Lecture Series

Learn about the history of chocolate from its ancient beginnings in Meso-America through the centuries to the modern day. An interactive presentation will focus on how chocolate has changed through time both in terms of its cultural value and how mechanization has altered its production process over time. A timeline of how chocolate evolved as an ingredient in recipes will also be explored.

Joyce has a B.A. from William Smith College, an M.A. in American Studies from Penn State University, and has studied food history with leaders in the field at various historic sites in England and the US.
You can find Joyce on Facebook at A Taste of History with Joyce White or at www.atasteofhistory.net.

Charles Beaudelaire said “Sculpture is Boring" because it was vague and elusive and should not be taken seriously as a fine art. His major complaint was that the viewers’ appreciation and understanding depends so much on context. At first blush that sounds ridiculous, but Beaudelaire was no fool.

We all know how to look at a painting, we mostly know how to hang a painting, a few people even know how to light a painting. Not to over generalize but, a painting is largely controllable. Sculpture presents an entirely different set of problems and opportunities. Ones appreciation of a sculpture really does vary with how, where, what distance and even what time of day one views it. In this lecture, Walter will explore different issues in scale, siting, plantings, architectural considerations, and lighting while using sculpture in the garden.

Walter Matia graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts with degrees in Biology and Art Design. Upon graduation he worked in the Exhibits Department of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and The Nature Conservancy. In 1984 Walter started his art studio, Curlew Castings.
https://matia.com/

Join renowned garden designer, David Culp, as he takes us through the redesigning of the beloved Cottage Garden at Ladew. David will be joined by Wendy Brister, Marketing Director of Cavano’s Perennials and proud partner of this project. This partnership with David and Cavano’s will feature a reimagined garden with a new pathway, multiple topiary additions, and a beautiful array of perennials.

David Culp is the creator of the gardens at Brandywine Cottage in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and the Principal of David L. Culp Designs and Owner of Brandywine Snowdrops. Currently, David is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Cavano’s Perennials Inc. https://www.davidlculp.com/

David will share his lifelong passion for nature and the environment, inspired by his upbringing in the Washington DC area. He will discuss how this passion led him to a 20+ year career at the EPA, focusing on his commitment to increasing representation in both the environmental field and outdoor spaces and how this led to the creation of Nature Under Your Nose. David advocates that nature can be experienced anywhere and at any time. Through his photography, he encourages people, especially in communities of color, to explore the natural world.

David Greaves is a wildlife photographer and biologist who works as a Remedial Project Manager at the Environmental Protection Agencwith Philadelphia. To learn more about his work visit his account @natureunderyournose on Instagram. https://dgreaves.picfair.com

Learn to grow and care for herbaceous, tree, intersectional, and woodland peonies. Find out what they need to thrive for generations, which peonies make the best cut flowers, what peonies are best for the landscape, and so much more. An assortment of peony roots will be for sale at the lecture.

Kathleen Gagan, owner and founder of Peony’s Envy, is a linguist and international corporate communications consultant turned lady farmer. Peony’s Envy Nursery and Display Garden offers one of the most extensive collections of trees and herbaceous peonies in the Northeast. https://peonysenvy.com/