Highlights Archives
Heirloom Gardens: Cultivating a Legacy
Three of Wisconsin's leading horticultural experts will share their expertise on the increasingly popular hobby of heirloom gardening with enthusiasts who sign up to take part in a daylong symposium on the subject Saturday, September 6, at Old World Wisconsin. Heirloom Garden Symposium: Cultivating a Legacy will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a continental breakfast, presentations by the trio of horticulturists, a homemade lunch, and tram tours of some of Old World Wisconsin's 13 heirloom gardens. There's no better setting for learning the finer points of gardening with authentic 19th-century seed varieties than this outdoor museum dedicated to telling the stories of the Wisconsin pioneers who settled the state.
The distinguished roster of speakers will include:
- Dick Zondag, president of Jung Seed Co., one of Wisconsin's oldest seed companies
Dick will discuss the importance of heirloom seeds as well as the history of the seed industry in Wisconsin. As third-generation co-owner of the business (his grandfather started Jung Seed Co. 101 years ago, selling seeds from his parents' farmhouse), Dick's story is full of illustrations from his own family's experiences.
- Lee Sommerville, landscape historian
Originally from Liverpool, England, Lee's fascination with heirloom gardens and plants developed while she was working as a living history interpreter. Her lifelong love of gardening led her to the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she recently completed a master's degree. An engaging and expert speaker, Lee's subject is: "Beautifying Home Grounds: The Wisconsin State Horticultural Society Guidelines for Late 19th-Century Wisconsin Gardens."
- Shelley Ryan, master gardener and Wisconsin Public Television host of "The Wisconsin Gardener" since 1992
Join this lighthearted and pragmatic enthusiast as she gives the real "dirt" on the garden itself. She describes herself as "an opinionated heirloom gardener" and likes plants that have a lot of uses — and plants with stories behind them. Shelley holds special appeal for all levels of gardeners because she believes that every gardener is either a beginner or can always discover new challenges.
Cost of the symposium is $85 per person. Members of the Friends of Old World Wisconsin receive a 10-percent discount. Online registration is available. For more information contact Old World Wisconsin at 262-594-6305 or via e-mail.
:: Posted July 28, 2008
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