Jared Barnes, Ph.D.: Planting with Perception: Using the Preference Matrix to Design Natural Plantings

Jared will delve into the Kaplan Preference Matrix, a powerful model for understanding how people perceive and connect with landscapes. He will outline its four key factors: coherence, complexity, legibility and mystery, and how they shape how we feel in outdoor spaces. With practical strategies grounded in naturalistic planting, you’ll discover how to design landscapes that are ecologically rich, visually compelling and deeply intuitive to explore.

Daniel J. Hinkley: Take Two

Windcliff, the Puget Sound garden of Dan Hinkley and Robert Jones, was established upon the bones of an older garden, beginning in 2000. The highly destructive winter of 2024 forced Dan to reimagine a space that was already primed for reimagining, both philosophically and aesthetically. He will discuss the inspirations and rationale for the new approach, as well as the plants and processes he is employing to create a garden that will never be finished.

Annie Guilfoyle: Gardening into the Future: Is the Way We Are Gardening Changing?

Annie will present how gardens and planting design are changing and developing in the UK, with an emphasis on those leading the way forward in terms of how we garden and the plants we use to help mitigate the difficulties of ever-changing and erratic climates. In addition, she will share examples of her own work that experiments with the use of aggregates and sand.

Lisa Roper: The Chanticleer Gravel Garden: Xeriscaping in the Delaware Valley

Lisa manages the Gravel Garden at Chanticleer, the internationally esteemed public garden located in Wayne, Pennsylvania. This gently sloping site is planted with a mix of finely textured grasses, gray-leafed Mediterranean plants, drought-tolerant perennials, hardy succulents and annuals grown from seed. She will introduce some of her favorite plants, talk about plant combinations and planting techniques, the importance of editing and using photography to inform design decisions. Thanks to Lisa for sharing the photo above taken at the Gravel Garden in June.

Richie Steffen: Rooted in Excellence: Celebrating 60 Years of NHS

Richie will present a pictorial history of NHS and will moderate the panel discussion.

This is a live event and will not be recorded.

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Thanks to a generous donation from the Pendleton & Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation, we are able to offer the same pricing as last year for members.

We are grateful to Bartlett Tree Experts for their sponsorship of NHS educational programming. Fees from the symposium will support our educational programs, as well as our community outreach grants and scholarships.