Boston Flora

Month: August 2017

  • Saturday, August 26 & Sunday, August 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Bee Weekend

    On August 26 and 27, enjoy exhibits, demonstrations, honey tastings, hands-on activities, games and much more as visitors to Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, learn about the fascinating world of bees and why they are important for our gardens. Free with admission. Interactive Displays feature:

    Pollinate New England, NE Wildflower Society: Learn to plant diverse, systemic pesticide-free native plants that support a wide variety of pollinators throughout their life cycles.
    Master Gardeners from the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association: Get answers to your gardening questions and tips for bee and pollinator friendly gardening.
    Blossoms by Bees: Learn about their mission to revitalize and protect the native flora population for pollinators through educational events and habitat conservation.
    Worcester County Beekeepers: The Worcester County Beekeepers Association has been a leader in beekeeping education for over one hundred years. They are the oldest county beekeeping organization in the United States, with members from all over New England. Through their beekeeping school, quarterly newsletters, monthly meetings and outreach activities, the club provides ongoing education for our members. Get more information at their Educational table.
    Brilliant Botany: Geared toward kids and families. Brilliant Botany is a resource for anyone interested in plants, and a means for building community. Brilliant Botany’s web content has been used by teachers, professors, and the general public to build knowledge about the amazing natural world that surrounds us. https://www.brilliantbotany.com/about/
    Crafts/Games: Enjoy bee-themed crafts and games about pollination in the garden.
    Scavenger Hunt: Children and visitors of all ages can enjoy exploring our grounds with a pollination-themed scavenger hunt.
    Collaborative Art Project: Each visitor will be able to add to our growing beehive! Decorate your own honeycomb cell to see what we can create together.
    Photo Booth
    Honey Tasting

    There will be lectures on pollinator-friendly gardening along with workshops on late summer containers and seed saving, plus extraction demos and a Bee Parade. Photo by jsmcelvery. For complete information visit www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Saturday, August 26, 9:30 am – 11:30 am – Nature Walk with Dr. Bob

    What is that bird you hear? What wild animals live beyond those trees? What marine life swims just offshore? Are those mushrooms poisonous? Dr. Bob has the answers. He shares his wide-ranging experience of the natural world during a walk through the fields, woodlands, and coastline of Historic New England’s Casey Farm, 2325 Boston Neck Road in Saunderstown, Rhode Island on Saturday, August 26 from 9:30 – 11:30 am. This Historic New England guided tour changes depending on the season and what Mother Nature puts in your path.

    Bring comfortable walking shoes, sunblock, bug spray, and water. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. Meet at the Casey Farm tour table at the Coastal Growers’ Market.

    Free to Historic New England members; $6 nonmembers; $3 nonmember children ages five to twelve. Please call 401-295-1030 ext. 5 for more information.

  • Tuesday – Thursday, August 29, 30 & 31, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Harvest: Botanical Illustration in Colored Pencil

    How is your appetite for drawing veggies? Here’s your chance to find out! Join Helen Byers at Tower Hill Botanic Garden August 29, 30 and 31 from 10 – 4 to create a botanical portrait of a vegetable that “calls” to you. We’ll work in layers to achieve accurate proportions, luminous color, necessary values, and fine detail. Daily demos, tips, and personalized instruction. A list of recommended supplies will be sent to registrants. (Note: Returning botanical art students who prefer working in watercolor will be welcome to do so.) To see galleries of Helen’s work and slideshows from her courses, visit helenbyers.com.

    Helen Byers is an artist and educator who is active in botanical and natural science drawing and painting. Her professional background includes book illustration, art journalism, college-level teaching of art and literature, and a career in educational publishing.

    Helen’s botanical art recently received international recognition at the 19th International Exhibition of the American Society of Botanical Artists and the Horticultural Society of New York (2016). Her work has been shown nationally as well as widely in the Greater Boston area. Her affiliations include the American Society of Botanical Artists, the New England Society of Botanical Artists, and Concord Center for the Visual Arts.

    SKILL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE. Tower Hill members $180, nonmembers $200.  Register online at www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Saturday, August 19, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm – Boston Hazardous Waste and Clothing and Textile Dropoff

    Boston residents can safely dispose of hazardous waste and shred unwanted documents free. Come to the West Roxbury DPW at 315 Gardner Street in West Roxbury on Saturday, August 19 from 9 – 2.  You will need to show proof of residency, and no waste from businesses will be accepted. Latex and acrylic paints are NOT hazardous – just let the paint dry out in the can and put it out on your trash day.  You may shred up to ten copy-paper size boxes or containers of personal documents. You may also recycle electronics at this event.

    Additionally, at the same time and place, recycle your clothing and textiles. Broken zippers? Missing buttons? Stained? As long as it’s dry and not moldy, the City wants it. Did you know that about six percent of solid waste is textiles? At this recycling event, pants, coats, hats, suits, blankets, pillows curtains, table linens. belt. ties , dresses, purses, comforters, shoes, scarves, stuffed animals, backpacks, and clothing are accepted. Carpets, rugs, oil rags and mattresses are, unfortunately, not appropriate. For more information email publicworks@boston.gov or call 617-635-4900.

  • Thursdays, September 14 – October 12, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Landscaping and Planting Design

    Instructor Warren Leach, Landscape Horticulturist, will focus on fundamental principles of design used in creating landscapes and garden spaces and composing planting designs using a complement of woody and herbaceous plants. This Massachusetts Horticultural Society class is being offered through the Stockbridge School at UMass, and can be taken for 1 credit. For Credit, register at www.umassulearn.net after June 5.

    Classes will be held Thursdays, September 14-October 12, from 6 – 9, at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts.

    Audit this UMass Class through Mass Hort. By registering here at www.masshort.org, you will be registering for a reduced rate, and will receive NO COLLEGE CREDIT. Mass Hort Member Cost: $150; Non Member Cost $200.

  • Friday, September 8, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Northeast Region Perennial Plant Symposium

    On Friday, September 8, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Perennial Plant Association are teaming up to offer a day-long symposium entitled “Perennial Inspirations & Concepts.” The symposium is open to all levels of gardeners and professionals. Five of the best writers and creative plantsmen from across the country will be there, and you’re invited to listen, learn and ask questions. Continuing Education Units (CEU)s available.

    This Year’s Roster of Presenters Includes:

    Karen Bussolini, Garden Writer and Coach

    Rebecca Lindenmeyr, Garden Designer and Owner of Linden L.A.N.D. Group

    Barbara Pierson, Nursery Manager at White Flower Farm

    Kathy Tracey, Garden Writer Designer at Avant Gardens

    The Symposium will be held at The Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley. Register before August 31: $99; Register on or after September 1: $125. Must pre-register at www.masshort.org. Price Includes lunch. Image from http://www.avantgardensne.com.

  • Monday, August 28, 7:00 pm – Rosé, Corn and Tomatoes

    Many of the best things in life are fleeting, which makes them all the more special. Here in New England we eagerly anticipate the arrival of three quintessential summertime favorites: rosé wine, heirloom tomatoes, and corn. This class celebrates gorgeous pink wines such as Provencal rosés and Southern Italian rosatos, sweet just-picked corn and local tomatoes with a glorious summer menu that will highlight the bright, fresh flavors of the season. Discover fabulous ways to prepare corn and tomato dishes as well as some of our favorite rosés and enjoy summer eating (and sipping) at its best. Join the staff at Stir, 102 Waltham Street in Boston on Monday, August 28 at 7. $185 per person, plus tax. Register at www.stirboston.com. Image from www.corkbuzz.com.

  • Wednesday, August 23, 9:30 am – 10:30 am – Containers: From Summer to Fall

    Learn how a little pruning, transplanting and even adding edibles can give your planters a fresh new look for the fall season. Led by Robin Pydynkowski, head gardener of the Ropes Mansion Garden, this Peabody Essex Museum workshop is free, but reservations required at http://my.pem.org/single/SelectSeating.aspx?p=6047, no later than August 22. The Ropes Mansion Botanical Lecture Fund makes this workshop possible. Meet at 9:30 am on Wednesday, August 23 at the Ropes Mansion, 318 Essex St. in Salem.

  • Saturday, August 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Hops, Ales and Brewing, Oh My!

    Saturday, August 26, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Hops, Ales and Brewing, Oh My!

    The Gardens at Elm Bank, and Barleycorn’s in Natick, present a full day on hops and their use in brewing on Saturday, August 26 from 10 – 4. Dr. Heather Darby, Agronomist and Soils Specialist with the University of Vermont will cover the basics for growing hops in the Northeast, including information on site selection, variety selection, fertility management, irrigation systems, and pest management. Protocols to determine harvest times, harvest equipment, drying requirements, and storage will also be covered. Come and learn from UVM’s vast experience in growing hops in our region.

    After, we will harvest hops from our Seed to Table Garden at Elm Bank and rejoin at Barleycorns in Natick, where we will use those hops to brew our own 3 Goddess Pale Ale. $60 Mass Hort members; $85 general admission. *Add $50 to bring home a case of the brew. Sign up at www.masshort.org.

  • Thursday, August 31, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Digging Dahlias

    On Thursday, August 31, from 10 – 12, come with Berkshire Botanical Garden to Something to Crow About, an extraordinary dahlia farm located in Cornwall in the northwest corner of Connecticut, where dahlia grower Amanda Chase will lead our group through her collection of 2500 plants (over 200 cultivars) to see these beauties in full flower. Not only is the end of August peak season for dahlia bloom, it is also the perfect time to learn about cultivating dahlias. Amanda Chase will point out some of the best varieties to grow and provide tips for maintaining these plants from year to year, such as when to plant, when to lift, and how to store during the winter months. Following the tour participants will be able to order tubers, and buy plants or cut flowers – a great way to start a collection, or add to an existing one, of these amazing plants from our neighboring country south of the border.

    BBG members $25, nonmembers $30. Advance registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome, space permitting. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org.