THEODORE, ALABAMA - Bellingrath Gardens and Home is hosting a special book signing for How to Achieve a Heaven on Earth.  Visitors are invited to the Gardens to meet Editor, John E. Wade, II and other contributors - including our own Dr. Bill Barrick, Bellingrath's Executive Director, on Sunday, March 14 from 2:00-4:00 in Gift Shop.  

Last spring Dr. Barrick was invited to submit an essay describing how gardens help create ... "a heaven on earth".    Gardens have always been an inspiration for Dr. Barrick and he has spent most of his professional career creating gardens to inspire others.  He submitted his essay, Creating Gardens of Paradise, and thought that he would never be included with such luminaries as Ted Turner, Al Gore, Thomas L. Friedman, George Bush and Barack Obama.  Much to his surprise and delight - his essay was selected for John E. Wade's latest book project.  

Dr. Barrick received BS and MS degrees from Auburn University and a PhD in Landscape Horticulture from Michigan State University.  He was Executive Vice-President and Director of Gardens at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain Georgia for almost twenty years before becoming Executive Director of Bellingrath Gardens and Home in November 1999.  Dr. Barrick is also Past President of the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, Past Chairman of the American Horticultural Society and a recipient of the Arthur Hoyt Scott Medal.

How To Achieve A Heaven on Earth is a collection of essays from 101 contributors that encourages readers to find meaning in their lives and share it with others to make the world a better place.  The book is receiving a wonderful response.   

• Library Journal, a trade publication read by librarians and publishers, features a review in their March 1 issue that reads: "verdict: a fascinating octopus of a book on global change, reaching in all directions at once."     
• Online, at Basil & Spice (http://tinyurl.com/ycn5qzo <http://tinyurl.com/ycn5qzo> ) Heather O'Roark writes: How To Achieve A Heaven On Earth is a delightful, hopeful book that was a joy to read...I was absolutely inspired by many of the essays I read in this book. If you are interested in social issues, care about making the world a better place, or just enjoy reading essays, I would definitely recommend How To Achieve A Heaven On Earth."
• And on http://rhodesreview.com, an article says: "there are many essays in here that would make great group discussion topics... I think it's a book that everyone should read.  It doesn't matter whether you're conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican, Foreign or Domestic, you'll find something in this book that will give you ideas on how you can make a difference in the world."