Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Expo Center 830 Phillips Lane - Louisville Events
38.192008-85.740465
“Botanicals, Bluegrass, and Bourbon”
The Dogwood District cordially invites you to attend The 91st Annual Convention of The Garden of Club of Kentucky, Inc. April 5-7, 2022 Louisville, Kentucky
Meeting in person for the first time since 2019, it is a great time to celebrate the ongoing success of GCKY and plans for the future under the leadership of President Carcille Burchette. With a theme of “Botanicals, Bluegrass and Bourbon”, plus a stellar lineup of speakers and special guests, we will celebrate friendships, gardening, and the wonderful beauty that is Kentucky.
With respect for the health vulnerabilities of our membership, we ask that all attendees wear masks during the convention unless dining. Disposable masks, and hand sanitizer, will be available on site.
Arabella Dane is a horticulturist and noted photographer who has been photographing nature since childhood. Her camera is always at her side! Ms. Dane is the coordinator for photography initiatives for the National Garden Clubs and helps develop online photography programs and competitions for NGC. In addition, she is an avid floral designer and horticulture student. Her website, plantipedia.com, is a great resource for plant lovers. The Judges Council banquet on Tuesday evening is open to all convention registrants, and her program is sure to be educational and entertaining!
Margaret Shea directs Dropseed Native Plant Nursery with a commitment to protecting the natural communities and native plants in our region. At Dropseed, plants are primarily grown from locally collected seeds and grown in plant production beds. For all gardening projects, the mission is to plant native species that conserve water, attract wildlife, and reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Ms. Shea speaks with passion and ideas for your home and woodland gardens – what a great way to start the day on Wednesday morning.
Tavia Cathcart Brown iis the director of Creasey Mahan Nature Preserve, which brings outdoor education to school-age and adult visitors. Ms. Brown will share the experiences of a very successful new program, the Thrive Nature Preschool, which brings our youngest citizens into the great outdoors to develop a love and appreciation for nature with fun, excitement, and learning, thus assuring responsible adult environmentalists for tomorrow.
Jon Carloftis is an award-winning landscape designer, author, popular lecturer, and one of the pioneers in the design of rooftop and small-space gardens in New York City. His career in gardening and landscape design spans more than 30 years.
He launched his career in New York City, where his design skills and talents for creating gardens in small spaces captured the attention of noted celebrities, renowned art collectors, and corporate clients. Mr. Carloftis is owner ofJon Carloftis Fine Gardens and Rockcastle River Trading Company, a unique retail shopping destination situated on 50 bucolic acres on the Carloftis family homestead in Rockcastle County, Kentucky.
Mr. Carloftis has written popular garden-industry books including Beautiful Gardens of Kentucky, Beyond the Windowsill: Add Style to Your Home with the Beauty of Indoor Plants, and First a Garden, which he co-authored with Susan Smith-Durisek. In recent years, Mr. Carloftis, a 10th-generation Kentuckian, returned to his roots in Lexington to purchase and restore “Botherum,” one of the city’s most historically and architecturally unique residences.
Built in 1851, the complex, two-year project included the restoration of the home’s interior and exterior, as well as the landscaping and gardens. Mr. Carloftis and partner Dale Fisher were recognized for their work at Botherum with a 2014 Ida Lee Willis Memorial Foundation Preservation Award, Kentucky’s most distinguished award for historic preservation excellence. His love of entertaining and good company has landed him on the Salonniere 100 list of America’s Top 100 Party Hosts for three years in a row!
Mr. Carloftis crafted garden designs for institutions including the Kentucky Governor’s mansion in Frankfort; Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond; University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg; Corbin Middle School in Corbin; and in 2016, the Baptist Health Lexington Cancer Center Garden, which was dedicated in memory of his mother, Lucille Bowling Carloftis. Ongoing commercial and residential projects throughout the state include the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto and the Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, as well as rooftop gardens in Louisville and Lexington.
A longtime supporter of the mission of National Garden Clubs, Inc., for NGC’s “Plant It Pink” program, Mr. Carloftis designed a custom pink ceramic birdhouse. In 2019, he designed and implemented a plan for the refurbishment of the atrium garden at NGC headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. Carloftis has been recognized with the Garden Club of Kentucky Enrichment Award, as well as the National Garden Club Award of Excellence, and a Garden Club of America Horticultural Commendation.
Mr. Carloftis holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where he has been inducted into the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
Awards Brunch ~ Thursday Morning , April 7
Donna Donnelly from South Carolina is currently serving as Historian for the South Atlantic Region (SAR) Board of Directors. Ms. Donnelly has held offices including Corresponding Secretary, Audit Committee and as Chairman of the Recyclable Sculpture Youth Contest. As a member of the National Garden Club’s Board of Directors, Ms. Donnelly was Recording Secretary last term and currently serves as the Third Vice President. Ms. Donnelly also served as the State President of the Garden Club of South Carolina where she shared her love of birding.
LOCATION: Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport, 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville KY 40209
Deadline: 2 March 2022
A block of rooms is being held for garden club members. Use the Group Code GCA or ask for “The Garden Club of Kentucky” block room before March 2, 2022. Contact: 866-888-0620 or visit online ihg.com.
