Changing Times, Changing Gardens: San Luis Obispo

‘Falling Cliff’ residence in Shell Beach, California designed by JGS Landscape Architecture. Photo: Tom Hessel

Join Pacific Horticulture, a lively gathering of eco-thought leaders and designers, and other like-minded gardeners, for an inspiring and educational weekend symposium investigating a contemporary approach to garden design reflecting local climate conditions, smart water use, and harmonious plant choices.

Photo: Tom Hessel

Our program begins on Saturday with seminar talks held at the new Baker Center for Science and Math, which features a landscape designed by Susan Van Atta. Following a boxed lunch, we’ll tour Leaning Pine Arboretum led by Director Chris Wassenberg, and Cal Poly Professor and California tree expert Dr. Matt Ritter will lead a hike amongst the trees on campus.

Sunday highlights local gardens designed by Jeffrey Gordon Smith, Gabriel Frank, and Sage Ecological Landscapes & Nursery that beautifully reflect environmental design principles.

Further details and registration link here.

Symposium speakers and designers include:

• Randy Baldwin                   San Marcos Growers
• Carol Bornstein                  Natural History Museum of LA County
• Todd Davidson                   Sage Ecological Landscapes & Nursery
• Gabriel Frank                     Gardens by Gabriel Frank
• Jeffrey Gordon Smith       JGS Landscape Architecture, author of A Collection of Residential JGS Landscape Designs
• Matt Ritter                          Professor, Cal Poly, SLO, author of A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us 
• Susan Van Atta                   Van Atta Associates, author of The Southern California Native Flower Garden
• Chris Wassenberg              Director, Leaning Pine Arboretum

‘Winery Residence’ in Paso Robles, Califonia designed by JGS Landscape Architecture. Photo: Chris Leschinsky