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Gardeners can blend beauty, function in home landscapes
PICAYUNE – Home gardeners and nature lovers can learn how to create a beautiful and functional landscape during the Mississippi State University Crosby Arboretum Lecture Series March 28.
Rick Darke, a horticulturist, published author, lecturer and photographer, will discuss how to strike the ultimate balance between beauty and function in the home landscape with an emphasis on conservation.
Darke will talk about how to use native plants to craft a kid- and pet-friendly area that fosters wildlife, lends privacy and provides human food. The lecture topic is based on his latest book, The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden, which is co-authored by Doug Tallamy.
The event will be at the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library in Picayune from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Space is limited and fills up quickly. Reservations are required. Interested individuals should reserve a seat by calling the Crosby Arboretum at 601-799-2311 by March 25.
Admission is free for Crosby Arboretum members and $5 for non-members.
The Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library is located at 900 Goodyear Boulevard in Picayune.
Darke earned a bachelor of science in plant science from the University of Delaware in 1977. After graduation, he was a taxonomic assistant at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania for 20 years. From 1986-1997, he served as curator of plants and was instrumental in developing indoor and outdoor displays and identifying and managing a catalog of the garden’s nearly 10,000 diverse plants. His work with international plant exploration and introduction has taken him to Japan, South Africa, England, Germany, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and the Canary Islands.
Darke traveled extensively and explored diverse ecologies in Japan, South Africa, England, Germany, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica and the Canary Islands. He has also studied and photographed native plants in North America for 30 years, becoming internationally known as an expert on the use of grasses in managed landscapes.
To learn more about Darke, visit http://www.rickdarke.com.
For more information about the lecture, call the arboretum at 601-799-2311.
