Leah Puhlman, Master Gardener

Leah Puhlman is an Oregon State University Extension Master Gardener who teaches for the award-winning 10-Minute University™ program. She has a Platinum Certified Backyard Habitat and is an advocate for native bees and bird-friendly gardens. She uses her 50-year-old greenhouse to protect frost-tender plants and to start seeds each spring. For the 2026 Joy of Gardening Conference, Leah presented: "Plant This, Not That: Exploring Landscaping Plants That Protect Biodiversity" The session focused on how invasive ornamental plants can harm local ecosystems and highlighted better alternatives, including native plants, native cultivars, and other beneficial ornamentals that support biodiversity