Native Plants
Gardening With Native Plants - Pamm Cooper
Select native plants for gardens and landscapes including trees, shrubs and perennials. This presentation also covers site considerations and usefulness to pollinators and wildlife.
Pollinators
Bees in the Wild and in the Residential Landscape - Pamm Cooper
This presentation focuses on mostly native bees, their habitats and their preferred plants in the landscape and in the wild.
Butterflies of Connecticut - Pamm Cooper
Explore common and not-so common butterflies found in the state of Connecticut. Review their common habitats. Take a closer look at the identifying features of their caterpillars.
Gardening for Butterflies - Pamm Cooper
Learn about plants that will attract butterflies! Go in depth to learn what will feed adults and what will serve as host plants for their caterpillars.
Plants for Pollinators - Pamm Cooper
This presentation will discuss selection of native and nonnative plants for home landscapes and gardens that help support our pollinators, locally.
Pollinators - Pamm Cooper
A look at mostly native pollinators (bees, flies, beetles, moths and butterflies), the habitats they can be found in, and the plants that support them in the wild and garden.
Wildlife & Nature
A Walk on the Wild Side - Pamm Cooper
A discussion of flora, fauna and weather phenomena occurring in Connecticut in recent years.
Birdscaping - Pamm Cooper
Learn how to select plants that will support birds in the residential landscape. This presentation includes food plants for all seasons, fruits and seeds, and plants that support caterpillars for nestling and fledgling birds.
Gardening for Wildlife - Pamm Cooper
This presentation covers selecting native and non-native trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals with the intention of supporting pollinators and wildlife.
Lichens and Slime Molds of Connecticut - Pamm Cooper
This highly visual presentation will introduce the surprisingly beautiful world of interesting organisms Connecticans may encounter in their backyards or almost any other outdoor site.
Nick Goltz
Dr. Nick Goltz is a plant pathologist and Assistant Extension Educator at the University of Connecticut. He directs the UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, where he diagnoses plant health issues and provides management recommendations for various clients including home gardeners and commercial growers. Nick holds a Doctor of Plant Medicine degree from the University of Florida. Before UConn, he worked at the UF Plant Diagnostic Center and at state and federal regulatory laboratories since 2016, performing research to develop biological control options for the management of invasive insects. Nick has a passion for plant health and integrated pest management and has been published in Fine Gardening Magazine several times in addition to the academic journals Insects and Biodiversity Data Journal. He is always excited to work with growers and home gardeners alike to find comprehensive solutions for any plant problem they may be dealing with.
Pamela Cooper
Pamm Cooper works at the University of Connecticut Home and Garden Education Center office offering advice on cultural and pest concerns for gardens, landscapes and natural habitats. She has teamed with Jane Seymour from the Ct. DEEP doing programs on using native and non-native plants in the residential landscape to support native pollinators, butterflies, and wildlife. She has worked for Dr. David Wagner collecting and rearing caterpillars for property bio-surveys on DEEP properties and has contributed to articles for Martha Stewart Living Magazine and Butterfly Gardener Magazine. She is also a nature photographer with photographs published in several books, magazines, and other publications.
Lauren Kurtz
Lauren Kurtz is the newest member of the Home and Garden Education Center at the University of Connecticut. A proud UConn alum, she received both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, where her graduate research focused on the breeding and horticulture of hemp. Today, as a science communicator and educator, Lauren specializes in ecological horticulture and invasive plant management.
Heather Zidack
Heather Zidack is a Horticultural Educator at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center. An alumna of the University of Connecticut, she holds a B.S. in Plant Science and an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus on agricultural education. Heather brings a unique blend of industry experience and teaching expertise to her work, drawing from her background in horticulture and high school agriscience education. She develops educational resources, engages with the public through various outreach platforms, and contributes regularly to the Hartford Courant. Heather has also been featured as an expert on CRIS Radio, NBC30 CT, and The Spruce.