Boston Flora

Month: December 2014

  • Wreath of the Day – New Talent

    Wreath of the Day – New Talent

    Our veteran decorators are thrilled each year to discover new talent.  Members try their hands at decorating for the first time and bring their unique perspectives to our materials.  This season a brand new member took charge of a ribbon style we’ve never offered in the past.  The ribbon was wide, with a crocheted look and openings large enough to tuck glass balls inside.  The customer asked for a bright silver accented outdoor wreath which would be visible from a distance since it would be hung in a cemetery.  This one will gleam, without a doubt.

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  • Tuesdays, January 6 – 27, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Botany for Gardeners

    This is a Berkshire Botanical Garden beginning course in plant anatomy and physiology that covers a wide range of topics. The relationship between structure and function of seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits will be addressed. An understanding of how plants grow and respond to their environment is fundamental to the successful planting and cultivation of this enormous class of organisms. The series of classes, to be held Tuesdays, January 6 – 27 at the Education Center at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, can be taken as a core requirement for the Horticulture Certificate Level I program, or each session may be taken as an individual class.

    Instructor – Joyce Hemingson, Ph.D. earned her degree in Botany from the University of Connecticut on the pollination biology of Clethra alnifolia (Sweet Pepperbush). She worked for many years as Director of Publications for White Flower Farm, located in Litchfield, CT. She is an active gardener and a longtime member of the North American Rock Garden Society. $165.  To register, call Berkshire Community College at 413-236-2127, or BBG at 413-298-3926.  Image from www.kulabotanicalgarden.com.

  • Wreath of the Day – Harlequin

    Wreath of the Day – Harlequin

    Today’s wreath shows that simple design can be spectacular.  Not that this wreath was simple to make.  If you look closely, you’ll see various greens enriching the basic balsam, and the positioning of the very dramatic bow is echoed by the sprays of gold pearls.  The designer names each of her wreaths, and this one is Harlequin.

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  • Sunday, December 21, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Dune to Tavern, a Solstice Stroll at the Crane Wildlife Refuge

    Join The Trustees of Reservations for a leisurely hike through the dunes of the Crane Wildlife Refuge in Ipswich to celebrate the winter solstice. On this, the shortest day of the year, we’ll take advantage of the dark with a stroll beneath the stars. We’ll warm up after our walk with hot cider and refreshments in the Tavern at the Inn at Castle Hill: the perfect balance to counteract the bustle of the holiday season! Please note: We will be hiking up and down dunes, through soft sand, for approximately 2½-3 miles. Dress for the weather to maximize comfort and minimize misery! Water is always good to have along. $20 for TTOR members, $25 for nonmembers. Pre-registration required at 978-810-5892, or email dantczak@ttor.org.

  • Wreath of the Day – Advent Purple

    Wreath of the Day – Advent Purple

    We generally don’t disclose names of clients, but in this case the client’s identity is key to understanding the design.  King’s Chapel maintains administrative offices on Beacon Street, and wished to hang a matched pair of wreaths with an Advent purple color theme.  We purchase many burgundy ribbons in preparation for wreath week, but our supply of purple was, bluntly, non-existent.  A trip to Jacobson’s Supply on Albany Street yielded this purple and green ribbon, which was either going to be wildly successful or just plain awful.  Our mother and daughter team of designers accented the wreaths with juniper, white pine, gold painted lotus pods, pine cones, and pomegranates, and tucked in sprigs of purple eucalyptus to tie in the purple color.  Wildly successful, definitely.

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  • Sunday, December 21, 6:00 pm – Roots

    In Roots, seasoned cookbook author Diane Morgan focuses on the overlooked history and uses of root vegetables, and how they can be used to great effect in all cooking, from savory to sweet. During a visit to a farmer’s market in Portland, Oregon, Morgan was struck by her wide eyed unfamiliarity with burdock root. This moment set her on a course to learn more about familiar and unfamiliar produce growing down in the dirt. She proclaims she wrote the book for selfish reasons, wanting a definitive, comprehensive reference book and cookbook containing simple and creative root vegetable recipes, and she’s done just that. In over 225 recipes that spread across 432 pages Morgan delves into the history and lore of 29 major root vegetables and provides practical insight from nutritional information to basic use & storage to seasonal availability. In her search to learn more about root vegetables, Morgan has created a book that is plainly insightful and powerful. Simply put, following her advice about the diverse range of root vegetables available will enhance your cooking confidence and satisfy your hunger, making the book an indispensable tool in your kitchen.

    A copy of Roots is included in the $185 price of this Stir Boston class, to be held at 102 Waltham Street in Boston on Sunday, December 21 at 6 pm. To better serve its guests, Stir is no longer accepting reservations over the phone. Please email reservations@stirboston.com with your class reservation requests. Emails will be responded to in the order in which they are received and should include the information listed below:

    First and Last Name

    Telephone number

    Classes you would like to request / Number of guests in your party

    Reservations are not confirmed until you speak to a member of the Stir Team and he or she collects your payment information.

  • Wreath of The Day: The Return of Our Daily Wreath Pictures

    Wreath of The Day: The Return of Our Daily Wreath Pictures

    As you are no doubt aware, members of The Garden Club of the Back Bay completed the club’s annual Holiday Wreath sale on Thursday, December 4.  For those who missed the opportunity to purchase one of our custom designed wreaths, email info@bostonflora.com with your name and address, and we’ll put you on the 2015 order form mailing list. From now through the New Year, we’ll showcase photographs of selected wreaths produced this year by our talented volunteers, with an accompanying story.  This feature, which we began a few years ago, has become immensely popular across the country – we know because we can track the numbers of “unique users” on this site.  Last season we added a second feature on our Facebook page, aptly named the Facebook Wreath of the Day.  If you use Facebook, please “Like” The Garden Club of the Back Bay, and pictures will appear on your news feed.

    Story Number One begins at the beginning.  A week before our project was scheduled to start, our co-chair Margaret Pokorny received a call from our greens supplier warning her that the delivery of greens would be delayed due to the heavy early snowstorms in Canada and upstate New York.  Workers were unable to gather branches in the deep snow, and supply trucks, stuck for days in bad weather, were behind schedule.  We have our workers and our space rental for a limited time, not to mention the chaos which could result trying to reschedule deliveries to our loyal customers.  Various schemes of procurement were discussed, and we thank Pat Riccardi of Riccardi Wholesale Flowers for managing to deliver our entire order on Monday morning, after driving North to rescue the project.  Pat, the gold, green and yellow wreath below is dedicated to you.

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  • Holiday Gift Memberships to The Garden Conservancy

    Share your love of gardens … Give a unique gift that keeps on giving — for a full year.

    A membership in The Garden Conservancy is not only a thoughtful gift but also helps save and share gardens. Membership provides access to outstanding gardens and magnificent spaces, helps fund our education programs, and supports our preservation efforts across America.

    The Conservancy is offering a limited-edition seasonal card for gift memberships featuring a winter scene at the modernist, Japanese-influenced Chase Garden in Orting, Washington, one of its preservation gardens.

    In addition, while supplies last, gift recipients will receive a set of 8 full-color notecards with beautiful garden photographs.  Order a gift membership ($50) online at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/component/virtuemart/?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=77&category_id=34 or call our Membership department at 845.424.6500 (NY).

  • Tuesday, January 6 – Thursday, January 8, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Drawing the Market: Fruits and Veggies in Graphite

    Explore creative ways to arrange the abundance of produce contained in grocery store aisles to make intriguing compositions of fruit, berries, and foliage.  Focus on graphite techniques under the guidance of Carol Ann Morley at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden in a three day class to be held Tuesday, January 6 – Thursday, January 8, from 9:30 – 3:30 (snow date Friday, January 9.)  Discover how to analyze shapes and negative spaces to create three dimensional forms and bring your art to life.  This is a workshop suitable for all levels.  WCBG members $250, nonmembers $300.  Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu. Image below by Evan Lovejoy.

  • Tuesday, January 13 – Thursday, January 15, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – From the Market: Colorful Fruits and Veggies

    You’ve taken the graphite course, now explore color with Carol Ann Morley at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden on Tuesday, January 13 – Thursday, January 15 from 9:30 – 3:30 (snow date Friday, January 16.)  Learn to capture the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables. Find out how many multiple overlays of colors it can take to give depth, shie and texture to one berry.  Draw from the abundance of produce available in the middle of winter to make intriguing compositions of fruit, berries and foliage.  Explore creative possibilities, whether traditional or whimsical, to enhance your artwork.  This is a workshop suitable for all levels.  WCBG members $250, nonmembers $300.  Call 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu to sign up. Illustration courtesy of Sue Woodfine.