Summer School: Connecticut's Historic Gardens: The Challenges of Preserving the Past while Looking Towards the Future

CLHO kicks off Summer School with a presentation on something that's on all of our minds right now: outdoor spaces!

Connecticut’s Historic Gardens members face complex challenges trying to honor the past authentically while adapting to present and future needs. The panel will consist of four members and a moderator from the consortium who will speak about the following:

• How do members steward their historic gardens in the face of issues and complexities that climate change presents?
  
• How do we address the problems of invasive plants and animals?
  
• What adjustments and modifications are needed to continue to preserve authentic design, dynamic interpretation, and the use of appropriate materials?
  
• How does each member address cultural, institutional, and societal challenges in a changing world?
  
• How do we continue to tell the stories about the importance of historic gardens and engage the public?
  
• How do we secure vital resources such as funding and volunteers?
  

The panel will be organized with brief statements followed by questions and discussion with the audience. It will be of interest to historic organizations grappling with similar concerns and shared experiences.

Participants:

• Andres A. Verzosa, Executive Director, Stanley-Whitman House
  
• Tammi Flynn, Director of Marketing, Florence Griswold Museum
  
• Elizabeth Giard Burgess, Director of Collections & Research, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center
  
• Lynn Mervosh, Site Administrator, Connecticut Landmarks’ Phelps-Hatheway House and Garden
  
• Rose Riley, Gardener, Webb Deane Stevens Museum
  

Sponsor: SandorMax is a creative agency that works with cultural organizations, museums, and municipalities to promote culture, history, and tourism. Our creative services include strategic planning, marketing, design, digital, and full-service museum exhibit designs.