2024 Hillwood Garden Docent Training

Hillwood is embarking on a new Garden Docent Training Program this year. With staff presenting their areas of expertise, this is a wonderful opportunity for volunteers to take advantage of these sessions as continuing education and enrichment. For newer volunteers, these lectures and their attendant readings will be good introductions to Hillwood’s interpretive messages and garden collections. For seasoned volunteers, the lectures and readings will be good refreshers that may also reveal interesting new angles and research.  

Staff-led Lectures

A new, virtual approach will be offered this year, allowing volunteers to attend from the comfort of their homes. Some lectures will be pre-recorded and shared via the volunteer website. Other lectures will be hosted live via Zoom. Listed below you will find the education sessions available to all active volunteers and staff members. 

Zoom Lectures
As we get closer to the lecture dates, a Zoom link will be emailed to volunteers. The lectures will also be digitally recorded and made available on the volunteer website.

  • Tuesday, January 16 (6 p.m.) | A Garden for All Seasons and Sustainable Practices in the Gardens, Presented by Kate Markert, Executive Director, and Jessica Bonilla, Director of Horticulture

  • Wednesday, February 7 (6 p.m.) | Garden Sculptures, Presented by Kate Markert, Executive Director

Pre-Recorded Lectures

As these pre-recorded lectures become available, they will be emailed to the volunteers and posted on the volunteer website.

  • Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Biography, Presented by Estella Chung, Former Curator of American Material Culture and Historian

  • Marjorie Merriweather Post & Staff at Hillwood, Presented by Estella Chung, Former Curator of American Material Culture and Historian

  • Motor Court & French Parterre (video link forthcoming), Presented by Sarah Bass, Garden Section Manager

  • Vista Terrace & Japanese-style Garden (video link forthcoming), Presented by Michael Rollinson, Garden Section Manager and Garden Supervisor

  • Friendship Walk, Four Seasons Overlook, Putting Green, Rose Garden, and Lunar Lawn (video link forthcoming), Presented by Marshall Paquin, Senior Garden Section Manager, Sarah Bass, Garden Section Manager, Kevin Beamer, Garden Section Manager

  • Cutting Garden, Greenhouse, Orchids, Floral Design, and Seasonal Plantings (video link forthcoming), Presented by Drew Asbury, Horticulturist and Volunteer Manager, Andrew Bedenbaugh, Orchid and Tropical Specialist, Ami Wilber, Floral and Event Décor Designer, Jessica Bonilla, Director of Horticulture

Class Resources & Readings

The resources and readings (i.e.: articles, lecture videos, and book recommendations) for each class are available on the volunteer website under 2024 Garden Docent Training. The content is organized by class topics, with the list beginning with the first class in the program. To access the readings for each class, click on the desired class topic to expand the page for a complete list of resources associated with that class.

We hope you can take advantage of this learning opportunity!