Garden (Tool) Dialogues 2024: Wassaic, NY
The exact address is only shared with ticket purchasers for privacy reasons. Please reach out to claudia@tclf.org if you have any questions.
Have you ever seen cucumber straighteners, daisy grubbers, or potato forks? They are among the more than 25,000 items in the remarkable (and delightfully offbeat) Morrison Gallery of Vintage Gardening Tools. Register now for a fascinating tour of the collection with landscape architect Mark K. Morrison, who has collected, curated and thoughtfully displayed this extremely rare set of gardening tools and related ephemera from the 1600s to the present day.
Morrison’s encyclopedic collection began in 1983 with the acquisition of a nineteenth-century English garden fork in South Africa, and now includes items from the 1600s to the present day. Most are from eighteenth- and nineteenth-century England, Scotland, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Explore an array of unique and specialized tools, such as rabbiting spades, mole forks, multi-cutting hedge shears, and even electric tools from the 1940s and 1950s. Each tool in the collection offers a glimpse into the inventive spirit of gardeners from different eras, showcasing the evolution of gardening practices and the ingenuity behind each design.
Marvel at rare finds, including tools previously owned by the British Royal Family, and French-made tools adorned with heart shapes and fleur-de-lis designs. The collection also includes larger pieces like horse-drawn ice-cutters, hay rakes, greenhouse sprinklers, and heaters, further enriching the narrative of agricultural and gardening history.
Morrison will share his passion and insights into his collection. Entertaining anecdotes and stories contextualize the tools, revealing their historical significance and impact on gardening practices over the centuries. Join TCLF for an enriching experience that showcases an extraordinary collection and honors gardening tools’ timeless beauty and craftsmanship. This tour is a must-see for anyone interested in gardening, history, the art of landscape architecture, and some really strange and entertaining tools.
About Mark K. Morrison, FASLA:
Mark K. Morrison brings over fifty years of professional design experience to his firm MKM, which he founded in 1983 with a commitment to improving urban and regional open space by employing green infrastructure techniques. Mark earned a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Wisconsin - Madison with an emphasis in horticulture and regional planning, and has since received national recognition for his overall excellence in Executed Works in 1997 and is a Fellow by the American Society of Landscape Architects.
2.0 LA CES™ professional development hours will be available to attendees.
Refund Policy
Cancellations and Refunds will be granted according to the following schedule:
Up to two (2) weeks in advance: 50% (Deduction represents administrative processing fees)
No refunds will be made for cancellations thirteen (13) days prior to event
No refunds will be made for “No Shows” (a person who registers for a program but who does not cancel registration or attend the program).
Refunds will be processed as they are received or after the conclusion of the program, depending on the program date and when cancellation occurs. Refunds may take five (5) to seven (7) business days to process.
