Daily Archives: February 14, 2019


Saturday, February 23, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Maple Sugaring At Home

This February 23rd Berkshire Botanical Garden workshop from 10 – 12:30 will demonstrate the beloved New England tradition of making maple syrup at home, using the sugar bush on the grounds of the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Chris Wellens, Director of Education at BBG, will cover all aspects of maple sugaring: identifying suitable trees, the when and how of collecting sap, the boiling down process for the home setting, and preserving the syrup for year-round use. Participants will walk through the BBG sugarbush, install spiles, consider collection schedules, and boil down the maple sap to syrup. A tasting will follow.

Chris Wellens, Director Education at BBG, is an experienced home maple syrup maker. He educates the community about the environment, gardening, beekeeping, and agriculture.

Advance registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome, space permitting. $25 for BBG members, $35 for nonmembers. Register online at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/maple-sugaring-home

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Sundays, March 3, 10, 31, and April 7, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Get Rooted in Urban Gardening

Catherine Chamberlain, MSc, Biodiversity and Conservation, Trinity College Dublin and PhD student, Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, and Wayne Daily, MSc, Biodiversity and Conservation, Trinity College Dublin, Assistant Property Manager, Habitat Sanctuary, will conduct a class entitled Get Rooted in Urban Gardening in four sessions: Sunday, March 3, 10, 31, and April 7, 2:00–4:00pm at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Cat and Wayne will introduce basic gardening concepts and satisfy your desire to get growing. The class will include:

• Basic Botany and Gardening

• Site Analysis, Soil Preparation, and Irrigation

• Growing Goals and Identifying Your Plant Palette

• Horticultural Care and Maintenance

Whether you want to grow perennials or vegetables, Cat and Wayne will proffer basic principles essential to good gardening.

Fee $120 Arboretum member, $150 nonmember

Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

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