Workshops

"I was stuck; my creative process stalled. So I went to a North Hill Workshop and was restored. North Hill Workshops offer simply the best of everything: Inspired teaching, lively discussion, great food - all wrapped in those glorious gardens."

Dianne Golden

A series of workshops are held annually at the gardens of North Hill, each devoted to an important aspect of the garden or the gardener's development. Essentially, they are day long house parties hosted by Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd, in which gardeners - whether novice, experienced or professional - gather to discuss their frustrations and their triumphs while exchanging advice and inspiration with others who share their passion for gardening.

These one day workshops are limited to 15 participants, and include morning refreshments, a vinous lunch and walks through the garden during the day. Participants are encouraged to bring photographs or drawings of their gardens, a list of prepared questions, and a hearty appetite.

The per-person enrollment fee for all North Hill Workshops is $300. per workshop, which is refundable up to one month before the workshop date.

To enroll in one or more workshops, please send a check ($300 for each) to:

Please be sure to include your name, address and day time telephone number or email address and the workshop title. Clearly print all information .

The Garden in Spring: Saturday, May 10

This workshop should coincide with the peak bloom in our daffodil meadow, where more than 25,000 daffodils will be in flower. Azaleas, yellow magnolias, primroses and alpines should also be blooming, and (always given the vagaries of the season) our garden at North Hill should be reaching its first peak of beauty.

But the main purpose of this workshop is to discuss the emerging garden and the importance of laying the foundation for its beauty in the coming season. For spring, which may seem so relaxed and joyful to others, is in fact the gardener's greatest challenge - a sort of "Now or Nothing" situation.

The Mid-Summer Garden: Saturday, July 19

This workshop occurs in the last week of July, when the beautiful early summer perennials are done, the late summer ones are yet to fire up, and many gardens experience what can only be called a "lull."

In this workshop, we hope to illustrate that through the use of annual and tender plants and late-blooming perennials, the garden may remain as fresh and vibrant as in any other season of the year.

This workshop includes a slide presentation of rare and unusual annuals and tender plants for late summer beauty, and a visit to Walker Farm in Dummerston, Vermont, where a selection of interesting annuals will be available in quart pots for "dropping in."

Personal Garden Design: Saturday, August 23

The shaping of a garden is really the gardener's own business. But we have had for many years the privilege of making a garden together, and also of working as designers with other gardeners in helping them realize their own dreams. From that we have learned that a sympathetic suggestion, carefully expressed doubt, an honest question or a rough sketch can often facilitate the translation of deep dreaming into reality.

The heart of this workshop consists of an intensive session in which each participant will be asked to present his or her most pressing design issues for solutions offered by the group. Though the workshop is intended primarily for the home gardener, it should also be useful for anyone considering garden design as either a part or full time profession. Because of the time required for each project, enrollment is limited to eight participants.

Writing About the Garden: Saturday, September 13

Michael Pollan has said that "Any writer who has a garden will sooner or later write about it." This may be a chicken-egg proposition, for probably it is as true that any gardener will sooner or later write, because at its deepest level, gardening involves deep reflection, and that is often best done on the page. We don't acutally believe that writing can be taught; but we do know from editing each other's writing and from the suggestions of many sensitive readers and editors that good writing can be assisted.

This workshop will consist of two parts: a morning session of basic principles of writing, and an afternoon session of group commentary on selected essays contributed by participants, which may consist of diary entries, letters to gardening friends, or articles prepared for publication.

The Autumn Garden Saturday, October 11

This workshop will be held near the peak of the Vermont foliage season and around the time when North Hill's extensive collection of autumn-flowering bulbs should begin to flower. Barring early frost, the last full flush of late-blooming annuals and tender plants should also be very fine. The workshop is devoted not only to making the garden in autumn as beautiful as in any other season, but also to putting it to bed for winter, an activity that must begin toward the end of October.

This workshop includes visits to the historic Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont, where over 80 varieties of antique apples are cultivated and sold, and to Walker Farm, also in Dummerston, where an extensive display of rare and unusual pumpkins, squashes and heirloom vegetables will be for sale.

Lectures

Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd are internationally acclaimed lecturers with more than 20 years of experience. They lecture on a wide range of garden topics, from basic principles of garden design to the specifics of designing perennial borders, outdoor living spaces, rock and woodland gardens, water gardens and greenhouses.

Most lectures are designed to fit a 55 minute format, but Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd are also available for intensive, all-day workshops and seminars.

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