Boston Flora

Month: July 2009

  • Saturday, July 11, 2 – 5 pm – Foraging for Wild Edibles with Russ Cohen

    Set along the shores of a 200-acre lake, Tully Lake Campground in Royalston offers modern conveniences and superb recreational opportunities in a beautiful natural setting. Paddle around Tully Lake or take a day trip to nearby waterfalls and scenic overlooks. Or explore miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, including the 22-mile Tully Trail. For any outdoor adventure Tully Lake is your close to home wilderness getaway! The Tully region is home to more than 100 species of edible wild plants, many of which are more nutritious and/or flavorful than their cultivated counterparts. Join author and expert forager Russ Cohen on Saturday, July 11, from 2 – 5,  for a Trustees of Reservations  ramble in and around the Tully Campground to learn about at least two-dozen species of edible wild plants.  Free program, but pre-registration requested.  Telephone 978-249-4957, or email central@ttor.org.

  • Tuesday, July 21, 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Flower Arranging: Fresh From the Garden

    The stunning arrangements of garden-grown flowers in the Polly Hill Arboretum Visitor Center in West Tisbury wow visitors, volunteers, and staff all season long.  These vibrant bouquets of familiar and unusual flowers are grown and arranged by PHA volunteer and retired commercial grower Susan Silva in her West Tisbury garden.  Join Silva from 10 – 11:30 as she shares techniques for growing and arranging cut flowers.  Using flowers from her garden, participants will create their own spectacular bouquets. Bring a container to transport your flowers home. Space is limited, please pre-register.  Call 508-693-9426.  $45 per person ($40 PHA members).  You may contact Karin Stanley by email, karin@pollyhillarboretum.org, for directions and more information.

  • Saturday, July 18 – “Roses” at The Mall at Chestnut Hill

    As part of The Mall at Chestnut Hill’s 2009 Organic Garden Series, come to the Mall on Saturday, July 18, where there will be a bee keeper/apiarist on site, a live butterfly exhibit, an exhibit on coastal gardens and salt marshes, Chestnut Hill Garden Club Tour, and “Rose Art” – art groups featuring their interpretation of roses through live paintings.  For more information, call 617-965-3037, or log on to www.simon.com and click the @Your Mall Now! button.

  • Commonwealth Avenue Mall Call For Volunteers

    Volunteers are needed to water five newly planted trees on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall throughout the summer and into the fall.  Each tree requires 1/2 hour of watering once a week — about 3/4 to 1 hour of your time. Trees are located at the corner of Exeter (2), between Fairfield and Gloucester (1), and between Gloucester and Hereford (2). Instructions, hoses, and vacation backup will be provided.  To offer your services or for more information, please call Susan Juretschke, Volunteer Coordinator, at 617.876.6542 or 617.833.9609.  Naturally, if it keeps raining, this will be an easy job, but chances are the skies will clear sometime this summer!

  • Sunday, July 12, 2 pm – Horticulture Walking Tour of Forest Hills

    Forest Hills’ founder, Henry A.S. Dearborn, was a civic leader with expertise in law and politics, as well as in landscape design and horticulture. The first president of the Massachusetts Horticulture Society, Dearborn, along with others, helped shape the rural garden cemetery movement in the United States. Join Anthony Sammarco, author of more than 50 books on Boston history, for a walking tour celebrating Dearborn and other prominent 19th century horticulturists buried at Forest Hills Cemetery.

    Meet at Main Gate. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; this is a 2-hour walk (with frequent stops) over varied terrain. Admission: $9.  For more information, and to register, log on to www.foresthillstrust.org.

  • Friday – Saturday, July 10 and 11, 10 – 4 – Seaside Gardens Tour

    The Rockport Garden Club presents Seaside Gardens, a tour of fifteen private Rockport seaside gardens, on Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Ten stops provide access, and each garden offers unique plantings and styles.  Most of the gardens are on the waterfront along Rockport’s spectacular coastline, while others feature ocean views.  Perennials, refreshments, and original art will be offered for sale at designated tour sites.  All proceeds will be used to maintain Rockport’s town gardens and to fund civic projects and scholarships.  This is a rain or shine event.  Admission is $25 in advance (call 978-546-2250 or 978-546-7871).  Tickets may be purchased at Toadhall Bookstore, 51 Main Street, Rockport.  For further information,  you may email Elaine Hassler at e.hassler@comcast.net, or log on to www.rockportgardenclub.org.

  • Monday, July 20 – Friday, July 24, 9:30 – 12:30 – Luscious Leaves

    Spend a week at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden.  Start with basic leaf botany and color mixing for Sarah Roche’s favorite leaf colors.  Then rev up your dry brush watercolors skills and watch as luscious leaves come alive on your paper.  Advanced beginner watercolor skills required.  Members of the Friends of Wellesley Botanic Garden, $225, non-members $275.  For more information, and for a printable registration form, log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH, or send a check made out to Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture to them at 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481-8203.

  • Saturday, July 11 – Sunday, July 12, 1:30 – 5 pm – New England Lily Society Golden Anniversary Lily Show

    See gorgeous displays of lilies and arrangements featuring lilies, with botanical art of lilies by members of the New England Society of Botanical Artists, at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts.  On Saturday at 3 pm, hear a lecture by lily expert David Chase on “Beetle Resistant Lilies”, and on Sunday at 2 pm Master Gardener Melissa Pace will speak on “Amending Soil for Success – Soil Preparation for Planting,”  Saturday hours are 1:30 – 5, Sunday hours are 10 – 5.  For directions, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.