When I launched the Garden Spark talk series six months ago, I was sure there was an unmet need in Austin for people who wanted to hear top-notch designers and authors speak about garden design. So far I’ve brought in landscape architect James deGrey David and designer/author Scott Ogden and also given a book-related talk and garden tour myself. The response each time has been greater than I’d hoped. All three talks sold out within one to two days and had a waiting list. The speakers were well received, and I hope it was a positive experience for them to be able to share their ideas with an intimate group of keen gardeners.

My next speaker will be my first out-of-towner, Seattle designer and author Karen Chapman. On October 19 at 7:30 pm, she’ll present “Foliage and Focal Points: Ideas for Gardens and Budgets of All Sizes.” I always offer first dibs to the people on my email list, and this time all the seats sold out within 9 hours of that private announcement. If you’d like to be on the Garden Spark mailing list for future talk announcements, please send me an email and ask to be added. Also, if you’d like to be on the wait list for Karen’s talk, please email me to let me know.

Karen is a sought-after speaker and the co-author of two books that have given me a lot of inspiration for designing with foliage combos rather than just fleeting flower color: the award-winning Fine Foliage and her latest, Gardening with Foliage First (click here for my review). While Karen is blessed to live and design in the gardener’s paradise of the Pacific Northwest, her design lessons about using focal points and planting for foliage to improve our gardens are relevant for us here in Texas too.

***THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. If you’d like to hear about future Garden Spark talks, please join the mailing list. Simply send me an email and let me know you’d like to be added.***

Foliage and Focal Points: Ideas for Gardens and Budgets of All Sizes

“We all have sections of our gardens we’re dissatisfied with, but understanding what’s wrong can be frustrating. Instinct sends us shopping for more plants — often whatever is blooming that day — in hopes that an injection of color will solve the problem. Yet the sense of dissatisfaction grows, especially when the flowers finish blooming and we’re left with a muddled sea of nondescript leaves.

Focal points can help solve these problem areas. I’ll show why it’s important to establish focal points and talk about three areas where they play an especially important role. We’ll explore the use of containers, structures, water features, and artistic sculptural elements as focal points, and I’ll show how to frame and enhance these with interesting foliage to create memorable vignettes. With ideas for budgets and gardens of all sizes, this presentation will help you to become more confident and knowledgeable about transforming your own garden into a cohesive series of eye-catching scenes.” — Karen Chapman

After the talk, I’ll have light refreshments, and Karen will hold a book-signing for anyone who might wish to buy her books.

Speaker Bio: Born in England, Karen grew up with a trowel in her hand. After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1996, she established her award-winning design business Le Jardinet. Her container garden designs and articles have been featured in many publications including Fine Gardening, Country Gardens, and Garden Design.

She is co-author with Christina Salwitz of the newly released Gardening with Foliage First and also the award-winning book Fine Foliage. Karen writes inspirational design articles on two blogs and is a regular contributor to several publications including Fine Gardening. Karen has appeared on local television and radio stations and teaches two online garden design courses for Craftsy including “Gorgeous Garden Design: Foliage & Focal Points” that was mostly filmed in her own 5-acre garden in Duvall, WA.

Karen’s aim is always to inspire, educate, and share the fun of gardening with her audience.

What: Garden talk by designer and author Karen Chapman: “Foliage and Focal Points: Ideas for Gardens and Budgets of All Sizes”

When: Thursday, October 19th, 7:30-8:30 pm, with a meet-and-greet until 9 pm

Where: My house in northwest Austin

***THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. If you’d like to hear about future Garden Spark talks, please join the mailing list. Simply send me an email and let me know you’d like to be added.***

GARDEN SPARK is a speaker series on garden design, open by invitation and hosted in a private home in northwest Austin.

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