ST. FRANCISVILLE — More than 100 gardening enthusiasts flocked to St. Francisville on Friday for the opening of the 37th annual Southern Garden Symposium, celebrating floral artistry, horticulture and landscape design.

The longstanding regional event offered a slate of informative, hands-on workshops covering everything from specialty flower care to broad landscape planning. Attendees, including WBRZ News 2’s Sylvia Weatherspoon, participated in interactive sessions throughout the day, highlighted by a demonstration from renowned floral designer Will Hunt Lewis.

Friday's programming concluded with an evening gala hosted on the historic grounds of Rosedown Plantation.

Proceeds from the symposium benefit several local causes and preservation initiatives. The Southern Garden Symposium continues with a full schedule of events and tours on Saturday in St. Francisville.

If you know someone who makes a difference, send their name, contact information and a brief summary of their story to sylvia@wbrz.com.