The Charleston Garden Festival at Middleton Place Announces 2008 Theme, “Metamorphosis”
For Immediate Release, April 2008
The Charleston Garden Festival at Middleton Place, presented by and benefiting the Middleton Place Foundation, announces its theme for the October 17-19, 2008 event—“Metamorphosis.” The immense success and impact from last year’s “green” event inspired organizers to further celebrate the lifecycle of change and natural transformation with another environmentally-focused festival. Organizers aim to foster a local eco-conscious gardening movement.
Helen Rutledge, the Festival’s new Executive Director elaborates, “The idea of ‘Metamorphosis’ as a theme is a way of celebrating preservation and the natural cycle of change. I believe that good design balances substance with style and it should be inherently ‘green.’ Our festival will focus on environmentally-sound gardening techniques, designs, and tools. Featured designers will showcase stylish “green” gardening aesthetics with the hope that good practices will cross over into mainstream popular tastes.”
Festival patrons will have the opportunity to enjoy the gardens at Middleton Place which have been preserved for over ten years by eco-friendly pest management and irrigation systems. This year’s exhibit gardeners will interpret metamorphic changes as they create individually-themed installations. Horticultural tours, children’s activities, visionary speakers, and a vendor’s market—featuring over 40 diverse local and national businesses— are just a sampling of the activities that will also take place throughout the weekend. Guests are invited to stay all day and picnic on the Middleton Place Greensward while listening to afternoon concerts sponsored by the Charleston Jazz Initiative.
With growing popularity, The Charleston Garden Festival at Middleton Place is recognized as one of the South’s best garden festivals. In its fourth year, the event remains committed to educating and inspiring garden enthusiasts, promoting conservation of the natural environment, preserving and interpreting Charleston’s rich botanical heritage, and generating public awareness. For additional information, please visit www.charlestongardenfestival.org.
