Sonoma Valley?EUR??,,????'???s Cornerstone Festival of Gardens Opening Soon

Gallery-Style Gardens to Feature Walk-through Installations by Leading LAs and Designers SONOMA, Calif.?EUR??,,????'??+The Cornerstone Festival of Gardens, billed as an ever-changing series of walk-through gardens to showcase new and innovative designs from more than 25 of the world?EUR??,,????'???s finest landscape architects and designers, is schedule to open toward the of June 2004. ?EUR??,,????'??Our goal is to create a place for the community where people can enjoy unique and creative visions of landscape as art. Designers will have the freedom to create everything from traditional gardens to modern, conceptual installations, so that visitors will be surprised and delighted at every turn,?EUR??,,????'?? explains Chris Hougie, president and founder of the gardens. Hougie?EUR??,,????'???s Festival of Gardens was inspired by visiting the International Garden festival in Chaumont-sur-Loire, France, and the Grand Metis in Quebec, Canada. Hougie?EUR??,,????'???s intent is to create the connection between art, architecture and nature. In addition to individual gardens by select landscape architects and designers, a gallery will provide information on the designers and the creation of their installations. ?EUR??,,????'??Landscape had always been more of a background to me, and I had never really thought of it as a form of expression on its own. The gardens in France were a turning point, and I realized the impact landscape can have, either through simplicity or boldness of design.?EUR??,,????'?? Hougie has assembled a design and development team that includes Ron Lutsko, Dan Phipps and David Aquilina. Landscape architect Peter Walker created the initial site concept for the project. The opening designers of the initial 16 gallery gardens will be announced this winter. Future plans include educational seminars on landscape architecture and garden design. For more information, contact Cornerstone Festival of Gardens at 707-933-3010.