2027 Symposium & Silent Auction

February 20, 2027

Unity North Atlanta Church

4255 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA, 30066

9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

SPEAKER PREVIEW:

Jeff Epping -  Gravel Gardening

Jeff Epping’s passion for plants and gardening is reflected in his thirty-five-year career as an award-winning horticulturist and garden designer. During his twenty-eight years as director of horticulture at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, he transformed a lawn-laden landscape into a nationally acclaimed public garden, known for its artistic and innovative, plant driven designs and ecologically sound gardening techniques. Alongside that role, he also ran his own design and consulting business for twenty-five years and continues to do so today, specializing in eco-conscious designs for projects ranging from small home gardens to expansive business campuses. Beyond gardening, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family, outdoor sports, hiking, hunting, foraging, and woodworking in his shop.

Carol Reese - Native Facts/Fallacies

Carol Reese grew up as a farm girl in Mississippi where she learned much about the land from her family. In her 30’s she pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University in horticulture. Carol worked as a regional horticulture extension specialist for the University of Tennessee’s West Tennessee Ag Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tennessee for 27 years where she inspired countless gardeners within the state with her humor and scientific approach to learning. She is beloved in the horticulture community for giving inspiring presentations, challenging people’s understanding of the natural world. She wrote Q&A articles for Horticulture magazine and contributed a weekly column to the Jackson Sun newspaper in Jackson, Tennessee for many years. Carol retired recently and spends much of her time roaming the 117 acres of her mostly wild property with her many dogs.

Rebecca Sweet - Garden Design

Rebecca Sweet is a garden designer with her design firm, Harmony in the Garden. Her gardens have been featured in national and regional publications such as Sunset, Garden Design, Fine Gardening and Horticulture magazine. She has been featured on the PBS series “Growing a Greener World” and has been a radio guest on numerous programs, including Martha Stewart Living. She is the author of nationally best-selling books and is a content creator for GardenDesign.com. In her blog, Harmony in the Garden, Rebecca shares tips on garden design, amusing observations, and how-to videos for novice to experienced gardeners.