Experience an unforgettable weekend celebration of garden history and design.
Begin with free, one-day admission to visit both Chanticleer in the winter and Longwood Gardens. Cap off your weekend with a special speaker panel at Scott Arboretum & Gardens featuring a U.S. appearance of the custodians of three iconic British gardens: Vita Sackville-West’s Long Barn, Beth Chatto’s Plants & Garden, and Gertrude Jekyll’s Hestercombe, moderated by landscape designer Annie Guilfoyle. They will share never-before-told stories, insights into stewardship, and why these garden legacies remain profoundly relevant today. A catered reception with the speakers follows the discussion.
Location
Scott Arboretum & Gardens
Panelists
Rebecca Lemonius, Custodian of Vita Sackville-West’s Long Barn in Kent; horticulturist and student of Great Dixter. Long Barn is the formative garden that preceded Sissinghurst, where Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson honed their early horticultural vision.
Julia Boulton, Chair of Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens in Essex; granddaughter of Beth Chatto. Beth Chatto was a pioneer of the “right plant, right place” philosophy, whose approach remains foundational to contemporary planting design.
Claire Greenslade, Former Head Gardener at Gertrude Jekyll’s Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset; currently developing a historic walled garden on a private estate. Hestercombe was created in collaboration with architect Edwin Lutyens and stands as a masterwork of design, craftsmanship, and artistic partnership.
Moderated by renowned landscape designer Annie Guilfoyle, the panel delves into why these women were so instrumental in shaping horticulture and garden design—and why their ideas remain powerfully relevant today.
