Rick Darke to Present "Roberto Burle Marx: The Artist and the Amazon"
Posted March 12, 2001FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Horticulturist to Explore the Legacy of Brazilian Landscape Designer
York, Pennsylvania--Rick Darke, a widely published author, photographer and landscape designer, will present "Roberto Burle Marx: The Artist and the Amazon" on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in York College's DeMeester Theater. The event is free and open to the public.
The dual-image presentation will explore the legend and legacy of Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), who turned his interest in art to the Amazon flora and forever changed the way people garden with tropical plants. A native of Brazil, Burle Marx designed gardens for some of his country's most prominent locales, including Flamengo Park along Rio de Janeiro's waterfront, the Rio de Janeiro International Airport and the U.S. Embassy. He is considered the greatest single influence on gardens since the development of the English garden tradition in the 18th century.
Darke is an experienced and widely respected horticulturist who has traveled extensively throughout the world to study and photograph native plants. He worked at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa. from 1977 to 1997, and he played a major role in developing the Gardens' indoor and outdoor displays. He has also served as a horticultural consultant for renowned gardens and conservatories throughout the world.
His current garden, co-designed with his wife, horticulturist Melinda Zoehrer, is located in the rolling piedmont of Landenberg, Pa. and features regionally native plants. The garden has been featured in numerous publications, including Horticulture Magazine and the New York Times.
Darke graduated from the University of Delaware in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in plant science. He later completed graduate studies in plant taxonomy, botanic garden management and public policy.
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