Wednesday, April 9 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm EDT
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 7pm, Todd Forrest, of the New York Botanical Garden, will give a presentation about the new book, Gardening with Nature at the New York Botanical Garden, at the Ridgefield Library at 472 Main Street in Ridgefield, CT. This program is co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Library, Books on the Common, Ridgefield Garden Club, Ridgefield Historical Society, and the Ridgefield Garden Tour. Books on the Common will provide books for purchase and signing. Registration is requested for this free program here.
The world-renowned New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is a 250-acre multifaceted cultural destination situated in the heart of the Bronx. NYBG’s natural features – rolling hills punctuated by rock outcroppings, an old-growth forest, the dramatic gorge of the Bronx River – were incorporated into its original design and have been celebrated throughout its 130-year history, creating a tapestry of gardens and plant collections that blend seamlessly with the incredible landscape.
Today, NYBG embodies the principles of sustainable horticulture, and Gardening with Nature demonstrates their application. This richly illustrated new book highlights seven distinct horticultural environments captured by photographer Larry Lederman. Through his lush images, readers will witness the process of decay and regeneration in the Thain Family Forest, the carpet of millions of naturalized daffodils on Daffodil Hill, the vibrant azaleas emerging from rocky outcrops and sheltered by majestic trees, the recently installed Native Plant Garden, and more. Featuring authoritative text by Todd A. Forrest – complemented by historic images and Lederman’s contemporary photographs – Gardening with Nature offers a model for professional and home gardeners alike, encouraging and inspiring readers to adopt sustainable, nature-based processes and techniques.
Mr. Forrest is the Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections at The New York Botanical Garden where he leads all the programs and activities of the Garden’s Horticulture and Living Collections division, including the gardens, grounds, exhibitions, community horticulture initiatives, and a staff of approximately 80 managers, curators, and horticulturists. Mr. Forrest came to The New York Botanical Garden in 1998 as a research assistant in the Institute of Economic Botany. He joined the Horticulture staff as curator of woody plants in 1999 and became Vice President in 2005. Mr. Forrest received his Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Mr. Forrest serves as the Honorary Chair for the upcoming Ridgefield Garden Tour on June 8, as well as the Spring Soirée on the evening of June 7. Learn more at www.ridgefieldgardentour.org
