Three of these heroes established The Garden Conservancy. Others worked to revitalize and establish botanical and other exceptional public gardens. Some intrepid plant explorers have even traveled to remote parts of the globe with to bring back and disseminate plants unknown in the West.

Over the course of their careers, these heroes have worked to preserve and enhance our public spaces, setting new standards for aesthetics and encouraging wider public participation. Whether you work the soil or not, you’ll read their stories with a sense of wonder and admiration, and there’s a good chance you’ll derive some practical horticultural benefits from their passion, their lives and their work.

While on sabbatical from her professional life as the first woman partner in the leading international law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, Barbara Paul Robinson worked as a gardener for Rosemary Verey at Barnsley House, Gloucestershire, then for Penelope Hobhouse at Tintinhull, Somerset, experiences she found life transforming. In fact, she credits this time with soon thereafter becoming the first woman President of the New York City Bar Association.

Barbara and her artist-husband Charles have created their own extensive gardens around their 18th century farmhouse in northwestern Connecticut over more than 40 years, she being the hands-in-the-dirt gardener and he designing and building the garden structures while opening the landscape to give her new canvases to “paint” upon. Brush Hill has been open to the public as part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program since its inception and by appointment to groups, has been featured in numerous articles and books, and is included in the Smithsonian Archives of American Gardens.

Barbara’s first book was Rosemary Verey: The Life and Lessons of a Legendary Gardener. A frequent speaker for horticultural organizations and garden clubs, Barbara is Director Emeritus of Wave Hill and The Garden Conservancy, and a former board member of Stonecrop. For more news about Barbara, her new book and upcoming events, visit brushhillgardens.com and godine.com/book/heroes-of-horticulture.

Lecture, Lunch and Book Signing $45  /  Book $40

Click HERE to Purchase Tickets!