Educational Programs

Jennifer Yates is a nation-wide landscape design & ecological speaker whose presentations are sought after by Libraries, Historical Societies, Botanical Centers Garden clubs, Women’s Clubs, & Architects. She is known for captivating audiences with her well-researched topics such as horticulture, garden design, ecology, history, famous people & more.

Landscape Gardening Talks;

The Magical Gardens of Bunny Mellon. This fascinating presentation covers much of Bunny Mellons’ life & focuses on her legacy as an important American landscape designer. Highlighted are key moments in Bunny Mellon’s life & career, ranging from her redesign of the White House Rose Garden, to the establishment of The Oak Spring Foundation. Also featured is her enduring legacy of ecology & sustainable garden design. There is a strong focus on how she creates magic in her landscape designs!

Friends & Gardeners: Christopher Lloyd & Beth Chatto. Features the outstanding design landscape design styles of the most important landscape designers that England has ever known. Portrayed is how their work overlaps & how it is different, as well as their individual life stories of the rise to fame as well as their gardening discoveries..Lots of material highlights how they make profound outstanding designs, as well as ecological contributions. Their jointly written book Friends & Gardeners is discussed.

Beatrix Farrand: An Ecological Garden Artist.  Beatrix Farrand is arguably America’s most outstanding female Landscape Architect. This lecture explains how she paved the way for women to excel in the field. Her creativity is demonstrated in over 200 projects: including: The White House, Princeton, Harvard, The Ayrie & more. She was significantly influenced by William Robinson & Gertrude Jekyll where they were the cutting edge of gardening in Europe. Also, her relationships with her Aunt, Edith Wharton (The Mount in Massachusetts) & Mildred Bliss (Dunbarton Oaks in Washington DC) created a legacy of beauty. Beatrix’s diverse gifts for designing hardscaping, featuring sculpture, planting plans, site planning, & ecology were a testament to her tireless spirit.

Olmstead: Parks for People. Frederick Law Olmstead was the catalyst for the concept of Parks For The People establishing an outstanding legacy of national and urban parks. His mission in providing people with landscapes to “escape” congested urban living, highlighting immersion in nature by offering recreational outlets. He had the ability to create naturalistic environments, collaborating with Calvert Vaux whose strengths in Gothic Architecture, bridge design, & city planning complemented Olmstead gifts. Highlights of their collaboration include Central Park, Prospect Park, Niagra Falls State Park, and Yosemite National Park. A fascinating journey in the establishment of parks in America.

Topics Include:

• Historic & Famous Landscape Architects/Designers
• Ecological Garden Designs & Sustainable Landscape Practices
• Indoor Gardens/ Outdoor Living/ Greenhouses : Meditation/ Healing Gardens
• Rain Gardens & Ecotones
• Water Conservation in the Landscape & Drought-Tolerant Landscapes
• Edible & Herbal Gardens

Testimonial from Joanne Gabriel, Adult programs Darien Library-“Thank you for your hard work & effort on the research & your wonderful visual presentation. It really showed.”

Testimonial from Angela Dimmit, Head of Mad Gardeners. “Thank you Jennifer for your presentation on Friends & Gardeners: Chatto & Lloyd. “Your presentation was lovely, fascinating & well-researched. We all enjoyed it enormously.”

Testimonial from Darien, Ct Library Amanda Di Maio, Adult Programs “Thank you for your captivating program on Bunny Mellon, bringing her work to life.  Your expertise on landscape design shone through. Your insights & storytelling made her legacy inspiring.”

Calendar 

Sherman Library, 6/28/25 Beatrix Farrand

Ridgefield Library, 7/725 Beatrix Farrand

Bronxville Library, August 21st, Beatrix Farrand

Pound Ridge Library, 1/7/26, Beatrix Farrand

Scarsdale Library, 2/22/26, Olmstead:Parks for the People

 

Gunn Memorial Library: Spring ’26 TBD 

Darien Library: Fall of ’25 or Early Spring ’26 Beatrix Ferrand: Ecology & Landscape Designs

Waveny House Jan ’26, The Magical Gardens of Bunny Mellon 

Pound Ridge Library, Jan ’26 Beatrix Ferrand:Ecology & Landscape Design 

Previous and Upcoming Presentations

To book Jennifer to speak to your group/ advanced notice is requested:

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