Garden Spark, my in-person speaker series about garden design, concludes its successful 6th season on February 23th with a presentation by acclaimed Austin designer Mark Word, principal at Word + Carr Design Group. Mark will show us how to think through and choose successful plant combos for our gardens. For a fun twist, he’s using a fantasy-baseball metaphor to talk about plant selection. Batter up!

For anyone like me, who knows little about sports, much less fantasy baseball, let me assure you the topic is simply about picking the best roster of players for your imaginary team — or in this case, the best roster of plants for your imaginary (or not so imaginary) garden.

So put on your manager cap, get your ticket, and come join us on February 23rd to learn more about plant selection from one of the top designers in Austin. Seating is very limited, and tickets can be purchased here.

You can learn more about Mark in an article I wrote about him for Garden Design.

Fantasies, Baseball, and Plant Selection

Choosing the “right” plants for your garden means looking beyond the basics of function, maintenance, and site adaptability. Sentimentality, appropriateness, culture, and neighborhood posture also come into play. Austin designer Mark Word explores the ways in which we can create successful gardens without a stats-driven approach.

Speaker Bio

Mark Word’s interest in art, graphic design, and botany has led to a 35-year career designing commercial and residential landscapes. The work of his Austin-based company, Word + Carr Design Group, is centered on place-making and is noted for its sensitivity to regional character. 

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Digging Deeper

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!

Experience the Surreal Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden, an enchanting neon-art display throughout the gardens, with food and drink, music and dancing, surreal performers, and interactive art sculptures. Surreal costumes encouraged! 25% of event proceeds benefit the Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy. Runs April 6 (VIP Night), April 7-8, and April 13-15, from 6:30 pm to 11 pm.

All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.