Garden Study Weekend Symposium 2026

Hollister House Garden Study Weekend brings together some of the most important voices at work today in the fields of horticulture and garden design for a weekend of learning, inspiration, and networking. This year we are honored to welcome another extraordinary panel of speakers.
Arne Maynard
Designing Gardens
for Upstate New York
Lindsey Taylor
FINDING INSPIRATION
The Making of a Secret Walled Garden in the Hudson Highlands
Ethan Kauffman
10 Years and Growing:
The Native Plants Behind Stoneleigh's Transformation
David Culp
A Second Look at Fall
George Schoellkopf and Stephen Orr In Conversation
The two authors discuss their recently published books of garden essays and how, in a world of fast digital information, hard-earned lessons and opinions are more valuable than ever.
Moderator Stephen Orr
Stephen Orr is the author of Tomorrow’s Garden and The New American Herbal, as well as the editor of several books on cooking and landscape design. The former editor-in-chief at Better Homes and Gardens, Orr was previously garden editor at Martha Stewart Living, House & Garden, and Domino magazines, and has written for the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He has been a regularly featured gardening expert on The Early Show and Today and lectures extensively around the country. He lives with his husband in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and writes a garden column for his local newspaper, the Provincetown Independent.
8:00 am
Symposium registration opens. Coffee and light continental breakfast available.
9:00 am
Symposium morning session opens
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
Symposium afternoon session opens
3:30 pm
Symposium closes
4:00 pm
Cocktails at Hollister House Garden
All reservation levels include Symposium admission, light continental breakfast, coffee breaks, lunch and admission to the cocktail party at Hollister House Garden.
Patron – $1,000. Includes an invitation to a dinner honoring the speakers on Friday, September 11, reserved seating at the symposium and a $700 donation to Hollister House Garden.