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Since 2007, A Writer’s Garden Literary Symposium has presented an outstanding group of authors and speakers who have engaged our minds, delighted our senses and touched our hearts with their rich histories of gardens, architecture and art, and illuminating stories of extraordinary individuals and events and their impact on our way of life and culture.

We invite you to embark on an unforgettable journey around the globe and through America  with Lisa Fine, renowned textile designer, and James Farmer, Southern lifestyle author and interior designer for the 14^th Annual A Writer’s Garden Literary Symposium - Near or Far…There Is No Place Like Home.

ABOUT JAMES T. FARMER, III

James Farmer is a Southern author, interior designer and speaker who is truly a fresh voice for all generations.  His natural Southern grace and warm personality light up any room, and his dynamic ability to capture the hearts and attention of an audience is one of his strongest talents.

James is the author of the Wall Street Journal best-selling books:  A Time to Plant; Sip & Savor; Porch Living; Wreaths for All Seasons; A Time to Cook; Dinner on the Grounds; A Time to Celebrate, and A Place to Call Home, his first interior design book which features eleven homes from Sea Island to Atlanta to St. Louis. In addition, his work has been recognized on national broadcast networks and published in various magazines including: Southern Living, House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Southern Home, and FLOWER. 

Arriving Home – A Gracious Southern Welcome, his newest interior design book, will be released in the Fall of 2020 by Gibbs Smith and featured at A Writer’s Garden.

ABOUT LISA FINE

Mississippi-born textile guru Lisa Fine is the founder of Lisa Fine Textiles, which specializes in hand printed linens that are sold in sixteen showrooms worldwide.  With a southern drawl and a truly adventurous spirit, Fine splits her time between New York and Dallas with frequent trips to Paris and India.  Over twenty years ago at a camel festival in Jaisalmer, Fine fell in love with India.  The colors, the patterns, the Mughal palaces and gardens were her original inspirations for Lisa Fine Textiles.  Since then Fine’s far reaching travels have continue to influence her collection, where exotic and traditional prints in vibrant and romantic colors feel both worldly and timeless.

Fine’s work has appeared in Departures, Elle Décor, House & Garden UK, House Beautiful, The New York Times, The Herald Tribune, The World of Interiors and Vogue.  Prior to designing textiles, Fine worked as a contributing editor for Elle Décor and House Beautiful.  She is currently a contributing editor for Town & Country.  Her book, Near & Far:  Interiors I Love, was published in October 2019 by Vendome.   

Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden
 

Organized in 1982, the Purpose of this organization shall be to support and promote the interest and growth of A Woman’s Garden and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
 

Overlooking beautiful White Rock Lake, A Woman’s Garden sits majestically  as a living testament to the passion and vision of Women’s Council founders, Margaret McDermott and Virginia Nick, and the boundless energy and devotion of its members whose commitment to creating a garden dedicated to the universal spirit of women across generations is realized in its inspired design – a composite of elegance and rustic strength, of water and landscape, of formal and naturalistic elements,  and of refuge and renewal. Since its opening in 1997, A Woman’s Garden continues to grow and evolve to the enjoyment and delight of visitors of all ages to the Dallas Arboretum.
 

The Women’s Council is an All-Volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

www.WomensCouncilDallasArboretum.org

Click here for an Underwriting Form to mail in with payment.

A Symposium recording will be available online through November 24, 2020.

Click here for the Holiday Bed Donation Form.

All funds raised will benefit the development and maintenance of A Woman's Garden.
 

Frequently Asked Questions about A Virtual Writer's Garden.

What is a virtual Writer’s Garden Symposium/Luncheon? It is the virtual adaptation of the Women’s Council’s major fall fundraiser, A Writer’s Garden. The featured authors’ presentations will stream from the Arboretum’s DeGolyer House Library to Underwriters’ homes and businesses, individual patrons and online symposium-only ticket holders. We will have the opportunity to enjoy marvelous speakers’ entertaining and informative programs from the comfort of our own homes. We are especially excited about the possibility of attracting a much larger online Symposium audience through the support of our national media sponsor, FLOWER Magazine.

Can you tell me a little bit more about the program on November 17? The virtual symposium will kick off as we raise our glasses with a James Farmer inspired drink at 9:45 a.m. CST. At 10:00 our program will begin with greetings from your WCDABG president, Kay Weeks. Our first speaker Lisa Fine will deliver a fascinating discussion about her beautiful book Near & Far. She will share with us the people and far away places that inspire her textile designs. Next on the program is James Farmer, author of a newly released book Arriving Home: A Gracious Southern Welcome. He will be streamed into our homes via a recorded session which will include a tour of his gardens and home. What a privilege! Our raffle drawing will be held after the program.

Can you define “host home”? A Host Home is someone who has underwritten a Table for up to 10 guests or offered to host a Dutch Treat Table for up to 10 guests in their home or business. Several days before the event, the selected authors’ autographed books, Writer’s Garden Programs and Favors will be delivered.

I bought an individual Patron Ticket. What does that include? Individual Patron Ticket holders receive the same benefits as a Home Host.

I can’t attend the event on November 17, but I’m interested in seeing the program at a later date. Is this possible? Yes! After you register, a link will be made available to you once the program has aired. The viewing will be available through November 24, 2020.

What can I expect after I make my purchase online? You will receive an email receipt confirmation of your order. Please be sure to include your mailing address, email information, and phone number. If you have purchased a book only, it will be mailed USPS to you during the first week of November. If you have purchased a book in addition to an Online Symposium-only Ticket, it will be delivered to your home prior to the event. If you are an Individual Patron, your selected book will be delivered to your home prior to the event. If you are a Guest at an Underwriter’s Home or Guest at a Dutch Treat Table Home, your selected book will be given to you at the host’s home the day of the event.

I’m not too technically savvy – will it be easy to join this meeting? Yes, the platform is very user friendly- just click the link we’ll send you via text or email before the symposium (using a PC, tablet or smart phone), and you will be able to join the live event. In addition we’ll have technical support on hand on November 17 to help with any questions or issues that may arise. Keep checking this website for further updates concerning the technical side of our program.  

I’m a host home and want to use my television for guests to view the show, what will I need? If you already have a smart TV then you're ready to go.  Many televisions will already support Vimeo which is how we will stream the program.  If yours does not, you may need an HDMI cable to hook your laptop to your TV.  We will cover all of this in a video that will be posted on this website several days prior to the scheduled event.  We don't want you to have any stress over the technical aspects.  You will have access to tech support on the day of the event for any questions or problems that may arise.

Can you tell me about the raffle? You may purchase raffle tickets ONLINE ONLY!  Raffle tickets may be purchased through 5 p.m. on the the date of the symposium - NOVEMBER 17th.  A drawing will be held at 7p.m. that evening and winners will be notified. 

Suzanne Millet, Chair A Writer’s Garden | Diane Sealy, Honorary Chair A Writer’s Garden | Kay Weeks, Women’s Council President

A Writer's Garden Committee

Empressive Earth Gallery

Suzanne Caruso        Diane Sealy 

Mary MacRae        Nancy McDonnell Harlin 

Karla McKenzie           Suzanne Millet

Katherine Weber        Kay Weeks    

Cheryl Callewart         Rose Gault

Susan Elizabeth Hennessy        Carol Kelley        Sheila Leslie

Jeanne Lewis       Dorothea Meltzer        Lisa Meyer        

Joan Perry        Katherine Phillips        Penelope Rivenbark Patton

Tricia Stammberger        Tricia Sims        Tammany Stern        Venise Stuart

Betty Suellentrop       Candace Tyson        Sharon Walker

Carol Welwood        Virginia Wilbanks        C'Mone Wingo

Carole Ann Brown         Regina Bruce        Kathy Crow        Empressive Earth Gallery

       Jill Goldberg        H. M. Hailey             Sarah Hardin          Jolie Humphrey

Kunthear Mam-Douglas        Phyllis McCasland        Michelle Mew        Cathy Powell

Carla Russo        Karen Sargent        Diane Sealy        Linda Spina        

Tammany Stern        The Dallas Magnolias        Carolyn Tobin        Kay Weeks