Boston Flora

Month: June 2012

  • Wednesday, July 11, 7:30 pm – Extraordinary Secrets of Trees

    Perhaps you plan a trip to Martha’s Vineyard in July.  If so, don’t neglect this terrific evening lecture at the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury on Wednesday, July 11 beginning at 7:30 pm. Have you ever looked at a tree? Of course, we see them every day; however have you ever really seen the wondrous traits of your favorite trees? Join author and educator Nancy Ross Hugo for this illustrated talk based on her recent book Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Ordinary Trees. Focusing on widely grown trees, this captivating book describes the rewards of close observation of trees, and with stunning photographs illustrates some of the most visually interesting tree structures, including leaves, flowers, buds, leaf scars, twigs, and bark. Trees will never look quite the same again.  $10/$5 for PHA members. Generously sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts.  Register on line at www.pollyhillarboretum.org.

  • Sunday, July 15, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – North Quabbin Garden Club 13th Annual Garden Tour

    Come visit the gardens of Athol on Sunday, July 15, from 10 – 3.  Advance maps ($5/person or $15/carload) are available at Bruce’s Browser and Agway in Athol, and Noel’s Nursery, North Quabbin Woods and Educare in Orange. Day-of maps will be sold at the Allen E. Rich Environmental Park near 50 Main St., Athol, and garden plants will be available for purchase at one of the gardens. The event benefits the Millers River Environmental Center. Presented with help from the North Quabbin Garden Club. Part of Athol Bird & Nature Club’s celebration of Athol 2012.

  • Friday, August 17 – Sunday, August 26 – A Capital Idea at The Marshfield Fair – Call to Exhibitors

    A Capital Idea, The Design Division of a Standard Flower Show at the Marshfield Fair, will take place August 17 – 26.  Class 1, a Stretch design, is entitled “London Bridge”.  Class 2, a design, Traditional or Creative, inspired by an ancient Greek god or mythological creature selected by the Exhibitor, is entitled “The Acropolis.”  Class 3, a Reflective design,  is Paris, “City of Lights.”  Class 4, a Traditional or Creative style design, using predominantly white plant material, is “The White House.”  Class 5, a Functional Table for One, is Tokyo “Tea Ceremony.”  Finally, Class 6, a collage on a panel 20″ wide by 30” high, is Mexico City “Fiesta.”  Contact Ginger King, 781-383-9554, or kingbobg@aol.com, for more information on exhibiting.

  • Thursday, July 12, 6:30 pm – A World of Ice Cream with Gus Rancatore of Toscanini’s

    Although Formaggio’s Kitchen specializes in cheese, that doesn’t lessen their enthusiasm for another worthy use of milk – the almighty scoop of ice cream.  On Thursday, July 12, beginning at 6:30 pm, join Gus Rancatore, owner of Cambridge ice cream institution Toscanini’s, for a celebration of National Ice Cream Month.  Gus will talk about ice cream traditions from around the world, covering American, French, Indian, Italian, and Turkish varieties.  He’ll illustrate his talk with plenty of samples, of course.  He’ll also answer your questions about the ice cream making process and share a few of his favorite recipes.  $45 per person.  The class will be held at Formaggio’s classroom annex, 67 Smith Place in Cambridge.  To register, visit www.formaggiokitchen.com, or call 617-354-4750.  Fabulous photo of Gus, below, by Michele McDonald for The Boston Globe.

  • Saturday, July 21, 9:00 am – 8:00 pm – Historic Houses and Gardens in South Berwick, Maine

    Massachusetts Horticultural staff members April Daley and Maureen Horn are hosting a bus trip on Saturday, July 21, to South Berwick, Maine, where travelers will receive private group tours of two properties owned by Historic New England. The first is the 1785 Georgian mansion, Hamilton House, a National Historic Landmark, built on a bluff overlooking the Salmon Falls River and surrounded by classic gardens.

    The featured visit is to the Sarah Orne Jewett House, first owned by her family in 1819, on a festive day when the public is being invited especially into its herb gardens. Nancy Wetzel, the House’s Landscape historian, will speak to the group from Mass Hort on the historic importance of herbs and of community herbalists, as seen through the lens of The Country of the Pointed Firs and Mrs. Todd, the novel’s herb practitioner. Afterwards, she will guide us through the garden to provide a sensory experience of the herbs described by Jewett.

    Between house visits, we will stop in Kittery, Maine so that travelers can choose a place to enjoy lunch from a large array of restaurants.

    The tour will start at 9:00 in the Target parking lot on Route 30 in Framingham and return there at 8:00 p. m.

    If you have questions about the tour please contact the librarian, Maureen Horn, at 617-933-4912 or MHorn@Masshort.org. The cost is $110 for Mass Hort members and $130 for non-members.

    Registration will be complete only by an online reservation or check payable to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society by July 2.. Please mail your check to the attention of Maureen Horn at 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA 02482.

    Note: If there are fewer than 20 registrants by July 3 the tour will be cancelled.

  • Wednesday, July 11, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Summer Tree Stroll

    The Boston Urban Forest Council presents a Summer Tree Stroll on Wednesday, July 11, from 6:30 – 8.  Meet at the Brewer Fountain on the Boston Common (behind the Park Street T-Station.)  Summer evenings are the perfect time to notice the shapes of trees.  Come and learn to distinguish between the upright ginkgo, the spreading oak, and the vase shaped elm.  You will also learn to identify leaves and find historic trees as you walk the Common and the Public Garden, enjoying the beauty of a summer evening.  Sponsored by Boston Natural Areas Network in partnership with the Friends of the Public Garden and the Boston Parks & Recreation department.  Please register for this free event by calling 617-542-7696, or emailing info@bostonnatural.org.  Photo from www.joenesgarden.com.

  • Wednesday, July 11, 10:00 am – 7:00 pm – South Shore Natural Science Center 31st Annual Garden Tour

    Tour lovely gardens of the South Shore at the South Shore Natural Science Center’s 31st Annual Garden Tour, Through the Garden Gate, on Wednesday, July 11, from 10 – 7. Advance tickets are $18 for SSNSC members, $20 for non members, and $25 on the day of the tour.  Call 781-659-2559 for ticket information, or visit www.ssnsc.org. Below is a picture of artist Nancy Colella painting in a garden on a previous SSNSC tour.

  • Thursday, July 12, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Clematis: The Queen of the Climbers

    Clematis is the ‘Queen of the Climbing Vines’ and includes a collection of some 300 species and a thousand cultivars. Clematis is ideally suited to our New England climate and some cultivars bloom continuously for up to 16 weeks. As part of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s series “Thursdays at the Hort”, Cheryl Monroe will speak on Thursday, July 12 on this beautiful plant family.  Cheryl Monroe is a Master Gardener who has 50 Clematis on her property and maintains an on line blog – The Garden in the Burrow.  Presentations will begin at 7pm and go until all questions are answered.The classes are priced at $12 for Mass Hort members and $15 for non-members – no need to pre-register. You may pay at the class. For more information visit www.masshort.org.

  • Thursday, July 5, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Joys of Butterfly Gardening

    Butterflies are welcome visitors to our gardens. Join Susie Bowman, teacher/naturalist at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and avid gardener, at the Polly Hill Arboretum on Thursday, July 5, from 10 – noon, to learn how to attract more of these beautiful insects to your garden. She will introduce the basic needs of butterflies and how to plan or modify gardens to meet these needs. Susie will illustrate with images of island butterflies that frequent specific plants at the Felix Neck butterfly garden. The program will conclude with a walk to the Polly Hill homestead border. Butterfly-friendly plant list included!

    $20/$10 for PHA members.  To register, visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org.

  • Saturday, July 14, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Sunday, July 15, 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm – Pittsfield Garden Tour

    The 16th Annual Pittsfield Garden Tour will take place Saturday, July 14, from 10 – 4, and on Sunday, July 15, from noon – 4, and will highlight eight gorgeous gardens created and maintained by the homeowners throughout the city. The Pittsfield Garden Tour Committee is the sponsoring organization, and they may be reached on their website, www.PittsfieldGardenTour.org.  Tickets are $15 and you may buy them in person at the Colonial Theatre, 111 South Street in Pittsfield.