Don Hastings, author of the definitive three-volume gardening series, "Gardening in the South," will present "Rich Harvest," a booksigning and reading at Omega Books in Peachtree City, March 27 from 2-4 p.m. He will also conduct a reading prior to the signing at Cruz Coffee.

Hastings received his bachelor's degree in horticulture from Cornell University in 1950 and subsequently joined Hastings' Seed Company, the gardening business begun by his grandfather in Atlanta in 1899. He has become a Southern gardening institution as a horticultural consultant, lecturer, columnist, television personality and radio talk-show host.

Hastings' books include: "Trees, Shrubs and Lawns," "Vegetables and Fruits," and "Flowers, Vines and Houseplants." He publishes the monthly "Southern Garden Newsletter," was the regional editor for "Flower and Garden Magazine," and has contributed to "Southern Living" magazine.

For 16 years, he was a garden talk show host on talk radio WRNG/WCNN-AM in Atlanta and co-host of the television show "Gardening in the South with Don Hastings and Kathy Henderson," syndicated on 10 stations throughout the South from 1985-87.

In 1976, Hastings nursery was sold to outside buyers and Hastings became involved in Third World agricultural development. Since 1980, he has planned and managed projects in Egypt, the Philippines and Malaysia and has consulted in Chile and Papua New Guinea.