Events

you are Invited

Gardening Symposium
29 March 2025

Please join us for a day full of engaging speakers. Sakonnet Garden is excited to present in Rhode Island:

“Plants! Plants! Plants!”

Troy Scott Smith • Edward Flint • Drew Schuyler

This years symposium brings together three brilliant gardeners. One from the private sector and two from institutional gardening. They will share their plant picks, propagating tips and wining combinations. Join us for a pre-spring wander through the excitement of what’s to come.

Note: The Garden will not be open during the symposium.

TIMES:

  • 8:30 | Sign in, Coffee, Chat with the Speakers

  • 9:15 | Introduction

  • 9:30–12:00 | Morning Speakers

  • 12:00–1:00 | Lunch (sign up for box lunch or local options)

  • 1:00–2:30 | Afternoon Speaker and Informal Meeting Afterward

LOCATION:

Wilbur & McMahon Schools, 28 Commons St, Little Compton, RI 02837

LUNCH:

Sign up for $25 box lunch (veggie avail.) or local options in walking distance.

Cost:

From $75

Tickets:

COMING SOON

Troy Scott Smith

Troy Scott Smith is head gardener at Sissinghurst as well as a garden writer, speaker, lecturer and RHS Floral Committee member. Troy was head gardener at Iford Manner, Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe’s iconic garden. Troy’s previous job was head gardener at Bodnant in Conwy, another jewel in the National Trust’s crown.

Edward Flint

Edward Flint is Head Gardener in a private family garden on the Kent/Sussex border where the garden includes extensive Mixed Plantings, Woodlands, Meadows, Vegetables and Cut Flowers. Previous experience designing and building gardens across the UK and Europe after an informal but hugely informative apprenticeship at Great Dixter and Washfield  Nursery, under the tutelage of Christopher Lloyd and Elizabeth Strangman.

Drew Schuyler

Drew Schuyler grew up in Yonkers, NY, and has been involved with the restoration of Untermyer Gardens in different capacities since 2012. He received a certificate in GIS from Binghamton University and worked in restoration ecology with the National Park Service before graduating from Longwood Gardens’ Professional Horticulture program in 2015. He trained further at Vallarta Botanical Gardens in Mexico and Great Dixter in England before returning to Untermyer full-time, where he currently serves as Assistant Head Gardener. At Untermyer, he manages the day-to-day projects of the garden staff, oversees the propagation and greenhouse programs, collaborates on design and development, and generally takes on all the many roles of a public horticulturist.

Visit the Garden

Additionally you can now sign up to visit the garden for the season when it opens on 2 May—Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until October. Register here to book dates to visit:

Save the Date

May 3, 2025

Sakonnet Plant Fair IV, the famed rural plant fair, Meeting House Lan, Little Compton, RI 02837