World-renowned horticulturist Tony Avent and acclaimed “Potluck” founder and host and cookbook author Ali Rosen will headline Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College Foundation’s 2019 Home and Garden Symposium.
The fundraiser – set for Wednesday, May 8, 2019 – features a community flower show, silent auction, catered brunch by Buck Ridge Plantation and speaker presentations. The Home and Garden Symposium is held on campus in the Building R atrium and Roquemore Auditorium.
Avent will share his favorite spring perennials, and Rosen will prepare recipes from her cookbook and talk about the joy of potlucks. Copies of her book – “Bring It! Tried and True Recipes for Potlucks and Casual Entertaining” – will also be available for purchase during a book signing after the program.
Avent is owner of Plant Delights Nursery, Inc. and Juniper Level Botanic Garden in Raleigh, N.C., and author of “So You Want to Start a Nursery.” A plant breeder best known for his Hosta breeding program, Avent travels the world collecting exotic plants and shares his knowledge and expertise regularly through classes and presentations. He has appeared multiple times on “The Martha Stewart Show” in segments about the nursery business, extreme propagation, hardy Araliaceae and new plants.
“As a Master Gardener, I am extremely pleased to have Tony as our featured garden speaker at this year’s Home and Garden Symposium,” said Herb Bradley, event co-chair. “The symposium has become a highlight of the spring season for many people in our community, and it is truly an honor and a unique opportunity for OCtech to host such a distinguished speaker and international gardener at our symposium. You will not want to miss it!”
Charleston native Rosen is the founder and host of “Potluck with Ali Rosen,” an Emmy-nominated television show and website dedicated to sharing the best and brightest in food. “Potluck” airs on NYC Life, and its videos have appeared on HuffPost, Edible and People. Rosen was named one of Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30” in the Food and Wine category in 2014, and has written for sites including Bon Appétit, Epicurious, Fodor’s and Refinery 29. Her cookbook offers dozens of impressive-looking recipes that come together easily and are perfect for carrying to any occasion.
“We are honored to have someone of Ali’s caliber who is sought after and known within the New York City food scene share her experiences and expertise with us,” said Donna Matthews, event co-chair. “With ‘Bring It!’ Ali gives us the opportunity to see simple Southern dishes in a whole new light. Her outside-the-box creations are not only beautiful to look at, but they are easy to prepare.”
“You may have seen her on ‘The Today Show,’ and this is your opportunity to see Ali in Orangeburg,” she said.
Tickets to the Home and Garden Symposium are $50 per person. Funds raised assist in providing scholarships for deserving OCtech students and special projects at the college.
For more information or tickets, call the foundation office at 803-535-1246, email blanchardmr@octech.edu or visit www.octech.edu.
