Spring will soon be here but in many parts of the country plants don’t seem to be following the calendar and are blooming ahead of schedule.  As gardeners know, the weather is unpredictable and plants don’t read the books.  If you’re looking for ideas, techniques or new plants to try here are a few suggestions for events to attend that will inform and I hope inspire you to get out and work in your own garden.   

  Sat., February 25, 2012 Perennial Plant Symposium “The Inspired Gardener”- 8am-3:30pm, a cooperative effort between the Georgia Perennial Plant Association and the Atlanta Botanical Garden, this event takes place at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.  A great lineup of speakers including Katy Moss Warner (former head of horticulture at Disney World) talking about “Beautiful Landscapes,” Steve Brady, former UGA extension agent for over 30 years presents “Easy-to-Grow Fruits,”  Shannon Pable, garden designer on “Transforming Wild “Weeds” into Residential Ornamentals,” Other People’s Gardens,” by landscape architect Norman Kent Johnson and the entertaining and informative Stephanie Cohen closes out the day with her talk on the “Nonstop Garden.”  For more info go to http://www.georgiaperennial.org/events/2012/index.htm 

Tuesday, March 6, 2012, The 28^th Horticultural Davidson Horticultural Symposium“The Roots of Passion:The Inspired Gardener,” this all day event at Davidson College in North Carolina and offers an impressive lineup of speakers including Andrea Wulf, author of the Founding Gardeners and The Brothers Gardener as well as David Howard, Bill Thomas of Chanticleer, Sean Hogan, Andrea Sprott, Dr. Larry Mellichamp and Tiz Johnston.  Registration required by Feb. 24^th http://www.davidsonsymposium.org/

Water garden at Chanticleer

Friday, March 16, 2012 Garden Conference-A one day Conference for the Home Gardener, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, speakers include Kerry Ann Mendez, Doug Tallamy, Charlie Nardozzi, Jo Ann Gardner and Mitch Rand.  To register http://www.2012garden.uconn.edu/

my garden, April 2011

Tuesday, March 13 and 20^th, 2012 6:30-8:30, Designing A Four Season Garden-more than just flowers, Evening at Emory, Emory University, by Erica Glasener http://ece.emory.edu/classes.cfm?cla=2150001968&pt=3

Thursday and Friday, March 22-23, 2012 Callaway Gardening School, Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain, Georgia Garden Design Workshop,  Erica Glasener, workshop, lecture, panel discussion and an opportunity to purchase plants, http://www.callawaygardens.com/info/calendar/calendar.callaway_gardening_school.event.aspx

Container Gardens by David Ellis

Courtyard Garden in winter by David Ellis

Structure, David Ellis garden entrance