Description

On Tuesday, January 8, 2019, Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), a nonprofit devoted to preservation and stewardship of land in Princeton, and The Garden Club of Princeton, a charter member of The Garden Club of America, will host An Evening with Ken Druse, at the Friend Center, Princeton University. Druse, a celebrated lecturer, award-winning writer, photographer and author of nineteen garden books, will discuss his 2015 book, The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change. He’ll plumb the depths of shade once again – twenty years after the publication of his best seller, The Natural Shade Garden. This time, it’s to tackle the challenges that have arisen due to our changing climate. “The low-stress environment of shade (cooler temperatures, fewer water demands, carbon sequestration) is extremely beneficial for our plants, our planet, and us,” says Druse. He details new ways of looking at all aspects of the gardening process, in topics such as designing your garden, choosing and planting trees, preparing soil and the vast array of flowers and foliage – all within the challenges of a changing climate, shrinking resources, and new weather patterns. Druse knows that the best defense is to create a verdant retreat – of this he says, “The garden of the future will be in the shade.” We are thrilled to co-host Ken Druse along with our friends from The Garden Club of Princeton who share our environmental concerns, said Wendy Mager, President of FOPOS and Co-Chair of the Conservation Committee of the Garden Club. Our members are particularly interested in the environmental themes outlined in Mr. Druse's book. We need to respond to climate change in our personal open space - our gardens - as well as on a larger scale. “I echo Wendy’s sentiments,” agreed Robin Gosnell, President of The Garden Club of Princeton. “The Garden Club is excited to host Mr. Druse for this event.His vast knowledge of horticulture, including his recognition of the new importance of shade, is invaluable to our members and the community. Learning sustainable gardening practices is essential in the face of climate change.” An Evening with Ken Druse is free and open to the public. The number of tickets is limited. Pre-registration via Eventbrite.com is required to attend. The American Horticultural Society listed Mr. Druse’s book, The Natural Garden, among the best of all time. Anne Raver, writing in The New York Times, called Druse “the guru of natural gardening.” He has contributed to nearly every home design and gardening magazine and was a regular contributor to the New York Times. Druse hosted a radio program and podcast for ten years, 300 episodes of which are archived at www.kendruse.com. He is currently a monthly guest on Margret Roach’s radio show, “A Way to Garden.” His book, Making More Plants, won the award of the year from the prestigious Garden Writers Association (GWA). His book, Natural Companions, won the 2013 gold medal for photography and the silver for writing. Also, in that year, the Smithsonian Institute announced the acquisition of the “Ken Druse Collection of Garden Photography” comprising 100,000 transparencies. In 2014, Druse won the GWA gold medal for an article in Organic Gardening magazine. The Garden Club of America presented Druse with the Sarah Chapman Francis medal for lifetime achievement in garden communication. His latest book is The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change won the GWA Gold Medal for writing. About Friends of Princeton Open Space Founded in 1969, FOPOS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to acquiring open space in Princeton for preservation, protecting natural resources, maintaining accessibility to trails, and providing environmental education. As part of its mission, it works with groups in the Princeton region to support efforts to preserve and protect open space and the environment. For more information about FOPOS, please visit fopos.org. For those interested in volunteer opportunities contact info@fopos.org. About The Garden Club of Princeton Founded in 1911, The Garden Club of Princeton was established with the purpose of furthering an interest in and knowledge of gardening, horticulture and conservation among its members and the Princeton community. Through its many committees, members engage in civic and conservation projects while enhancing their knowledge of nature and enjoying the camaraderie of individuals who share common goals and interests. The Garden Club of Princeton is a current and charter member of The Garden Club of America. For more information about the Garden Club of Princeton, please visit gcprinceton.org.