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School of Rock with Dr. Ross Bayton

School of Rock is the story of the Heronswood rock garden, which was developed during the COVID pandemic. Ross will demonstrate the process of building a rock garden and choosing the plants to grow in it. He will also discuss the environmental conditions in which alpine plants thrive, and how to replicate those at home. Heronswood is owned by the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and their rock garden is an attempt to replicate a habitat that used to provide resources to the S’Klallam before the arrival of Europeans. Ross hopes that attendees will be inspired to grow native alpine plants, some of our most endangered species, which live right on our doorstep in the Olympics and Cascades.

This class will include a one hour lecture followed by one and a half hours in the garden. Bring a lunch and then spend the afternoon exploring the garden, gift shop, and plant sale area.

Dr. Ross Bayton, London-born botanist and gardener, gained his PhD at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, studying the classification of tropical palms. He’s the author of several books on horticulture including: New Trees: Introductions to Cultivation (with John Grimshaw), Plant Families: A Guide for Gardeners and Botanists (with Simon Maugham), and most recently The Gardener’s Botanical: An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names. Formerly the Gardening Editor of the UK’s best-selling gardening periodical, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, he is now the Director of the world-renowned Heronswood Garden in Kingston, Wa. and is developing a 5-acre garden at home in nearby Bremerton.

LIMIT: 20 (MAXIMUM 2 PER REGISTRATION) – FEE IS PER PERSON

A portion of the class fees will be donated to Heronswood Garden and cover the garden entry fee.