Sustainable Horticultural Environments

Designing Your Dream Landscape - State

From that first spark of wanting a beautiful garden to creating a truly Florida‑perfect landscape, Teresa guides you through the essential design principles, site considerations, and horticultural know‑how needed to shape your dream outdoor space. Drawing on her extensive professional experience, she shares practical strategies and smart, Florida‑focused solutions for weather challenges, low‑maintenance success, and environmentally responsible design—empowering you to create a landscape that thrives with beauty and purpose. 1 hour.

Try to Contain Yourself: Container Gardening the Easy Way - State or National 

Landscape designer and horticulturist Teresa Watkins brings container gardening to life in this inspiring, fast‑paced program. Discover how to unleash your creativity with pottery and planters of every shape and style—classic, elegant, modern, or delightfully whimsical. Teresa demonstrates how to select the right containers, choose sustainable plant combinations, and design arrangements that deliver year‑round interest, seasonal color, and effortless sophistication. Attendees will leave confident, energized, and ready to transform any space—porch, patio, balcony, or garden—into a stunning container showcase. 1 hour. 

Such Luscious Succulents – State and National

Succulents are more than trendy—they’re versatile, resilient, and stunning in every setting. In this dynamic program, landscape designer and horticulturist Teresa Watkins reveals how to grow succulents both indoors and outdoors with confidence and flair. Teresa shares expert landscape design strategies, creative placement ideas, and essential maintenance practices that make succulents thrive in garden beds, rock gardens, and containers. Attendees will discover how to use these sculptural plants to create bold focal points, water‑wise designs, and eye‑catching displays that stay beautiful all year long. 1 hour.

Gardening with Your Soul – State and National

Landscape designer and horticulturist Teresa Watkins invites audiences to explore the deeply personal side of gardening. In this uplifting program, Teresa demonstrates how to design a landscape that reflects your passions, interests, and hobbies—whether art, travel, cooking, wildlife, or relaxation. She shares thoughtful design principles, plant selections, and creative ideas that transform ordinary yards into meaningful outdoor sanctuaries. Attendees leave inspired to cultivate gardens that not only look beautiful but also speak to who they are and how they live. 1 hour.

America’s First Gardens: How Early Horticulture Helped Win the Revolutionary War - State and National

Journey back to the nation’s beginnings as Teresa Watkins uncovers the United States’ earliest gardening roots and the surprising role horticulture played in securing independence. This captivating program explores how colonial kitchen gardens, medicinal plantings, and agricultural ingenuity supported soldiers, sustained communities, and quietly strengthened the Revolutionary cause. Teresa also shares the unexpected twists in her own family tree—revealing ancestors whose lives intersected with early American history in remarkable ways. Audiences leave with a deeper appreciation for the gardens that fed a revolution and the personal stories that continue to shape our connection to the past. 1 hour.

 Polly Hill, America’s First Woman Arborist - National

This two‑hour presentation celebrates the remarkable life and legacy of Polly Hill, the visionary plantswoman and America’s first femal arborist, who transformed a historic Martha’s Vineyard farmstead into one of America’s most respected arboreta. Through archival video, rare photographs, and thoughtful narrative, attendees will gain an intimate understanding of Hill’s pioneering approach to plant exploration, her philosophy of patience and observation, and the enduring beauty of the Polly Hill Arboretum.. 2 hours.

Weird, Wild, and Wicked Plants - State and National

Perfect for Halloween—or any season that needs a jolt—landscape designer and horticulturist Teresa Watkins dives into the botanical underworld. This fast‑paced PG‑13 exposé reveals nature’s most bizarre, dangerous, and delightfully wicked plants. Smart, spooky, and scientifically irresistible. 1 hour.

Growing Herbs “Great‑fully” - State and National.

Teresa Watkins serves up a savory, autumn‑inspired program celebrating how easy and rewarding herb gardening can be in Florida. Perfect for Thanksgiving, this flavorful session explores the best herbs to grow, how to keep them thriving, and delicious ways to use your homegrown harvest throughout the holiday season. 1 hour.  

 Yes, Virginia, Florida Does Have a Winter! - State

Even in the Sunshine State, winter can surprise your landscape. In this one‑hour program, landscape designer Teresa Watkins explains how to design and maintain a garden that stands strong through Florida’s cooler months. From protecting tender plants to planning for seasonal shifts, she equips homeowners with practical strategies to keep their landscapes healthy and resilient. Ideal companion session: How to Care for Your Holiday Plants (30 minutes).

How to Care for Your Holiday Plants - State

Make a New Year’s resolution you can actually keep—help your holiday plants thrive long after the festivities end. In this lively 30‑minute talk, Teresa Watkins highlights the flowers, shrubs, and greenery sold during the holiday season and teaches how to care for them indoors and out. 30 minutes. Perfect when paired with Yes, Virginia, Florida Does Have a Winter!

Meadowscaping: Creating and Maintaining a Meadow - State and National

Escape into the untamed beauty of nature by creating a meadow that feels alive, restorative, and deeply connected to the land. This talk reveals how meadows—rich with native and climate‑adapted plants—thrive with minimal human intervention, reduce chemical use through rewilding, and protect precious natural resources. Teresa’s photographs and personal field experiences illuminate the emotional and ecological power of meadowscaping, showing how a thoughtfully designed meadow becomes a living tapestry that invites wildlife, restores balance, and offers a place of serenity and renewal. 1 hour

Landscaping with Edibles - State and National

Landscape designer and horticulturist Teresa Watkins brings the joy of harvesting home with her signature blend of practical garden wisdom and inspired design. In this flavorful program, Teresa highlights her favorite edible plants for integrating seamlessly into the landscape—beautiful, productive, and delightfully unexpected. She shares smart design strategies, essential maintenance tips, and creative ways to turn ornamental beds, borders, and containers into abundant “gardens of eatin’.” Stunning photographs showcase edible landscapes that are as gorgeous as they are delicious, leaving audiences eager to cultivate their own homegrown bounty. 1 hour.

Design Your Garden for The Environment – State and National

Gardening expert Teresa Watkins teaches audiences how to evaluate their landscape, choose the right plants, and design gardens that conserve Florida’s precious natural resources. Teresa shares practical, science‑based strategies for creating resilient, water‑wise landscapes that flourish in Florida’s climate while providing essential habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Attendees gain the confidence to transform their yards into beautiful, sustainable spaces that work in harmony with nature.1 hour.

Development of Landscape Design - State and National

The Early History of Landscape Design: 6000 BC through World War II. Landscape design has evolved for more than eight millennia, shaped by climate, culture, religion, politics, and technology. Teresa Watkins traces this development from humanity’s earliest cultivated spaces to the modern era, illustrating how foundational ideas continue to influence today’s sustainable, Florida‑friendly landscapes. 1 hour.

Designing and Maintaining Pollinator‑Friendly Landscapes - State and National

Teresa Watkins, horticulturist and landscape designer, presents an inspiring and practical program on creating landscapes that welcome—and sustain—the essential wildlife that keeps America blooming. From backyard gardens to large public spaces, Teresa teaches how thoughtful design and maintenance practices can transform any landscape into a thriving habitat for pollinators and beneficial wildlife. 1 hour.

Gardening Around the World in Your Backyard – State and National

Teresa Watkins’ signature exploration of how global landscapes, cultural traditions, and memorable travel experiences can be translated into residential outdoor spaces. Drawing on decades of horticultural expertise, travel, and her passion for themed garden design, Teresa demonstrates how homeowners can create immersive, transportive environments inspired by destinations across the United States and around the world—without ever leaving their backyard. 1 hour.

Finding Your Garden Muse - State and National

Horticulturist and landscape designer Teresa Watkins guides audiences on a lively journey from inspiration to installation—showing how to discover your garden muse and transform those sparks of creativity into stunning, real‑world landscape design. It’s imaginative, motivating, and guaranteed to get ideas blooming. 1 hour.

Garden Alchemy: Turning Toss‑Aways into Treasures - State

Landscape designer Teresa Watkins digs deep into the art of creative reuse, inspiring audiences to see everyday castoffs in a whole new light. From forgotten objects to curbside curiosities, she reveals how imaginative thinking can transform throw‑away items into charming, functional garden features. It’s resourceful, surprising, and guaranteed to spark a fresh eye for possibility. 1 hour.

Florida Landscaping 101: Thriving in the Sunshine State - State

Horticulturist and landscape designer Teresa Watkins introduces new Florida residents—and new gardeners—to the essential best‑management practices that keep landscapes healthy, resilient, and beautiful. From mastering Florida’s unique soils and climate to choosing the right plants and maintaining successful turf, this engaging program equips homeowners with the practical know‑how they need to create landscapes that flourish year‑round. 1 hour.

Get Out Of Here – You’re Bugging Me! – State and National

Gardening in Florida doesn’t mean living in fear of pests. In this upbeat, one‑hour program, horticulturist and landscape designer Teresa Watkins introduces the fascinating cast of insects that inhabit our landscapes—the heroes, the villains, and the downright troublemakers. With clear guidance and a dash of humor, she explains how to recognize beneficial bugs, manage the problematic ones, and keep your garden thriving without panic. 1 hour.

Gardens to Flutter By: Butterfly Gardening - State and National.

Teresa Watkins shows homeowners how to turn their backyards into vibrant havens for butterflies and pollinators. This inspiring program highlights the plants, design strategies, and maintenance practices that create successful pollinator gardens. From host plants to nectar favorites, Teresa shares practical tips that help gardeners attract, support, and enjoy these essential—and enchanting—visitors. 1 hour.

I Promise You a Rose Garden - State

Landscape designer Teresa Watkins shows rose lovers just how easy—and deeply rewarding—it is to grow beautiful roses in Florida. She shares practical guidance for keeping plants healthy, recommends the best low‑maintenance varieties, and spotlights roses that deliver lush fragrance and romantic, bouquet‑worthy blooms. 1 hour.

Feathered Friends of the Sunshine State - State

Florida’s gardens, parks, and natural areas come alive each morning with an extraordinary chorus of songbirds. Teresa Watkins’ talk is an engaging, educational program designed to introduce audiences to the most beloved and recognizable songbirds that call Florida home.

This presentation highlights the unique beauty, behaviors, and ecological importance of Florida’s songbirds—from the brilliant Northern Cardinal and melodious Carolina Wren to the agile Gray Catbird and the ever‑charming Blue Jay. Participants learn how to identify species by sight and sound, understand their seasonal patterns, and create bird‑friendly landscapes using Florida‑appropriate plants and sustainable gardening practices.

Perfect for gardeners, nature lovers, and community groups. 1 hour.