Boston Flora

Month: February 2020

  • Saturday, February 29, 10:30 am – 4:30 pm – Observational Drawing in the Conservatories

    On February 20 from 10:30 – 4:30, spend the day in the peaceful surroundings of the Tower Hill Botanic Garden conservatories and enjoy drawing the beauty of green leaves and flowers. It’s a perfect remedy for winter doldrums. Carol Schwartz’s guidance will help you discover correct shapes and tonal values just right for your drawings and you’ll create beautiful memories of your day in the garden conservatories. A materials list will be sent to registrants.

    Carol Schwartz is an award-winning artist and educator whose work can be found in magazines, posters, galleries, and over 60 nonfiction books. She teaches illustration at Eastern Connecticut State University, New Hampshire Institute of Art, and Tower Hill Botanic Garden. She is a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the Society of Illustrators. $84 for Tower Hill members, $94 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

    Image copyright Laurie Andrews

  • Thursdays, March 12 – April 2, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Design With Plants

    As you survey your garden, do you have only one of each plant? Do you see other gardens that seem to be in bloom throughout the seasons and then come home to your unexciting garden? Does planting design seem to be an innate sense that you just don’t have? Come and learn to think about plants in terms of their form and function first, and then learn some strategies to best lay out your planting plan. The four session class, taught by designer Christie Dustman, will consist of classroom exercises and lectures, First session will be held Thursday, March 12 beginning at 6:30 in the Weld Hill Building.
    Fee $115 Arnold Arboretum member, $138 nonmember. To register, log on to www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

  • Tuesday, February 25 – Wednesday, February 26 – Green Industry Job Fair

    The 5th Annual Green Industry Job Fair will be held Tuesday and Wednesday, February 25 and 26, to be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Marlborough. It is free, but pre-registration is required. Horticulture, landscape, nursery and greenhouse companies will be on hand to talk with job seekers about a wide variety of jobs. The industry needs irrigation technicians, project managers, foremen, salespeople, managers and supervisors, horticulturists and licensed applicators, landscape designers, equipment and fleet mechanics, people with CAD experience and laborers. Green industry companies have offices and need support staff on their teams, too. RSVP at mnla.com/job-fair-2020

  • Saturday, February 29, 10:00 am – 11:00 am – Foundations in Gardening: The Secret World of Wildlife

    This February 29 presentation at 10 am at Blithewold, 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, Rhode Island, will discuss the secret world of wildlife that resides within Blithewold and detail the gardens and the wildlife species within them. Information about the wildlife will include species profiles, life cycles, symbiotic relationships, and fun facts. We will be providing information about the importance of a healthy habitat and how you can benefit wildlife in your own backyard. Speakers are Read and Melanie Gardiner. Register at https://www.blithewold.org/event/foundations-in-gardening-the-secret-world-of-wildlife/

    $15 Members | $20 Non-Members

  • Through April 26 – The Path Taken: Photography by Lawrence Mullings

    On any given day, Lawrence Mullings can be found exploring the paths and hidden corners of the Arboretum. While walking in the landscape to regain his health, his joy in photography was rekindled. He saw how the Arboretum was many different things to him, and to the many different people who come here from around the neighborhood and around the world. To Mullings, the Arboretum is its trees, as well as the myriad ways visitors enjoy them and this landscape. Now revived in spirit and in creativity, Mullings brings to our exhibition the inspirational scenes he has captured along the “Paths” he has taken throughout the year. Lawrence Mullings is also an Arnold Arboretum docent who leads tours in our landscape.   His exhibition will be displayed in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum through April 26. Free, public invited .

  • Wednesday, February 26, 10:00 am – Tour of Prudential Center Winter Gardens

    Wednesday, February 26, 10:00 am – Tour of Prudential Center Winter Gardens

    Please join other members of The Garden Club of the Back Bay for a tour of the Prudential Center’s winter gardens, led by Winston Flowers Kelly Bonzani on Wednesday, February 26th, at 10 am.

    On July 1, 2019, Winston Flowers began maintaining and revitalizing the winter gardens. Come learn about the different areas that have been re-energized with new plantings, and the design, plant and sustainability choices behind each.  

    A new seasonal rotation will be going into the Prudential on February 17th, so if you have time to catch what is planted there now, please do so for a “before” perspective.

    The tour will last 30-45 minutes. SPACE IS LIMITED TO 10 PARTICIPANTS due to the ambient noise of the Prudential Center. We regret this tour is open only to members – visit our membership page to learn how to become a member. The first 10 people to respond will be notified that your spot has been confirmed. If we have enough interest, we will inquire about scheduling a second tour.

    Please RSVP to Stephanie Fletcher at ss.fletcher@yahoo.com

  • Saturday, February 22, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Natural Facial Salve

    The natural facial salve is a beautiful blend of astringent and healing herbs blended with oils, to create a deeply nourishing facial cream. It is made with only 9 all-natural ingredients, including the flowers of calendula, chamomile, and rose, blended together to create a powerfully healing concoction. The salve is a truly beautiful and simple way to nourish your face and neck to prevent wrinkles, brighten your complexion and reduce pore size. In this Tower Hill Botanical Garden workshop on February 22, you will be provided with all of the necessary ingredients to make a 2 oz. jar of salve as well as information on herbs and essential oils so you will be equipped on how to live a more holistic life beyond the workshop. Be sure to bring a notebook to take notes so you can create more in the future! All materials included.

    Tori Cummings began her holistic journey at the age of 17. Her goal was to truly help people feel vibrantly healthy, and she began studying with Sage Mountain and Rosemary Gladstar when she realized she wanted to bring people back to the source of health. Her journey thus far has included becoming an herbalist, a reiki practitioner as well as a yoga instructor.

    Jennie Backstrom offers space and thoughtful guidance to her clients who feel stuck or who seek to improve a certain aspect of their life. Whether you seek wellness in health, spirituality, life-balance, or gaining confidence and a sense of purpose, Jennie’s gift is to help her students and clients feel empowered by offering a new perspective and by giving voice to your inner truth. Helping you feel safe, confident, and strong from within is foremost on Jennie’s mind when devising her classes and workshops. An athlete all her life, Jennie has had her fair share of injury – and yoga, along with essential oils, tops her list as the healing source for the body and where she turns first for prevention.

    The class will take place at Tower Hill, 11 French Drive in Boylston, on Saturday, February 22, from 10:30 – 12:30, and costs $40 for THBG members, $55 for non-members. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 pm – Charlesgate Alliance New Playground Discussion

    Tuesday, March 10, 7:00 pm – Charlesgate Alliance New Playground Discussion

    As The Charlesgate Alliance continues to hone its plans with the Department of Conservation and Recreation and its partner, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the design firm, Landing Studio, is developing ideas for the North Field area of Charlesgate. Please join them for a conversation about this exciting part of the project at 91 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, starting at 7pm.

  • Saturday and Sunday, February 29 and March 1, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm – Sugaring Off Tours

    Spring celebrations begin early at the sanctuary with the age-old tradition of maple sugaring. The warm days of late winter awaken the flow of sap in the maples, causing buds to swell and resulting in sweet-smelling, billowing clouds of steam rising from the sugarhouse. On Mass Audubon’s naturalist-guided tours at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield on February 29 and March 1, learn how to identify a sugar maple, observe tapping and sap collection methods, watch the sap being boiled down in the sugarhouse, and get a sweet taste of the final product.

    Afterwards, warm up by the woodstove in the Barn, where hot beverages and food will be available for purchase. Visit our gift shop to browse a selection of maple products, and be sure to bring home a bottle of our own freshly made maple syrup. Tours last about an hour and run in all weather. Register online or call 978-887-9264 to register by phone.

  • Ducklings on Parade

    It is with great excitement that we announce a new project that Garden Club of the Back Bay friend Nancy Schon is involved in, and it requires your help! 

    As you may know, her Make Way for Ducklings sculpture is decorated or dressed regularly and mysteriously (and lovingly) with seasonal, holiday, sporting, or special events outfits. We have all been enchanted with these surprise hats, outfits or decorations!

    In consultation with her publisher, she has been asked to create a charming book showing photographs of the Ducklings wearing different outfits.

    So, we need your photographs!

    Working together with her publisher’s staff, Nancy will choose a diverse representation of all photos submitted. Please choose the most interesting and engaging photograph and of the best quality possible.

    To submit your photo: Click on this link https://nancyschon.typeform.com/to/IhTbAA