GLAMOROUS GARDEN WEEK-END RETREAT at HOLLISTER HOUSE

The stars are aligned.  

Hollister House and the Garden Conservancy have seen to it that some of the garden constellations’ celebrated experts, heart-stopping garden tours, rare and regal plant swag – er sales – and of course, food and drink, are  center stage this weekend.

There couldn’t be a better weekend to celebrate all things garden.

August 24, 25 and 26 at Hollister House, located in bucolic Washington, Connecticut  is THE place to be.  For the entire weekend. Or for select programs.  There is a sublime lineup of lectures, and garden parties to select from.

If "study" sounds too head-crunching, cerebral for you?  

How about garden indulgence? 

Or immersion?  

Or the luxury of enjoying a garden lifestyle that befits passionate garden enthusiasts?

The Third Biennial Hollister House Garden Study Weekend

Gardening Anew: Fresh Perspectives on the Garden: explore sustainable practice and creative inspiration in our environment and aesthetic.

The weekend begins with a cocktail reception and rare plant sale on Friday evening, August 24, continues on Saturday, August 25 with the symposium and round table discussion , concluding on Sunday, August 26 with a Garden Conservancy Open Day.

The weekend is presented by Hollister House Garden, Washington, Connecticut, and the Garden Conservancy.

Friday evening, August 24 6 p.m.

Gala cocktail reception and plant sale at the Washington Montessori School: 
an opportunity to mingle informally with seminar speakers and other garden enthusiasts, and to take advantage of early buying at rare plant sale.

Saturday, August 25 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Seminar: Gardening Anew: Fresh Perspectives on the Garden
Saturday’s symposium takes place at the Washington Montessori School in comfortable, air-conditioned spaces with up-to-date lecture facilities. The day’s agenda includes a buffet luncheon, a sale of beautifully written and illustrated garden books, a plant sale featuring a select group of New England’s finest specialty plant growers, and a ‘show & tell’ plant talk.

Featured speakers:


Edwina von Gal, the seminar’s keynote speaker. von Gal is principal of her own celebrated international landscape design firm.

She will be joined by several outstanding professional horticulturists. All will address new ways to garden encompassing the knowledgeable use of native plants with attention to their form and function, sophisticated solutions found in the soil, and examples of fresh perspectives in the spirit of innovation and experimentation.

William Cullina, executive director, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine

Eric T. Fleisher, director of horticulture, Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, New York City

Bill Thomas, executive director, Chanticleer, Wayne, Pennsylvania

Stephen Orr, editorial director of gardening, Martha Stewart Living, and moderator of the seminar

If you haven't already secured your multiple copies of Orr's book, "Tomorrow's Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening," you can load up this weekend and get Stephen to autograph it at the Hickory Stick Book Shop!  

Tomorrow's Garden makes a perfect hostess gift and a holiday adventure for the garden lover on your list. 

Rare Plant Sale
A select group of specialty plant growers will sell rare plants throughout the day.
After 1 p.m., the rare plant sale opens to the general public. Before 1 p.m., only seminar participants will have access.

Buffet Luncheon

Garden Books Sale and Authors’ Signing


Garden books, many authored by symposium speakers and available for signing.

My book, “The Hamptons & Long Island Homegrown Cookbook” will be featured for sale.  Because I was committed to attend the Harvest East End event: http://harvesteastend.com/ scheduled for Saturday and benefitting East End Hospice, The Peconic Land Ttrust and Group for the East End, Hollister House was kind enough to allow me to provide buyers my personally autographed publisher’s inscription card as the next best thing to being there. 

I hate to miss this very special weekend.  Drats to conflicting schedules. Why does everything good have to happen at the same time?  But on the plus side, I will be supporting a wonderful cause, will be showcasing my book and enjoying all the wonderful world from “my” local, incredible, Homegrown chefs and the growers who inspire them.

‘Show & Tell’ Round Table


Favorite plants for the late-season garden, with commentary by garden writer Page Dickey, horticulturist Marco Polo Stufano, and nurseryman Adam Wheeler.

Location for Friday reception and Saturday seminar: Washington Montessori School

Click here for directions.http://www.washingtonmontessori.org/about/directions.php

Sunday, August 26

Early birds can choose to start the day with a champagne breakfast, 8 – 10 a.m., on the beautiful rear lawn at the romantic country garden at Hollister House in Washington, Connecticut.




The grand finale to the gardening weekend is Sunday, when the Garden Conservancy opens several exceptional private gardens, including Hollister House Garden and others in nearby Litchfield and Roxbury, as part of its national Open Days program.

Read more about these gardens – including descriptions, directions, and the hours each will be open – on the Open Days schedule for the Litchfield County Open Day. http://www.gardenconservancy.org/opendays/open-days-schedule/openday/580-litchfield-county-open-day

TICKETS AND REGISTRATION

Friday evening: cocktail reception with early buying at the rare plant sale
Includes free ticket for door prize $75; members of Hollister House Garden and Garden Conservancy, $65

Saturday: all-day symposium $160, members $150
Includes breakfast and buffet lunch and rare plant sale 
Rare plant sale is open to the general public, free of charge, after 1 p.m.

Sunday: champagne breakfast at Hollister House Garden $25, members $20

A combination package is $245 per person, general admission ($230 for members of the Garden Conservancy or Hollister House Garden).
The combination package includes the festive Friday evening cocktail party, the entire Saturday program (with continental breakfast and buffet lunch) and Sunday morning champagne breakfast. Open Days gardens on Sunday are priced separately; read below.|

To register see below or mail payment to Hollister House Garden, P.O.Box  1454,  Washington, CT  06793

For further information call 860.868.2200.


 

The Open Days garden tours on Sunday are priced separately at $5 per person per garden.
Open Days tickets are available online (please allow time for shipping) or in person at the gardens on the tour.
Pre-registration is not required for Sunday’s Open Day tours.
Maps will be provided for all participants in the Hollister House Garden Study Weekend seminar.

Garden Conservancy Open Days

In addition to our normal schedule: open every Saturday from April 28 through September.

Garden tours are priced at $5 per garden - at the Garden Conservancy website, or may be purchased at the individual gardens on the day of the tour.