Dan Benarcik – Artistic Flourishes: Pots with a Purpose

BIO:
In 1993, I started at Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, PA. The garden, in its infancy then, has been amazing to watch evolve. Unlike many public gardens that seek to educate through plant labels and collections, Chanticleer fosters innovation and creative thinking.

The horticulturists there are artists as well and creativity is encouraged not suppressed. I oversee the Courtyard Gardens with an emphasis on tropical, sub-tropical, and tender perennials for seasonal display. My position at Chanticleer affords me the privilege of creating and maintaining our visitor’s first and last impressions of the garden.

With my feet planted firmly in the soil of Chanticleer. I developed a second skill as a public speaker. With a passion for horticulture, it’s a natural progression to want to share that through speaking. I also joined the Garden Writers Association, now Gardencomm, and served as the Regional Director as well as earning the status of Fellow. My writing has appeared in Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Martha Stewart Living, and Rodale’s Garden Books. The next step was television. I promoted plants on QVC for Cottage Farms Nursery. Additionally, I was featured on episodes of Cultivating Life and with my home garden on Growing a Greener World.

Other opportunities nationally have given me experience in the assessment of collections, policies, and planning. I have served on the Plant Selection Committee and as a Plant Expert for the Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Rare Plant Auction. I judge for the Philadelphia Flower Show and lecture internationally. I have worked on extended assignments at Lotusland, Hurricane restoration at Long Vue House and Internationally at Ayerlies Garden in Auckland, NZ. In my remaining free time, I teach chair building workshops and volunteer. I am part of the continuing education program at Longwood Gardens.