September 20, 27 • October 4, 11, 25

Ladew Gardens announces the schedule for its series of fall lectures featuring distinguished speakers who will offer insights and inspiration to garden-lovers and gardeners of all ages and abilities. The presenters will take the audience on a journey through their explorations of garden design concepts, plant selections, growing techniques, floral design, natural history, decorative arts, history, and environmental sciences, while offering rare glimpses into some of the nation’s most beautiful private gardens. Ladew’s Lecture Series is offered every fall and spring. Lectures are presented in the Ladew Studio at Ladew Gardens, 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, MD.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 | 10:30 am
The Unexpected Houseplant with Tovah Martin (with book sale)

Get ready for the Houseplant Revolution. What the world needs now is more green close by — and houseplants are the answer. These aren’t your grandmother’s dowdy, dusty versions… these are houseplants with panache. Heucheras and primroses are just a couple of the unexpected houseplants recommended in this lecture.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 | 10:30 am
Heroes of Horticulture: Americans Who Transformed the Landscape with Barbara Paul Robinson (with book sale)

Here are the vibrant stories of 18 contemporary heroes of horticulture — institution builders, plant explorers and garden creators who have all had a major impact on the American landscape. Over the course of their careers, these heroes have worked to preserve and enhance our public spaces, setting new standards for aesthetics and encouraging wider public participation.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4 | 10:30 am
The Garden and the Library: The Botanical Legacies of Bunny Mellon with Sir Peter Crane 

Rachel ‘Bunny’ Lambert Mellon is perhaps best known for her exquisite sense of style and her association with Jacqueline Kennedy. But she was also a dedicated gardener and a collector-connoisseur of botanical, garden and landscape books, manuscripts, and art. Informed by the works in her library, as well as unerring taste and deep horticultural experience, Mrs. Mellon became an accomplished garden designer. Most notably, she designed the Rose Garden at The White House during the Kennedy Administration. In this talk, we will explore the multiple botanical legacies of Mrs. Mellon, and show how they will live into the future as the Oak Spring Garden Foundation.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11 | 10:30 am
A White House Christmas with Laura Dowling (with floral demonstration and book sale)

Join Laura Dowling, former Chief Floral Designer at The White House, for a lecture and floral demonstration focusing on tips and techniques for holiday decorating in ‘The White House style.’ Laura will highlight the talented team of volunteers who assisted her in creating amazing décor that carried out the First Lady’s vision, showcased America’s artists and handcrafted designs, and celebrated beloved Christmas traditions and American ideals. Laura maintains the conviction that flowers can be more than just decorative objects. Enjoy behind-the-scenes anecdotes and stories about what it was like to design and implement holiday décor in the iconic White House setting

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25 | 10:30 am
Woodland Treasures with John Lonsdale (with plant sale)

John Lonsdale, Research Specialist at Longwood Gardens, will discuss a selection of the many unusual and beautiful woodland plants which he grows in his garden in Exton, PA. The presentation will highlight genera including Trillium, Galanthus, Cyclamen, Corydalis, Hepatica, Erythronium, Cypripedium, Epimedium, and Arisaema, members of which are suitable for a variety of conditions from dry shade to vernally moist sunlit woodland edges. John is particularly interested in pushing the limits of cultivation of many of these plants, and the talk will emphasize methods for their cultivation and propagation.

Special Evening Lecture & Dinner
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 | 6:30 pm lecture with dinner

Wild bees occupy the universe to the tune over 2000 species… 400 in Maryland alone. Discover their world through extreme macro photographs, crazy details of their lives, and learn simple tricks to invite these bees to your garden. Sam Droege has coordinated the North American Breeding Bird Survey Program, developed the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, the Bioblitz, Cricket Crawl, and FrogwatchUSA programs and worked on the design and evaluation of monitoring programs. He is currently developing an inventory and monitoring program for native bees and online identification guides for North American bees at www.discoverlife.org.

Admission for daytime lectures: $35 | $25 for Ladew members

Admission for special evening lecture on September 27: $50 | $40 for Ladew Members

Advance reservations are recommended as lectures often sell out.

For additional information and to make reservations, visit www.LadewGardens.com or call 410.557.9570.

Ladew’s Fall Lecture Series is made possible in part by: Pinehurst Landscape Company, The Perennial Farm, the Maryland State Arts Council, the Citizens of Baltimore County, and the Harford County Government through the Harford County Cultural Arts Board.

Ladew Topiary Gardens has been named “One of the Top 5 Gardens in North America;” deemed “the most outstanding topiary garden in America” by the Garden Club of America; and featured as one of “10 incredible topiary gardens around the world” by Architectural Digest. Ladew is located on Jarrettsville Pike (MD 146), 14 miles north of the Baltimore Beltway (I-695), exit 27B (Dulaney Valley Road North). For more information, call 410.557.9570 or visit www.ladewgardens.com. Ladew Topiary Gardens is a nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is "to maintain and promote the Gardens, House and facilities in keeping with the creative spirit of Harvey S. Ladew for the public benefit and for educational, scientific and cultural pursuits.” Both House and Gardens are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.