Daily Archives: August 1, 2017

Wednesday, August 16, 8:00 am – 6:30 pm – Trip to Naumkeag & Chesterwood: Gardens, Art & Architecture in the Berkshires

by

The summer estate of Daniel Chester French (1850-1931), sculptor of Abraham Lincoln for the Lincoln Memorial, is one of the hidden gems of the Berkshires. After a guided tour of French’s newly rehabilitated studio and nine-bedroom residence, we’ll enjoy a buffet lunch and free time to explore the formal gardens and woodland walks, plus an outdoor sculpture exhibition of works by 15 contemporary artists.

The afternoon will feature a guided tour of the house and gardens at Naumkeag. With its gracious house, magnificently restored gardens, and panoramic views, Naumkeag is a quintessential country estate of the Gilded Age. Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney, hired the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, & White to design the 44-room “cottage” which would serve as a summer retreat for three generations of Choates. With its views of Monument Mountain, its stunning collection of gardens created by Joseph Choates’s daughter, Miss Mabel Choate, and famed landscape architect Fletcher Steele, its original artwork, and its shingle-style house, Naumkeag creates an unforgettable experience for visitors. Garden highlights include the Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools, flanked by four flights of stairs and a grove of white birches; the Afternoon Garden; Tree Peony Terrace; Rose Garden; Evergreen Garden; and Chinese Garden.

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for climbing stairs and walking on uneven ground. There are no elevators at Naumkeag.
Wednesday, August 16, Leave Tower Hill at 8am, return at 6:30pm. Tower Hill Member $150, Non-member $175, including transportation, guided tours and buffet lunch. Register online at www.towerhillbg.org.

Saturday, August 12, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Garden Photography Workshop

by

On Saturday, August 12 from 9 – 2, take your garden photography from good to great by capturing Tower Hill Botanic Garden at its most beautiful. This course is ideal for Photographers with some knowledge of manual camera settings who want to take their abilities to the next level. Join Steve McGrath as he reveals his tips and techniques for taking quality close up as well as Landscape Photography in the gardens. We will discuss how to use wide-angle, normal and telephoto lenses most effectively in the garden to strengthen your composition for maximum impact. Learn to sharpen your awareness of light on the landscape and use creative white balance and ISO for expanding your images. We will view our images after an extensive day in the gardens. Bring a camera with macro capabilities, a sturdy tripod if you have one,and a large memory card.

Steve McGrath is a professional freelance photographer and photography teacher who has been creating images for 20 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion, “nature photography”. Steve was an active member of the Gateway Camera Club for many years, and has won many ribbons and awards at fairs and competitions through the group and on his own. Several of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

$60 for Tower Hill members, $75 for nonmembers. Register online at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—garden-photography-workshop