Daily Archives: July 1, 2023


Wednesdays, July 12, 19, and 26, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, and Onsite Visit – The Art of Planting Design: Learn to Design in Seasonal Sequence

Maria von Brincken will lead you thru the garden design process in this Massachusetts Horticultural Garden three part series on July 12, 19, and 26 from 10 – 2, from 10 – 2 at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley. Once you have your list of the plants you love and are thriving in your garden, it’s time to design your garden.

You’ll learn how to use drifts, masses, and individual plants to create garden lay-outs, how to select a winning color palette, and how to create planting combinations that will flower in season sequence.

We’ll start with designing the landscape of shrubs and trees—using conifers, deciduous, and broad-leafed plants.  Then we’ll layer in the perennial flower garden. You’ll practice creating small gardens either with plots the instructor provides or your own premeasured small garden (no larger 20′ x 8’—bring photos too).

You’ll have class time to practice new skills with in-class worksheets and apply them to a section of your own garden (Sun or Shade) (about 9 x 12’). The instructor takes time to individually review your worksheets and your design layout and plant pairing choices. You’ll prepare before class by photographing and measuring the garden you wish to transform. A “decluttering worksheet helps you take an inventory, so you’ll be ready to start your garden design.

Lectures include extensive handouts. Lecture images are from gardens in New England, MHS’s Bressingham Garden, and the author’s design work to inspire you and give you examples you can use right away.

Maria von Brincken, principle of Maria von Brincken Landscape Garden Design, is an award-winning certified designer (APLD and LI) celebrating her 20th year in professional practice. Maria specializes in custom beautiful spaces and colorful flower gardens using native and ornamental plants. 

Trained as a fine artist, color theorist, and organic gardener Maria brings years of critical design thinking to her landscape solutions. Her design has been featured in Fine Gardening Magazine, Landscape Ideas You Can Use and others. Aformer contributing editor to LandShapes Magazine, her writing has also been published in NELDHA’s Perspectives, APLD’s The Designer, and GardenDrum.org.

Her lectures and workshops have been featured at the MHS, Boston The Flower Show, Radcliffe Seminars and the LI, Conn. Master Gardener’s Conference, Perennial Plant Conference, ELA- just to name a few. Her lectures, classes, and workshops teach successful ways of thinking and techniques. Learn more about Maria and her work at www.mariavonbrincken.com

Preregistration required. To register visit www.masshort.org. Mass Hort members $225, nonmembers $255.


Saturday, July 8, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – Wiscasset Homes on Tour

Homes on Tour 2023 features a collection of private homes in historic Wiscasset Village including some of the most significant and iconic buildings in the neighborhood. While these homes are currently treasured private residences, glimpses of the past remain. See how contemporary taste blends with, and enhances, these notable structures.

Wiscasset has a long history of inviting visitors into the many grand homes throughout the historic Village. Read about that history at https://www.wiscassetcreativealliance.org/houseandgardentour

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, picturesque Wiscasset had a prolific ship-building industry, now long gone, along the shores of the Sheepscot River. But those remaining emblems of wealth – the well-preserved, handsome Federal-style homes – are why Wiscasset is known as “the prettiest village in Maine.”

Wiscasset’s Homes on Tour features history, splendor, and inspiration!  Read about the 2022 tour in Wiscasset Newspaper.

Tickets are priced at $30 each (plus processing fee) and may be purchased in advance – Eventbrite link HERE – or in person on the day of the tour, 10am to 3pm, at the parking lot at 36 Water St., Wiscasset, ME 04578. In 2023, several of the featured homes are located in walkable Wiscasset Village. Homemade sweets will be available at each home on the tour.