Daily Archives: April 8, 2010

Saturday, April 24, 8:30 – noon – Alley Rally

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What’s a good way to get to know your neighbors and work in a little exercise as well? The Back Bay Alley Rally! This annual neighborhood cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 24th, in conjunction with Mayor Menino’s Boston Shines. Volunteers of all ages gather with Chairs Ellen Rooney, Chris Mitchell and Roseann Colot at the Clarendon Street Playground at 8:30 am to fortify themselves with juice, coffee and doughnuts provided by our local stores. We then divide into teams and — using the rakes, shovels and brooms provided by the City of Boston — volunteers fan out to clean the alleys and side streets. Your labors will end at noon, when everyone returns to the playground for a picnic lunch, with food donated by our local businesses.  Bring your own fashionable gloves, of course.

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Thursdays, May 6 and 13, 12:00 pm – 3:30 pm, and May 20, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Native Herbaceous Plant Materials: Early Season

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Many native North American herbaceous plants are suitable for growing in New England. This course examines the characteristics of horticulturally important native plants that grow and/or flower early in the season. Discussion includes how a plant’s cultural requirements relate to its wild habitat. Lectures are accompanied by firsthand looks at plant materials used at Garden in the Woods. Designed for anyone wanting to work at a professional level with native plants, this course is also appropriate for the avid home gardener.  This three part New England Wild Flower Society class is being taught by Jessie Panek, costs $130 if you are a member of NEWFS, and $150 if you are not.  You may register on line at www.newfs.org.

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Saturday, April 17, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Pruning Fundamentals

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If you are out in the Berkshires on weekends, you may be interested in attending The New England Wild Flower Society’s workshop on pruning, to be conducted on Saturday, April 17, from 10 – 1, at Hilltown Tree & Garden in Chesterfield, Massachusetts.  Join certified arborist and horticulturist Jim McSweeney to learn pruning basics that will benefit both the novice and advanced gardener. Proper pruning improves both the health and structure of woody plants, and allows the gardener to influence the aesthetic qualities of trees and shrubs. This workshop covers pruning methods for new and established plantings in the home landscape. Learn how to select basic tools, make a proper cut, determine which branches to cut, and the correct time to prune for different species. Bring hand pruners and a saw and leave the workshop with skills to take on most basic pruning issues in the home landscape. (You won’t be harnessed in like the fellow below, don’t worry!)  $33 for NEWFS members, $39 for nonmembers, and you may register at www.newfs.org.

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