Daily Archives: October 11, 2020

Thursday, October 21, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Introduction to Permaculture

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In a permaculture garden everything works together in synergy. A permaculture garden requires little to no irrigation, fertilizer, weeding and pest-control, but is nonetheless highly productive.

For an example, strawberries growing under a new apple tree…

1. Keep down weeds

 2. Are beautiful with their pretty white flowers

3. Provide nectar for bees

4.Provide delicious fruit. 

A permaculture garden requires little to no irrigation, fertilizer, weeding and pest-control, but is nonetheless highly productive. It is also a natural habitat for wildlife, including pollinators and butterflies.  And, by the way, because it will improve your soil, it is a way to sequester some of that excess climate-harming carbon floating around. This October 21 Massachusetts Horticultural Society workshop at The Gardens at Elm Bank from 7 – 9 will introduce you to the basic principles permaculture, and give you practical ideas to implement in your own garden. Come and spend a few (masked) hours with us for an introduction to permaculture, an approach to growing fruits, nuts, herbs and vegetables that intentionally mimics patterns and relationships found in nature. Instructed by Anna (Babette) Wils, see her work in Needham, MA at Big Foot Edible Forest Gardens Mass Hort Member Cost: $15 Non-Member Cost $20. Register at www.masshort.org.

Wednesday, October 14, 6:00 pm – Saving Fountains Abbey, Online

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The dramatic abbey ruins at Fountains are the largest monastic ruins in Britain. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the buildings fell into ruin until the 18th century when the abbey became the heart of one of Britain’s grandest landscapes ever created, Studley Royal Water Garden. 


The water garden at Studley Royal is one of the few great 18th-century gardens to have survived well in its original form. It was the creation of John Aislabie and later his son, William. They both had astounding vision for how they wanted this garden to look, working with the landscape rather than changing it. Their design ingeniously channels the winding waters of the River Skell past the abbey ruins and into moon shaped ponds and mirrored lakes, framed with formal bosquet hedges and laurel banks. 
They pushed the boundaries of what was considered to be a garden and heavily influenced the typical “English” garden style. Experience this extraordinary place for yourself on October 14 at 6 pm live or later, online, with the Royal Oak Foundation. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Royal Oak’s 2020 Campaign in support of the National Trust: Saving Fountains Abbey. $35 to access recording – register HERE

The evening will include:

  • Guided tours of this UNESCO World Heritage Site with Fountains staff and volunteers
  • A presentation and Q&A with General Manager, Justin Scully
  • Engaging panel discussions of the history and the challenges facing the property
  • Special Guest appearance from renowned British artist, Ed Kluz
  • Musical performance filmed at the Abbey exclusively for Royal Oak members 
A view over the Half Moon Pond and weir of Studley Royal Water Garden towards Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire. Fountains Abbey, a Cistercian community of monks founded in the twelfth century, forms a picturesque backdrop to the water gardens created by John Aislabie and his son William in the eighteenth century.