Boston Flora

Month: May 2015

  • Tuesday, June 2 – Sunday, June 28 – Every Human Soul is a Garden

    Tuesday, June 2 – Sunday, June 28 – Every Human Soul is a Garden

    The public is invited to see Every Human Soul is a Garden by Robin Reynolds, the latest art exhibit at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, which will be on display from June 2 to 28. Walking out her back door into her garden, Reynolds’ paintings are her interpretation of nature. She is not concerned with a literal depiction of the landscape, but rather a sense of place, carefully constructed and woven together to form her vision of nature. “I have always been drawn to spaces in nature where most would see disorder and complete randomness, but, in fact, a structure exists,” says Reynolds. “My garden was no exception.” Reynolds has had recent solo exhibitions with the Prince Street Gallery in Chelsea; the Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe; the Soprafina Gallery in Boston; and gWatson Gallery in Stonington. She received her master’s in fine arts from the Savannah College of Art & Design, bachelor’s in fine arts from the Massachusetts College of Art, and a bachelor’s degree in art history and economics from Colby College. Exhibit visitors will also be able to see Tower Hill in its spring splendor by exploring the gardens in full bloom. In addition, admission includes access to the gift shop, restaurant, trails, and scenic views of Wachusett Reservoir. Tower Hill will host an opening reception and gallery talk on Thursday, June 4, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit towerhillbg.org or call 508-869-6111.

    Reynolds1

  • Saturday, June 20, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Through the Garden Gate

    On Saturday, June 20, 2015 The Perennial Planters Garden Club of Manchester, CT will host its Through the Garden Gate private garden tour. The tour is from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., rain or shine and it features 7 unique gardens.

    Advanced tickets cost $20. Tickets can be purchased starting May 14th in Manchester at Garden Sales, 212 Oakland St.; Woodland Gardens, 168 Woodland St.; Highland Park Market, 317 Highland St. and in Glastonbury at Highland Park Market, 1320 Manchester Rd.

    Day of tour tickets available at 225 Timrod Rd for $25. For more information visit www.manchestergardenclubs.org/perennial_planters.

  • Tuesdays, June 16 – June 30, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm – Herbaceous Native Plants for Professionals

    Join Dan Jaffe for this Ecological Landscape Alliance three session class at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Street in Framingham (June 16, 23, and 30) to learn about the best native plant materials available today for use in the design and landscape trades. Covering everything from plants for tough spots to specialty plants for specific habitats, this class will add a host of less familiar native herbaceous species to your plant palette.

    Dan Jaffe is a propagator and stock bed grower at New England Wild Flower Society. Prior to that, he earned a degree in botany from the University of Maine, Orono, as well as an advanced certificate in Native Plant Horticulture and Design from New England Wild Flower Society. After interning at Garden in the Woods, Mr. Jaffe worked for a year as Plant Sales Coordinator at the Garden. $162 for ELA members, $190 for nonmembers.
    – See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/herbaceous-native-plants-for-professionals/2015-06-16/#sthash.1WTPha8J.dpuf.

  • Saturday, June 13, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Choosing the Right Plant

    Learn essential gardening skills this summer at Garden in the Woods. Join the New England Wild Flower Society in the Garden to learn about Choosing the Right Plant. In this instructor-led demonstration, our horticultural professionals will show you how to get beautiful results in your garden using native plants. This session will take place Saturday, June 13, from 2 – 3, and is $16 for NEWFS members, $20 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/weekend-gardening-series-choosing-the-right-plant. Rosa rugosa image from www.gobotany.newenglandwild.org.

  • June through September – Earthwatch Urban Forest Program

    The Earthwatch Urban Forest Program is now recruiting. With summer time approaching, come join us as a scientist for a day and help improve the sustainability of your city. Get experience conducting local field research alongside your community and enhance your understanding of the environment around you.

    We would love for you to join us in the field for our 2015 summer season. As a participant on each one-day program, you will help collect data for a growing database about trees in Greater Boston neighborhoods. You will learn about the value of urban forests and the purpose of the research, identify tree species, measure tree diameter, and gather additional data on trees around Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, or Boston.

    To learn more about the project and to sign up, please link to our website: http://earthwatch.org/expeditions/exploring-bostons-urban-forest.

    Use promotion code: TREES to join any expedition at no cost. Science, education, and engagement are key components of this program and essential elements in igniting a spark in the next generation. Bringing people out to collect data on urban trees gives them the opportunity to slow down and establish a personal connection with the green space in their city.

    If you have any questions or are interested in putting together your own group team, please contact trees@earthwatch.org.  Dates are June 6, June 27, July 7, July 28, August 22, August 29, and September 5.  Come for one day or as many days as you like.  All volunteers under the age of 18 are welcome to join if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

  • Sunday, June 28, 5:00 pm – Summer Solstice Farm2Fork Dinner

    Join The Fruitlands Museum Board and staff in the field at Fruitlands for our 3rd annual Farm2Fork Dinner on Sunday, June 28, beginning at 5 pm. We’ll say adieu to our centennial year and celebrate the beginning of our 101st while supporting Fruitlands Museum’s educational programs.

    The evening will begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres under the tent and tours of the museum buildings. Next, wander down the hill for outdoor dining under a summer sky on a delicious locally-sourced dinner provided by Fireside Catering from Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton, along with wine and live music. After dinner it’s back to the tent for champagne and dessert. The full menu will be posted as soon as it’s available.

    Tickets are $150 per person or $1200 for a table of eight.  This event sells out quickly so purchase your tickets early on line at www.fruitlands.org/f2fdinner.

  • Friday, June 5, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm – Sustainable Sites Tour of Rhode Island

    Visit two notable sustainable landscapes in Rhode Island with the Ecological Landscape Alliance. The first is Kent Hospital, where an award-winning landscape design transformed the 40-acre campus into a showcase for sustainable design practices; we will see rain gardens and healing gardens. The second site is a small urban lot that was redesigned to reflect Rhode Island native plant communities, demonstrate enhanced storm water management, and promote biodiversity. Bring a bag lunch.  $68 for ELA members, $85 for nonmembers. Register and see more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/sustainable-sites-tour-rhode-island/#sthash.ode0GjV8.dpuf

    Tom Benjamin is an independent registered Landscape Architect and LEED Accredited Professional (AP BD+C) practicing design and sustainability consulting and is Principal of Wellnesscapes. Tom has more than 20 years experience in environmental design and sustainability work often focused on green design, including energy, waste, water and food systems. In addition to residential restoration, Tom’s site planning work emphasizes low cost, low maintenance landscape solutions for healthcare, academic and senior institutions, public facilities, commercial and residential developments, large-scale solar farms and community farms/gardens. Tom teaches sustainable landscape design at the University of Massachusetts. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including three for his sustainable landscape design work at Kent Hospital located in Warwick, RI. Tom is also a Board Member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA).

  • Tuesday, June 2, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Garden to Table’s Spring Dinner in the Crockett Garden

    Join Chef John Lawrence from Peppers Fine Catering as he prepares an early spring dinner featuring local produce and herbs that will way up all your senses. Enjoy a class of wine and seasonal cocktail as John teaches us how to make the most of the early season’s offerings. The dinner will take place in The Crockett Garden at The Gardens at Elm Bank on Tuesday, June 2, from 6 – 8:30. Cost: Mass Hort Members $65, Non-Members $70. Register at http://www.masshort.org/eventdetail/142/422|427|433/garden-to-table-s-spring-dinner-in-the-crockett-garden?filter_reset=1.

  • Saturday, June 13, 10:00 am – 11:00 am – A Walk with the Director of Blithewold Gardens & Arboretum

    Take advantage of an opportunity to see Blithewold’s incredible grounds through the eyes of Executive Director, Karen Binder, on Saturday, June 13 from 10 – 11. On a leisurely stroll, Karen will highlight the outdoor elements, including exciting updates to buildings and grounds, as well as seasonal specimens.

    Families with children are welcome to attend. Register today at www.blithewold.org. Group Size limit to 20. Participants will meet at the Blithewold Visitor Center. Admission, plus $3 Children, $5 Adults. (Pay admission at the door) Blithewold is located at 101 Ferry Road, Rt. 114, in Bristol, Rhode Island.

  • Saturday, June 6, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Opening Reception: Arboretum Inspiration, Image and Word

    Together, poet Holly Guran and photographer Philip McAlary have witnessed the continuous inspiration of the Arnold Arboretum. Their nature-focused images and words complement each other, melding sight, sound, and mind. Frequent walks in the landscape were the influence and force behind this collaboration uniting McAlary’s vibrant images with Guran’s thoughtful words.

    Holly Guran, author of the chapbooks River Tracks (Poets Corner Press), Mothers’ Trails (Noctiluca Press), and the forthcoming River of Bones (Iris Press), earned a Massachusetts Cultural Council finalist award in 2012.

    Philip L. McAlary studied at Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. His photos have appeared on websites including Massachusetts Cultural Council, Wagner Society of Boston, and Carpenter Poets of Eastern Massachusetts. The exhibition will run at the Hunnewell Center of the Arnold Arboretum June 5 – September 3. The free opening reception will take place Saturday, June 6 from 1 – 3.