WRITTEN BY SARAH JACKSON, ADVANCEMENT INTERN
This years Garden Month is filled with exciting events for the whole family. Stop by the Museum this March for a fun-filled month. The festivities begin on Saturday, March 4, with the Garden Month Kickoff and Plant Sale. Celebrate the coming of spring at this free family day, by purchasing new plants from local vendors and enjoying plein air painting, live music, family art activities, and garden tours throughout the day. No registration is required for this event.
Then, on March 9, join Laura Haley for a Floral Arranging class to learn how to create beautiful arrangements using materials found at your local grocery store. On Friday, March 10, you will be able to relax under the stars in the beautiful Cummer Gardens with a concert, starring The Chris Thomas Band. Guests may bring chairs, picnics, and beverages, or you can place an order for pick-up at the Cummer Café.
On March 15, guests can enjoy an insightful Talks & Tea with a discussion by Director of Education Lynn Norris, on Constance Spry: The Woman Who Made Flower Arranging an Art. You can also join Lynn on March 21 as she takes you on a journey through the History of Western Art.
Wednesday, March 22 brings a Distinguished Lecture with P. Allen Smith who has a passion for American style. Smith is a television host, designer, gardening and lifestyle expert, and is one of America’s most recognized garden and design experts, through his public television programs: P. Allen Smith’s Garden Home, P. Allen Smith’s Garden Style, and P. Allen Smith’s Garden to Table. He is the author of numerous garden-related books, including “Bringing the Garden Indoors: Container, Crafts, and Bouquets for Every Room” and the cookbook “Seasonal Recipes from the Garden.” Inspired by the ferme ornee concept for Monticello, Smith created his own Moss Mountain Farm as a demonstration ground for principles of good design, conservation, and stewardship. Take a virtual tour of Moss Mountain and see how Smith is creating a new chapter in the evolution of the classic American farm. You won’t want to miss this lecture.
“Seasonal Recipes from the Garden,” showcases the bounty of each season with recipes arranged according to when ingredients are at their garden-fresh best. He features 120 Southern recipes peppered with wit, personal anecdotes, gardening tips, and cooking tricks. He also includes a short how-to guide in the back of the book which includes information about the food he grows in his garden and some simple ideas on how readers can do the same. This book will be available for purchase at the Cummer Shop, and Smith will be available to autograph the purchase prior to his lecture.
On Saturday, March 25, join the Museum for Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. Guests will be able to tour a number of private gardens throughout the Riverside neighborhood, and knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand in each garden to answer your questions throughout the day.
Garden Month wraps up on Tuesday, March 28, with the third of a four part lecture series: The Search for Paradise: A History of Western Gardens, 19th and Early 20th Century English Gardens. Join Director of Education Lynn Norris and explore the era of country house gardens, designed by J.C. Loudon, William Robinson, Gertrude Jekyll, and Vita Sackville-West, followed by a walk through the Cummer Gardens.
You won’t want to miss any of these events!
