Boston Flora

Month: April 2011

  • Wednesdays, May 4 – June 15, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Art as a Way of Seeing and Knowing

    The Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture offer a seven week class entitled Art as a Way of Seeing and Knowing, A Journey of Discovery, beginning Wednesday, May 4, from 1 – 4, and continuing through June 15, at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden and Greenhouses in Wellesley, Massachusetts.  This class offers a unique opportunity for serious artists at all levels.  Be inspired and renewed by the awesome diversity of natural forms available year round in the greenhouses and arboretum at Wellesley College.  Or, use your drawings, memory and imagination to develop ideas in the studio classroom.  Draw or paint using materials that suit your expressive intentions.  In a warm and supportive atmosphere, award winning artist/educator Susan Swinand offers critiques and suggests projects to spark your creativity.  WCFH members, $200, non-members $250.  To register, log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH, or call 781-283-3094. Image of work below by Susan Swinand courtesy of Pascarelli Gallery.

  • Thursday, April 14, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Garden Plants Great and Small

    Jen Kettell, Horticultural Technologist at the Arnold Arboretum, will present a lecture Thursday, April 14, from 6:30 – 8:30 in the Hunnewell Building, entitled Garden Plants Great and Small.  Low-growing and ground-covering woody plants can add texture, unity, and dimension to even the smallest of gardens.  In fact, these can be the perfect solution for the city gardener – small, low-maintenance plants that help to shade out weeds while adding interest.  Jen will share some of her favorites appropriate for a vaariety of conditions and uses.  Fee: $20 for Arboretum members, $25 for non-members.  To register online, log on to www.my.arboretum.harvard.edu, or call 617-384-5277.

  • Protect Sunlight in Public Parks

    The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay has informed us of a Petition to Support H. 1169, An Act Protecting Sunlight in Certain Public Parks, sponsored by Representatives Martha Walz and Byron Rushing. To read the bill, go to www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/House/H01169.  This bill seeks to expand and clarify the current laws that protect the sunlight on the beloved Boston Public Garden and the Boston Common by limiting new shadows.  Specifically, the bill would prohibit any new construction or building remodeling from blocking sunlight and casting new shadows on six additional public parks.  The goal of the bill is to allow reasonably-scaled development near the parks while protecting sufficient sunlight for the health of the park environment and the enjoyment of its users.

    The five Boston parks and one Cambridge park will be protected by the bill are:

    * The Back Bay Fens
    * Christopher Columbus Park
    * The Commonwealth Avenue Mall
    * Copley Square Park
    * The Esplanade
    * Magazine Beach Park

    You can sign the petition immediately (through May 22) by logging in to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sunlight2.  However, if you have already signed the petition, please do not do so again.  If you have any questions concerning this legislation, you may email Sue Prindle at sprindl@verizon.net.  Photo from www.gardenvoice.com.

  • Saturdays, April 30 – May 21, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Ink Brush Painting Workshop

    Capture the essence of different plants and flowers using expressive gesture strokes based on Asian ink brush painting traditions.  Working with black ink and watercolor, Nan Rumpf (paintings below by Nan Rumpf courtesy of www.needham.patch.com)  helps you interpret plant forms with brush and ink.  Also explore rice paper washes using Assam tea and watercolor.  Join the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture to learn new skills or brush up on your old skills, on four successive Saturdays, April 30 – May 21, from 1 – 4.  This class can help watercolor artists expand their repertoire of brushstrokes as well as provide a useful transition step between drawing and painting.  WCFH members $125, Non-Members $160.   To register, call 781-283-3094, ext. 4, or log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH.

  • Saturdays, April 30 – May 28, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – Elements of Botanic Illustration: Beginning Watercolor Techniques

    Join Jeanne Kunze (one of her peony pictures is shown below) at the Wellesley Botanic Garden on five successive Saturdays, April 30 – May 28, from 9:30 – 12:30, in an art and plant exploration inspired by the interrelationship of paper, brushes, water, and pigments.  Mixing color and application will be the focus of this beginning watercolor experience, sponsored by the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture.  Be guided with classroom sequential exercises and demonstrations.  Bring your curiosity and enthusiasm to class and learn techniques to express our “inner artist.”  There will be group instruction followed by individualized attention from the instructor.  Some previous drawing experience is helpful.  WCFH members $225, non-members $275.  To register, log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH, or call 781-283-3094, ext. 4.

  • Tuesday, April 5 – Tuesday, April 12 – COG On Line Auction: In the Garden

    Looking for that special garden ornament? A specimen tree? Or maybe pruning from one of the area’s most reputable contractors? Then prepare to bid early and often at the annual on-line auction In the Garden at www.cogdesign.org, April 5 -12. All proceeds help bring gardens and parks to the greater Boston area.

    In the Garden offers specialty goods and services for the discerning gardener and homeowner and attracts great interest and spirited bidding. Auction items include garden ornaments and tools, specialty trees and shrubs, fine dining and wine, travel and tickets, and an array of one-of-a-kind items. Retail values for auction selections range from $25 to $500.

    COGdesign provides pro bono landscape design services wherever people need plants, gardens and parks, from homeless shelters and public schools to community gardens and neighborhood green spaces, throughout the greater Boston area. For more information, call 781-642-6662 or email to info@cogdesign.org .

  • Thursday, April 7 and Saturday, April 9 – NOFA Statewide Organic Lawn Days

    Join a NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional at one of 12 locations across the state to learn about how you can take care of your own lawn or property organically. These three-hour intensive workshops will cover site analysis, transitioning from conventional to organic management, compost, amendments, mowing and watering practices you can implement to have a beautiful, low-cost, synthetic chemical-free lawn. Hands-on component and handouts included. Workshops to be held in Monterey, Northampton, Amherst, Boylston, Salem, Newburyport, Natick, Barnstable, Dartmouth, Arlington, Stoneham and Ayer. For more info: Kathy@nofamass.org or call (413) 773-3830.  Graphic  below from www.chemicalfreegrass.com.

  • Saturday, April 9, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Organic Lawns for Homeowners

    Sponsored by NOFA/Mass, this Organic Lawns for Homeowners workshop will take place at a private residence, 26 Kensington Park, Arlington, Massachusetts from 1 – 4 on Saturday, April 9. $25 – register at www.nofamass.org or call 413-773-3830. This event is made possible by a grant from the Toxics Use Reduction Institute.

  • Saturday, April 16, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, April 17, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – 52nd Annual Spring African Violet Show and Plant Sale

    This Spring marks the Baystate African Violet Society’s 50th Anniversary. They will sponsor an AVSA-approved African violet show and plant sale. The show gives people an opportunity to enter their plants and floral designs for judging to win ribbons and prizes. You can also attend workshops on AV care. At the sale, commercially grown plants and supplies are sold, along with plants grown by our members. There is an $10 entrance fee to Tower Hill. The event takes place Saturday, April 16 from 10 – 5, and Sunday, April 17, from 10 – 4.  For more information, log on to www.baystateafricanviolet.org. Picture courtesy of myviolet.com.

  • Saturday, May 14 – Sunday, May 15 – Annual Gardeners’ Weekend

    MIT Endicott House is having its Annual Gardeners’ Weekend Retreat May 14 and 15.  Learn all the tips to make your gardens the envy of your neighbors this year.  Program begins Saturday at 9 am and runs through brunch on Sunday.  $199.00 per person plus tax includes meals, the gardening program, overnight room and tour of the Frederick Law Olmsted designed grounds and gardens of MIT Endicott House, 80 Haven Street in Dedham.  For more information call 781-326-5151, or log on to www.mitendicotthouse.org.