Boston Flora

Month: June 2009

  • Tuesday, July 7, 9 – 12 – Flower Arranging From the Garden

    Explore making good choices for floral arrangements through flower selection, learn simple techniques for cutting and conditioning materials, and see the appropriate methods of handling specific kinds of plant materials.

    Award winning floral designer Robin Murphy, who presented to The Garden Club of the Back Bay during the “Art in the Garden” theme year, will lead you through this process and guide you in the creation of your own abundant “gardenesque” floral arrangements.

    Container and mechanics included. Participants should bring floral scissors, clippers, and a small bucket to class.  Members of Heritage Museums – $40; non-Members – $50 per person.  To register, log on to www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org.

  • Saturday, July 18, 10 – 4 – Williamstown Open Day

    The Garden Conservancy partners with the Berkshire Botanical Garden to sponsor this Open Day.  For information and to reserve tickets, log on to www.gardenconservancy.org.

    152 Ide Road, Williamstown

    This garden, surrounding an old carriage barn, is divided into rooms to resemble the English gardens loved by the owner/gardener/English professor. A walled garden leads to a formal pool, with an island waterfall and the divine lotus that blooms in mid-July. The entrance, a rustic pergola, borders a trellised, ornamental kitchen garden. A white garden, surrounding clumps of native birch, pays homage to Sissinghurst. A folly, with broken stones and a dripping column, evokes ancient ruins, while an arched window on an old marble base, framing the folly, the long hot border, or the distant landscape, looks into the past and future.

    260 Northwest Hill Road, Williamstown

    This lovely house features a harmonious landscape of interweaving meadow, lawn, stone terrace, gardens, pools, and house. Elegant, yet informal, the outdoor spaces vary in character from a dramatic woodland ravine, to an intimate bedroom shade garden, to an expansive lawn with views of Mount Greylock and Dome Mountain. Guests are immediately welcomed by an arrival garden with a terraced front entrance. They will visit a rhododendron and hosta shade garden, a rock garden with fishpond, and a lower grove with a sitting garden. Each is unique in character, yet intimately connected with the house and the surrounding multi-level terrain.

    Brooks Garden, 36 Keep Hill Road, Williamstown

    This garden surrounds one of the first “modern” houses in Williamstown, which was built in 1948 overlooking the valley and Mount Prospect beyond. The pond and fountain in the entrance circle is one of four made by the owners. On the west side of the circle is a small katsura grove. Connecting the house and garage is an herbal courtyard with a pergola and trellis that holds grapevines, wisteria, and kiwi in profusion. In the middle is a small pond with a quiet fountain surrounded by herbs and pastel spring flowers which give way to warmer colors that attract hummingbirds and butterflies later on in the summer. A larger pond and watercourse is found in the more extensive part of the garden where paths connect different rooms—a shade garden and sedum garden are among them. On the east side of the house is a small vegetable garden, a grove of lilacs, and the patio with a small fountain. All landscaping, garden design, stone walls, and care are provided by the owners.

    Mount Hope Farm, Williamstown

    Views of Mount Greylock and the Taconic Range from informal gardens makes this property enjoyable to see any time of day. Carol and Bob began creating their gardens at their hilltop home in 2000. Carol is interested in newly introduced, native, and sometimes rare plants, Zone 4, that give color, shape, and texture throughout the year and stand up to strong winds and low temperatures. There are mixed grasses at the entrance, native plants and a dry creek with mosses and ferns leading to the front door, and a sculptural installation and a sunken patio/ room where there are tender perennials. Succulents and low-growing plants surround a seating area. Most of the plants have been selected and tended by the owners.

    Wagner Garden, 33 Haley Street, Williamstown

    One of the original Haley houses in Haley Village, Williamstown, this in-town house and garden on a quarter-acre lot has evolved over a period of seventeen years. The garden complements the simple lines of the 1940s house and is a creative example of what can be done in a small landscape. The garden has been designed and entirely maintained by the owner. Mixed borders consisting of perennials, shrubs, and ornamental trees create garden rooms that each have their own character. The lawn is used as a path to lead visitors from one area to another. Annuals and containers are used for continuous color, especially on the stone patio. A variety of vines have been used for privacy fences and to add visual height to the garden. Rather than an abundance of flowers, the main focus of the garden is on foliage textures and plants of personal interest.

  • Through December 31, 2009 – Taking Root: The Growing Business of Gardening in Pots in the 1800’s

    Now on display in the Visitor Center at the entrance to Old Sturbridge Village, this exhibit entitled Taking Root: The Growing Business of Gardening in Pots in the 1800’s,  invites exploration of the art and business of gardening in flowerpots in 19th-century New England. The thriving world of gardening in pots in early New England is shown through a series of vibrant and colorful vignettes. The depictions range from the rough industriousness of a potter’s shop to the refined elegance of a Victorian parlor, and to all of the worlds in between. For more information, hours and admissions fees, log on to www.osv.org.

  • Thursday, July 9, 10 – 4 – Enchanted Garden Tour of New Seabury

    Join Heritage Museums discovering the enchanted private sanctuaries of New Seabury and Popponesset Island on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain or shine). All proceeds benefit the many wonderful programs and activities at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Make the day even more special with a luncheon at the New Seabury Club.  The extraordinary vistas from the main dining room are the perfect complement to your garden tour experience!

    The gardens are located throughout the New Seabury & Popponesset Island area and all can be reached by car. Parking is available near and around all the homes on the tour. Be prepared to walk from parking areas to each of the gardens.

    There will not be any shuttle services provided. This is a garden tour and walking is involved. Please be prepared with comfortable walking shoes—and dress for the weather !

    A Garden Boutique will be on display and for sale in the main lobby at New Seabury Country Club, featuring stunning floral jewelry and exclusive gifts for the garden and home, inspired by the horticultural collections of Heritage Museums & Gardens.

    Price for the Garden Tour only:$35 Members of HM&G, $40 Non-Members
    Price for Tours and Luncheon: $70 Members of HM&G, $75 Non-Members

    For additional information please call 508.888.3300, x-111, or email: ahoxie@heritagemuseums.org

  • Tuesday, June 30, 10 – 11:30 a.m. – If Trees Could Talk

    Dawn redwood, dove tree, and franklinia are just a handful of the trees growing at the Arboretum with engaging stories of how they secured a place in gardens and in the history of plant exploration. If our trees could talk, they might share accounts of faraway forests, botanical adventures, and intrepid plant explorers. Join Collections and Grounds Manager Tom Clark on a walking tour of the Arboretum where he will reveal some of the fascinating stories behind these and other beloved plants.$5/free to PHA members. 508-693-9426
    Admission Fee: $5/pha members free    		 Polly Hill Martha's Vineyard
    For More Information:
    Contact: Karin Stanley
    Address: The Polly Hill Arboretum, State Rd, West Tisbury, MA
    Phone: 508-693-9426
    Email: karin@pollyhillarboretum.org
    Website: http://www.pollyhillarboretum.org

  • Saturday & Sunday, June 27 & 28 – Beauty and the Best

    “Beauty and the Best ” Art  Exhibition and Sale features 33 art works displayed at the Old Mill, West Tisbury with flower arrangements designed and executed by the Garden Club members.  General admission Sat., June 27 10am to 5pm and Sunday June 28 10am to 2pm. Daily tickets $5. Children under 12 free
    Benefit for Garden Club community projects and scholarship
    Admission Fee: $5-$20; under 12 free    		 Flower Show On Martha's Vineyard
    For More Information:
    Contact: Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club
    Address: The Old Mill, Edgartown/West Tisbury Road, West Tisbury, MA
    Phone: 508-627-5546
    Email: wll508lee@aol.com

  • Sunday, July 5, 1:00 p.m. – Highfield Hall Estate Walk

    The story of Highfield Hall coincides with the arrival of the railroad in Falmouth on July 18, 1872. The ability to reach Cape Cod from Boston or from New York by train transformed the area from a quiet farming and fishing community to an exuberant summer community. Middle class families stayed in inns, many of them homes converted to lodgings to handle the explosion of summer visitors. Wealthier families built seaside estates in areas such as Quissett, Chapoquoit and Penzance.

    Among the newcomers escaping the heat of the city were the Beebes of Boston. James Madison Beebe, wealthy from various dry goods and manufacturing businesses, and his wife, Esther E. Beebe, first converted the Thomas Swift House on Shore Street to a summer home they called Vineyard Lodge. They subsequently bought more than 700 acres of land on the hill above the railroad station, more than half of which has been preserved as Beebe Woods.

    After the death of their father in 1875, his children built two grand residences on the hill. Brothers Pierson and Franklin and sister Emily built a lavish “summer cottage” in the Queen Anne stick style modeled after the British Pavilion in the great 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Highfield Hall was completed in 1878, and its sister mansion, Tanglewood, where the J. Arthur Beebes took up residence, was finished in 1879. Thus began over fifty years of Beebes living and entertaining in their “summer cottages” at Highfield. In its heyday, the hill must have been a bustling scene. The miles of carriage trails, riding trails, gardens, two huge homes, and numerous outbuildings required a small army of servants to maintain. The Beebes even started a farm on Shore Street to provide produce for their Falmouth and Boston residences.

    Join docents on the first Sunday of each month ( in addition to July 5, you may attend on August 2, September 6, October 4 & November 1) at 1p.m. for a special estate walk of the Beebe property. Learn about the building of Highfield Hall and its sister mansion, Tanglewood, explore the grounds and gardens, and hear about the Beebe family members who lived a lavish Victorian lifestyle during the late 19th and early 20th century. $5 donation suggested. Walks will not be held in the event of rain.  Reservations are encouraged, but not required, by calling 508-495-1878 or emailing registrations@highfieldhall.org.  For directions and more information, log on to www.highfieldhall.org.

  • Saturday, July 19, 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Herbs in The Country of the Pointed Firs

    Landscape Gardener Nancy Wetzel takes a fascinating look at medicinal herbs, the historic importance of community herbalists, and herb gardens through the lens of author Sarah Orne Jewett’s 1896 book The Country of the Pointed Firs. Visiting Historic New England’s Sarah Orne Jewett House at 5 Portland Street in South Berwick, Maine is a special treat, and to see the home in combination with this presentation is an extraordinary opportunity.  Writer Sarah Orne Jewett spent much of her life in this stately Georgian residence, owned by her family since 1819. The view from her desk in the second-floor hall surveys the town’s major intersection and provided her with material for her books, such as The Country of the Pointed Firs, which describe the character of the Maine countryside and seacoast with accuracy and affection. Registration is required – call 207-384-2454, or log on to www.historicnewengland.org for directions and more information.

  • Sunday, July 12, 11 – 5 – Secret Gardens of Saratoga Springs

    Some Garden Club of the Back Bay members and supporters travel to the beautiful Saratoga Springs area to sample the summer offerings of the New York City Ballet, among other activities in this neck of the woods.  If you happen to be in the area, take the time to attend this lovely Garden Tour. This will be the 15th annual tour that Soroptimist International of Saratoga County organizes.  The tour raises money for improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

    Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is part of the international organization Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc. There are over 1,500 Soroptimist clubs in 20 countries and territories in North, Central and South America, Guam, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan.

    Globally, Soroptimists make a difference by focusing their efforts in six areas:  economic and social development, education, environment, health, human rights/status of women and international goodwill and understanding.  On a local level they address these concerns through awareness, advocacy and action.

    Each year they raise funds that are donated back to the local community in support of programs for women and girls.  Their signature events include Cabin Fever and the Secret Garden Tour.

    Soroptimist Live Your Dream Campaign inspires women and girls to live their dreams and encourages them to pass on their good fortune to others.

    The tour will be Sunday, July 12th from 11:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.  Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 the day of the tour.  We strongly recommend pre-purchasing tickets.  This popular tour sells out every year!  Tickets can be purchased at The Arts Center, 320 Broadway Avenue in Saratoga Springs.  For more information call Lorrie Anthony at (518) 899-5086. You can also visit www.soroptimistsaratoga.org .

  • Tuesday, July 14, 4 – 8 pm – Children’s Party at Green Animals Topiary Garden

    Children and adults of all ages are invited to join the festivities at the Preservation Society of Newport County’s annual Children’s Party at Green Animals Topiary Garden, 380 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The party will feature circus acts, music, magic, clowns, puppets, pony rides, kiddie rides, refreshments and much more on this historic seven acre estate overlooking Narragansett Bay.  No reservations required, and tickets are sold at the door only. Adults: Members $10, General Admission $15; Children 6-12 years: Members free, General Admission $5; Children 5 and under free.  For directions, log on to www.newportmansions.org. Rain or shine event.