The New Year is about to begin, and 2020 is loaded with great local Garden Conservancy events, beginning with a talk by Aaron Bertelsen in our home on February 25. I hope you can join us! If you are interested, please sign up through the Garden Conservancy (registration information below; admission is limited).
Born in New Zealand, Aaron came to England at the age of 22 in 1996 and planned to volunteer at Great Dixter House for 3 months, but ended up staying for 3 years. After spending time at Great Dixter, Aaron studied horticulture at Kew Gardens (which I love!), and spent two years at Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Israel. In 2005, Aaron returned to Great Dixter and became the vegetable gardener and cook in 2007.
Great Dixter, located in Northiam, Rye, East Sussex, England, was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd, whose enthusiasm inspired over 40 books and articles. Sadly, Christopher passed away in 2006, and the financial support for this property ended with the cessation of his writing.
Luckily today, Great Dixter is preserved under the leadership of Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust as an historic house, garden, center of education, and place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world.
Pumpkin and kumara salad from The Great Dixter Cookbook
Beginning in February, the Garden Conservancy is welcoming Aaron Bertelsen to several venues around the country to speak about one of my favorite subjects – the vegetable garden – and how we can make the most of our gardens no matter how large our vegetable gardens are. A book signing will follow for both of his books.