In the Footsteps of Giants – Four Venue US Tour (Test)
Join us for a four-city lecture tour featuring custodians of gardens created by Vita Sackville-West, Beth Chatto, and Gertrude Jekyll. View full tour details and book tickets at: Join us for a four-city lecture tour featuring custodians of gardens created by Vita Sackville-West, Beth Chatto, and Gertrude Jekyll. View full tour details and book tickets at: https://www.gardenmasterclass.org/resources/in-the-footsteps-of-giants-four-venue-us-tour-test/
A Special Speaker Panel Curated by Garden Masterclass
Three of the most celebrated gardens in England were created by extraordinary women, whose legacy continues to shape the world of gardening today. These three giants were: Vita Sackville-West, Beth Chatto and Gertrude Jekyll.
A touring panel brings together the current custodians of three of the gardens created by the giants, offering personal insights into the challenges and joys of stewarding these living works of art. Moderator Annie Guilfoyle puts searching questions to the panel to reveal how and why these women were so instrumental in the world of horticulture and garden design, and find out why they are as relevant today as they were in the past. The panel will discuss fascinating facts and information that have never been revealed and uncover many moving and entertaining stories.
The Panel
Rebecca Lemonius – Custodian of Long Barn, where Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson cut their horticultural teeth before moving on to Sissinghurst.
Julia Boulton – Chair of Beth Chatto’s Plants & Gardens; granddaughter of Beth Chatto.
Claire Greenslade – Former Head Gardener at Hestercombe Gardens; one of Gertrude Jekyll’s many collaborations with architect Edwin Lutyens.
Moderator: Annie Guilfoyle – Garden designer, international lecturer, and Co-Director of Garden Masterclass.
Tour Dates & Venues
Massachusetts: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
Date: Saturday, February 8th, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 3:30pm EST
Venue: New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill
11 French Drive, Boylston, MA 01505-0598
Available in person and online, open to the public. This FREE program is made possible by the Paul E. Rogers endowment supporting community education and outreach in horticulture and gardening.
New York: Old Westbury Gardens
Date: Monday, February 10th, 2026
Time: 1:00 – 3:00pm EST
Venue: Old Westbury Gardens
71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY 11568
Following the talk there will be a reception with light refreshments.
Tickets: $50.00 (members receive 20% discount)
Sag Harbor: The Horticultural Alliance of The Hamptons
Date: Friday, February 14th, 2026
Time: 12:00 – 1:30pm EST
Venue: Bay Street Theatre & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts
1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Tickets on sale at the theater from 11:30am on the day.
Tickets: Free to HAH members, $10.00 for non-members
Pennsylvania: Chanticleer, Longwood & Scott Arboretum
Date: Saturday, February 15th, 2026
Time: 2:00 – 4:30pm EST
Venue: Science Center 101
500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081
Your ticket includes access to Chanticleer Gardens on February 14th (winter open day), admission to Longwood Gardens on February 14th or 15th, and a catered reception after the panel discussion.
Tickets: $45.00
Sponsors
The In the Footsteps of Giants USA tour has been made possible by the generous sponsorship from the hosting institutions and the following organizations:
Presenting Sponsor:
Alitex USA
Supporting Sponsors:
Fine Gardening Magazine
The Garden Conservancy
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