DESIGN AND BEYOND 2017

"Art in the Garden"

The Summit County Master Gardeners cordially invite you to attend DESIGN & BEYOND 2017.   The theme of this year's symposium is "Art in the Garden".    All who enjoy gardening are invited to attend this annual symposium featuring renowned gardening experts.  Information on our presenters and their topics is listed below.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

8:30 am - 3:30 p.m. (check-in begins at 8:00 am)

St. George's Fellowship Hall (Akron, OH)

Registration fee $50.00

(Registration deadline is January 13, 2017, no refund after January 6)

Continental breakfast, lunch and seminar materials included in the fee.

6MG CE's

Raffle Items and a 50/50 Raffle will be offered

The presenters for this year's symposium are:

Steven Nikkila - Steven has planted, maintained and photographed gardens and landscapes since 1983 and is co-owner of Garden A to Z, through which he designs, plants and maintains gardens and landscapes, and helps others to learn how to. His photographs illustrate many books, magazines, newspapers and catalogues. Steven has taught courses on horticultural photography and many other topics at Master Gardener conferences, Perennial Plant Association symposia, community education organizations and botanical gardens. He served as a senior instructor for the Michigan School of Gardening from 1996 to 2008. Steven received his degree in Landscape Technology from Oakland Community College in 1989.

When Trashing the Landscape is a Good Thing--You can incorporate recycled materials, found items and even yard waste as you create a top-notch landscape. Here are ideas from projects by professional gardener, photographer and writer Steven Nikkila for the DIY gardener covering everything from soil preparation to fencing, paths, artwork, containers and the plants themselves. Take notes and put them to work right away to make your landscape unique as well as more economical and environmentally friendly.

Rockit Science--Practical, beautiful advice from the voice of experience regarding stone in the landscape, from selecting the rock to building the wall or creating the path. Professional gardener, writer and photographer Steven Nikkila helps you master this craft without first moving the hundred tons he's put into the landscape during his 30 year career.

Kim Hawkins--Kim has been a Cuyahoga County Master Gardener since 2008. Her recent retirement from a career as a partner in an international fundraising consulting firm means she has much more time to devote to her MG and personal gardening interests. She serves on the Cuyahoga County MG Advisory Board, co-chairs the plant sale and the perennial demonstration garden, and does Hotline on the Road at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. She also participates in the Ask a Master Gardener program. In her spare time, she tutors in an adult literacy program and trains her labradoodle puppy. She has particular interests in shade gardening and hostas and this year is cultivating an outstanding crop of weeds.

The Art of Gardening: Learning from Monet’s Gardens and Art--“My greatest masterpiece is my garden,” wrote Claude Monet. The gardens at his home at Giverny were among his favorite painting subjects and both illustrate all the elements of good garden design. This session will explore how Monet used light, color, texture, and form to create some of the most beloved art and gardens in the world.

Jacqueline Kowalski--Jacqueline is currently the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator for Summit County.  Previously she served as the ANR Educator for Cuyahoga County.  In this role, she provides Ohioans with research-based information to improve communities and lives. 

Her primary focus area is small and urban farm development and sustainability with additional responsibilities in agriculture and natural resources.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Permaculture--Permaculture practices are gaining traction in both urban and rural areas.  But what is permaculture? Ohio State University Extension Educator, Jacqueline Kowalski will discuss the basic tenets and design principles of permaculture in order to help you make decisions for incorporation into your gardens and landscapes.

Carol Palansky--Carol has been both a landscape designer/ contractor for more than twenty years and an ISA Certified arborist since 2005. She knows what it takes to discover, to dream and to develop a project idea. She is an artist who cares deeply about balance in the interactions between humans and nature. Growing up with parents in the antique and auction business, she acquired a passion for reclaiming — a passion that she merges with the art of landscape building and design. Carol believes that growing organic vegetables and flowers is a way of life that should never be taken for granted. That belief shapes her desire to create good food and flora when not on job sites. She lives on her near century mark status family farm with two dogs, one cat, and eleven chickens. Together with her sister Kate, she is currently developing that farm to provide art, music, farm to table experiences and educational events to delight and warm the heart.

Design challenges; Problems & Solutions for Landscapes of Today--Creating a landscape can initially seem overwhelming. There are many factors to consider that can be complicated by the need to solve difficult site problems. Our speaker, Carol Palansky, will walk you through her process of landscape design. She begins with a detailed site study. Along the way, she provides suggestions for addressing many site problems, for managing storm water, for handling construction challenges both large and small, and for factoring reclaiming efforts into almost every project. She includes before and after examples of ideas you can use at your own home or at a client’s site. She features a particular example of how she solved a storm water management problem with an L.E.E.D Platinum home she designed using 98% native plants and the benefits of a thorough site study. She also goes beyond the design components to discuss the fun elements of landscaping, such as using repurposed material or garden art to enhance your project.