P. Allen Smith
Encyclopedia
P. Allen Smith (born March 12, 1960) is an American television show host and gardening
expert. His television show P. Allen Smith's Garden Home is shown on PBS
member stations and in syndication on other networks. In the half-hour episodes of the show, he travels to various gardens in many areas of the U.S. and Europe, to explain steps to create garden rooms for dining, entertainment, relaxation, or playing. Some episodes are filmed at the Garden Home Retreat, spanning over 500 acres (202.3 ha) at Moss Mountain Farm near Little Rock, Arkansas
(US). He has also hosted 2 other TV shows titled as: "P. Allen Smith Gardens" and "P. Allen Smith's Garden to Table".
in England
, where he also studied English gardens that had been visited by John Adams
and Thomas Jefferson
in the 18th century.
After returning to the United States, he entered the nursery and garden-design business with his brother in Little Rock, Arkansas
, where he focused on reviving interest in perennials
. Smith also became a private tour guide and started teaching gardening workshops, which then led to appearances on local television shows. His earliest segments featured New Dawn Roses, which became widely popular with home gardeners throughout Little Rock.
Smith has also appeared frequently on The Weather Channel, the CBS Early Show, and other national TV programs teaching viewers gardening and design techniques. He has also written several books on gardening and contributes pieces to numerous publications including Woman's Day
.
, in a colonial revival cottage which he purchased for 1 United States dollar
and relocated to a 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) vacant lot in the historic Quapaw Quarter. The bargain price was contingent on Allen receiving permission from the local historical commission to move the home from its original site and restore it elsewhere in the city. The cottage and surrounding gardens are prominently featured in his books and television programs. He also built Moss Mountain Farm, also known as "The Garden Home Retreat," which is located on the banks of the Arkansas River. This colonial revival house was built incorporating green building techniques and features acres of gardens, orchards, vegetable beds and fields, and poultry and animal pens and buildings.
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
expert. His television show P. Allen Smith's Garden Home is shown on PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
member stations and in syndication on other networks. In the half-hour episodes of the show, he travels to various gardens in many areas of the U.S. and Europe, to explain steps to create garden rooms for dining, entertainment, relaxation, or playing. Some episodes are filmed at the Garden Home Retreat, spanning over 500 acres (202.3 ha) at Moss Mountain Farm near Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
(US). He has also hosted 2 other TV shows titled as: "P. Allen Smith Gardens" and "P. Allen Smith's Garden to Table".
Life and work
Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, P. Allen Smith is a fourth-generation nursery operator. In college he majored in garden history and design at the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he also studied English gardens that had been visited by John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
in the 18th century.
After returning to the United States, he entered the nursery and garden-design business with his brother in Little Rock, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, where he focused on reviving interest in perennials
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
. Smith also became a private tour guide and started teaching gardening workshops, which then led to appearances on local television shows. His earliest segments featured New Dawn Roses, which became widely popular with home gardeners throughout Little Rock.
Smith has also appeared frequently on The Weather Channel, the CBS Early Show, and other national TV programs teaching viewers gardening and design techniques. He has also written several books on gardening and contributes pieces to numerous publications including Woman's Day
Woman's Day
Woman's Day is aimed at a female readership, covering such subjects as food, nutrition, fitness, beauty and fashion. The magazine edition is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines....
.
Home
Smith settled in Little Rock, ArkansasLittle Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, in a colonial revival cottage which he purchased for 1 United States dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
and relocated to a 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) vacant lot in the historic Quapaw Quarter. The bargain price was contingent on Allen receiving permission from the local historical commission to move the home from its original site and restore it elsewhere in the city. The cottage and surrounding gardens are prominently featured in his books and television programs. He also built Moss Mountain Farm, also known as "The Garden Home Retreat," which is located on the banks of the Arkansas River. This colonial revival house was built incorporating green building techniques and features acres of gardens, orchards, vegetable beds and fields, and poultry and animal pens and buildings.
External links
- P. Allen Smith's Garden Home Website
- P. Allen Smith speaks at the National Book Festival (10/4/2003)
- "The Martha Stewart of the South", Kim Severson, The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, 4 August 2010.