April 10, 2014 - Boston Flora

Saturday, April 26 OR Saturday, May 3, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Setting Up a Beehive

April 10, 2014 by Boston Flora

Join beekeeper Jan Johnson for step-by-step instruction and demonstration on setting up a beehive, beginning indoors with a close-up look at how bees arrive for installation. This Berkshire Botanical Garden workshop will be conducted off-site, and registrants will be informed of the venue in advance. Safety equipment, how to stay protected, structural components, assembly and siting of the hive will be discussed. Jan will then demonstrate how to introduce bees into a new hive. Participants will be able to observe from a safe distance.

This program is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 26 or May 3 at 2 pm. These dates are subject to weather conditions and bee delivery. Once you sign up for the workshop, we will keep you posted about the actual day the workshop will occur. It will take place on a weekend. A list of suggested safety equipment is listed below although these items are not mandatory. Protective gear should include a hat and face veil, long-sleeved shirt and pants (or bee suit) and protective boots. Gloves are helpful. Following the demonstration, Jan will be on hand to answer questions.

$25 for BBG members, $35 for nonmembers.Â Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call 413-298-3926, x 15.

Saturday, April 26, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm – Drifts of Daffodils

April 10, 2014 by Boston Flora

Join well known gardener Jeffrey Steele for an in-depth program on naturalizing daffodils at visits to two private gardens on Saturday, April 26 in a program sponsored by the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Each garden demonstrates extensive plantings using contrasting methods for naturalizing daffodils. Timed for the height of the bloom, this program will cover the planning, varietal selection, planting and cultivation to enable participants to successfully create daffodil meadows or woodlands. A short history of daffodils will be included in the program.

Jeffrey A. Steele is owner of Ashley Falls Nursery, a landscape and garden design and consultation firm with a special interest in historic gardens. He was previously with the Atlanta Botanical Garden and Wilcox Park (a Victorian strolling park restoration in Rhode Island) and was a past director of BBG. The daffodil is his favorite flower, and he has been building a collection for the last 15 years.

Participants can choose to carpool or drive separately. Those joining the carpool should meet in the parking lot at Berkshire Botanical Garden for a 9:45 am departure. Carpool will return at approximately 1:30 pm. $25 for members of BBG, $30 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call 413-298-3926, x 15.