Registration is Open for the 15th Great Gardens and Landscaping Symposium
Everything is in place for another spectacular Great Gardens and Landscaping Symposium. The 15th annual symposium will be held once again at the magnificent Woodstock Inn and Resort in Woodstock, Vermont. The day-long, premier symposium, which attracts 230 enthusiastic gardeners nationwide, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019 preceded by a special three-hour flower gardening class that I teach on Friday afternoon, April 12. The symposium features five dynamic lectures by nationally renowned speakers, gourmet food, garden gifts, door prizes and the Gardeners Marketplace filled with exceptional vendors.
This year’s speakers and their topics are:
*Growing Beautiful Food – A Gardener’s Guide to Cultivating Extraordinary Vegetables, Fruit & Flowers. Presenter: Matthew Benson (pictured). Award-winning photographer, acclaimed speaker, author of numerous books, and biodynamic organic farmer. Raised and educated in Europe, with a master’s degree from Columbia University, Matthew has many interests, including being a trans-Atlantic sailor and certified alpine ski instructor.
*The Photo-Graphic Garden – A Professional’s Tips for Taking Spectacular Garden Pictures. Presenter: Matthew Benson
*Inspiring Tips for Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Landscape. Presenter: Annie S. White, PhD, ASLA. Owner and Principal Designer of Nectar Landscape Design Studio; horticultural researcher and lecturer of Landscape Design at the University of Vermont; and a coordinator for The New England Wild Flower Society’s Pollinate New England program. Annie conducted research for her PhD, evaluating native herbaceous flowering plants versus native cultivars for pollinator habitat restoration.
*Gardens that Dazzle from Late Summer and Onward! Plants that Endure Scorching Heat, Humidity & Drought. Presenter: Warren Leach. Garden designer, speaker, author, and co-owner of Tranquil Lake Nursery. Warren is an award winning landscape designer, twice receiving the National Landscape Association Regional Certificate of Merit for Residential Landscape Design. In 2010 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society honored Warren with a Gold Medal for his horticultural expertise and landscape design achievements. He has taught horticulture and landscape design at The University of Rhode Island, the Brown University Learning Community, Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.
*Exciting Perennials, Flowering Shrubs and Annuals for 2019. Presenter: Kerry Ann Mendez. Award-winning speaker, author, designer, owner of Perennially Yours and Symposium founder and organizer.
Friday, April 12 Flower Gardening Class from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. (separate registration fee). Presenter for both lectures: Kerry Ann Mendez
*Sustainable Design and Maintenance Tips for Beautiful Flower Gardens. Discover techniques for creating head-turning, planet-friendly gardens that are the talk of the neighborhood and pollinator habitat enthusiasts. Topics covered include right plant-right place with an emphasis on natives, smart water practices, natural insect controls, sources for neonic-free plants, maintaining healthy soil, living mulches, winning the war against weeds naturally, and more!
* Kerry’s Favorite Plant Picks and Eye-Popping Combinations. Kerry will zoom in on some of her most beloved, low-maintenance plants (perennials, annuals and flowering shrubs) as well as dynamic combinations that shine spring through fall.
Saturday, April 13 Symposium Registration Fee:
$98 per person. $93 per person for Master Gardeners, Green Industry Professionals and Groups of 5 or more (must register by check for this special rate and complete registration form available on the Symposium web page)
Friday, April 12 Three-Hour Class: $55 per person. $50 per person for Master Gardeners, Green Industry Professionals and Groups of 5 or more (must register by check for this special rate and complete registration form available on the Symposium web page)
Special Symposium Room Rate at the world-class Woodstock Inn and Resort (while availability lasts) $169 single or double INCLUDES the $30 per day resort fee. Please specify ‘Great Gardens Symposium’ to receive this special rate.
For more about the symposium, registration, and hotel reservations, click here.