Tower Hill Botanic Garden

Wednesday, May 19, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – I Have a Butterfly Garden: Now What?, Online

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You’ve created a butterfly garden to attract butterflies but how do you know that they’ve actually visited? Caterpillars and butterflies leave clues, both big and small, so get ready to look at your plants like never before! Using monarchs and swallowtails as our main examples, Amy Mawby will explore native butterfly species in all of their life cycle stages and behaviors. Discover how our gardens support butterflies throughout their marvelous metamorphosis. Go beyond your backyard and learn tricks, tools and timing for raising butterflies at home. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden program will be held virtually on May 19 at 6:30 pm. Once you register you will receive a zoom link in the confirmation. This webinar will also be RECORDED and available for 2 months to all registrants. $10 for THBG members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

Amy Mawby is a garden educator and photographer. Her roots are buried deep in horticulture and she has spent 12+ years leading education and visitor experience teams at public gardens. Amy has most recently worked at Tyler Arboretum and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (BHWP). At BHWP, she found a passion for native plants and at Tyler Arboretum she nurtured her love for native butterflies as the staff lead for the seasonal Butterfly House exhibit, as well as in her home garden. She is also a visual storyteller and nature shutterbug. Amy holds a M.S. in Public Horticulture from the University of Delaware and a B.S. in Plant Science from Cornell University.

Wednesday, May 12, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Climate Talk: What Alpine Plants in New England are Telling Us about Climate Change, Online

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Tower Hill Botanic Garden is dedicated to understanding the ways climate change impacts our world and exploring methods we can use to combat its effects and improve our climate outlook. “Climate Talks” are an opportunity to connect with experts in the field to learn and understand the current effects of climate change and explore ways we can make a difference.

This May 12 climate talk beginning at 6:30 pm will explore the current global biodiversity crisis caused by environmental change. The effects of this change make it critical for our communities to determine what our conservation priorities will be, especially when we understand which plants are the most vulnerable to extinction. This talk will discuss one study of alpine plants of the mountains of the Northeast (rare alpine rattlesnake-root plants -Nabalus spp., Syn: Prenanthes spp.-) to understand how they will respond to ongoing environmental change. Through this study we can develop and use a framework for understanding the climate change vulnerability of certain plant species and develop plans for managing those species during climate change.

Kristen Haynes, PHD is an ecologist and plant biologist whose work focuses on climate change conservation. Kristen’s interest in environmental issues began with early experiences in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York State, and grew through involvement with her high school’s Envirothon team. Kristen studied Natural Resources at Cornell University and then pursued a PhD at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Currently, as the Assistant Director of SUNY Oswego’s Rice Creek Field Station, Kristen is co-leading a project aiming to restore native tree species to New York State’s canal region for ecosystem, climate, and cultural benefits.

This program will be held virtually. Once you register you will receive a Zoom link in the confirmation. This webinar will also be RECORDED and available for 2 months to all registrants. $10 Tower Hill members, $15 nonmembers. Register at www,towerhillbg.org


Wednesday, May 5, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Soil Testing for the Home Gardener, Online

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Getting the desired results in your gardens and landscapes all starts with having healthy soil to meet your needs. Things like PH, organic matter, and nutrient levels all play a role in the quality of the soil you have. You cannot always just guess if the soil you have is healthy though. That is where soil testing comes in. However, soil testing results can be a lot of information to absorb. During this online live Tower Hill Botanic Garden presentation on May 5 with Philip Bourele, you will learn how to take a good composite soil test and then interpret the test results.

Philip studied Biology at the College of Wooster (Ohio, not Mass.). Philip became a Penn State Master Gardener in 2012 and then Master Gardener Coordinator in 2013. After 5 years with the Master Gardeners Philip went to private industry as a plant health care technician. $10 for Tower Hill members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

Thursday, April 15, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Native Spring Ephemerals Webinar

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Spring is a magical time of year when the forest floor comes to life with colorful and complex wildflowers. Join Amy Mawby and Tower Hill Botanic Garden online on April 15 at 6:30 pm for an ecological exploration of the season with a focus on its harbingers, our native spring ephemerals. Go on a photographic journey of our most fleeting flowers while discovering cultural information and fun facts. Combat ‘plant blindness’ by learning identification tips to help you get outside and enjoy the spring ephemerals in your home garden, neighborhood and local natural areas.

Amy Mawby is a garden educator and photographer. Her roots are buried deep in horticulture and she has spent 12+ years leading education and visitor experience teams at public gardens. She has most recently worked at Tyler Arboretum and Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve (BHWP). Amy nurtured her passion for native plants during her time at BHWP and fell head over heels for the spring ephemerals on-site. She is also a visual storyteller and nature shutterbug. Amy holds a M.S. in Public Horticulture from the University of Delaware and a B.S. in Plant Science from Cornell University. This program will be held virtually. Once you register you will receive a zoom link in the confirmation.

This webinar will also be RECORDED and available for 2 months to all registrants. $10 for Tower Hill members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

Saturday, April 10, 9:30 am – 11:30 am – Sketching Spring First Flowers, Online

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Snowdrops, crocus, pansies, chionodoxa (Luciles Glory of the Snow); sketching these beautiful flowers are an introduction to more spring blooms to come. Enjoy drawing one or more flower shapes and learning inking techniques that will visually describe their textures and values. This virtual workshop will begin with an inking technique demo, then try your skills drawing spring’s first flowers with the instructor. Carol Schwartz.

Materials (Supply your own–not included with registration)
1. Mixed media paper pad, 9? x 12?, such as Canson XL or Strathmore
2. Higgins Black Magic waterproof ink and Speedball pen set, either Cartooning Pen and Nib Project Set or Number 20 General Purpose Set or a #01 or 02 Micron pen
3. No. 2 pencil and an eraser

Carol Schwartz graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute, attending her senior year at Rhode Island School of Design. She earned her MFA in Illustration from the University of Hartford, Connecticut in 2014. Her education equipped her to be diverse and adaptable, with work appearing in 60 picture books and countless magazines, newspapers and advertisements.

The Tower Hill Botanic Garden course on April 10 at 9:30 am is $30 for Tower Hill members, $40 for nonmembers. This program will be held virtually. Once you register HERE you will receive a Zoom link in the confirmation. This webinar will only be available LIVE.

Friday, March 12, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Book Making: Winter Nature Journal

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Sew your own softcover nature journal with pockets for holding outdoor finds. Learn to hone your observational skills to record winter nature sights and sounds. This Tower Hill class will be held indoors in a well ventilated classroom on March 12 from 1 – 3. Weather permitting we will go outside and test out our journals. All material is included.

Instructor Suzanne Hauerstein is a professional teaching artist and the Coordinator of Volunteer & Intern Services at Tower Hill. She has over 25 years of experience designing and facilitating art-based programs for informal learning environments. Suzanne is committed to creating programs that are accessible, positive, and enjoyable learning experiences for students of all ages and abilities. $40 for Tower Hill members, $55 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

Wednesdays, March 3 -March 31, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Digital Photo II, Online

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If you are comfortable with the basics of your camera but you want more – then this online Tower Hill Botanic Garden workshop is for you! Come explore the use of intermediate camera controls such as metering (spot, matrix, center weight), exposure and exposure compensation, ISO, aperture and shutter priority. Take an in-depth look at manual focus and its use, fill flash and flash modes, as well as controlling motion, composition, and many other intermediate and advanced techniques.

Class 1: Metering, Exposure Compensation, ISO
Class 2: Landscape Photography
Class 3: Macro Photography
Class 4: Special Effects with your camera, Like Burst mode Zoom Effect, Staring the Sun and Panoramic
Class 5 Photoshop and using JPEG and RAW Images

Steve McGrath is a professional freelance photographer and photography teacher who has been creating images for 20 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion, “nature photography”. Steve was an active member of the Gateway Camera Club for many years, and has won many ribbons and awards at fairs and competitions through the group and on his own. Several of his images have been published in school textbooks. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore. Classes scheduled every week on Wednesday starting 3/3/2021 and ending 3/31/2021 at 6:00PM. $150 for Tower Hill members, $175 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

Through Wednesday, March 21 – Yarnstorm

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This winter come experience an explosion of color at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. The global phenomenon known as yarnbombing is taking over Tower Hill! This collaborative community exhibit features trees, benches, statues, and more, decorated with colorful knitted and crocheted art, created by local artists, students, and volunteers. You will not want to miss this brilliant display. 

WHAT IS YARNBOMBING?
Yarnbombing or yarnstorming, often referred to as “graffiti knitting,” is a colorful art form that uses knitted and crocheted yarn instead of paint. During Yarnstorm, Tower Hill’s trees, benches, statues, and more will be adorned with bright, fantastical fiber artwork. This all-outdoors exhibit redefines walking in a winter wonderland. Come view over 25 unique pieces of art and over 2,000 giant pom poms! 

This exhibit is included in general admission. Pre-purchased tickets, available here, are required for entry. When you arrive at Tower Hill, take a photo of our large outdoor exhibit map. Follow the Yarnstorm map to find all the fiber art pieces. The exhibit spans throughout our formal gardens and includes trees, benches, railings, and even our turtle fountains in the Winter Garden. At each art piece you will have an opportunity to learn more about the artist(s) who created it. Indoors, visitors can pop in to visit our Garden Shop, sub-tropical plant conservatories, and, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the café. 

Saturday, February 27, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon – Poupourri For a Joyful Spring

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Potpourri, French for rotten pot, is a fragrant, often beautiful, mix of scented plant material with a long and fascinating history. In this Tower Hill Botanic Garden in-person program on February 27 from 10:30 – noon, we’ll discuss the history of potpourri and the importance of fragrance through the centuries, then learn the basics of creating a modern potpourri: how to dry herbs and flowers, use essential oils, and select fixatives. Each attendee will make a quart of sweetly scented Potpourri that welcomes the coming of Spring and the joyful return of the growing season! All materials will be provided. This program will be held indoors in one of our well-ventilated classrooms. Group size (10 people) will not exceed current state restrictions. $50 for THBG members, $65 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

Instructor Betsy Williams teaches, lectures and writes about living with herbs and flowers. A lifelong gardener, herb grower and cook, Betsy trained as a florist in Boston and England. She combines her floral, gardening and cooking skills with an extensive knowledge of history, plant lore and seasonal celebrations. An entertaining lecturer, she weaves stories and legends throughout her informative talks and demonstrations. Her gardens, floral work and retail shop have been featured in many books, national magazines and newspapers, including The New York Times, The American Gardener, Victoria, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living Gardener, Colonial Homes, the Herb Companion, and Traditional Homes.

Wednesday, February 24, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Nurturing Native Plants and Pollinators

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This February 24 Tower Hill Botanic Garden webinar with instructor Daphne Minner beginning at 6:30 pm will provide gardeners with guidance on how to make their yards more resilient to the effects of climate change. The focus will be on the basics of habitat gardening and how simple changes in your lawn can make a big difference in the bigger ecological landscape. Once you register you will receive a zoom link in the confirmation. These workshop are RECORDED and offered ONLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE REGISTERED for 2 WEEKS.

$10 for Tower Hill members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.