Daily Archives: October 27, 2021


Thursday, November 4, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm – The Heirloom Gardener with John Forti, Online

This Tower Hill Botanic Garden November 4 online talk beginning at noon is offered in partnership with the Herb Society of America, New England Unit. You can find additional information at the NEUHSA website. These days, we all need some good news and a way to participate in meaningful change.

The Heirloom Gardener is a book for gardeners who want to deepen their knowledge and improve life for families, pollinators and wildlife in their own backyards. It’s a love poem to the earth; a map to the art of living intentionally and a guidepost for environmental gardeners and artisans. It unearths old-ways, storied plants and artisanal life-skills; like seed-saving, herbalism, foraging, distillation, ethnobotany and organics which contribute to a new 21st century arts and crafts movement. With woodcuts from Caldecott Medal artist Mary Azarian, The Heirloom Garden offers a dose of wild hope for a weary nation.

Signed copies of the book are available through Tower Hill’s Garden Shop. You can shop online or stop into the garden and grab it in person.

John Forti (www.jforti.com) is a garden historian and ethnobotanist who has directed gardens for Plimoth Plantation Museum, Strawbery Banke Museum, Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and Bedrock Gardens. As a Slow Food USA Governor and biodiversity specialist, his preservation work has helped to restore countless native and heirloom plants and has brought traditional artisanal practices to modern thinking. He has won numerous awards for historic garden preservation, children’s garden design, herbal and historical education and the 2021 Award of Excellence from National Garden Clubs, the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world. This book was inspired by his posts as ‘The Heirloom Gardener – John Forti‘ which go out regularly to millions on Facebook that value his uniquely curated blend of history, horticulture, environmentalism, poetry, art, kitchen and garden craft. He gardens and lives along the banks of the Piscataqua River in Maine.

$10 THBG Member Adult; $15 Adult 


Tuesday, November 2, 11:00 am – The Nature of Oaks, Online

In his latest book, The Nature of Oaks (Timber Press, March 2021), Doug Tallamy pays homage to a giant of the plant kingdom: the mighty oak tree. Oaks sustain a crucial and complex web of wildlife above ground, but are just as impressive underground, producing enormous root systems that make them champions of carbon sequestration, soil stabilization, and watershed management.

Join theNew York Botanical Garden for this November 2 webinar at 11 am, as Doug shares his signature how-to advice, including practical tips on how to plant and care for an oak, as well as information about the best oak species for your area. Doug Tallamy is Professor of Agriculture in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. Tallamy is a prolific researcher and the author of many books, including Bringing Nature Home, The Living Landscape, Nature’s Best Hope, and his latest The Nature of Oaks.

Please note that registration will end 24 hours prior to this webinar. $15 NYBG members, $18 non-members. Register HERE


Saturday, November 6, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – The Great New England Pumpkin Pie Contest

Thanksgiving is America’s quintessential, original holiday. It creates a continuity in the American experience. From one generation to the next we pass on the family traditions, stories, heirloom china, and of course favorite recipes. Pumpkin pie takes a top spot in our hearts and on our tables.

Plimoth Patuxet Museums is delighted to gather the New England region around a very special table on November 6 this fall, featuring YOUR pumpkin pie. Is anything more classically Thanksgiving!? To celebrate this favorite fare and mix in some fun, Plimoth Patuxet Museums has baked up a delectable opportunity for you! We are delighted to host The Great New England Pumpkin Pie Contest. Enter your best-baked creation to win one of the top three prizes in each category. Complete details, biographies of celebrity judges, and fees ($6 entry fee per contestant) can be found by clicking HERE. Contact Christina Coleman, ccoleman@plimoth.org, with any questions! Or call Christina at 508-746-1622 x8107. Registration Deadline October 30.