Michael McCoy 'Celebrating Stress - The Aesthetic Opportunity'

We're honoured to have Michael McCoy aka The Gardenist, garden designer, writer, host of ABC TV Series Dream Gardens, Travelling Masterclass Tour leader and organiser of the High Horticulture Online Symposiums agree to an exclusive one-off illustrated lecture in person in Aotearoa. We have been in conversation with Michael since 2020 and because of Covid interruptions it's taken until now to be able to make this event a reality. 

'Celebrating Stress - The Aesthetic Opportunity of Austerity'

Garden design thinking is moving right away from the traditional practices of providing perfect conditions for plant growth. The new approach is towards an embracing of the natural conditions and even, in some cases, adding controlled stress factors.  Michael McCoy will talk us through this counterintuitive thinking, and how it is appearing in his own work.

Michael will deliver an illustrated lecture/talk followed by a Q&A session, we will have some kai (supper), cash bar open, and then Michael will lead a discussion with local industry experts - Xanthe White, Dr Matthew Bradbury & Phil Oster.  

Xanthe White - One of New Zealand’s most highly regarded and awarded landscape designers. Her awards include a Silver-Gilt award at the 2006 Chelsea Flower Show and Silver at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show. Xanthe’s design studio has offices in Auckland and Wellington and specialises in designing residential, rural and interior landscapes as well as temporary living permanent garden installations. GDSNZ Fellow. President GDSNZ 2+ years 

Dr Matthew Bradbury - Associate Professor - Landscape Architecture programme at the School of Architecture, Te Puukenga, Tamaki Makaurau, Aotearoa. Programme Leader of the Master of Landscape Architecture. Matthew recently published Water-City, Practical Strategies to address climate change with Routledge. Principal at BMLA - Landscape Architecture. Recipient of NZILA President's Award for Climate Action Advocacy.  

Phil Oster - Urban Forest Specialist, Tree Asset Manager for 3 local boards under community facilities designation. providing technical expertise in planning, education, promotion and advocacy of the benefits of public trees. Treasurer GDSNZ for 17+ years.

This will be a very special evening you do not want to miss.

6:00pm | Arrive, bar open - $5 per drink - pre-purchase drinks vouchers below or bring cash on the night

6.30pm | Introduction, Michael's talk 7.15pm | Q&A 

7.30pm | Supper, bar open - $5 per drink - pre-purchase drinks vouchers below or bring cash on the night

8.15pm | Panel Discussion - Michael in conversation with our panel: Xanthe White, Dr Matthew Bradbury & Phil Oster 

8:45pm | Evening Ends

GDSNZ members can attend for FREE and there is a charge for non-members; $25 to attend in person and $10 to watch the livestream. All attendees/viewers MUST have a ticket - get yours now. You won't want to miss this event!