The Garden Talk Salon

Written By: - NONE - | Issue: 2015/05 - May

Thirty years of designing landscapes for clients in exclusive places from the coast of California to the low country of the Carolinas has equipped Mary Palmer Dargan with a sharp eye for detail and a humorous, no-nonsense approach to getting things done.

“Form follows function, then beautify” is her mantra.

You’re invited to get your hands dirty at her Garden Talk Salon at Dargan’s Dovecote in Cashiers.

Just in time for Mother’s Day planting, Mary Palmer is offering a jumpstart to your summer garden with her workshop on May 22 – “Jump Start Your Summer Garden with Seed-Blocking!” Soil-blocking, a 100-year-old English technique that was just up Mary’s alley.

“I love gadgets of all types and this one rocks,” she says. “It is a little press that ejects the ¾-inch blocks into sets of cakes that resemble chocolate brownies.”

Planting medium, seed blockers, buckets, water, seeds and a light lunch is included for the workshop, plus instructions on how to grow flowers successfully. Cost is $25

On May 15 and 16, Dargan is offering “Land. Life. Garden: LifeScapes for Your Home Environment.”

The gentle joining of hands between your home environment, your family and nature is her passion. She feels that by taking time to engage with nature and observe how it functions best on your home property, you can design solutions that suit particular situations, and avoid wasting time, labor and resources.

This two-day workshop will empower your property as the ultimate Land and LifeScape environment. Draw your dream garden with compost stations, greenhouse huts, potting area and work out the best practices for your property. You will be guided through preparing and planting your garden with hardy vegetables and annuals, using handprint planting methods and seed-blocking, as well as starting baby plants and dahlias for late spring and summer propagation You do not need to know how to draw to attend this 3 hour garden design workshop. Learn how to plant vegetables and annuals to use handprint planting methods and seed-blocking. Pre-registration ends May 11 for $125/$185 couple.

Back by popular demand, on May 29th Jeff Zahner presents “Evergreens for Mountain Landscapes.” Glenda Zahner joins Dovecote for native azaleas in your garden with the dynamic duo giving a narrated walkabout at Chattooga Gardens.

June 5, Dr. Lynn Dillard of Scotlyn’s Yard Nursery presents “The Magic of Mixed Baskets and Dazzling Dahlias” with a reception and narrative tour of the collections.

All salons are held in Cashiers at Dovecote Porch & Gardens, 35 Flashpoint Drive. Pre-registration is suggested, as these are small groups. You can email [email protected] to register. You may also register at dargan.com/dovecote-events.

If you prefer a video of her workshops to share with your friends, just sign up for her newsletter and click the Garden Talk Salon option at www.dargan.com. Getting your hands dirty has never been more fun.