I, however, had only one reason for going.
Tracy DiSabato-Aust, my dear friend, mentor and favorite gardening expert/author, was the keynote speaker. Check out Tracy's blog "Tracylive.com". Tracy is not only extremely knowledgeable and an excellent speaker, she is also very dynamic and fun to listen to. She was animated and excited about her craft as always, even though she had just undergone ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery on her left knee last Tuesday and was under strict orders to remain seated during her lecture.
Her visual aids were exceptional, showing many of the plants in her new book, "50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants" in an animated, clear fashion that was easy to follow. Tracy's natural humor and presentation style grabs her audience and holds it from beginning to end. She spoon fed knowledge into us and we weren't even aware of it. As noted photographer and author, Ian Adams (also present) said, "She is a force of nature". He was as enthralled as all the rest of us were. We all were enjoying the show and learning at the same time. Such a pleasure!
Fans greeted her after her lecture.
Then, during the lunch break, Tracy spent over two hours signing her books for her gardening fans. All three of her books were on sale at the CBGarden gift shop.
(Shameless plug, I was extremely honored to get to do the line drawings of pruning and other maintenance techniques in her first book, "The Well-Tended Perennial Garden".)
All three of her books, the two afore-named plus her second book, "The Well-Designed Mixed Garden" are available at Timber Press.
Also on Tracy's website, you can get a sneak preview of each of her books. I encourage you to get these books. They are essential additions to your library and to your gardening work basket for reference as you're out there enjoying digging in the dirt.
While you're at Tracy's website, you can see her calendar. If you have the opportunity to go see and hear her, you won't be disappointed.
One final photo. Tracy and her husband, Jim, her buddy and fellow tri-athlete.
