The Bellevue Botanical Garden is a successful partnership between City of Bellevue Parks and Community Services and the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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BBGS/Heronswood Joint Symposium
September 20, 2025 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
$84 – $120
Heronswood and the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society are pleased to present our 6th annual joint symposium. This event is a fundraiser for the two organizations, and will take place in-person at the Bellevue Botanical Garden and also online.
Rethought and Returned: Classic and Novel Garden Design that Excites the Senses
Hosted by Ross Bayton & Nita-Jo Rountree
Join us to explore how today’s most captivating gardens blend sensory richness, environmental responsibility, and bold design to reimagine what a garden can be.
Our lineup of stellar speakers will include:
Troy Scott Smith: “Sissinghurst: A Garden, in a Ruin, in a Farm”
Troy Scott Smith is Head Gardener at Sissinghurst Castle, where he has led a revitalization effort to honor Vita Sackville-West’s original romantic vision. A lifelong naturalist, Troy has worked at renowned English gardens including The Courts and Bodnant, and contributes to publications such as Gardens Illustrated and The English Garden.
Jonathan Hallet: “Gardens with Equal Parts Vanity and Tree-hugging”
Jonathan Hallet, principal of Supernature Landscape Architecture in Seattle, creates gardens that blend native ecology with human whimsy and refined design. A UC Berkeley graduate and former Lutsko Associates designer, he’s known for native meadow gardens and for merging beauty, art, and habitat into joyful, surprising landscapes.
Stephen Byrns: “A Garden for the World”
Stephen Byrns, architect and preservationist, is the force behind the revival of Untermyer Gardens in New York. A former NYC Landmarks Commissioner and Wave Hill board member, Steve’s passion led to the creation of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy, restoring the once-ruined garden to international acclaim.
Jeff Epping: “Epic Gardens: A Behind the Scenes Look at Creating Epic’s Amazing Gardens”
Jeff Epping is an award-winning horticulturist and designer, known for transforming Olbrich Botanical Gardens into a model of ecological design. Now running Epping Design and Consulting, he’ll share the story behind the imaginative, sustainable gardens of Epic Systems’ campuses—and preview his upcoming book on gravel gardening.
All presentations will be recorded and available to all attendees for two weeks following the live event.
VIRTUAL: BBGS & Heronswood Members $84/Non-members $120
IN-PERSON EVENT IS FULL
