anxiety normal to a standard class setting. Although geared to exam participants, these sessions are for all interested in reviewing and refreshing their Certified Arborist knowledge. |
Dalton Gormey | PresenterBio: Dalton Gormey is an ISA certified arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualified. He serves on the Board of Directors at the Arizona Community Tree Council and serves in both educational and practical capacities, assisting with the certified Arborist training, and the annual Arizona Tree Climbing Championship. Dalton is the owner and operator of Serious Landscaping and Grounds Care, LLC and resides in Glendale Arizona with his wife Jessica. |
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM TRACK 2: Breakout Session #2Certified Arborist Jeopardy: Session #2 | Dalton Gormey, Serious Landscaping & Grounds Care LLC |
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM TRACK 2: Breakout Session #3Certified Arborist Jeopardy: Session #3 | Dalton Gormey, Serious Landscaping & Grounds Care LLC |
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM TRACK 2: Breakout Session #4Certified Arborist Jeopardy: Session #4 | Dalton Gormey, Serious Landscaping & Grounds Care LLC |
