Every year the Transylvania Extension Master Gardeners hosts an Annual Spring Garden Symposium. This year landscape architect Mary Palmer Dargan will present a talk entitled “Designing and Redesigning your Landscape.” It will be held on Saturday, March 18, in the library’s Rogow Room. This popular event is will be of interest both Master Gardeners and anyone interested in learning more about landscape design. This is a topic that often intimidates even seasoned gardeners so come along to hear how you can create or improve on your own design.
The first half of this symposium will focus on developing a master plan and enhancing the senses including lessons learned and any specific concerns or suggestions for designing a plan in this mountain region. The second half will elaborate on topics already covered and discuss the aspects of redesigning the landscape. Many within the local community have been here with established gardens for some years but are now wanting to “redesign” their landscapes whether to ease their workloads or to incorporate different aspects within their gardens. Both sessions will end with a brief Q & A.
Dargan along with her husband, Hugh, are licensed landscape architects who run their own Cashiers-based firm, Dargan Landscape Architects. Additionally, Dargan offers in-person and online garden design courses through her program, The Placemakers Academy. The academy distills Dargan’s 45-plus years of experience designing award winning gardens featured in Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, and HGTV, and brings it home to your garden.
Dargan has a Master’s degree in landscape architecture from Louisiana State University and a degree in botany from the University of Tennessee. She is also an accredited horticultural judge with the Garden Club of America and judges at a number of flower shows including the Philadelphia Flower Show.
The couple have written a number of best-selling books on landscape design and these include “Timeless Landscape Design,” “The Early English Kitchen Garden” and “Lifelong Landscape Design.” Signed copies of these books will be available for sale during the event. They live locally spending their time between Asheville and Cashiers and also enjoy hiking especially when there is something botanical to enjoy. For more information about Dargan visit www.dargan.com.
The March 18 symposium is from 9 a.m. to noon. Doors will open at 8:15 a.m. for refreshments and socializing, with the speaker beginning at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $15 with online registration through Eventbrite, or $18 at the door. In addition to the sale of Dargan’s books, there will be a chance to win some really nice door prizes. Reservations may be made at LandscapingSymposium.eventbrite.com. Seating will be limited so it is recommended that you register early. This event is open to the public, and Master Gardeners both past and present. For more information, please call the N.C. Cooperative Extension Transylvania County office at (828) 884-3109.
