Gardeners Gathering Thursday, April 19, 2018

The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City present

‘16 Together’, by Roy Diblik

Perennial plant expert, grower, designer, speaker and author Roy Diblik is a recognized Perennial plant expert, grower, designer, speaker and author. Roy will discuss how sixteen plants contributed to his development of design in plant community relationships and the importance of plants being placed and growing together in healthy living systems. He will share how the well-being of perennial plants is determined by understanding how they develop from youth to maturity. These associations determine the evolving dynamics of aesthetics and the type of stewardship the plantings require. Combining his 35 years of knowledge growing traditional and Midwest native perennials, he specializes in highly aesthetic, sustainable plant communities for all seasons, while reducing maintenance through design. He believes that gardens should be thoughtful, ecologically directed, emotionally outreaching, and yet very personal.

In his book, ‘The Know Maintenance Perennial Garden’, Roy encourages you to listen to the language of plants, to learn what they are, and what they need. The Know Maintenance approach is not a do-nothing system, but it does start in a special place: it takes into account the conditions you have and incorporates plants that have a forgiving nature—of the soil, light, and water conditions, of the climatic conditions, and of you, the gardener. Once you acquire that knowledge, you will discover that you actually need to spend far less time maintaining them, because they exist in largely self-sustaining communities. Telling all to go outside, get away from the world of human-dominated activity, and garden.

Roy’s recent work includes a planting at the new Oceanarium at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and a garden for the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is best known as the plantsman behind Piet Oudolf’s Midwestern garden designs, including the Lurie Garden at Millennium Park in Chicago. He is a sought-after speaker and regularly addresses audiences across the country.

Plan to attend this special event at the Kauffman Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Road, KCMO at 6:30pm. Free and open to the public. No registration required. Door Prizes.  For further information call 816-523-5526 or visit our website www.mggkc.org and browse Gardeners’ Gathering.