Montana Audubon Center’s Native Plant Symposium 2026

Rooted in History, Growing the Future

The Montana Audubon Center is excited to announce that registration is now open for our annual Native Plant Symposium – commemorating 10 years of celebrating Montana’s native plant heritage and empowering our community to steward resilient landscapes for the future.

This year’s theme, “Rooted in History, Growing the Future,” invites participants to explore historic native plant communities — and how we can help shape what they become.

To accommodate growing interest and expand access to this beloved event, the 2026 Symposium will be held at a new, larger location: the Billings Public Library. This move allows us to welcome more attendees while continuing the tradition of meaningful learning and connection that has defined the symposium since its founding in 2016.

Our 2026 program intentionally bridges past and future through four dynamic presentations:

• Before and After the Plow: Recollections of Those Who Came Before Us – Dwayne Bondy
• Montana Citizen Botany Program: Connecting Plants and People – Kenda Herman
• The Art and Science of Seed Collection – Mark Majerus
• Native Plant Propagation – Krystal Weilage

During speaker breaks, participants will also have the opportunity to visit informational booths featuring local organizations and conservation resources. These booths provide time to connect with community partners, explore tools and programs supporting native plant conservation, and continue the conversation beyond the presentations.

Produced in collaboration with the Montana Native Plant Society (MNPS) and the local Artemisia Chapter of MNPS, the Native Plant Symposium continues its tradition of bringing together land stewards, gardeners, researchers, and curious community members. Whether you’re interested in prairie history, hands-on restoration, or cultivating native plants in your own space, join us for a day of learning, connection, and conservation. Together, we can honor Montana’s plant heritage while planting the seeds for resilient landscapes to come.

Published: March 2nd, 2026