Event Description
Vizcaya is a one of a kind estate – a pastiche of old and new, emerging from the steamy mangrove swamps. Created by a man with an open checkbook and another man with unlimited creative vision, it continues to beckon today as theater of a bygone era, transporting the visitor to another place and time. The gardens are a captivating blend of Italianate architecture and French inspired horticultural design with splashes of tropical exuberance and heightened decay. Take a journey through the gardens, be captivated by their beauty, learn about new research findings, and discover the background behind the genius that created them.
- Friday, March 4
- 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., FGCU Buehler Auditorium at Naples Botanical Garden
- $15 Members / $20 Non-Members
Ian Simpkins is Deputy Director at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. He holds a B.S. in Horticulture from NC State University, and his tenure in public horticulture extends more than 20 years. He is responsible for developing and overseeing the Museum’s horticulture and urban agriculture programs, including restoration and interpretation of the gardens and natural areas. Prior to his appointment at Vizcaya in June 2007, Mr. Simpkins held the position of Executive Director at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Philadelphia. He has served on the boards of the Tropical Arborist Guild and Greater Philadephia Gardens, is a recipient of the Chanticleer Foundation and JC Raulston Fellowships, and is currently Chair of the Historic Landscapes Section of the American Public Gardens Association and serves on the Horticulture Advisory Committee of The Kampong, National Tropical Botanic Garden.
To register* for this or any other Lifelong Learning class, workshop or lecture, please call 239.643.7275 or email agrace@naplesgarden.org.
*Please note: The registration process is not complete until payment is received over the phone. Certain classes fill up quickly and we will accept registrations on a first come, first served basis.
