Jenks builds gardens with a thorough understanding of our climate, soils, and ecosystems. He brings in stories and history, as lessons to build on– or avoid. Jenks wants newcomers, children and all gardeners to find connection to the earth. He'll tell behind the scenes stories and share stunning before and after photos of building two of South Carolina's largest public gardens. Both of which inspire well over a million people a year to get their hands dirty and to consider the consequences of doing so. Drawing from years of hands-on experience in organic nurseries and crafting private sanctuaries, Jenks shares practical wisdom and creative inspiration. This talk is an invitation to open our hearts and minds to the changing face of Southern gardening. Jenks challenges conventional wisdom while respecting tradition, encouraging gardeners to cultivate spaces that are ecologically vibrant, beautifully designed, and deeply meaningful, along with concrete strategies to bring these ideas to life in your own garden.

Are native plants really more likely to succeed? Are they always the better choice for supporting insects? Carol’s program separates fact from fiction, and champions all well behaved plants that provide exceptional sustenance for insects and other wildlife. She suggests that dismissing a plant on the basis of its origin rather than its ecological merits has potential to result in more harm than good to our stressed and polluted planet. This thought-provoking program will question the entire concept of “native” - and if trying to freeze the available plant selections to a particular moment in time is beneficial - or even possible. Hold onto your hats while Carol humorously uses Frankenstein, Sitting Bull, mastodons, space travel and kitchen blenders to build her case on the importance of not limiting the plant palette, and invites unification over the hugely important goal of providing for the “little things that run the world”. (Phrase coined by the late great E.O. Wilson)