2024 Southern Garden Symposium

“Celebrating its 35th year of preserving and commemorating gardening in the Deep South”

No event on the Southern gardening calendar attracts a more extensive roster of recognized experts to historic settings quite like the Southern Garden Symposium in St. Francisville, Louisiana. This symposium offers a little something for everyone- from experienced to budding gardeners. Anyone that feels a kinship with the natural beauty of gardens will find those connections deepened through inspiring educational lectures, workshops, and tours of area historic gardens.

Set in beautiful locations throughout the historic Mississippi River town of St. Francisville, attendees are surrounded by natural beauty. The historic gardens of Rosedown State Historic Site, Oakley at Audubon State Historic Site, Afton Villa Gardens, and The Gardens at The Corbel, are as inspiring as the lectures.

2024 Speakers

Heather Cooper- Palm Springs, CA and Washington, D.C.

Meredith Bishop- Nashville, TN

Marianne Willburn, Lovettsville, VA 

Adam & Jenn O’Neal- Winterset, IA

Scott Beuerlein- Cincinnati, OH 

Bryce Lane- Raleigh, NC

An Evening at Harlow Farms- The Speakers’ Gala

A highlight of the symposium weekend is the traditional cocktail party to honor participating speakers. This year, attendees are invited to Harlow Farms, the beautiful home of Neil and Beverly Buckingham, for sumptuous fare, generous refreshments, and opportunities to engage with speakers and garden enthusiasts in traditional southern style. Catered by Heirloom Cuisine.

Giving Back . . . Community Support

In keeping with its mission, the Southern Garden Symposium has supported many in their pursuits to enhance gardens and educate gardeners. Of particular note:

• Symposium Park, which is a cornerstone of the historic district of St. Francisville, was purchased by the Symposium Steering Committee and donated to the Town of St. Francisville;
•  Support is given to the historic gardens in our community, including those at Rosedown State Historic Site, Audubon State Historic Site, and Afton Villa Gardens;
• Most recently support was given to St. Francisville Beautiful, a group dedicated to the preservation, enhancement, and expansion of permanent and seasonal landscape beautification of our local community;
• University students are assisted through a scholarship at Louisiana State University School of Landscape Architecture established to honor the memory of Dr. Neil Odenwald, a long time leader of the Southern Garden Symposium.

The Southern Garden Symposium welcomes groups and individuals to experience an enlightened weekend program of education and celebration at the height of fall in historic St. Francisville. We look forward to sharing these two enlivening days with you!