News & Updates

Recent news about the Garden Conservancy, our programs, and our preservation and education partners around the country.

Remembering Pearl Fryar, Self-Taught Topiary Artist, Mentor, Horticulturist

Pearl Fryar didn't just grow a garden; he cultivated a message. Born to sharecroppers and fueled by a desire to challenge racial stereotypes, Fryar transformed a three-acre lot in Bishopville, SC, into an international destination of fluid, living sculpture. Explore the life and legacy of a man who used a hedge trimmer to spread a message of love, peace, and extraordinary creativity.

Dry Gardening: Droughts are the New Normal in Some Regions, But We Can Adapt

Forget the barren "rock and cactus" landscapes of the past. Dry gardening has evolved into a vibrant, low-maintenance art form that celebrates native prairies, exotic succulents, and the legacy of visionaries like Ruth Bancroft. Discover how to create a lush, drought-resilient oasis that thrives even in the driest conditions.

Sleepy Cat Farm: Designing a Dreamscape

Discover the enchanting journey of Sleepy Cat Farm, a 13-acre horticultural masterpiece in Greenwich, CT. From its winding woodland paths to whimsical Chinese pavilions and secret grottoes, founder Fred Landman shares his vision of creating a timeless garden designed for discovery, sharing, and the joy of the "Golden Path."

Nature-Friendly Gardening Thrives Through Open Days

Transform your garden into a vibrant sanctuary for local wildlife with three simple commitments. This article explores the "Nibbled Leaf" initiative and the Perfect Earth Project’s roadmap for combatting the biodiversity crisis. Learn how to transition from "woe to wonder" by eliminating pesticides, prioritizing native plants through the "two-thirds for the birds" rule, and recycling biomass to create a self-sustaining, nature-friendly landscape.

In San Antonio, Hear Steve Martino's Surprising Approach to Landscape Design, Nov. 13

Steve Martino's lecture on sustainable landscape design, "A Tree, a Wall, and a Chair + A Little Water," is free at San Antonio Botanical Garden on Nov 13, 2025. Plus, see Austin Open Gardens on Nov 8.

Chelmsford Joins the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens

Chelmsford, the home and gardens of Garden Conservancy Board Member Alease Fisher Tallman and her husband, Paul, has been selected for inclusion in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens.

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