The 2026 Winter Symposium and 57th CVNLA Short Course is a three-day horticultural education event hosted February 11–13 by Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, the Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, and Virginia Cooperative Extension, and James River Nurseries is a returning sponsor in support of ongoing education for Virginia's green industry.
Three Days of Horticulture, Health, and Climate-Smart Design
The 2026 Winter Symposium theme — "Growing Wellness: Plants, People, and a Thriving Planet" — gathered some of the most respected voices in horticulture for three days at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. The agenda spanned healing gardens, climate-resilient tree selection, horticultural therapy in carceral spaces, native pollinator habitat, ecosystem service frameworks, and pesticide applicator recertification.
It is, in short, the most important annual gathering for Virginia's nursery and landscape industry — and one of the best opportunities each year for working professionals to keep learning.
Why Education Is a Competitive Advantage
Landscape construction and horticulture are not static fields. The plants we install today are different from the ones available a decade ago. The climate we plant them into is different too. Stormwater rules change. New pests show up. Native plant guidance evolves as research catches up with what mid-Atlantic ecosystems actually need.
Sponsoring the CVNLA Short Course is one of the ways JRN invests in keeping the team current. Whether it's a Bartlett Tree Research Lab session on climate change adaptation, a boxwood deep-dive from The Boxwood Guy, or a habitat creation workshop with Resource Environmental Solutions, the content shows up on real client jobs in the months that follow.
Supporting the Industry That Built Us
JRN is proud to be listed alongside Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Bartlett Tree Experts, Davey, Reynolds Community College, and dozens of other industry partners as a sponsor of the 2026 Symposium. The Virginia green industry is collaborative by nature, and education is one of the strongest ways we keep raising the bar for everyone we serve.
What is the CVNLA Short Course?
The CVNLA Short Course is an annual horticultural education event hosted by the Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, and Virginia Cooperative Extension. It offers professional development, pesticide recertification, and continuing education for landscape and horticulture professionals across Virginia.
Where is the Winter Symposium held?
The Winter Symposium is hosted at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico County, Virginia, and is presented in partnership with the Central Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association and Virginia Cooperative Extension. Many sessions are also offered virtually.
Plan Your Next Project With James River Nurseries
Continuing education is a core part of how JRN serves clients. To learn more about the team behind every project, visit jamesrivernurseries.com/about-us.
