Explore design possibilities for our region
Preston Montague
Preston Montague is a landscape architect and artist working to strengthen connections between people and the natural world in the service of improved public and environmental health. Through his multi-disciplinary, award-winning, environmental arts studio, Preston provides design and consultation services for clients with needs ranging in scale from intimate private gardens to large-scale public land planning and management projects. Preston Montague Studio collaborates with architects, engineers, and developers to provide clients with resilient, ecologically robust, cost-effective solutions with an attention to aesthetics that spark emotional reactions. Originally from the foothills of Virginia, Preston currently lives in Durham, North Carolina and holds a Masters of Landscape Architecture from NC State University and bachelor’s degrees in horticulture and fine art.
More info about Preston and his design work here.
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Keynote #1 Topic: Conservation Gardening in the Residential Landscape
Gardening from the perspective of conservation encourages us to prioritize native plants, capture stormwater, build soil, and stabilize carbon in the pursuit of creating environments that more closely mimic historic environmental conditions to maximize benefits to wildlife. Conservation gardening, however, has some major challenges relative to broad aesthetic appeal, access to important plant species, and maintenance information. However, conservation gardening is here to stay and building steadily in popularity, which landscape architect, Preston Montague, believes is the result of weariness in the quality of the built environment around us, but also frustration with the way we impact the health of the natural world to which we intuitively know we can't escape. Join Preston for a presentation on his work in conservation gardening for residential clients. Preston will share triumphs, mistakes, and speak about the role conservation gardening has in our broader culture in North Carolina. Participants will learn ways landscape architects approach conservation in their work as well as have tactical information for gardening in support of environmental health the moment they get home.
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Break Out Session Topic: Approaches to Conservation Gardening with Native Plants
Building off Preston Montague's keynote presentation, Conservation Gardening in the Residential Landscape, this practicum will dive deep into specific native plant species and implementation strategies for those interested in gardening that centers ecosystem service. This practicum, referencing Preston's work with Wild Ones, and recently featured in the New York Times, will help participants pursue gardening from the perspective of conservation and shift from a focus on aesthetics to habitat-building.​​
​Jay Sifford
Jay Sifford is a garden designer, writer, speaker, and frequent podcast guest, who believes great gardens are built on four cornerstones: art, magic, story, and horticulture. He approaches garden design from a psychological, philosophical and spiritual standpoint. Named ‘North Carolina’s Most Outstanding Landscape Designer 2021” by LuxLife magazine, he has won numerous awards by Houzz, and has been featured in Fine Gardening, Southern Living, Better Homes and Gardens, and Country Gardens as well as in several books. Jay cultivates a 300-square-foot courtyard garden in Davidson, NC, and a mountain escape in the western part of North Carolina where he nurtures a sunny, stylized meadow and a shade garden underneath a canopy of mature rhododendrons.
More info about Jay and his design work here.
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​Break Out Session Topic: How To Beautifully Manage Stormwater
Water runoff and erosion caused by stormwater are increasingly becoming problematic as houses are built closer together. Why not solve these problems while creating a beautiful focal point around which a unique garden can be crafted?
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Keynote #2 Topic: The Stroll Garden:
The Nuts and Bolts, The Magic and Metaphor
“Not all those who wander are lost” wrote Tolkien. Learn the components of a stroll garden: unique entrances to interesting paths, immersive seating areas to intriguing plant combinations. Your audience will be inspired to create a space that encourages and celebrates the art of wandering.​​
​​​​Lunch Presentation: The Edible Garden as an Ecosystem
Learn the keys to designing and maintaining a healthy edible garden ecosystem where plants, microbes and animals (including the gardener) create and share resources that help the garden thrive with minimum effort and maximum benefit to all.
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Mary Roberts
Mary Roberts is the owner and manager of Windcrest Farm, a USDA Certified Organic farm and greenhouse in Monroe, NC. After twenty years as a corporate instructor and project manager, Mary turned her passion for growing plants organically into a business that supplies market farmers and home gardeners with over 300,000 heirloom vegetable, flower, herb, and fruit plants each year as well as growing fresh produce for local farmers markets and restaurants. In addition to growing specialty and hard-to-find plant varieties, Mary also conducts on-farm classes to help the beginner and the advanced gardener or farmer learn the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture. More info about Windcrest Farm here.
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