Famous Landscape Designer to speak in Rockport

On Wednesday, September 9th at 7 p.m., Louis Raymond ‘ garden designer, writer, lecturer and raconteur ‘ will give a free talk, open to the public, at the Rockport Art Association, 12 Main Street. The evening is sponsored by the Rockport Garden Club in collaboration with the Rockport Art Association. Refreshments will follow the presentation.

‘From Sows’ Ears to Silk Purses: Gardens Before & After’ will be the topic of Raymond’s illustrated talk. He will reveal how he transformed pedestrian and even horrifying sites into extraordinary gardens.

Louis Raymond’s academic studies and artistic talents yielded three baccalaureate degrees (in Chemistry, Voice and Piano), several years of medical studies, a flourishing career as an opera and concert singer, and frequent assignments as a free-lance writer. While pursuing his vocal career, he continued to do what he loved best: to plant, grow, and nourish all things green. Eventually, he exited the operatic stage to take up the trowel professionally. If you are wowed by the display gardens at the New England Spring Flower Show, you are viewing Raymond’s legacy of several years as Show Designer. The gardens at his country home in Hopkinton, Rhode Island, have been featured in many publications, most recently in the July/August 2009 issue of ‘Design New England’ magazine.

Raymond’s firm, Renaissance Gardens, based in Manhattan and Rhode Island, designs residential and corporate gardens throughout the United States and abroad. Visit his website www.Rgardening.com to see favorite projects, a source-list for books and nurseries, tips for garden transformation, video interviews, and magazine articles.

The Rockport Garden Club extends a warm invitation to women and men interested in “all things green” to join our friendly group of like-minded individuals. Visit www.rockportgardenclub.org for more information.