Events

Events


I am a gardener and photographer living in Grimsby Ontario.  I've been speaking to horticultural societies and garden clubs since 2009, when I started my second career in Photography.  With an IT and management consulting career of more than 30 years, I am comfortable with public speaking and enjoy it. I bring enthusiasm and energy to well-organized presentations that have interesting themes and lots of quality pictures.  While I don't jump up on the stage like Paul Zammit, I am enthusiastic and motivate you with my passion and commitment to gardening and photography. 



Recent Events:

Sep 2020 - Grimsby Garden Club
Trillium Awards Presentation

July 2020 - Grimsby Garden Club
Magic and Mystery in the Garden

Oct 15 2019 - Smithville Garden Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot

November 13, 2019 - Ridgeway and District Garden Club
Christmas in the Garden

March 6 2019 - Paris Horticultural Society
From Snapshot to Great Shot

March 28 2019 - Haldimand Horticultural Society
The Ethical Gardener

April 17 2019 - Georgetown Garden Club
The Evening Garden - NEW!

May 1 2019 - Port Colborne Camera Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot

May 13 2019 - Stoney Creek Garden Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot

Feb 23 2019 - OHA District 6 Breakfast Meeting
The Evening Garden

Nov 26 2018  - Grimsby Garden Club 
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Back yard

Oct 3, 2018  - Paris Horticultural Society 
The Romantic Garden

May 21, 2018  - St. Catharines Photography Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot

April 8, 2018 - Ontario Regional Lily Society at RBG
The Romantic Garden

February 21, 2018 - Flamborough Horticultural Society
From Snapshot to Great Shot



Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard
If you live within the Golden Horseshoe and surrounding Toronto area, you can visit more than 30 public gardens within easy driving distance. Get your schedules out, because you'll want to get to these glorious gardens that are right in your backyard.   




Magic and Mystery in the  Garden
Join garden explorer and photographer Marilyn Cornwell to experience what makes a garden have magic and mystery.  She takes you to  great North American public gardens showing you how they bring secrets, deception, fantasy, surprises, the surreal and the spiritual to the garden.  Special gardens such as the Chihuly Garden, Bok Tower, and Marie Selby Botanical Garden have magic and mystery elements. There are deception gardens at Longwood and Winterthur.  The Aga Khan Garden, the Getty Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall all display surreal and spiritual gardens. This is a complex garden element and aspect - so you will find out what makes for magic and mystery in the garden, and how to make it come alive in your garden. 




From Snapshot to Great Shot 
Find out the tips and techniques of floral and garden photography and enjoy photographs of beautiful flowers and wonderful gardens along the way.  A variety of sizes and types of gardens are included.  Included is my own garden story with my Toronto garden’s antique conservatory greenhouse shown through the seasons.  There will be tips and techniques of floral and garden photography.


Christmas in the Garden 
Are you looking for a light-hearted stroll through Christmas gardens and traditions?  Christmas is a festive time – lights, wreaths, and the glorious Christmas tree. It has splendid garden traditions and we’ll get a peak into the Wow Experience of Longwood Gardens as well as the exquisite conservatory displays near you.  You will find out some of the unusual and humorous traditions and perhaps there are some ideas to take home!




The Romantic Garden 
Experience all there is in the Romantic Garden.  Become aware of what makes a garden truly Romantic.  Visit some of the great Romantic Gardens of North America.  Dig deep into the elements of the Romantic garden - from exquisite flowers such as roses, lilacs and lilies, to the alluring path and the rendezvous setting. See examples of Romantic elements in small, personal gardens and take lots of ideas home with you. 


The Evening Garden 
Learn how to extend your garden’s time by a few more hours with these possibilities:  outdoor lighting, plants with white or cream-coloured flowers and leaves that stand out in the dark, top night-blooming flowers and which plants are most fragrant at night. Not only will you extend your garden’s time, you will bring a little romance, magic and mystery into your own garden.


What participants have said about Marilyn Cornwell's speaking presentations:

"Best speaker ever!"

“She was very personable in her approach but also knowledgeable. We have quite a few members who combine their interests of gardening and photography so it was quite beneficial for them.”

"Our photo contest entries increased dramatically with a noticeable difference in quality"

She was excellent:  I'd say one of the best speakers we've had over the course of this year"

"Just wanted to tell you what a fantastic job you did on your presentation at TBG today—your pictures as always were so beautiful and inspiring—and romantic I should add."

"My head was full of beautiful images of soft pink,white and blue. I enjoyed your presentation, and had my chilly winter spirits lifted by your amazing photography. So beautiful!" 

"Thank you very much for a fantastic talk on Wednesday. You transported us to beautiful, warm, inspiring places through your witty discussion and gorgeous photographs! I hope that you will agree to speak about another topic in the future."

"Yesterday I was out taking photos with a whole different approach and am pleased with the results.  I know our photo competition entries will be greatly enhanced by your wonderful pointers."


"Thanks also for a wonderful trip thru the many beautiful gardens.  We had 78 visitors, usually about 50 come now a-days. The comments were all positive.  April 2015."

Past Speaking Engagements: 

March 27, 2017 - Grimsby Garden Club
The Ethical Gardener


March 1st, 2017 - Etobicoke Horticultural Society
Magic and Mystery in the Garden

February 7, 2017 - Latow Photography Guild at the Art Gallery of Burlington
From Snapshot to Great Shot

April 10,  2016 - Ontario Regional Lily Society 
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard


Jan 11 2016 7:00pm – Agincourt Garden Club
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard

January 13, 2015 7:30pm - Streetsville Horticultural Society 
From Snapshot to Great Shot  

February 3, 2015 7:30 - Richmond Hill Garden Society
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard
April 1 2015 7:30pm - Etobicoke Horticultural Society
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard

April 14 2015 7:30pm – North York Horticultural Society
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard

June 17 2015 7:30pm – Cloverleaf Garden Society
The Romantic Garden 

July 14 2015 7:30pm – Scarborough Garden Club
The Romantic Garden 

Oct 27 2015 1:00pm - 2:30 - Toronto Botanical Gardens
The Garden Traveller 

Oct 1 2015 6:30pm - Clarington Town Centre
From Snapshot to Great Shot 


Nov 8 2015 1:00pm - Ontario Rock Garden and Hardy Plant Society (ORGS)
Magic and Mystery in the Great Public Gardens of North America 

Nov 17 2015 7:30pm – Bolton Garden Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot 


Nov 30 2015 7:30pm – Grimsby Garden Club
Christmas in the Garden 

February 12, 2014 2:00pm - Toronto Botanical Gardens
Great Public Romantic Gardens of North America
February 19, 2014 7:30 - Winona Garden Club
Great Public Gardens in Your Own Backyard
April 6, 2014 2:00pm - Ontario Regional Lily Society
From Snapshot to Great Shot - Capturing Lilies 

May 13th, 2014 7:00pm - Streetsville Horticultural Society
Great Romantic Gardens 

Niagara Wine and Roses Garden Tour - June 19, 2014
Spectacular Gardens of Niagara
My Grimsby garden was on the Toronto Botanical Gardens day trip to Niagara. 

Grimsby Garden Tour - July 5, 2014 10:00am - 4:00pm 
Gorgeous Gardens in the heart of Niagara...Grimsby
Saturday July 5th, 2014
My garden was included in the Grimsby Garden Tour.

September 13, 2014 7:00pm - Credit Valley Garden Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot 

October 22nd, 2014 8:00pm - Brooklin Garden Club
From Snapshot to Great Shot 

November 29th, 2014 10:00am - Lincoln Garden Club
Great Romantic Gardens 

December 11 2014 7:00pm - Niagara Falls Horticultural Society
Great Romantic Gardens 

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