The Mountain Ivy Garden Club’s annual garden symposium, Celebrate Spring. (Mountain Ivy Garden Club)
The Mountain Ivy Garden Club will welcome spring with its third annual garden symposium, Celebrate Spring, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Rabun County Civic Center in downtown Clayton. The day-long event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with registration opening at 8 a.m., and brings together nationally respected speakers, hands-on demonstrations, and a lively marketplace devoted to gardening and landscape design.
By tending the land around them, the Mountain Ivy Garden Club’s members strengthen the community they serve. (Mountain Ivy Garden Club)
Tickets are $75 per person and must be purchased in advance. Admission includes lunch catered by Henri’s in Clayton, along with access to all presentations, vendors, raffles, and door prizes. For ticket information, attendees may contact Nancy at 706-982-1856 or visit the club’s Facebook page.
Designed for both experienced gardeners and curious newcomers, the symposium offers a full schedule of expert-led talks and practical inspiration. Throughout the day, attendees will move between lectures, demonstrations, and vendor booths featuring plants, tools, and garden-related goods, creating an atmosphere that blends education with community connection.
Among this year’s featured speakers is Jenks Farmer, a tenth-generation South Carolinian whose career has taken him from Europe to the Pacific Northwest and even Zambia before returning home. Farmer played a central role in the design and construction of the botanical garden at Riverbanks Zoo, helping to challenge conventional ideas about landscape design along the way. His presentation combines personal stories from that ambitious project with a candid examination of current gardening trends in a talk titled “Getting a Meadow Is Like Getting a Puppy—Debunking Trendy Myths of Modern Gardening.”
The symposium takes place at the Rabun County Civic Center. (Photo by Forward Rabun)
Floral designer and creative director Alvin Moore will bring a different perspective shaped by decades of experience in large-scale design. Raised in Columbia, South Carolina, and a graduate of Emory University, Moore has held leadership roles with an international Olympic caterer and a national design firm. His work has appeared at major destinations including luxury hotels, shopping centers, and public spaces across the United States and the Caribbean. In his presentation, “Celebrating Spring With Flowers,” Moore pairs engaging commentary with live floral design demonstrations that highlight the artistry and adaptability of seasonal arrangements.
The symposium also features academic and research-driven insight from Dr. Bodie Pennisi, the Vince Dooley Endowed Chair of Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Georgia. As a statewide extension landscape specialist, Pennisi leads applied research focused on sustainable landscape practices and the role of native plants in supporting beneficial insects. Her talk, “From Blue Ridge to Coastal Plain: Georgia Research Driving the Next Wave of Plant and Insect Conservation,” connects scientific research to real-world applications that affect gardens, farms, and public landscapes across the state.
Rounding out the speaker lineup is Rabun County flower farmer Tori Carver, who owns and operates Firmly Rooted with her husband, Jim. Known locally for her fresh-cut bouquets, particularly tulips and dahlias, Carver has built a loyal following throughout the region. In her presentation, “Don’t Dilly Dahlia,” she shares practical guidance on growing dahlias while reflecting on the personal satisfaction that comes from cultivating flowers for others.
Beyond education and inspiration, the symposium supports a broader mission. All proceeds from the event benefit the Mountain Ivy Garden Club’s scholarship fund, which awards annual college scholarships to Rabun County High School students pursuing degrees in agricultural sciences.
With its combination of expert voices, practical knowledge, and community purpose, Celebrate Spring continues to establish itself as a signature event for gardeners and nature enthusiasts in Northeast Georgia.
For tickets, contact Nancy at 706-982-1856 or visit the Mountain Ivy Garden Club on Facebook, linked HERE.
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