Voices of Our Times with P. Allen Smith
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Lunch, Talk, and Book Signing | 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Members $100 | Non-Members $130
P. Allen Smith, often described as one of America’s most talented garden designers, is the product of five generations of southern nurserymen. Mr. Smith’s family imbued him at an early age with an appreciation and love of the land. His passions were further directed at Hendrix College where he received a B.A. with an emphasis in Biology and History and then formalized in the classroom and by experience in England. During his time in Cheshire, Smith retraced the route, 200 years to the day, of Thomas Jefferson and John Adam’s famous tour of important English country homes, gaining insight into archetypal and enduring design components.
Often heard describing his approach as “blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor,” he considers particular grade, color and density of crushed stone on a garden path, height and volume of water falling from a fountain, the provenance of garden sculpture, or the history and environmental suitability of specific plant varieties. For Smith, the details are paramount. His portfolio includes diverse projects: plantations, townhomes, campuses, golf courses, new town developments, and rooftop gardens.
Part of Smith’s life mission is to share his knowledge and enthusiasm for design and beauty. His generosity of spirit has produced a significant body of accessible work for the public. To date, he is the author of six bestselling books, host and producer of one of PBS’s most successful and award-winning television shows, he runs a media enterprise focused on garden design and health, he is a speaker at many of the country’s important architectural and historic homes and opens his own home to the public each Spring and Fall. He is often quoted in national publications and was a regular garden contributor on the Today Show and Good Morning America. Smith’s work has been featured in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Architectural Digest, People Magazine, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Living, Southern Accents, Flower Magazine, and over 100 additional publication titles.
Smith makes his permanent home with his partner, two Scottish Terriers, and hundreds of heritage birds in Arkansas.
Members $100 | Non-members $130
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