Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

The Annual Lisina & Frank W. Hoch Lecture: Jonathan Wright on the Gardens of the Indianapolis Museum of Art

Sponsored by Middletown Nursery

A garden is never “done,” it must be constantly worked to be kept vibrant and exciting. A little over a year into his role as head of the gardens at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Jonathan Wright will share his thoughts and ideas on the future direction of one of America’s great gardens. The garden, originally designed by Percival Gallagher of the Olmstead firm in the early 1900s, is largely intact. Previous garden directors had beautifully restored many of the garden’s iconic features, but how does one honor the history while keeping the garden exciting for guests?  Jonathan will share images and stories from the past as well as from his first year on the job to illustrate his philosophy.

$10 / $5 for PHA Members.

Jonathan Wright has had a life-long fascination with plants and gardening. He started working for a garden center at age thirteen and went on to graduate from the Longwood Gardens Professional Gardener Training Program.  Following Longwood he was an intern at the former Heronswood Nursery in Kingston, WA and the recipient of a two-year Chanticleer Fellowship.  The fellowship afforded him the opportunity to work hands on alongside gardeners in Hawaii, California, Colorado and Texas.  He was also able to travel to some of the great gardens of the world, studying in England, Ireland, Italy, France, South Africa, Thailand and Central America.  Following his fellowship he completed a degree from Temple University in Ornamental Horticulture.  He spent nearly 13 years as a horticulturist at Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, PA.  Over the course of his tenure at Chanticleer he designed and maintained the Entry and Teacup Garden, The Tennis Courrt Garden, the main Chanticleer Terraces, the Serpentine Garden and the new Elevated Walkway.  In his new role at the Indianapolis Museum of Art Jonathan is responsible for the vision, care and maintenance of Oldfields, the 28-acre iconic Olmstead landscape surrounding the Lilly House, The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art and Nature Park: 100 Acres, The contemporary garden surrounding the museum as well as two satellite properties.  Westerley, a 5 acre garden with remnants of a 1930 Jens Jensen garden and The Miller House and Garden, a 15 acre garden designed by Dan Kiley that seamlessly integrates the iconic house designed by Eero Sarineen into the landscape.  Oldfileds: Lilly House and Garden and the Miller House and Garden are both designated as National Historic Landmarks.  Jonathan and his team is charged with maintaining these contemporary and historic gardens with a balance of respect for the integrity of the original gardens while keeping them vibrant and relevant for visitors to the IMA today.