March 27, 2018 - Boston Flora

Tuesday, April 10, 10:00 am – Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Today and Tomorrow

March 27, 2018 by Boston Flora

The April meeting of the Garden Club of the Back Bay will take place Tuesday, April 10 at 10:00 am at The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. GCBB past president Margaret Pokorny will speak on the single most important horticultural feature in Back Bay, and perhaps Boston: The Commonwealth Avenue Mall. See old pictures, plans, and learn of the conditions which affect growth. Learn about the original designs and tree plantings, and what has been done to preserve and support the Mall’s health and character.

Margaret is a landscape designer focusing on urban parks and greenspace. Currently she is chair of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee and serves on the boards of the Friends of the Public Garden, The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, the Esplanade Association, and The Garden Club of the Back Bay. Recently she has been involved in the new group, The Charlesgate Alliance. GCBB members may rsvp to jolinda.taylor@gmail.com. If you are interested in staying for the optional lunch following the meeting ($25), visit http://www.gardenclubbackbay.org/shop/

Tuesday, April 3 & Wednesday, April 4, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Pansies: Botanical Painting in Watercolor

March 27, 2018 by Boston Flora

In this two-day Tower Hill Botanic Garden workshop on April 3 & 4, botanical artist Helen Byers will demonstrate the use of watercolor to create a fine portrait of a pansy. Working from live plants, our goal will be to accurately and beautifully depict a given flower’s “face,” leaves, and growth habit. We will practice painting in layers, using wet-into-wet, and dry-brush painting techniques. To see examples of Helen’s work and slideshows from her courses, go to helenbyers.com.

A supplies list will be sent to registrants. Helen Byers is an award-winning artist and educator whose botanical drawings and paintings have been internationally exhibited, published, and held in private collections. In recent years she has taught often at Tower Hill, as well as at Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Fruitlands Museums, Tin Mountain Conservation Center (NH), and Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center (NM). $150 for THBG members, $165 for nonmembers. Register online at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—pansies-botanical-painting-in-watercolor