‘GURU OF NATURAL GARDENING’ AND FRIEND: Friends of Princeton Open Space and The Garden Club of Princeton will host An Evening with Ken Druse at the Friend Center, Princeton University, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), a nonprofit devoted to preservation and stewardship of land in Princeton, and The Garden Club of Princeton, a charter member of The Garden Club of America, will host An Evening with Ken Druse, at the Friend Center, Princeton University, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, 2019. Writing in The New York Times, Anne Raver called Druse “the guru of natural gardening.”

A lecturer, award-winning writer, photographer and author of 19 garden books, Druse will discuss his 2015 book, The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change. According to Druse, “The low-stress environment of shade (cooler temperatures, fewer water demands, carbon sequestration) is extremely beneficial for our plants, our planet, and us.”

Druse details new ways of looking at all aspects of the gardening process, in topics such as designing your garden, choosing and planting trees, preparing soil and the array of flowers and foliage – all within the challenges of a changing climate, shrinking resources, and new weather patterns.

“We are thrilled to co-host Ken Druse along with our friends from The Garden Club of Princeton who share our environmental concerns,” said Wendy Mager, president of FOPOS and co-chair of the Conservation Committee of the Garden Club. “Our members are particularly interested in the environmental themes outlined in Mr. Druse’s book. We need to respond to climate change in our personal open space — our gardens — as well as on a larger scale.”

Robin Gosnell, president of The Garden Club of Princeton, agreed, mentioning “Mr, Druse’s vast knowledge of horticulture, including his recognition of the new importance of shade, is invaluable to our members and the community. Learning sustainable gardening practices is essential in the face of climate change.”

The event is free and open to the public. The number of tickets is limited. Pre-registration via Eventbrite.com is required to attend.