The Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury is sponsoring the Annual David H. Smith Memorial Lecture on August 10 at 5:30 pm at the Arboretum.
Heather McCargo, founder of Wild Seed Project, will share the many reasons we should bring native flora back into our developed landscapes. Native plants are excellent additions to our gardens; they are beautiful, they are important for our regions’ ecosystem functioning, and they do not need the high inputs of water and nutrients of commonly cultivated plants. Heather will provide insight into what is happening in the nursery trade with native plants, including loss of genetic diversity and cloning, and how we can all promote our native flora by planting seed-grown native plants. $5 for PHA members, $10 for nonmembers.
In this Missouri Botanical Garden virtual presentation on August 16 at noon Eastern time, Jesse Gilbertson from the Bonsai Society of Greater Saint Louis will discuss the traditional Japanese art of Bonsai and how it is evolving in the modern world. Closely associated with Japanese Garden aesthetics, today many people are bringing miniature trees into their own small gardens and city yards to enjoy and engage with nature during a time when we are spending more time at home.
Join Jesse to learn about the basics of bonsai aesthetics, plant care, and how this 2000 year old artform has evolved to become practiced all over the globe.
FREE for MBG members; registration required. Click here to register and to learn more about becoming a member of MBG.
Join other enthusiasts in great conversation while immersed in the beauty of the Garden. Our Book Club meets at 1:30pm in the Crockett Garden, or in the event of weather, in the Dearborn Room in the Education Center, at the Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley. Enjoy the sunshine and discussion with like-minded individuals.
Tuesday, August 23, 1:30 p.m. – The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean
· Tuesday September 20, 1:30 p.m. – Around The World In Eighty Plants by Jonathan Drori. For those who have read this one, another option could be Around The World In Eighty Trees and again we might have an interesting discussion comparing the two books.
· Tuesday October 25, 1:30 p.m. – Old Herbaceous by Reginald Arkell
· Tuesday November 15, 1:30 p.m. – The Gardener’s Bedtime Book by Richardson Wright.
· Tuesday December 13, 1:30 p.m. – Hands On The Land, by Jan Albers.
Free with Admission to the Garden. To join the list visit www.masshort.org
Drop in to The Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley on August 16 from 10 – 1 and learn about the Sansevieria plant family. These hard-to-kill plants come in a variety of shapes, colors, and styles. You’re sure to learn about the best new plant to add to your collection or start your plant family! FREE with Garden Admission ($10 for non-members, FREE for MHS Members). Learn more at www.masshort.org
Heritage Museums & Gardens Members are invited to join us on August 9 at 9 am for an exclusive and insightful lecture and discussion with James C. O’Connell, author of Becoming Cape Cod: Creating a Seaside Resort (University Press of New England, 2002). Jim was the first to write a comprehensive history of the tourism on Cape Cod and his book inspired and informed the Creating Cape Cod exhibit at Heritage. After the lecture, which will include a slideshow of historic postcards, Jim will be joined by Heritage’s Director of Collections & Exhibitions, Jennifer Y. Madden, for questions and discussion relating to the history tourism on Cape Cod. Attendees can then enjoy coffee and light refreshment following the program.
This special, members-only, in-person, program will take place in the Creating Cape Cod exhibit, located inside the Special Exhibitions Gallery at Heritage Museums & Gardens. It includes time for questions and discussion at the conclusion of the lecture, as well as exclusive early access to the new special exhibition, Creating Cape Cod. This program is free for Heritage Members. Advance registration is required as seating is limited.
Jim O’Connell’s talk on “Becoming Cape Cod: The Creation of a Seaside Resort” is based on his book about the history of Cape Cod’s development as a vacation mecca. The presentation, which is illustrated with rare historic postcards, traces Cape Cod’s resort history from its discovery by Henry David Thoreau before the Civil War to the present day. The talk covers three eras: 1870-1920, on the early years of the resort; 1920-1950, on the impact of the automobile on creating a tourist region with common marketing, a plethora of attractions, and a strong heritage appeal; 1950-present, on measures taken to preserve the Cape in the face of over development.
The decisive moment for the Cape’s development was the coming of the automobile during the 1920s. For the first time, tourists were able to explore the entire region. As a result, a plethora of cottage colonies, restaurants, antique shops, and historical landmarks appeared. After World War II, a boom ensued. Cape Cod’s greatest challenge has been preserving the natural environment, historic buildings, and cultural traditions that have shaped the Cape’s sense of place. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Cape’s popularity for second-homeowners and the cost of housing has been growing. While this book is currently out of print, you can find it online at Amazon and AbeBooks.
Stroll through summer gardens in full bloom! This guided tour sponsored by The Trustees on August 4 will take you to three Dorchester community gardens plus two unique home gardens, and introduce you to some of the gardeners who make these urban green spaces thrive. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a garden mixology demo and tasting, delicious dinner from a local restaurant, and making an infused herbal vinegar to take home.
All proceeds from the tour directly support operations and education in the Trustees’ network of 56 community gardens across Boston, including our 18 gardens in Dorchester.
Sign up for a time slot when you register: 5:00, 5:30, or 6:00pm.
The total walk is under a mile and the pace will be relaxed. The community gardens and walking route are wheelchair accessible; the home gardens vary. Please contact us for additional information about accessibility and any accommodations that might help you or your guests enjoy the tour.
What’s Out There® Weekend – St. Louis and the Missouri River Valley will bring to light the unique landscape legacy and local character of the city as reflected by its publicly accessible parks, gardens, plazas, cemeteries, memorials, and neighborhoods. Working in collaboration with Magnificent Missouri and myriad local partners, WOT St. Louis will engage a large and diverse audiences (typically 1,000+), offering two days of free, expert-led tours of more than two dozen sites that demonstrate the region’s diverse cultural landscape legacy, encouraging participants to discover the little-known design history of places they may pass every day. The Cultural Landscape Foundation is renowned for these weekend excursions and if you can carve out the time. For complete tour information visit https://www.tclf.org/whats-out-there-weekend-st-louis
The Federated Garden Clubs of Vermont presents a two day tour to the Canadian Tulip Festival Tuesday and Wednesday, May 16 & 17, 2023. You will board your private coach in White River Junction, with stops in Montpelier and Burlington, for the drive to Ottawa. This lovely city sits on the banks of the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal. See its stately Parliament Hill; and Rideau Falls, named for the curtain-like appearance they give. Upon arrival enjoy lunch together at the Lord Elgin hotel restaurant. Bags will be transferred to the rooms at check in time of 3:00pm. NOTE: A valid Passport, Passport Card or enhanced driver’s license is required to enter Canada. All Travelers must be vaccinated to participate in this tour. Guidelines for travel to Canada. https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada After lunch transfer to the Commissioners Park for a walking tour and learn the incredible heritage of this Festival while visiting highlights such as the Queen Juliana Gift Bed, or the historic statue, The Man with Two Hats. Enjoy the Canadian Tulip Festival at Commissioners Park established to celebrate the historic Royal gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canadians immediately following the Second World War as a symbol of international friendship. Visit the Tulip Pavilion, a celebration of the gorgeous, adaptable flower that is the Festival’s key attraction and much more. Explore the Festival’s roots and step back in time at the Heritage Pavilion. Experience the real-life sacrifice that took place right here in Ottawa in 1945. Meet the faces and hear from story-tellers the experiences of veterans from WWII, people who left their homes to join the fight for freedom halfway across the world. Enjoy a chance to shop for antiques and artisan crafts of the immediate postwar era. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear music as part of the Festival’s concert series. Tonight enjoy dinner (paid individually) at one of the many fine restaurants near your hotel.
On Wednesday, following a buffet breakfast at the hotel, Today enjoy a day in the garden, right in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, set against the stunning backdrop of Dows Lake. Or explore other beautiful sites of the city on your own. Lunch is paid individually. Check out time is noon and luggage will be stored until departure. 3:00pm Suggested departure time for Vermont. Drop offs in Burlington, Montpelier and White River Junction. Arrival times TBA
Cost is $549 per person, double occupancy, with a single room supplement of $119. $100 per person deposit is required to confirm booking. Space is limited! Deadline for tour registration is September 16, 2022. Final payment due: 65 days prior to arrival date or March 11, 2023. For complete details, and to register, visit www.vermontfgcv.com
The Arnold Arboretum art shows are offered in-person at the Hunnewell Building at 125 Arborway (open noon–4pm, Friday through Monday) and virtually at www.arboretum.harvard.edu. In The Nature of Art/The Art of Nature, fourteen artists from New England Book Artists have their work on view this summer. Each artist takes a personal look at nature, combining their own interpretation of what resonates with them with a singular book design. From a Dragonfly to Wild Roses, a celebration of Walking in the Arboretum to a memorial to the Ashes of a lost farm, these artists bring an thoughtful and intriguing vision to the world of art within nature and the nature of books.
