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Since her job as Landscape Manager of Atlanta Airport from 2007 to 2012, expert gardener and horticulturist Abra Lee, left, with Deborah Nevins, has devoted her life and passion to "digging up" the history of the role of Black women in gardening and horticulture. On Saturday she was celebrated first at St. Luke's Church's Hoie Hall, where she spoke about Mississippi florist Bessie Weaver, South Carolina nursery and greenhouse owner Mae Vann Reid and Jacksonville, Florida's flower farmer Blanche Hurston. It was then on to the gardens of LongHouse Reserve where Ms. Lee received an award for her work at the annual outdoor Landscape Luncheon. Ms. Lee's future plans include maintaining her web site "conquerthesoil.com" and completing her book, "Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country's Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers." RICHARD LEWIN
Chantal Bacon and Kay Gardiner at the Landscape Luncheon at LongHouse on Saturday. RICHARD LEWIN
Lee Fryd and Jonathan Marder
Mariah Whitmore and Dianne Benson at the Landscape Luncheon at LongHouse on Saturday. RICHARD LEWIN
LongHouse Reserve in East Hampton held its annual Landscape Luncheon on Saturday, September 9. Gardening history scholar Abra Lee of Conquer the Soil delivered a lecture and was honored by LongHouse.
Staff Writer on Sep 11, 2023