Beautifully illustrated lectures combining horticulture, design and travel—available in-person or virtually via Zoom!

Garden Travel

Philadelphia: America’s Garden Capital
Gardens of the Gilded Age
The Garden World of Jane Austen
The Garden Tourist’s Charleston
The Garden Tourist’s Florida
The Garden Tourist’s Hudson River Valley
The Garden Tourist’s New England
The Garden Tourist’s Northeast
Artists’ Gardens in New England
Decked Out for the Holidays
Satisfying Your Plant Lust
Gardens of Cornwall & Devon
Gardens of the Scottish Highlands
The Magical Gardens of Wales
Gardens of the Emerald Isle

Philadelphia: America’s Garden Capital

The Philadelphia region has a rich tradition of public gardens, arboreta and historic landscapes. There are more than 30 gardens within 30 miles of Philadelphia—more than anywhere else in the country! This has earned Philadelphia the rightly-deserved title of America’s Garden Capital. Enjoy a virtual tour and history of these beautiful gardens, including Bartram’s Garden (the first botanic garden in the America,) Andalusia, Stoneleigh, Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, and others.

The Garden World of Jane Austen

 Jane Austen loved gardens. She had a keen interest in flowers and kitchen gardening, and described gardens in her novels and letters. Learn about the gardens of Jane Austen’s world - from her personal cottage garden to the grand estates that she visited and wove into her novels.

Gardens of the Emerald Isle

Discover the magic, myths and beautiful gardens of Ireland! Enjoy an armchair tour of the National Botanic Garden, Lismore Castle, Kilmacurragh Botanical Garden, Heywood Gardens, Powerscourt, Ilnacullin, and more!

The Magical Gardens of Wales

With castles and historic manor homes surrounded by romantic gardens, Wales is a wonderful garden touring destination. Enjoy an armchair visit of Bodnant Gardens, Powis Castle, Erddig Hall, Chirk Castle, Bodysgallen Hall and more in this richly illustrated presentation.

The Garden Tourist’s Charleston

Charleston is famous for its beautiful gardens. Get an intimate glimpse of the city's historic gardens as well as a tour of local destinations such as Brookgreen Gardens, Middleton Place, Charleston Tea Garden, and Magnolia Plantation.

Gardens of the Gilded Age

The Gilded Age is famous for its ornate mansions and grand gardens built by the Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, and Carnegies. Transport yourself to the Gilded Age with an armchair tour of the gardens at the Newport Mansions, Vanderbilt Estate, Vizcaya, Untermyer Gardens, Nemours and others.

The Garden Tourist’s Florida

From the plantation-style gardens of northern Florida to the private Edens of artists, horticultural collections of world-renowned plant hunters, and European-inspired estates of Miami, there is something for every gardener to enjoy in a tour of the state. The Garden Tourist’s Florida features outstanding botanical gardens, historic estates, and off-the- beaten-path destinations for the passionate gardener. Enjoy a virtual tour of the Naples Botanic Garden, Leu Gardens, Bok Tower Gardens, Vizcaya and more!

The Garden Tourist’s Hudson River Valley

The Hudson River Valley is rich with historic mansions, presidents’ summer retreats and stunning botanical gardens. Visit Kykuit, Clermont, Stonecrop, Vanderbilt Estate, Untermyer Gardens, Wave Hill, Springwood, and more in this virtual tour.

The Garden Tourist’s Northeast

Do you enjoy touring beautiful gardens? We will show you the best public gardens, nursery display gardens, and private gardens open to the public in the Northeast to visit for inspiration! Learn about each garden's highlights, ideal times to visit, and enjoy a visual tour of each amazing destination.

Artists’ Gardens in New England

Some of our most beloved painters, sculptors and authors were inspired by the gardens they created. Visit the private havens of Edith Wharton, Julian Alden Weir, Childe Hassam, Daniel Chester French, Emily Dickinson, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Celia Thaxter and others. 

Decked Out for the Holidays

Visit magnificently decorated conservatories and mansions and beautifully lit gardens during the holiday season! Includes Longwood Gardens, Winterthur, Blithewold, Newport Mansions and others.

Satisfying Your Plant Lust

Does the thought of a new hosta, trillium or peony cultivar or a variegated ginkgo make you mad with desire? Both collectors and casual gardeners will enjoy exploring the best specialty nurseries in New England.

Gardens of Cornwall and Devon

Warmed by the Gulf Stream, the magical gardens in Cornwall and Devon are home to some of the most exciting, rare, and beautiful plants in the British Isles. Enjoy an armchair tour of thirteen historically and horticulturally important gardens of this region, from the tropical Abbey Gardens of Tresco to the mystical Lost Gardens of Heligan and the futuristic biomes of the Eden Project.

Gardens of the Scottish Highlands

Scotland is home to amazing public and private gardens. Enjoy an armchair tour of 15 very different gardens in Scotland—from castles and historic estate properties in the Highlands to botanic gardens and intimate private edens.

Horticulture & Design

Rise and Shine: Waking up Your Garden in Spring
Outstanding Natives: Trees and Shrubs for Northeast Gardens
FallScaping
Design a Sunny Perennial Border
Birdscaping: Home Sweet Habitat
Spring Ephemerals: Our Native Woodland Wildflowers
The Magic of a Winter Garden
Stunning Spring Perennials
Pots with Pizzazz
Designing Shady Retreats
A Collector’s Guide to Hostas
Perennial Propagation

Rise and Shine: Waking up Your Garden in Spring

Learn how to get your garden off to a great start with tasks that can be done in February, March and April. Includes tips on pruning, propagation, winter sowing and current best practices in gardening.

Outstanding Natives: Trees and Shrubs for Northeast Gardens

Discover native shrubs and trees that add beauty and interest to your garden and benefit our birds, butterflies and pollinators.

FallScaping

Add beauty to your garden in the sweet, golden days of autumn with flowers, shrubs, trees and vines that shine during this season. Discover plants with colorful blooms, rich foliage and dramatic seed heads, and learn strategies that will guide you in designing a vibrant fall garden.

Design a Sunny Perennial Border

How do you create a sunny perennial garden that will delight you with colorful blooms and flowers for cutting from spring through fall? Learn about plant layering, new and reliable perennials, companion plants and design techniques that will make your garden POP!

Birdscaping: Home Sweet Habitat

This beautifully illustrated program explores the importance of creating welcoming habitats for birds through thoughtful landscape choices, including native plants vital for food and nesting sites. Learn about the benefits and joys of creating beautiful layered gardens designed for avian – and human! – habitat.

Spring Ephemerals: Our Native Woodland Wildflowers

Early native woodland wildflowers such as Bloodroot, Jeffersonia, Hepatica and Primula are the stars of the early spring garden, but unfamiliar to many gardeners. Learn about their habitats, ideal growing conditions and unique adaptations!

The Magic of the Winter Garden

The garden can be a magical place - even in winter! Stripped of summer foliage and flowers, the success of a winter garden lies in its structure, basic design and choice of plant material. This richly illustrated lecture provides inspiration and tips on designing your garden for winter interest, choosing the best trees, shrubs and perennials, and grouping them to create arresting vignettes.

Stunning Spring Perennials

Whether you garden in sun or shade, there are lovely spring perennials that will add colorful flowers and interesting foliage to the early season garden. Learn about our favorites and how to combine them for best effect in the garden!

Pots with Pizzazz

Jazzy containers are the “jewelry” of a garden, elevating it from “good” to “great”! Learn how to brighten shady spots with pops of color, create focal points for vistas and welcoming entry gardens with stunning container groupings. From whimsical to grand, these pots with pizzazz from private and public gardens will inspire and teach you to design your own potted masterpieces!

Designing Shady Retreats

In this richly illustrated lecture, we explore a variety of intriguing gardens that will inspire you to create your own shady retreats! We show you design tricks and strategies to light up shady corners, highlight unusual plants that thrive in low-light conditions, and illustrate the creative use of art objects, seating and water features. 

A Collector's Guide to Hostas

With more than 7,000 named varieties, there is a hosta to suit every taste and garden. With photos from award-winning gardens and Joan’s collection of 300 cultivars, we will show you how to design a beautiful garden based on the interplays of color, texture and placement of incredible hostas and companion plants.

Propagating Perennials Workshop

Increase your perennial collection, replace mature plants, grow varieties that may not be offered for sale, and even produce new hybrids! Learn different propagation skills including growing from seed, cuttings, and divisions of a wide range of perennials in this combination lecture and demonstration. This lecture/demo is only available in spring and early fall.

UPCOMING APPEARANCES: Click here to see our calendar

PAST APPEARANCES

Flower Shows & Conferences
Boston Flower & Garden Show
Connecticut Flower Show
Maine Flower Show
Capital Region Flower Show
New Jersey Flower Show
Cape Cod Master Gardeners Annual Meeting

Botanical Gardens, Societies, Museums
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, MA
Tower Hill Botanic Garden, MA
Blithewold, RI
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, NJ
Elizabeth Park, CT
Gore Place, MA
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, NJ
Leonard J. Buck Garden, NJ
Garden Club Federation of Mass.
Landscape Design Council of Mass.
Highfield Hall, MA
Museum of Fine Arts, MA
Rhododendron Society, Mass. Chapter
Hardy Plant Society, Mid-Atlantic

Garden Clubs
Ashland Garden Club, MA
Lancaster Garden Club, MA
Wellington Garden Club, FL
Old York Garden Club, ME
Franklin Garden Club, MA
West Hartford Garden Club, CT
Salem Garden Club, MA
Garden Club of the Back Bay, MA
Palm City Garden Club, FL
Maplewood Garden Club, NJ
Rowayton Garden Club, CT
Derry Garden Club, NH
Northborough Garden Club, MA
Seaside Garden Club, MA
Weston Garden Club, MA
Hollis Garden Club, NH
Easton Garden Club, CT
Portsmouth Garden Club, RI
Stoneham Garden Club, MA
Farmington Garden Club, CT
Wellesley Garden Study Group, MA
Wolfeboro Garden Club, NH
Groton Garden Club, MA
Mystic Garden Club, CT
Medfield Garden Club, MA
Boxford Village Garden Club, MA
Andover Garden Club, MA
Osterville Garden Club, MA
Taunton Garden Club, MA
Thursday Garden Club of Sudbury, MA
Natick Garden Club, MA
Community League Garden Club of Weston, MA
Powisett Garden Club, MA
Chestnut Hill Garden Club, MA
Wayland Garden Club, MA
Sharon Garden Club, MA
Kalmia Garden Club, MA
Norwood Garden Club, MA
Framingham Garden Club, MA
Lexington Garden Club, MA
Mansfield Garden Club, MA
Temple Shalom Garden Club, MA
Holliston Garden Club, MA
…and many more

Libraries
Boston Public Library (MA)
Tewkskbury Public Library (MA)
Cranston Public Library (RI)
Darien Public Library (CT)
Enfield Public Library (CT)
Brewster Ladies Library (MA)
Loudon County Public Libraries (VA)
Scarsdale Public Library (NY)
Amherst Library (NH)
Matawan Aberdeen Library (NJ)
Somerset County Library (NJ)
Newport Public Library (RI)
Moultonborough Public Library (NH)
Westborough Public Library (MA)
Danbury Public Library (CT)
Milton Public Library (MA)
Canton Public Library (CT)
Milford Public Library (MA)
Bridgewater Public Library (MA)
Winter Garden Library (FL)
Winter Park Library (FL)
Mount Dora Library (FL)
…and many more