ARTISTS IN THE GARDEN

2024 INVITED ARTISTS

C. Colston Burrell is an acclaimed lecturer, garden designer, award winning author and photographer. A certified chlorophyll addict, Cole is an avid and lifelong plantsman, gardener and naturalist. Cole is a popular lecturer internationally on topics of design, plants and ecology. He has shared his encyclopedic knowledge of plants and his abiding respect for regional landscapes with professional and amateur audiences for 40 years. He is principal of Native Landscape Design and Restoration, which specializes in blending nature and culture through artistic design. In 2008 Cole received the Award of Distinction from the Association of Professional Landscape Designers for his work promoting sustainable gardening practices.
Do our gardening practices have a negative impact on the environment? Can we make a difference by changing the way we approach design, plant choice, planting techniques and maintenance regimes? How do we meet our aesthetic goals while providing the structure and resources necessary to maintain the insects and birds we love? Can we create healthy habitat with a mixture of native and exotic plants? These are a few of the questions to explore in terms of the hallmarks of sustainability when melding aesthetic expectations with ecosystem form and function.

Debra Freeman is an award winning writer and podcaster that has written for national outlets such as Eater, Conde Nast Traveler, Plate Magazine, Food 52, Epicurious, Garden and Gun, Pit Magazine, Gravy, and Gastro Obscura on topics including the legacy of Black farmers, the significance of yellow cake in the Black community, Black veganism, and the importance of spoon bread in Southern culinary history. Freeman is also the host of Setting the Table, the critically acclaimed podcast about African-American foodways that was recently named by Apple Podcasts as one of the “Shows We Loved in 2022.”
Gardens of Resilience explores the fascinating history and relevance of traditional African-American crops including fish peppers, watermelons, sweet potatoes, collards, peanuts, and other legacy vegetables that still endure today.

Robyn Puffenbarger received her Bachelor of Science in biology from Virginia Tech and a Ph.D. in molecular immunology from the Medical College of Virginia. After a post-doctoral research fellowship at SUNY-Stony Brook, she joined the faculty of Bridgewater College. She is professor and chair of the Department of Biology and Environmental Science. Robyn teaches ornithology, genetics, and intro biology courses. With her husband Bill, they bird watch in the yard and all over the world, having seen birds on four continents. Since 2021, she’s been part of the Virginia Home Grown team, filming about all aspects of gardening in the Shenandoah Valley for the VPM PBS program. Robyn is a Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener since 2011 and loves learning more about native plants to support wildlife.
By making our yards more bird, pollinator, and wildlife friendly, we encourage other creatures to linger in our spaces. Just a few additions can make your backyard into an interesting, welcoming environment for birds. Robyn will talk about the ecosystem and building your plant community, whether you have sun or shade, a patio, or acres to enjoy. Following some of Robyn’s suggestions just might help you add some new birds to your personal backyard list.