Southern Garden Symposium

08/28/2026

Best in Show! We can’t guarantee your camellias will win awards, but you will certainly be inspired and learn from an expert! Award-winning Camellia expert Hunter Charbonnet joins us Friday morning for a workshop on growing and propagating camellias! Set at Butler Greenwood Plantation, among heirloom varieties of camellias, in a 19th century garden- what more can we ask for? Make plans to join us October 23-24, 2026!

08/25/2026

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT

We are pleased to announce that the 2026 Southern Garden Symposium has been approved for professional continuing education credit.

AIA CES
5 sessions · 7 Learning Units (LUs)

LA CES / ASLA
7 qualifying sessions · PDHs, including HSW and Elective credit

Join us October 23–24, 2026, at Afton Villa Gardens in St. Francisville, Louisiana, for an exceptional program exploring the history, design, architecture, and enduring traditions of the Southern garden.

Presented by the Southern Garden Symposium in partnership with the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art — Louisiana Chapter.

October 23–24, 2026
Afton Villa Gardens · St. Francisville, Louisiana

Registration and complete program details at the link in our bio or QR code provided

08/07/2026

Our next featured speaker is Dr. Allan Armitage- Emeritus Professor of Horticulture at the University of Georgia.

Dr A. is a well known writer, speaker and researcher throughout the world. He’s written over 70 academic papers, 500 industry papers and 17 books that serve as classroom texts, reference books and gardeners’ companions.
There’s even an app for smartphones- “Armitage’s Great Garden Plants” that serves as a bridge between industry and consumer. It has been referenced over 100,000 times.

You have a chance to see Dr. A twice during the symposium!
Friday Afternoon he’ll lead a workshop: The Common Sense Gardener: Taking the confusion out of the garden- Confusion reigns when gardeners ask about everyday topics like pruning, soils, insects, disease, deer, natives and invasive plants. Every “expert” has a different answer and each answer seems more confusing than the one before. Join Dr A as he filters all the “noise” into useful straight forward common sense practices.

And on Saturday we take a look into his own garden with: From Chaos to ContentmentThe Making of a Garden- We couldn’t leave well enough alone, our home and garden were lovely, but we decided to embrace the D word, and we decided to downsize. Join Dr A when he first looks upon a broken-down cottage and a barren landscape - and the chaos that follows. Share his decisions about the plants he selects to make a yard into a garden, including a list of trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and bulbs as chaos slowly turns to contentment.

We hope to see you in October!

08/04/2026

Workshop presenter- Lee Rouse- Rouses Horticulture

Lee Rouse writes a monthly column for InRegister Magazine- that’s where we found him and have loved him ever since!

His innovative solutions help transform garden spaces and bring landscapes, patios, and lawns to life!

Lee will lead a workshop on how to build a rain garden at home. We hope you enjoy his approach to gardening and find ways to incorporate his techniques at home. I’m already making plans for a new spot at our home, Edgewood!

From his Instagram we found this thought that stuck with us- “Gardening has a way of bringing people together. A division of a ginger, a bromeliad pup, an orchid cutting, or a pass-along plant often carries a story with it. Years later, every time it blooms, you’re reminded of who shared it with you.

I love keeping that tradition alive.”

Join us in October in St. Francisville for the Southern Garden Symposium!

08/04/2026

Jeff Allen joins us from Winston-Salem, NC

As Founding Principal of JALA, Jeff Allen Landscape Architecture, Jeff and his associates practice the fine art of landscape architecture. The firm designs elegant, comfortable outdoor spaces distinguished by refined detailing, enduring craftsmanship, and a deep respect for traditional precedents. Our office manages historic renovations and new construction projects.

You’ll have two chances to see Jeff at this year’s Symposium!

Friday Afternoon Workshop Case Study - Jeff will walk you through his design process from beginning to end demonstrating how he designs from the ground up. We will discuss creating and existing conditions, plan, schematic design studies illustrating spatial composition in relationship to line, form and mass. He will also, show the working drawings used for construction, progress photos along with the finished product.

Saturday Lecture - Designing the Classical Landscape and the Art of the Master Plan. Jeff will give a brief overview of the history he has studied that informs his work and walks you through case studies demonstrating applied knowledge of his work.

Make plans to join us and purchase your tickets today!

07/27/2026

Floral Design at Afton Villa Gardens

Will Hunt Lewis has spent over 25 years immersed in floral design and horticulture. His passion began as a fine arts elective at Mississippi State University, where he studied under premier educators and even changed his major to Horticulture, focusing on Floriculture and Retail Floristry. After earning his BS and pursuing graduate studies, he opened Stems Floral Designs, a full-service florist and home furnishings boutique in Greenville, MS, becoming a sought-after speaker on floral design and post-harvest care. His presentations focus on marrying the principles and elements of design and science to create floral masterpieces that are not only beautiful, but also long-lasting. Today, Will Hunt owns Hunt & Bloom, a Houston-based home furnishings business, where he channels his floral artistry and expertise into curated, transformative design.

Make plans today and join us in St. Francisville October 23-24, 2026!

07/22/2026

Tickets are now available online for the 37th Southern Garden Symposium, October 23-24, 2026 in St. Francisville, LA!

This year the steering committee has partnered with the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, Louisiana Chapter to bring you a series of programs exploring the connections between landscape architecture, design, and traditional southern gardens.

We are delighted to share this year’s program with you, with a full line up of speakers and workshops for garden and design enthusiasts of all levels!

Tickets are available online at Bon Temps Tix and mail in registrations are also available.

Enjoy this look at last year’s event and we look forward to having you with us in October!

07/21/2026

Tickets are on sale now for the 37th Southern Garden Symposium!

Join us October 23-24, 2026 in St. Francisville, LA!

Workshops Lectures Charm

07/17/2026

Tickets for the 37th Southern Garden Symposium will be available next week on Bon Temps Tix! We are putting the finishing touches on the program and will post it here! Sign up for announcements on our website at
www.thesoutherngardensymposium.org