Spirit of Place with Bill Noble

Join us for a virtual brown-bag lunch on October 28 at noon, with author and gardener Bill Noble.

How does an individual garden relate to the larger landscape? How does it connect to the natural and cultural environment? Does it evoke a sense of place? In addressing these topics in a slide presentation based on his new book published by Timber Press, Spirit of Place, Bill Noble—a lifelong gardener, the former director of preservation for the Garden Conservancy, helps gardeners answer these questions by sharing how they influenced the creation of his garden in Vermont.

Noble reveals that a garden is never created in a vacuum but is rather the outcome of an individual’s personal vision combined with historical and cultural forces of place. He speaks to the guiding principles that have shaped the making of the garden, and will lead us through a tour of its colorful perennial borders as well as quiet nooks of greenery and refuge. His talk will inspire you to create a garden rich in context, personal vision, and spirit.

Following Bill’s presentation, there will be a conversation with two of the Bay Area’s horticultural luminaries, Richard G Turner and Betsy Flack, who have collaborated with Bill on various garden projects through the years.

Richard was the long-time editor of Pacific Horticulture magazine and is a garden designer and horticultural consultant.  He chairs the Horticultural Advisory Committee of the Marin Art and Garden Center and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, where he was the first executive director.

Betsy is a landscape architect and educator who worked as West Coast Program Coordinator for the Garden Conservancy for 10 years and organized numerous lectures, conferences and tours for Bay Area gardeners.  She has also been associated with Western Hills garden in Occidental since working as a young gardener with its creators.

“It is a real homecoming to be talking with Antonia, Richard, and Betsy about the gardens we love and have supported together over the years, and how my own garden reflects the influences of places I have visited and cared for in my career.”
—Bill Noble

Antonia Adezio was the founding president of the Garden Conservancy and worked closely with Bill for over 15 years.  She is thrilled to be presenting his beautiful new book to our audiences at Marin Art and Garden Center and to have the opportunity to talk with this distinguished and convivial group of colleagues and friends.