Friends of the Public Gardens Jarvis Lecture — Allan Summers
October 5 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
“Cultivating Continuity: Honouring the Past, Enriching the Present, Growing the Future“
Allan Summers , RLA, ASLA , LEED AP
Principal, RAS Landscape Architects
Historic gardens are shaped as much by change as by continuity — raising a central question for their stewards: should a garden be preserved as a frozen moment in time, or allowed to evolve?
In this lecture, Allan presents a series of projects addressing the rejuvenation of historic gardens — work that honours the past while thoughtfully accommodating the needs of the present and anticipating the future. Rather than treating preservation and adaptation as opposing forces, these projects demonstrate how respectful, informed intervention can allow a garden to remain vital: a living landscape rather than a static relic.
Nemours Mansion and Gardens
Allan has a passion for horticulture and fine art and has over 30 years’ experience providing planning and design services through all phases of landscape architecture from conception through final construction phases. His interests are reflected in a wide variety of projects and his work in public and botanical gardens, residential estate design, hospital healing gardens, and restoration of historic landscapes enjoys national recognition. RAS’s work has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, and Elle Décor.
Greenwood Gardens
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