Planting Forward: Conversations on New Naturalism (May 2024)
May 21, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (UTC-5)
featuring Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi of Denver Botanic Garden discussing their groundbreaking new book Shrouded in Light: Naturalistic Planting Inspired by Wild Shrublands. Their book and recent work offers a fresh and progressive outlook on the use of shrubs in naturalistic plantings. The book is a call to incorporate the aesthetic lessons from shrubscapes into our planted spaces. Kevin and Michael will kickoff the hour with a presentation followed by an interview and conversation with Kelly and participants. You won’t want to miss this engaging and stimulating session on future perspectives for ecological plantings!
Pre-order their book today ahead of its May 28 U.S. release date!
About the Presenters
Kevin Philip Williams is a naturalistic gardener who collaborates with active and passive materials to create dynamic and challenging worlds. His unique style combines bioregional plant palettes, a hardcore punk ethos, and post-human aesthetics to craft wild and captivating spaces. Kevin's extensive work with Denver Botanic Gardens has led to the creation of celebrated public gardens throughout the city. Kevin was a Gardener on The High Line in Manhattan and studied as a Horticulture Intern at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He holds a MS degree in Public Horticulture from the Longwood Graduate Program at the University of Delaware and a BA degree in The History and Philosophy of Science from Bard College.
Michael Guidi is an ecologist and horticulture researcher who is passionate about naturalistic plantings that embody the flexibility and resiliency of wild systems. His work draws inspiration from liminal urban spaces and wild areas alike. Preferring common and weedy plants to the rare and precious, Michael is a proponent of dynamic, self-sustaining gardens and green infrastructure as alternatives to static high-maintenance landscaping. His research links ecological theory with horticultural techniques and designs to broaden the definition of gardens and gardening. Michael worked as a field biologist before joining the Denver Botanic Gardens horticulture department. He holds a MS degree in Ecology from the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology at Colorado State University and a BS degree in Biology from Ithaca College.
About the Series
Planting Forward: Conversations on New Naturalism features designers and creatives presenting work at the intersections of horticulture, ecology, design, and curation. Guests will be chosen from around the globe, spanning diverse geography, communities, and cultural identities. Each conversation will showcase working professionals and their methods and practices with the hopes of inspiring other professionals or gardeners to approach design and management differently. The session includes:
90-minute sessions that feel less like webinars and more like spirited talk show conversations
access to the recording for up to 6 months following the live broadcast
