Ragna Tischler-Goddard founder and proprietor of The Sundial Gardens in Higganum, Connecticut is available for speaking engagements for garden clubs, tearooms, business meetings, or other events. Ms Tischler-Goddard's expertize lies in many areas, including garden design, herbalism, and fine tea. Born and educated in Germany, Ms Tischler-Goddard came to the US in 1963, and worked as a Graphic designer in New York. Several years later she gained her citizenship. After meeting her future husband Tom (also a graphic designer and now pastry chef at the Sundial), they moved to Connecticut in 1969. Restoration of their18th century farm house along with research concerning plant material appropriate soon prompted the construction and design of the grounds, which naturally, included designing and planting a colonial period herb garden. Soon the public heard about what had been done and they started coming by at all hours (often unannounced) to see the garden and to get advise on how to create and plant their own. This was the beginning of the business as it now exists, although there have been many changes and developments since. In addition to conducting programs and seminars at The Sundial, Ragna Tischler-Goddard has traveled to many areas, primarily in the northeast, as a guest speaker. Brief Summary of Topics for speaking engagements: Program 1. GARDEN HERITAGE From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to your own backyard, this program (illustrated with slides) provides the background necessary to make Middle Eastern and European heritage work for you. The focus of this talk is centered around classic design principles (successful solutions of the past which are still applicable today), combined with practical advice for all gardeners – structure and planting with emphasis on low maintenance. Question and Answer period after the program, followed by light refreshments: tea and scone or teacake. Program 2: HERBS FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING This is an illustrated program on herbs in general, outlining the many uses of herbs, their historic background, their application for today and their role for the future. Topics include: culinary herbs; medicinal herbs; herbs for fragrance and decorating. A period for questions and answers follows, during a break for tea and scones (or tea cake). Program 3: ALL ABOUT TEA This program will help unravel some of the mystery of the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. From health tonic to first aid treatment, this illustrated program will open the door to the diverse and health-restoring heritage of herbal medicine. The first part of the program will concentrate on the tea plant itself, the tea-growing regions of the world, the processing of tea, identifying the various kinds of tea, tea customs, and a bit of folklore.Slides will be used to illustrate this segment of the program. Time for group or individual questions provided after the program, followed by refreshments of tea and scones (or teacake). vvv Ms Tischler-Goddard has been a guest speaker at numerous places and events, including: Herb Symposium, Wilmington, Ohio R. J. Julia Booksellers, Madison, Conn. Barnes & Noble, North Haven, Conn. The Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, Conn. Conference on Alternative Medicine, University of Connecticut Medical Center vvv The Sundial Gardens and Ms Tischler-Goddard have appeared on television: Most recently on HGTV (cable) Great Gardens of America WNTV (Channel 8) New Haven, Positively Connecticut, with Diane Smith New England Cable News (NETV) Sundial Gardens (Winter version) with Brian Burnell CNN (cable) What's on the Menu vvv Publications featuring the Sundial include: National Geographic's 300 Gardens of North America The Garden Lover's Guide to the Northeast, published byPrinceton Architectural Press Gardener's Palette, and The Unsung Season, both by Sydney Edison Other books: Backyard Design, Complete Book of Herbs, Kitchen Herbs, Garden Sourcebook Newspapers: New York Times, The Hartford Courant Magazines: Horticulture, Fine Gardening, Victoria Magazine, Garden Design, Herb Companion, Home, Tea Magazine Calendars: Text and Photographs by Ragna Tischler-Goddard The Intimate Garden, Celebrating Tea 2002, Celebrating Tea 2003, published by Tide-Mark Press vvv For more information regarding speaking engagements, schedules and speaker's fee, please call 860 345-4290, and request to speak to Ragna Tischler-Goddard. website: http://www.sundialgardens.com E-mail: rgoddard@localnet.com