Daily Archives: May 14, 2015

Thursday, May 21, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Rhododendrons for Our Garden and Yours

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Let the Massachusetts Horticultural Society introduce you to the beautiful world of rhododendrons and azaleas on Thursday, May 21 from 7 – 8:30 in the Parkman Room of Elm Bank Education Building, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley. Learn how adaptable they are to all garden spaces and floral interests. Don Brophy, president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Rhododendron Society will share his experiences gardening in Elm Bank’s sunny Rhododendron Display Garden, and in smaller, private landscapes. At Elm Bank, there is opportunity to focus on the “other” rhododendrons and to test many plants for sun tolerance. The garden today is a mix of old plants, newer mature plants, and even newer trial plants under evaluation.

Don Brophy currently serves as President of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Rhododendron Society. The Massachusetts Chapter has several programs in place, including the Display Garden at Elm Bank, educational lectures, truss shows and sales at Mass Hort’s Gardeners’ Fair, and a fall foliage show. Photo of ‘Surrey Heath’ from www.rhodoland.nl.

Lecture Fee: Mass Hort Members $10, Non-Members $15.  Register online at http://www.masshort.org/eventdetail/171/422|427|433/rhododendrons-for-our-garden-yours?filter_reset=1.

Monday, June 1, 3:00 pm – Annual Meeting of the Friends of Wellesley Botanic Gardens

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The Annual Meeting of the Friends of Wellesley Botanic Gardens will take place Monday, June 1, beginning at 3 pm with a reception, followed by a lecture at 4 entitled The (Under)story of Coffea arabica.  Botany Fellow Katie Goodall discusses how farmers support biodiversity and their own livelihoods by taking advantage of coffee’s capacity to be grown in the understory of managed forests.  Explore how consumers can voice solidarity with farmer-led sustainable production efforts.  The lecture is followed by Certificate of Botanical Art and Illustration Awards Ceremony.  Free, but please call 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu to let them know you will be attending.

Wednesdays, May 27 – June 10, 6:30 pm – 8:45 pm, and Saturdays, May 30 – June 6, 9:00 am – 1:30 pm – Native New England Shrubs

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Shrubs vary widely in size, shape, color, bark, flower, and fruit. This New England Wild Flower Society course taught by Roland “Boot” Boutwell at Garden in the Woods will introduce you to almost fifty species of native New England shrubs, emphasizing plant identification, family characteristics, and historical plant uses. Bring a hand lens to each session. Weekend sessions are held in off-site locations; directions will be provided during the first class. Dates and times: Wednesdays, May 27, June 3, 10, 6:30-8:45 p.m.; Saturdays, May 30, June 6, 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. There is another Native New England Shrubs course which begins September 10. Fee is $200 for NEWFS members, $250 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/native-new-england-shrubs-1. Image of elderberry bush from www.nativeplantwildlifegarden.com.