See the 20-foot flowering nasturtium vines adorn the courtyard balconies in one of the year’s most stunning displays – seen nowhere else, Saturday, April 3 – Sunday, April 18, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m (closed Mondays). The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is located at 280 The Fenway, Boston. For more information call 617-566-1401, or log on to www.gardnermuseum.org.
The Berkshire Botanical Gardens will teach you to design an active compost pile on Saturday, April 17, from 10 – noon. BBG members $18, non members $24, and please dress for outdoors.
The first step to a healthy, sustainable garden is a great compost pile. Discover the differences between active and passive compost pile building, explore compost pile structures, and learn what will work for you. Understand strategies for making richer compost in a shorter period of time for less work, and consider why we use compost and what it adds to your garden. Build a tipi compost pile on site, mini-scale, and see what materials can be used in what ratio. The instructor, Pat Parkins, owns Gardens of the Goddess, and incorporates her interest in ecology into her landscaping practices. For directions, and to register, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org.
This year, MassRecycle, www.massrecycle.org is excited to partner with MassDEP to combine the 5th Annual University of Resource Management Conference and the 10th Annual Organics Recycling Summit, “Local Energy Takes Root,” into two full days in early April dedicated to examining recycling and composting from garbage to revenues.The Organics Recycling Summit is the largest conference dedicated to food waste and organics recycling in New England.
The conference will teach participants how recycling and composting of solid food wastes can add to revenue streams and reduce waste at curbside. Just as recycling turns trash into revenues, composting also turns trash into a commodity worth cash.
On April 6 the conference will take place at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough from 8 am to 4 pm. Topics of workshops include “Collecting Food Waste at Public Events,” “Commercial Food Waste Composting Technology,” and “Anaerobic Digestion.” The April 7th program will be held at the New England Small Farm Institute in Belchertown, Massachusetts. You may register on line, or call Jessica at 617-338-0244, or email director@massrecycle.org.
“Eat It to Save It†is a growing movement led by the Slow Food USA Organization’s Ark of Taste Committee. It is an effort to save regional food systems by showing how you can support biodiversity and sustainably-produced foods by EATING them. You can all do your part as consumer activists to promote and support responsibly-made and sourced foods. There are a number of local businesses working hard to do the right thing: making and selling quality products that are good for the people and planet. Please join the next Agrowcity event on Wednesday, March 31, at Bunker Hill Community College, 250 Rutherford Avenue in Boston, to meet some of our local heroes and see how you can vote with your dollar! Harvest Co-op is a community-owned, not-for-profit grocery cooperative. Hilltop Farm is a 28-acre local farm running a Community Support Agriculture (CSA)program. You will also have the opportunity to meet other local businesses and producers in the area. For more information, log on to http://www.meetup.com/Agrowcity/calendar/12838697/
On Wednesday, April 14, The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America will host the Spring Lecture Luncheon at The Country Club, 191 Clyde Street, Brookline, with guest speaker Tupper Thomas, Administrator of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, who will speak on “Continuing the Olmsted Legacy.” Also, the 2010 Boston Bowl will be awarded this year to two outstanding individuals, Betsy Shure Gross and Corliss Knapp Engle. Registration begins at 10:30 am, with an 11:00 am lecture, followed by lunch.
Appointed in 1980 as the first administrator of Prospect Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Ms. Thomas is responsible to the Commissioner for planning and overseeing the $100 million dollar capital restoration of Prospect Park.
The meeting is open to members of the fourteen member and affiliate member clubs of The Boston Committee: Beacon Hill Garden Club, Garden Club of Buzzards Bay, Cambridge Plant & Garden Club, Chestnut Hill Garden Club, Cohasset Garden Club, Fox Hill Garden Club, Milton Garden Club, Noanett Garden Club, North Shore Garden Club, Piscataqua Garden Club, Garden Club of the Back Bay, Garden Club of Brookline, Junior League of Boston Garden Club, and the Manchester Garden Club, and their guests. The fee to attend is $45 for the lecture and lunch, $20 for the lecture only. Please make checks payable to “The Boston Committee of the GCA” and mail to Mrs. William U. Shipley, 40 Dunster Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 before April 8. Please note the name of your Club on your check. If you have questions, you may email jwshipley@aol.com.
Join nationally-known native plant propagator and plant wiz Bill Cullina for an intensive two-day seminar (April 30 and May 1, 9:30 – 3:30) on the best native plant materials available today. This New England Wild Flower Society course will cover a variety of herbaceous and woody temperate North American plants that are becoming important for use in the design and landscape trades. Plants with extraordinary hardiness, pest resistance, flowering characteristics, texture, and habitat value will be featured. Emphasis will be on identifying plants that reflect the ambient native plant communities, and which lend well to ecologically-informed designs. Both native wild-type and some cultivars will be examined, and information on growing and maintaining plants in the landscape will be presented. Amateur horticulturists are welcome. Fee, including lunch and snack, is $225 for NEWFS members, $270 for nonmembers. To register, or for more information, log on to www.newfs.org.
From early-April to mid-May, over three million daffodils of every color, shape and size will bloom on Nantucket Island. This blossoming, and the advent of spring itself, is the focal point of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Daffodil Festival, this year taking place April 23 – 25. Originated by the late Jean MacAusland, a summer resident of Nantucket and former publisher of Gourmet Magazine, the weekend has grown into a full-scale celebration of winter’s thaw, joyous for both islanders and visitors alike. Daffodils adorn the island’s roadsides, gardens and shop windows with blossoms of yellow, orange, white and even pale pink. The Daffodil Festival’s grand event, held on Saturday (Rain or Shine) is the Annual Antique Car Parade, featuring over 100 daffodil-bedecked antique cars (pre-registration necessary for participation.) After winding through town and across the island to the charming village of Siasconset, participants join residents and visitors for the Annual Daffodil Tailgate Picnic. Held on the lush lawns leading into the village the picnic boasts fare ranging from elaborate gourmet cuisine served on fine china to box lunches and burgers. Other highlights include the Nantucket Garden Club’s Annual Daffodil Show, Daffy Dog Parade, Children’s Daffodil Parade and The Daffy Hat Pageant.For more information, log on to www.nantucketchamber.org.
An important symposium will take place Saturday, April 10, from 9 am – 2 pm, at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center, Vermont, sponsored by The New England Wild Flower Society, The Friends of the Horticulture Farm, The Hardy Plant Club, and The Fells, North American Rock Garden Society Master Gardeners.
Three inspiring gardeners share their experience and knowledge about creating that all-important lower layer in the garden. Whether you are looking for tips about plants that tolerate shade under a canopy, native groundcovers that require low maintenance, or “survivalist†plants that grow in alpine crevices, you will benefit from our experts’ advice at this day-long symposium.
Crevice Gardening with Anne Spiegel
Gardening first in the northeast, then moving on to the Rockies, Cascades, Wallowas and the Alps, and Dolomites in Europe, Ann is now back in the New York hills, not far from Poughkeepsie, in a dry, windy 4b zone. Her garden is on a steep area of stepped ledges, ending in a small cliff. Anne shares her knowledge of crevice gardening, using both wild and garden plants that thrive in her harsh conditions, where it is never possible to water.
Under the Canopy: Shade Gardening with Native Plants with Scott LaFleur
In his role as Botanic Garden Director for New England Wild Flower Society at Garden in the Woods, Scott knows that not all shade is created equal. Scott discusses the layers of a woodland garden and how to plan and plant accordingly. Discover how to look past flowers to texture, shades of green, and the interaction of light.
Groundcovers for Northeast Gardeners with Mary Crain Penniman
With a lifetime of experience in horticulture, art, botany, and environmental protection, Mary Crain shares a wealth of knowledge with her presentation on choice groundcover plants for low maintenance. The natural world gives us myriad examples of ground covering plants that New Englanders can model in their own gardens. There is a right groundcover for every place. This presentation explores the subject, asking which are the most choice plants and which are the hardest workers.
About the Speakers:
Anne Spiegel
With her wide ranging experience, gardening in high rocky places around the US and Europe, Anne brings a wealth of information to those interested in growing plants in challenging spots. Active in the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS) since 1984, she is one of their most highly recommended lecturers. Â Anne has taught at the New York Botanical Garden, is past president of the Berkshire Chapter of NARGS and has taught Master Gardener classes as well.
Scott LaFleur
Now Botanic Garden Director at New England Wild Flower Society, Scott started his own horticultural business following formal education at UNH. He went on to develop and implement a $1.5 million master plan for a 145-acre Vermont farm, which encompassed ponds, a three-mile trail system, numerous gardens, a greenhouse, and the reshaping of over 60 acres of rocky hillside into rolling green hills. Scott deftly used native plant materials and ecological design that handled the site’s challenging climate and 1,700-foot elevation. At Garden in the Woods, Scott worked with visiting artists and designers to install innovative special exhibits such as ROCK ON in 2006, and ART GOES WILD in 2007. The “Idea Garden†from ART GOES WILD, with roof plantings on a garden shed and sedge replacing lawn has been a huge success.
Mary Crain Penniman
After beginning studies in art and botany, Mary Crain earned a BS in amenity horticulture then headed to England for an apprenticeship and studies with the Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley Gardens and the University of London. After a Project at Callaway Gardens, more studies at Conway School of Landscape Design, Mary Crain worked for Mass. Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Watershed Management conducting habitat evaluation and field reconnaissance around sensitive resources for over 10 years. In 2002 she launched her landscape design business, which is focused on residential ‘whole site’ planning, often involving environmental elements such as wetland or woodland restoration. Naturalistic plantings combined with traditional stone masonry around antique properties is her design practice speciality.
The spring symposium is presented by The Vermont-New Hampshire Chapter of The New England Wild Flower Society and will be held Saturday, April 10, 2010 at Vermont Technical College in Randolph Center VT, which is located at exit 4 off Interstate 89.
The fee which includes lunch, free parking and the symposium packet, is $53 for non-members and $47 for members of the cosponsoring organizations:Â The Friends of the Horticulture Farm, the Hardy Plant Club, The Fells North American Rock Garden Society, Master Gardeners and New England Wild Flower Society.
TO REGISTER please send your check, payable to NEWFS-VT (preferred) or Visa or Master Card number and expiration date, with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address (for confirmation and directions) all clearly written to Thelma Hewitt, PO Box 2333, New London, NH 03257.  No refunds after April 1.
Please consider supporting The Aptucxet Garden Club of Bourne for its Spring Splurge, a luncheon and fashion show to be held Thursday, April 8, from 11:30 am – 3:00 pm at The Club at New Seabury, in Mashpee. Fashions will be provided by Maureen Burbic Boutique and Gallery in East Sandwich. You don’t even need to be there to win great raffle prizes. Tickets are $30 per person, advance purchase only. For ticket information contact Jan Browne at 508-563-3945, or email her at jbdedham@aol.com.
Land’s Sake, Inc. of Weston sponsors its Sugaring Off Festival on Saturday, March 27 beginning at 10:00 am. The Bill McElwain Sugar House at the Weston Middle School is the venue for the Festival, featuring a pancake breakfast, coffee, hot cider, maple sugar treats, bake sale, live music, tours of the Sugar House in full operation, and of course their own maple syrup. Log on to www.landssake.org, or call 781-893-1162 for more information.
