Unless otherwise noted, our lectures are free and open to the public. Most are held at the Tobias Theater at the IMA. Free tickets are required for admittance into Tobias Theater. To obtain a ticket, please call 317-955-2339 or visit the IMA website www.imamuseum.org. If you miss a lecture, our Horticultural Library at Newfield holds DVDs or videotapes of many Past Lectures.
Richard
Bisgrove, Gertrude
Jekyll and William Robinson: Art, Gardens and Life (May 13)
Sunday,
March 14, 2:00 pm, International School of Indiana, Taurel Building, 4330 Michigan
Road
HORTICOPIA
Break
out of your winter doldrums with a fast-paced and fun afternoon with the IMA's
talented horticultural staff. All will be on hand to present information on their
choice new (or old) plants, innovative designs, spectacular color combinations,
and favorite gardens to visit around the country. It should be an informative
and inspirational afternoon, and a great way to get to know the folks who help
make the IMA one of the most attractive art museums anywhere. Reception immediately
following; all are invited to stay for tea and refreshments. Admission
$5; payable at the door. Back
to top
Thursday,
May 13, 7:30 pm, Tobias Theater, IMA, Free
Gertrude Jekyll and William
Robinson: Art, Gardens and Life
Gertrude
Jekyll (1843-1932) and William Robinson (1838-1935) were almost exact contemporaries
and, for more than fifty years, collaborators in the art of garden making. On
Robinson's death in 1935 he was undoubtedly the most renowned gardener in England,
“the Father of the English Flower Garden.” But he is now almost unknown
among the gardening fraternity, while Miss Jekyll is still revered as the goddess
of English Gardens or, in Edwin Lutyens’ words, “Queen Mab” (mother
of all bulbs).
Richard Bisgrove will sketch the lives and work of these two key influences on the English garden and examine the reasons for their very different fates in the annals of garden design and garden history. Mr. Bisgrove is a landscape architect, author of several books and, until his recent retirement, was Senior Lecturer and Course Director for Landscape Management in the Centre for Horticulture and Landscape at the University of Reading. He has been awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society for “outstanding contribution to horticultural education, garden design and plant research.” Copies of his books, William Robinson: The Wild Gardener and The Gardens of Gertrude Jekyll, will be available for purchase and signing.
Free tickets are required for admittance into Tobias Theater. To obtain a ticket, please call 317-955-2339 or visit the IMA website www.imamuseum.org. Cosponsored with the Indianapolis Hosta Society. Back to top
Videotapes or DVDs of these lectures are available at the Horticultural Library. Note: Some 2004 and 2005 lectures are not available in video because they were held at other venues during IMA construction.
2002
2007
Restoration
of Oldfields, Part 2: Setting the Gem
(January 16, 2002)
Mark
Zelonis, director of Oldfields and the IMA gardens and grounds, and Bradley Brooks,
director of Lilly House programs and operations, team up in a slide lecture detailing
the ongoing restoration of Oldfields, the former estate of Josiah K. Lilly Jr.
They will share the past year's construction stories and preview the fixtures,
furnishings, and interpretive exhibits soon to be installed for the Oldfields
Grand Opening on June 9, 2002.
Back to top
Designing
for Continuous Bloom
(February 24, 2002)
Continuous
bloom is what all gardeners strive for! Award-winning author and landscape designer
Pam Duthie shows how to achieve nonstop color using a core group of perennials
with complementary plants and maintenance techniques to extend interest from early
spring into late fall. Duthie owns the design firm The Gifted Gardener in Northbrook,
Illinois.
Back to top
Eric
Smith, Master Hybridizer
(March 11, 2002)
Best
known for his propagation work at Hilliers and Plantsmans Nurseries, the late
Eric Smith produced some of the most revered hybrids of Hostas, Hellebores, and
Euphorbias. Mike Shadrack of the British Hosta & Hemerocallis Society presents
a unique tribute to the life and work of this famous British plantsman.
Back to top
Horticopia:
Plant Favorites from the Indianapolis Museum of Art
(April 9, 2002)
Whether
hunting for shrubs, perennials, vines, or the most tropical of foliage beauties,
your quest for the best and latest in garden plants ends here! The IMA horticultural
team present their all-time favorites and the best of the new for your education
and enjoyment. See what these gardeners go crazy for at wholesale nurseries and
professional conferences, and learn how and where they will use them in the IMA
gardens and grounds in 2002.
Back to top
Time-Tested
Plants
(September 4, 2002)
Pamela
Harper, award-winning author and photographer,
gardened avidly in her native England before settling in Virginia three decades
ago. Her lavishly illustrated talk includes observations she has made in developing
and maintaining her own garden. Ms. Harper offers suggestions for our sometimes
difficult midwest soils and weather conditions. A book signing follows Ms. Harper's
presentation.
Back to top
Shade-Loving
Wildflowers
(October
13, 2002)
Cosponsored by the Indianapolis Hosta Society
Michigan
author Fred Case specializes in growing and studying native plants and is a well-known
expert on Trillium and other woodland species. Case presents familiar and
rare plants that we may grow in shady spots in our gardens, featuring delightful
combinations for color and texture effects as well as plants for dry or wet conditions.
Back to top
A
Genius of Place: American Landscapes of the Country Place Era
(November 12, 2002)
Cosponsored
by the IMA Decorative Arts Society
Oldfields
estate is a rare surviving example of the American Country Place movement. In
this illustrated talk, Robin Karson presents other fine examples of original,
vital, and artistically expressive landscapes from this special era. Robin
Karson is founder and executive director of the Library of American Landscape
History and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts. She
has
written and lectured about American landscape history for 20 years. Among her
books are Fletcher Steele, Landscape Architect and The Muses of Gwinn,
both of which received Honor Awards from the American Society of Landscape Architects,
and Pioneers of American Landscape Design, which she co-edited. Ms.
Karson consulted on the Oldfields restoration project and is featured in the home's
orientation film, Living in the Grand Style. Her exhibition "A Genius for Place,"
portraying the subject of her talk, is touring the country.
Back to top
The
Garden through the 20th Century and Beyond
(January 20, 2003)
Cosponsored
by the Indianapolis Hosta Society
John Brookes, one of the world's most
influential garden designers, surveys the past century's tremendous variety and
change in the way designers embellish private and public spaces. He shares observations
of his profession, outlining cultural influences and how our perception of gardens
and garden design has changed. Brookes owns and operates the School of Landscape
Design at Denmans, his celebrated home and garden in southern England.
He has authored numerous books, including The Garden Book, Natural Landscapes,
and The Country Garden.
Back to top
"Wunderbar!"
Horticulture in Southern Germany (February
26, 2003)
Mark
Zelonis, IMA Director Oldfields and Gardens and Grounds, takes you on a slide-illustrated
tour through the picturesque Black Forest village of Laufen, home of the world-renowned
perennial nursery of Countess von Zeppelin, then invites you to hike through cottage
gardens, graveyard plantings and Stuttgart's famed once-a-decade international
garden show, the IGA (Internationale Gartenbauaustellung).
Back to top
Country
Houses of the Gilded Age (March 25, 2003)
Cosponsored by the IMA Decorative Arts Society
David Garrard Lowe, a well-known lecturer, cultural historian and author,
presents the artchitecture of Richard Morris Hunt, McKim, Meade & White, and
Horace Trumbauer. In the booming decades following the Civil War, Americans began
longing to re-create the splendid country houses they had seen on their travels
to Europe. This illustrated lecture will focus on the architects of these astonishing
creations and their patrons, including the Vanderbilts and Whitneys.
Back to top
The
Well-Designed Mixed Garden
(April 14, 2003)
Master garden designer and plantswoman
Tracy DiSabato-Aust presents the fundamentals of border building using a wide
palette of plant material. Through images from her newly published book of the
same name, she illustrates site evaluation, color theory and planning for maintenance.
DiSabato-Aust, a nationally recognized author and award-winning designer, has
worked, studied and taught at gardens in Belgium, England, Canada and the United
States for more than 25 years.
Back to top
Perennials:
What's New and Hot for 2004 (October 6, 2003)
Wish
to know what all your friends and neighbors will be ogling in their nursery catalogs
this winter? Dr. Steven Still gives a special sneak preview and a leg up on the
competition from his unique perspective as executive director of the Perennial
Plant Association. As Professor of Landscape Horticulture at Ohio Sate University,
Dr. Still teaches courses in woody and herbaceous plant identification. He is
the author of the Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants.
Back
to top
Landscaping
in Drifts of One (November 12, 2003)
Who
says all plants need to be planted in groups of 3, 5, or 7? Not Tony Avent! His
talk focuses on plant combinations as he discusses residential design for plant
collectors, advocating growing as many different plants in your garden as you'd
like. Mr. Avent is owner and president of Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. and Juniper
Level Botanic Gardens in Raleigh, NC. His catalog of unusual and quirky plants
is well known in horticultural circles for its outrageous covers, and can be obtained
by sending a box of chocolates—honest!
Co-sponsored by the Indianapolis
Hosta Society.
Back to top
A Hidden Treasure in Indianapolis: Riverdale – The James A. Allison Estate
(January 20, 2004)
Discover Riverdale,
a little known architectural and historical gem just a stone’s throw away from
the IMA at Marian College. Entrepreneur and Indianapolis Motor Speedway co-founder
James Allison created his 64-acre estate in 1914. The Prairie-style mansion contained
many state-of-the-art conveniences and was dubbed the “House of Wonders.” Landscape
architect David Roth, of Storrow Kinsella Associates, authored the recent cultural
landscape report on Riverdale. Deb Lawrence is the Director of Corporate and Foundation
Relations for Marian College. Together they will showcase this magnificent home
and its recently discovered landscape, laid out nearly 90 years ago by noted landscape
architect Jens Jensen. His design included a series of lakes, bridle paths, formal
gardens, and a meadow.
Back to top
Perennials of the Past for the Present (February
24, 2004)
Antique
perennials evoke pleasant memories of simpler times. Characterized by distinctive
color and beauty, familiar forms, and often exquisite fragrance, these plants
are old friends in a rapidly changing world. Horticultural consultant and ornamental
plant historian Denise Adams describes perennials that were cherished by past
gardeners, with particular emphasis on Indiana and the Great Lakes states, and
which are appropriate for contemporary landscapes. Denise’s new book, Restoring
American Gardens: An Encyclopedia of Heirloom Ornamental Plants, was released
in January 2004.
Back to top
Integrating
Landscape and Architecture – The Crafting of the New IMA (March 16, 2004)
The new IMA is taking form right before our eyes these days. Each month brings
closure to one structure and the beginning of another. Equally exciting, however,
are plans for an expansive new landscape that will beautifully frame and anchor
the magnificent new buildings. Barth Hendrickson, Project Landscape Architect
for Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf, Inc., has led the design team responsible for
this major endeavor. For this presentation, Barth will be joined by overall Project
Designer Jonathan Hess, as they discuss how landscape and building features are
artfully merged into one harmonious design.
Back to top
The
Golden Age of American Gardens (April 20, 2004)
As
coauthor of the prize-winning 1991 study, The Golden Age of American Gardens:
Proud Owners, Private Estates, 1890 - 1940, and founder of the Archive of
American Gardens, Eleanor Weller Reade is in a class by herself as an historian
of American gardens of the Country Place Era. She will present the subject of
her book, which explores the highlights and broad currents of garden and landscape
design across America during this period. The lavishly illustrated lecture will
feature views of many long vanished gardens. Ms. Reade is principal of Charlotte's
Web Interiors of Monkton, Maryland. She continues her studies of historic landscapes
and gardens, with a special interest in green garden theatres.
Back to top
Heritage Museums & Gardens: Past, Present and Future (September 14, 2004)
In 1969, Mr. & Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly III founded Heritage Plantation in honor
of his father (and Oldfields owner), J. K. Lilly Jr., and his collections of military
miniatures and firearms. Built upon the former Charles O. Dexter estate, the museum
presents to visitors a replica of a Shaker Round Stone Barn, a changing exhibition
of Americana, and an 1800 windmill—all within a fabulous landscape. Sunnee
D. Spencer, Deputy Director for Museum Programs & Services, discusses the institution's
recent name change reflecting the property's collections of rhododendrons, trees,
hosta, and daylilies. She also presents plans for future additions including a
family maze, kid's clubhouse, and children's garden. Sponsored by the IMA Horticultural
Society.
Back to top
Beautiful Roses Made Easy (October 20, 2004)
SORRY, NO VIDEO
Growing beautiful roses
with minimal care starts with proper selection. Melinda Myers discusses the top-pick
hardy roses that are sure to find a way into your landscape. You may be surprised
to find the variety of roses included in this group, from ground covers to climbers.
She also presents basic rose care for this group and for hybrid teas. Best known
for her gardener-friendly, practical approach to gardening, Melinda Myers hosts
"Great Lakes Gardener," seen on PBS stations throughout the Midwest and has won
several national awards for her communication talents. She has authored several
books. Her latest, Jackson and Perkins' Beautiful Roses Made Easy: Midwestern
Edition, will be available for sale and signing after the lecture. Sponsored
by the IMA Horticultural Society.
Back to top
Shade
Gardening with New Perennials (November 9, 2004)
SORRY, NO VIDEO
Dan Heims shows several
ways to deal with different types of shade and solve the problems of root and
light competition. His slides highlight gorgeous plant combinations using both
new introductions and old favorites. In recent years few people have brought so
many new, exciting herbaceous plants to the market as our speaker. Dan is president
of Terra Nova Nurseries in Portland, Oregon, an international perennial plant
introduction company featuring rare and unusual perennials. A frequent lecturer,
Dan hosts his own radio show, writes for more than a dozen magazines, and travels
around the world in search of intriguing plants. Co-sponsored by the IMA Horticultural
Society and Indianapolis Hosta Society.
Back to top
Consider
the Leaf: Using Foliage for Garden Design (February
16, 2005) SORRY,
NO VIDEO
Interested in easy-care plant combinations for sun or shade?
Then "consider the leaf." When foliage is used as a foundation for garden design,
you can have a great-looking garden even when it is not in flower. Writer, consultant
and instructor Judy Glattstein will explore the basics of leaf shapes and how
to combine them, working with shades of green and variations on a theme of green.
She'll then present other options, using gray, gold, red to purple, and variegated
foliage. Judy is the author of seven books, including Consider the Leaf,
which will be available for sale and signing after the lecture.
Back to top
"To
a Manor Borne": Historic Houses and Gardens of Northern England (March
13, 2005)
SORRY, NO VIDEO
Join Oldfields director
Mark Zelonis for this talk and slide presenatation on his recent journey to England
with members of the IMA's Second Century and Horticultural Societies. His images
will highlight treasures both inside and outside some of Britain's finest estates,
including Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, Castle Howard, Newby Hall and Waddeson Manor.
Featured are lush herbaceous borders, intimate courtyards, peaceful fountains
and rambling roses in full summer bloom. Mark's slides will recall many memorable
moments during the trip—a wonderful combination of art, architecture, decorative
arts and horticulture at their finest. Tea and refreshments
will follow the lecture.
Back to top
American
Garden Style (April 20, 2005)
SORRY, NO VIDEO
Sophisticated gardeners
are melding diverse international styles with their personal vision and, within
the dictates of regional climates, are creating powerful, provocative gardens
that are uniquely American. These innovative gardens are a rich source of inspiration
and ideas for fine-tuning your own piece of paradise. Join popular lecturer and
award winning author C. Colston Burrell for a look at vignettes from gorgeous
gardens spotlighting exciting plant combinations, garden art, contemplative spaces
and innovative landscape architecture from classic to contemporary. Cole is a
garden designer, photographer, naturalist and plantsman who gardens on 10 acres
in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Charlottesville, Virginia. He is also principal
of Native Landscape Design and Restoration. Several of his books will be available
for signing and sale following the lecture.
Back to top
New
and Great Old Woody Plants for Today's Garden (September 6, 2005) DVD
Presented by Bill Hendricks, president, Klyn Nurseries, Perry, Ohio.
Looking for something new, different and exciting to liven up your backyard? Hendricks'
firm has more than 430 acres of fieldstock and container plants, listing more
than 1,600 varieties in its catalog. A member of the Indiana Nursery & Landscape
Association, Klyn provided hundreds of plants for the IMA's new landscape. Hendricks,
the recipient of several professional awards for his extensive contributions to
the green industry, is in high demand as a lecturer. His presentation features
many of the woody plants he has observed to be outstanding and worthy candidates
for your garden. Back
to top
Dogwoods:
The Aristocrats of Native Flowering Trees (October 11, 2005) DVD
Presented by Dr. Paul E. Cappiello, Executive Director of Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood,
Kentucky. Who hasn't delighted in seeing the first dogwood of spring lighting
up the emerging forest edge or the backyard landscape? In their many species and
forms, dogwoods easily provide what every gardener yearns for: four seasons of
interest, with foliage, fruit, habit, and, of course, the flowers. Join consummate
horticulturist, designer and educator Dr. Paul E. Cappiello for a presentation
about one of his favorite plants and the subject of his new book, Dogwoods:
The Genus Cornus, published recently by Timber Press. Formerly horticulture
director at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Clermont, Kentucky, Cappiello
has been studying Cornus for more than 20 years and will share his wisdom
in his return visit to the IMA Horticultural Society's lecture series. Back
to top
Gardens
of the Arts and Crafts Movement (November 3,
2005) DVD
The
Arts and Crafts Movement redefined the relationship between garden and house.
An appreciation of garden design helps us fully appreciate Arts and Crafts interiors.
Judith B. Tankard, landscape design historian at the Harvard University Landscape
Institute of the Arnold Arboretum, examines the philosophy of this distinctive
design. Arts and Crafts originated in the late 1800s in opposition to the ill
effects of the Industrial Revolution and helped launch the preservationist movement.
Copies of Ms. Tankard's book, Gardens of the Arts and Crafts Movement: Reality
and Imagination, will be available for purchase and signing following the
lecture. Back
to top
Colorful Combinations for the
Shade Garden (February 9, 2006)
As gardeners, many of us are blessed
with an abundance of shade in our own backyards. Rather than curse the darkness,
learn to take full advantage of what nature has bestowed. In this illustrated
presentation, Gene Bush expands upon the concept of great garden companions and
their behavior over the full gardening season. The subtle and not-so-subtle combinations
bring out the best in each other and prove that there is no shortage of color
for shade gardens. Gene Bush is proprietor of Munchkin Nursery & Gardens in Depauw,
Indiana, specializing in native and non-native perennials for the shade. He is
a nurseryman, photographer, and author of articles for Fine Gardening, The
American Gardener, and the Journal of the North American Rock Garden Society.
Sponsored by the IMA Horticultural Society. Back
to top
Emerald Paradise: Gardens of the Pacific Northwest
(March 12, 2006)
The
temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest provides ideal growing conditions for
many of our favorite plants. Join Oldfields director Mark Zelonis for this talk
and slide presentation on the IMA Horticultural Society's memorable journey last
summer. Highlights include world-famous sites such as British Columbia's Butchart
Gardens, Stanley Park, and VanDusen Botanical Garden, as well as Heronswood Nursery
and Bloedel Reserve on Washington's Bainbridge Island. He'll also treat viewers
to glimpses of several exquisite private gardens influenced by noted plantsman
Thomas Hobbs. Featured are lush herbaceous borders, abundant roses, grand vistas,
and hydrangeas as blue as the sky. Tea and refreshments follow the lecture. Sponsored
by the IMA Horticultural Society. Back
to top
The
Senses & the Garden: Fully Experiencing Paradise (April 27, 2006)
Gardening
isn't just about creating an incredible scene. When you garden, you exercise all
your senses. Tovah Martin begins her talk with a blank canvas while exploring
the garden and nature through sight, smell, sound, touch and taste. She'll discuss
color, and follow light through the day and throughout the seasons. She'll also
discuss sounds, from katydids to chainsaws, and consider the wide range of fragrances
available to our noses. Her goal is to have one register feelings never previously
perceived, to ponder stimuli that passed by unnoticed. This is a lecture to tingle
all your senses. Tovah Martin is one of America's most prolific garden writers,
drawing from 25 years of experience as horticulturist at Logee's Greenhouses,
and in her own indoor and outdoor gardens. She has authored 13 books on gardening
(including Tasha Tudor's Garden), penned dozens of articles, and appeared
on myriad television shows, including PBS's "The Victory Garden." Sponsored by
the IMA Horticultural Society. Back
to top
Nancy Lancaster: English Country
House Style (October 5, 2006)
Considered
one of the great figures in interior design, Nancy Lancaster (1897-1994) created
what became universally known as the "English Country House Style." The owner
of Colefax & Fowler, an influential British decorating firm, Nancy had an assured
sense of scale, boldness, a sharp wit and an instinctive understanding of how
to make a house mellow, elegant and unpretentious. She carried the same clean
elegance into the garden where she worked in a formal, yet romantic neo-Georgian
style. Noted author Martin Wood explores Nancy's substantial contribution to the
arts of interior decoration and garden design by discussing her houses, including
Mirador in Virginia and Kelmarsh Hall, Ditchley Park and Haseley Court in England--and
their remarkable gardens. Mr. Wood is a textile and garden designer as well as
an interior decorator. Copies of his book on Nancy Lancaster, and another--Gertrude
Jekyll at Munstead Wood--will be available for purchase and signing. Co-sponsored
by the IMA Horticultural Society and the Royal Oak Foundation. Back
to top
Sukiya Living Environments: Japanese
Gardens (November
9, 2006)
The graceful gardens
of Japan are instantly recognizable as unique and exquisite creations. Jay Skuba,
Ph.D., principal of Zoen Sekkei-sha & Associates, will share fifty years of
gardening experiences and lessons learned from Japan's rich landscape tradition.
His talk will address Sukiya Living Environments for cultivated Western tastes,
and the garden as Art, Craft, and Science. He will discuss designing up from the
detail to the master plan, and will present timeless principles of an aesthetics
which transcends race, nationality and culture. Jay Skuba is a consulting horticulturist,
certified arborist, woodworker and master pruner. His firm in Lake Forest, Illinois,
concentrates on Japanese garden design. Co-sponsored by the IMA Horticultural
Society and the Indianapolis Hosta Society. Back
to top
Tropical Gardens of Thailand
(February 7, 2007)
Take a mid-winter break to enjoy the lush greenery
and colorful floral bounty of Thailand. Whether viewing exotic gardens and landscapes
in the central region or exquisite and distinctive flowers from the country's
northern mountains, you will experience many of the unique cultural sites this
venerable nation has to offer and learn the basics of Thai garden design. Jeff
Epping is Director of Horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin.
He recently implemented landscape plantings for the institution's new Thai Garden
and Pavilion, one of only four worldwide outside Thailand. His photographs are
seen regularly in gardening books and horticultural publications. Back
to top
Tea
with Beverley Nichols (March 11, 2007)
Is it not the wish
of every gardener to escape, at least occasionally, to a world of pure bliss in
which gardening takes precedence of every other activity and concern? In which
nothing intrudes on the wish to nurture treasured plants or to expand the delights
of the garden? English author Beverley Nichols (1898 - 1983) invites us to just
such a world, available to anyone who picks up his books. Titles such as Down
the Garden Path and Merry Hall hint at his breezy, witty prose style
that fairly dances on the page. He wrote with obvious delight in giving pleasure
to his readers, while always providing a unique vision of the dimensions of human
nature that flourish in and near gardens. Drawing on extensive study of Nichols
and his work, North Carolina native Roy C. Dicks, an actor, director, theatre
critic, and librarian, brings Nichols vividly to life using quotes from Nichols's
own works, as well as background biographical and literary information.
Back
to top
Timeless
Places (April 5, 2007)
Planning
for the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is proceeding with an eye on past
and future. IMA's challenge is to make this place, the White River's big bend,
into a landmark. What is the essence of places that endure as one-of-a-kind landscapes?
What lessons do they teach us about making this park expressive of its time and
place? This talk by Edward L. Blake, Jr., landscape architect for the project,
will illustrate how the place-making lessons of those who have preceeded us are
guiding the Art & Nature Park's planning. Blake is a landscape architect and founding
principal of The Landscape Studio in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His award-winning
designs include the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center and the Crosby
Arboretum in Picayune, Mississippi. Back
to top
Fallscaping (September 6, 2007)
Fall
is a glorious gardening season, sometimes overlooked in the joys of spring and
the lushness of summer. Award-winning author Stephanie Cohen concentrates on all
the fantastic and sometimes unexpected aspects of the fall season: perennials
and grasses at their peak, abundant berries and fruits, and glorious autumn colors
adorning trees and shrubs. Learn how clever gardeners take advantage of the cool,
crisp air to extend their growing season. Nicknamed "The Perennial Diva," Stephanie
Cohen has taught herbaceous plants and perennial design at Temple University for
more than 20 years. She is a contributing editor for Fine Gardening and writes
frequently for Country Living Gardener and American Nurseryman magazines.
Back
to top
Splendor in the Tropics (October 4, 2007)
Karen
Beard will offer an intriguing look at Bonnet House, the lush 35-acre historic
estate in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, where she serves as executive director.
Built in 1920, Bonnet House was the winter home of Frederic Bartlett and Indianapolis
native Evelyn Fortune (Lilly) Bartlett. At Bonnet House, Frederic and Evelyn created
an eclectic and charming setting for their artistic lifestyle. Explore the landscape
and rare orchid collection and their evolution over the decades, and how the museum
coped with the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. Back
to top
The Abundant Childhood: Nature, Creativity and Health
(November 8, 2007)
Remember
romping around the woods or building tree houses as a kid? According to author
and futurist Richard Louv, today’s children are in danger of losing the benefits
of unstructured outdoor play. In Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children
from Nature-Deficit Disorder, Louv draws a connection between exposure to nature’s
sensory and spiritual bounty, and improved creativity, health, and empathy. Presented
by Indianapolis Museum of Art and Eagle Creek Park Foundation, Inc. in collaboration
with Holliday Park, Hoosier Environmental Council, Indianapolis Public Schools,
Peace Learning Center, Marian College, IMA Horticultural Society, IU School of
Medicine and Indiana Wildlife Federation, as part of the 2007 Spirit & Place Festival
(www.spiritandplace.org). Back
to top
Urban
Greening (February 7, 2008)
For more than a decade, the City of
Chicago has striven to remold its moniker, 'the city of big shoulders,' into 'urbs
in horto,' or city in a garden. From the design of award-winning green roofs to
his vision for urban corridors that influence many municipalities in the Midwest,
Douglas Hoerr, principal of Douglas Hoerr Landscape Architecture, has been an
integral part of this successful change as a noted practitioner of landscape architecture
and as a long-term advisor to the city. Among the significant urban greening projects
he presents are the transformation of Michigan Avenue, streetscape design in Des
Moines, IA, the City Garden at Garfield Park Conservatory, the urban university
campuses of Loyola University Chicago and North Park University, and green roofs
at the Apple Store and 900 North Michigan Avenue. Douglas Hoerr has received numerous
awards for his firm's work, and has been featured in many national design and
garden publications, including House & Garden, Veranda, and Metropolitan Home.
Back to top
The
Garden in Winter (March 2, 2008)
Ironically,
winter is when we need color most but it is the season least planned and planted
for color. Learn how to plant your garden with winter bloomers and conifers to
be colorful and engaging even on the darkest days. Add window boxes, containers,
structures and ornaments too. Winter is a fascinating season, a time to closely
watch changes in plants. Everything has a story to tell and secrets to reveal,
from the design of a snowflake and the pattern of frost, to the first flowers
piercing the cold ground, their blooms resting on a snowy pillow. The Garden in
Winter is the latest offering from Suzy Bales, award winning author of more than
a dozen gardening books, and a frequent guest on national television shows. She
is also a contributor to numerous home and gardening magazines as writer and editor.
Back to top
Sustainable
Rose Growing (April 10, 2008)
When we talk about excellent rose care and the sustainable rose garden we must
first talk about healthy soils! With "Green Thinking" at the forefront these days,
it is important to talk about well cared for soil as our rewards are roses that
are truly healthy and naturally disease resistant. This in turn reduces the amount
of any chemical dependence. Peter Kukielski, Curator of the Peggy Rockefeller
Rose Garden and Rose Collections at the New York Botanical Garden, will share
some organic practices and discuss topics that to help our soils become rich and
active. He will talk about the three "basics" of rose growing and learn why they
are so important to the success of your roses. Peter will also showcase the latest
in global hybridization efforts to give us roses requiring little or no chemical
intervention. He'll outline the attributes of these new plants and explain why
they'd make terrific all around garden plants. Mr. Kukielski recently completed
a major renovation of the NYBG rose gardens. His design work has been featured
in many regional and national gardening publications.
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Shady
Characters (September
4, 2008)
Shady
yards are often met with dismay. "There are no plants for the shade" is a sentiment
echoed all too often by gardeners. This is a case of reality being far different
from perception. There are many WONDERFUL "shady characters" for the gardens.
Meet a few of them in a humorous and informative talk by Laura Deeter on shade
gardening. By the end of the evening you'll be saying "Hosta la vista" to the
garden blues and looking forward to gardening in the shade! Laura Deeter is Assistant
Professor of Horticultural Technologies at the Ohio State University's Agricultural
Technical Institute. She is an award-winning teacher of woody and herbaceous plants,
landscape design and construction, and perennial production.
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Designing
With Elegant Silvers (November
10, 2008)
Silvers
are the shimmering chameleons of the plant kingdom. Their silvery appearance is
caused by water-conserving hairs, scales, powder, waxy coatings or air bubbles.
The beauty and drought-tolerance of familiar downy silvers such as lamb's ears
and artemisias have long made them favorites in the herb garden and perennial
border. Elegant Silvers is an exploration of the entire range of these distinctive
plants, from grey to almost white to icy blue, including grasses, succulents,
tiny alpines, soaring evergreens, herbs, shrubs, perennials, native plants, tropicals
and subtropicals. Renowned photographer and author Karen Bussolini shows the many
inventive ways gardeners across the United States have used these stalwart plants
in containers, borders or the larger landscape. She demonstrates the use of regionally
appropriate silvers, protective adaptations, using color and texture to create
exciting combinations and historical uses from medieval times to modern xeriscaping.
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Antique
Gardens: American Home Landscapes, 1800-1940 (January 29, 2009)
From
the scanty pioneer gardens of the early 1800s through flamboyant Victorian carpet-bedding
to the "old-fashioned" perennial borders of the early twentieth century, this
lecture illuminates 140 years of American yards and gardens. Landscape historian
and preservationist Scott Kunst shows how plants, outdoor furnishings, and the
design of American yards changed dramatically through the years. Kunst is
the owner of Old House Gardens, the country's only mail-order source devoted entirely
to antique flower bulbs. Back to top
Tried
and True! Proven Perennials from the Chicago Botanic Garden's Trials (April
2, 2009)
Field observation,
years of experience, and a passion for plants—all blend together in the Chicago
Botanic Garden's Plant Evaluation Program. The goal of the program is to determine,
through scientific evaluation, which plants are superior for gardens in the Upper
Midwest. Plants are rated on ornamental qualities, cultural adaptability, winter
hardiness, and disease and pest resistance. Richard
Hawke is CBG's Plant Evaluation Manager, and is responsible for the comparative
evaluation of over 10,000 plants representing 1,200 taxa of herbaceous perennials,
vines, shrubs, and small trees. Back to top
Luscious
Landscaping with Fruiting Trees, Shrubs and Vines! (September 10, 2009) Back
to top
What
could be more pleasant than picking luscious fruits from a plant that you also
admire for its beauty? Meet some of the best trees, shrubs and vines for this
purpose, plants that require little maintenance yet provide stunning flowers in
spring, color in autumn and neat form in winter. Learn how to grow shadbush, gumi,
actinidia, medlar and other ornamental fruiting plants, and how to use them to
beautify your yard. Lee
Reich, PhD, is an avid "farmdener" (more than a garden, less than a
farm) who turned from plant and soil research with the USDA and Cornell University
to writing, lecturing and consulting. Lee's own garden has won several awards
and been featured in numerous publications and tours. His most recent work is
Landscaping with Fruit.
Gardening
for Life: The Case for Landscaping with Native Plants (November 3, 2009)
Doug
Tallamy wants us to garden as though life depends on it! His simple but powerful
message is this: gardeners can foster biodiversity simply by choosing to plant
more natives. In his eye-opening book, Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants
Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens, Tallamy shows how life does depend on what
we plant in our backyards. It’s a book that makes us look at our gardens — and
think of our role as gardeners — in a new, more meaningful way. Tallamy
earned rave reviews when he addressed the annual conference of the Indiana Native
Plant and Wildflower Society in November 2008, prompting an invitation for a return
visit to a larger venue (Clowes Memorial Hall). Butler University's Friesner Herbarium
and the Center for Urban Ecology hosted this lecture, which was cosponsored by
Indiana Native Plant and Wildflower Society, Indiana Wildlife Federation, Marion
County Soil & Water Conservation District, and IMA Horticultural Society.
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