Speakers Bureau

The following GPPA members are knowledgeable about perennial gardening in the southeast and related subjects. They lecture to garden clubs, community groups, and other interested organizations on the topics listed.

Jane Bath

Address: 1826 Trotters Lane ~ Stone Mountain, GA 30087
Telephone: 770-934-7974
Topics: Garden Design, Stories of Gardening, many more
Background: Two year horticulture degree; 12 years experience in landscape design, over 4,000 projects; featured in Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens; designed perennial border at Barnsley Gardens; owner of Land Arts Nursery in Monroe.
Fee: $250

Linda Copeland

Address: 214 Camden Road N.E. ~ Atlanta, GA 30309
Telephone: 404-351-3344
E-mail:
Topics: Plants of the Western Cape Province (S. Africa); Gardens of Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany; "Legends in the Garden: Who in the World is Nellie Stevens?"
Background: Courses in horticulture at UGA; travel coordinator for garden tours
Fee: Negotiable

Tara Dillard

Address: 1213 Hunters Drive ~ Stone Mountain, GA 30083
Telephone: 404-299-5309
E-mail:
Topics: Tara's Trinity: Creating a Traditional Southern Garden; Vanishing Threshold: Bringing the Outside In and the Inside Out; Focal Points in the Garden; Garden Design; The Garden in Winter; Sunny Perennials; Shady Perennials; many more
Background: Degrees in industrial engineering and horticulture; award-winning garden lecturer and designer; contributing author to Gardening 'Round Atlanta and Fine Gardening Design Guides. Contributor to Fine Gardening magazine, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, guest on Peachtree Morning Live, Georgia Gardener, WSBAM-750 radio. Regular lecturer at Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gwinnett College, Historic Gwinnett Courthouse.
Fee: Negotiable

Mary Donovan

Address: #140 400 Peachtree Ind. Blvd. Suite 5 ~ Suwanee, GA 30024
Telephone: 770-614-1600
E-mail:
Topics: Curb Appeal; Four Seasons in the Garden; Creating Harmony Indoors and Out; Dealing with Drought Conditions; Color in the Landscape; Creating New Landscapes or Remodeling Older Landscapes to meet the needs of Today's Baby Boomers & Retirees
Background: College Degrees in Home Economics (Design) and Environmental Horticulture (Landscape Design); state licensed interior designer, certified Aging-in-Place specialist and member of the Universal Design Alliance; educator/lecturer for college level courses (GTC), professional CEU seminars (Chicago Botanic Garden), community adult education classes (Gwinnett) and area garden/church/HOA/women's clubs; writer for LandShapes Magazine and APLD's Designer Journal; interviewed by Fine Gardening magazine, MSN and Fulton County Daily Report; 2006-2008 Chapter President of APLD, Association of Professional Landscape Designers
Fee: Negotiable

Jim Harrington

Address: 4004 Dover Avenue ~ Alpharetta, GA 30004
Telephone: 770-667-9918
E-mail:
Topics: Perennials, Conifers, Water and Soils, Shrubs, Native Plants
Background: Degree in Horticulture (University of Arizona); former UGA extension agent; contributing writer to various publications and books; 10 years experience as landscape designer and installer (Hortlnfo).
Fee: Negotiable (available evenings only)

Carolyn R. Hawkins

Address: 7329 Kendel Court ~ Jonesboro, GA 30236
Telephone: 770-471-2841
E-mail:
Topics: Iris: Culture and types for all locations; Duo Holiday Designs; Ivies: New Cultivars and Culture; Luscious Lilies for the Southeast; Memory Wreaths, Annual and Perennial Vines: Premier English Garden
Background: Executive Producer of video "Iris: The Rainbow Flower"; Iris, ivy, daffodil and begonia judge; Master Judge National Council of State Garden Clubs; Horticulture instructor for schools and symposia; Clayton County Master Gardener
Fee: Negotiable

Sara Henderson

Address: 3215 Habersham Rd. ~ Atlanta, GA 30305
Telephone: 404-233-2712
E-mail:
Topics: Hydrangeas (several topics), Perennials for Shady Gardens, Proven Perennials for GA Gardens, Green Tapestry: Designing with Foliage, Unusual Bulbs for Fall Planting, Containers, Flowers in the Winter Garden, many others
Background: Lifelong Atlanta gardener, garden designer, frequent lecturer including the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Southeastern Flower Show, Spruill Center for the Arts, Lanier Museum of Natural History and GA Department of Agriculture. Current president of Georgia Perennial Plant Assoc., past president of the American Hydrangea Society. Appeared on Georgia Gardener for PBS and HGTV's A Gardener's Diary
Fee: negotiable

Linda Jenkins

Address: 9106 Summerwood Ln ~ Alpharetta, GA 30005
Telephone: 770-298-8090
Website: Vacations-Abroad.com
Topics: Italian Gardens, French Gardens. Has spoken at the various garden clubs in Atlanta on "The Gardens of Italy".
Background: Provides garden tours to Italy and France. Writer and photographer. Articles published in Buckhead Living Magazine.
Fee: Negotiable

Ozzie Johnson

Address: 4363 Bishop Lake Road ~ Marietta, GA 30062
Telephone: 770-565-5507
Fax:770-565-8561
E-mail:
Topics: Plant Collecting in the Himalayan Foothills, Plant Collecting in Japan, Conifers for the South, Asarums and Other Woodland Collectibles, Dwarf Plants, Weeping Plants, Narrow Upright Plants, Creating Microclimates, and more.
Background: Twenty-seven years in horticulture in Atlanta area, Japanese rock garden and perennial border design, installation, maintenance and consultation. Collection trips to China, Japan, Europe, Ecuador. Can also do presentations and tours in my garden.
Fee: Negotiable

Samuel B. Jones, Jr.

Address: Piccadilly Farm ~ 1971 Whippoorwill Road ~ Bishop, GA 30621
Telephone: 706-769-6516
Topics: Gardening with Native Wild Flowers, Using Conifers in Your Garden, Native Shrubs and Woody Vines, Shade Gardening
Background: B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture, M.S. and Ph.D. in Botany (Plant Taxonomy), co-owner Piccadilly Farm, Emeritus Professor of Botany UGA. Co-author of Gardening with Native Wild Flowers and Native Shrubs and Woody Vines of the Southeast (Timber Press)
Fee: Negotiable

Jeff Potter

Address: 5318 Greencastle Way ~ Stone Mt, GA 30087-1426
Telephone: 770-938-2243
E-mail:
Topics: Christmas at Williamsburg; Wreaths; Annuals for Atlanta; Hosta in England, Scotland, Wales; Roses in England, Scotland, Wales
Background: Horticulture Degree, UGA; Dorough Landscape; Fernbank Science Center; Georgia Governor's Mansion; Georgia Capitol Garden Works; member of more than 10 plant societies
Fee: $45 (evenings only)

Paula Refi

Address: 472 Durand Drive N.E. ~ Atlanta, GA 30307
Telephone: 404-377-4592
E-mail:
Topics: Any aspect of perennial gardening (sun, shade, dependable performers, the rare and choice), ideas from English gardens, perennial garden design, native plant gardening.
Background: M.S. Georgetown University (Biology), studied horticulture at DeKalb College, regular lecturer at Atlanta Botanical Garden, 10 years experience in residential landscape design, articles appearing in Fine Gardening, American Gardener, and Wildflower.
Fee: Negotiable

Eddie Rhoades

Address: 667 Longwood Court ~ Marietta, GA 30008
Telephone: 678-354-6394
E-mail:
Website: www.bittersweetgardens.com
Topics: Topics: Personalize Your Garden with Yard Art: a humorous program on the tacky side of gardening; Edible Landscaping: mixing vegetables with flowers, growing unusual fruits and berries; Amending the Soil use of mulch, compost, green manure and commercial products; The Garden Life: The A to Z of becoming a gardener.
Background: Lifetime Master Gardener, garden writer, speaker at Master Gardener Regional Conference in Athens, and for Garden.com (six times). More details at the Bittersweet Gardens website.
Fee: Negotiable