The American Horticultural Society is once again teaming up with the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia, for the In the Garden Weekend, held August 20-22. The 12th annual event will include presentations by André Viette, nurseryman and host of the “In the Garden†radio show; Kerry Mendez, owner of Perennially Yours in upstate New York; Paul Meyer, director of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania; Holly Shimizu, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden; and Forrest Lee, the Homestead’s grounds superintendent. In addition to the presentations, tours of the Homestead’s gardens, meals, and accommodations are offered as part of the weekend package. All attendees receive a free year of membership in the AHS. Visit www.ahs.org or call 703-768-5700 for additional information. To register, visit the Homestead’s website, www.thehomestead.com.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s foremost horticulturists, Armitage is a professor at the University of Georgia, Athens, where he teaches, conducts research on new garden plants, and runs the University of Georgia Horticulture Gardens. He is generally credited with creating the concept of the independent trial garden, the first one of which opened in Athens in 1982. He is the author of ten books, including Armitage’s Native Plants for North American Gardens and Armitage’s Garden Annuals. He has been cited as one of the ten most influential people or organizations in the floriculture industry.
Armitage is not the only distinguished honoree. The Jackson Dawson Award will go to Pierre Bennerup, president of Sunny Border Nurseries, one of the leading producers of perennial plants for the northeast. Sunny Border, headquartered in Kensington, Connecticut, is known around the world for being on the cutting edge of new plant development. Pierre, the second generation Bennerup in the industry, is an integral part of the global horticulture community and has been instrumental in searching out new plants suitable for North American gardens.
Also to be honored is Holly Shimizu, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. Ms. Shimizu, who will receive the Thomas Roland Medal, has been responsible for the overall operation of the USBG for the past nine years and, under her leadership, the widely acclaimed new National Garden opened 2006. Ms. Shimizu is well known through her work as one of the hosts of The Victory Garden and as a frequent commentator on horticultural topics for National Public Radio.
