Boston Flora

Month: July 2024

  • Tuesdays, September 3 – October 8, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Beginner’s Ikebana Course

    Learn the art of Japanese flower arranging from Joanne Caccavale, Riji, Sogetsu School. Joanne was born and raised in Singapore, she came to school in the US in 1985 and stayed. Educated and trained as an attorney, she, however, prefers flowers to law. A professionally trained floral designer she switched to Japanese Flower Arranging twenty-two years ago and has been teaching for sixteen years. She is a perennial exhibitor at the New England/Boston Flower Show and has taken part in the MFA’s Art in Bloom for many years for her Garden Club. She is a Past President (twice) of the Ikebana International Boston Chapter and is presently the Director of the Boston Chapter of Sogetsu School. She holds the rank of Riji (highest rank) from the Sogetsu School. She teaches regular classes at her studio at home and also at Massachusetts Horticultural Society. She regularly conducts workshops for the Sogetsu School of Massachusetts. On a yearly basis, she has made the Ikebana stage installation for the Japanese Emperor’s Birthday Reception at the Massachusetts State House.  

    In this six week Massachusetts Horticultural Society course, you will be taught the basic curriculum. Each session will focus on different styles and concepts, allowing you to develop your skills and understanding of this timeless art form. Instructor will provide demonstrations and one-on-one feedback with each class. Students will be provided with school books, plant material, containers and pin frogs when you come to class. Please bring garden scissors or ikebana scissors. 

    Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings,  6-8 pm in the Putnam Building at the Garden at Elm Bank. April 9 – May 28, 2024

    Size is limited to 12 participants. Mass Hort members $402, General Public $458. Register at www.masshort.org

  • Thursday, August 15, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Pickle Party

    Join The Trustees for a free Pickling Workshop at the Northampton Community Garden – 75 Northampton St, Roxbury – On August 15 from 6 – 7 pm.

    It’s peak harvest – the perfect time for some pickling! Learn to make both fermented and vinegar-based pickles with fresh garden produce, and make a jar to take home. Pre-register for weather-related updates, and to help us plan how many materials to bring. Register at https://thetrustees.org/event/419646/

  • Monday, May 5 – Tuesday, May 13, 2025 – A Provence, Cote D’Azur and Beyond Garden Tour

    Join Pacific Horticulture and guests to explore the tapestries in the South of France gardens. After arriving in Paris, make your connection to Toulouse to join fellow travelers and renowned Garden Guide, Amy Kupec Larue.  Amy will lead us on visits to some of the most talked about gardens in France including Olivier Fillipi’s Le Jardin Sec, a garden that flourishes despite limited water resources. We will also visit with internationally acclaimed designer Dominique Lafourcade in one of her private gardens.  Our tour embraces the serene French countryside with visits to hidden private sanctuaries, visionary designed landscapes, and historical public gardens. Immerse yourself in the climate preservation wonders of France, where each garden tells a story of sustainability, artistry, and the timeless beauty of nature. 

    View South of France 2025 Garden Tour brochure

  • Wednesday, August 15, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, & Saturday, August 17, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Going to Ground

    This coming August marks the installation of artist LaRissa Rogers’ “Going to Ground” – a site specific sculpture on The Rose Kennedy Greenway exploring the life of Zipporah Potter Atkins, the first-known Black woman to own a home in Boston in 1670. Potter Atkins’ home rested on land now cared for by The Greenway in the North End, which was brought to light by Dr. Vivian Johnson, Professor Emerita of Boston University, after 6 years of archival research.

    Throughout the month of August, The Conservancy will be offering a series of events to engage with this piece: On Thursday, August 15th, from 5-8pm, and Saturday, August 17th, from 2-5pm, The Greenway is hosting two adobe brick-making workshops with artist LaRissa Rogers. Come get your hands in the soil, and help us craft adobe bricks which will be used in the activation of the public sculpture. On Thursday, August 22nd, from 4-7pm, drop by The Greenway during a durational performance by artists LaRissa Rogers (@larissa_rogers) and Zalika Azim (@26thletter) working together with collaborators – including their moms, aunts, sisters, and several Boston-based artists – to lay adobe soil bricks on-site for the foundation of the sculpture. On Saturday, August 24th, from 4pm-7pm, join us for a communal meal and party produced by SIDE Presents (@sidepresents) honoring Dr. Vivian Johnson and celebrating the installation of the sculpture.

  • Saturday, August 10, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Brookline Community Parkfest

    We, the Brookline Community Foundation and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, are excited to be hosting the Second Annual Brookline Community Parkfest! The event will be held on Saturday, August 10, from 11am-3pm at Olmsted Park’s Allerton Overlook. The event is free and open to all and will feature free performances, family-friendly activities, vendors, games, and more!

  • Sunday, August 11, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Forest Bathing: A Mindful Nature Experience

    Join guest guide Stefanie Haug (LICSW) on August 11 as we explore Mount Auburn Cemetery by slowing down, being attentive to nature with all our senses, and deepening our appreciation for this special slice of our Watertown and Cambridge neighborhood. Our Forest Bathing experience will include simple warm-up movements, a natural history of the area, guided breathing and centering awareness, mindful walking with sensory activities, and finding our nature meditation/sit spot.

    What to bring: comfortable clothing, walking shoes, small mat or towel to sit on, water. Check-in for the experience will be outside Story Chapel. Stefanie Haug guides people on journeys of self-awareness and relationship with nature as a local psychotherapist and certified Mindful Outdoor Guide (Kripalu). Her international career has spanned the corporate and nonprofit world with a focus on the wellbeing of humans and the more-than-human world. Stefanie is a lifelong nature lover and can often be found outdoors in all types of locations and weather, taking it all in with a sense of wonder, humor and calm. $10 for Friends of Mount Auburn, $15 general public. Register on Eventbrite HERE.

  • Friday, August 9 – Sunday, August 11 – Catepillar Lab

    Welcome to the world of caterpillars! The Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Caterpillar Lab provides the opportunity for visitors to follow the ever-changing lives of these wondrous creatures. The Lab’s professional education staff can teach you about caterpillar biology and help you safely touch (and maybe even hold!) a caterpillar. Participants will witness the enormous diversity of native caterpillars as they explore the multitude of sizes, colors and forms displayed in this exhibit. Behold the process of metamorphosis in real time, explore microscopic stories of hidden insect lives within leaves, and discuss the nested ecological connections between caterpillars, their host plants, their predators and parasitoids. Stop by to chat about gardening for native pollinators, meet a big, bubbly caterpillar, discuss ongoing ecology research, or just marvel at the magic of the natural world! Installed concurrent with “The Lost Birds Project” exhibition and outdoor sculptures, the Lab promotes the importance of birds and caterpillars, encouraging visitors to support our host environment. Free with Garden Admission, Aug. 9, 10, 11, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

    We also have two evening programs:

    • Sign up for Caterpillar Lab: Caterpillar Walk on Friday, Aug. 9, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

    • Sign up for Caterpillar Lab Moth Lighting on Saturday, Aug 10, from 9 to 11 p.m. 

  • Friday, June 6 – Friday, June 13, 2025 – Garden Gems of Vancouver and Victoria with Pacific Horticulture

    Embark on an immersive garden odyssey next June 6-13, 2025, exploring the lush landscapes of Vancouver, Bowen Island and Victoria.  Join Garden Liaison, and Published Garden Photographer Doreen Wynja, with a professional tour leader, to delve into this harmonious blend of Old and New Gardens. Visits include Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, VanDusen Botanical Garden, and University of British Columbia’s Gardens. A full day on Bowen Island for curator lead tours of private, whimsical, home and rewild gardens.  Onto Victoria, for three days to visit the Butterfly Garden, have afternoon tea and time for self-exploration at the iconic Butchart Gardens. An exciting exclusive tour of two project sites with Hatchet and Seed, focusing on Food Forestry and Edible Landscapes. Tour a landscape restoration of a 7000 square foot home of Samuel Maclure – featured in Modern Home Magazine. Conclude the journey with more intimate private home garden, visits with  talented and adored, local gardeners of British Columbia.  End with a private tour and tea at Abkhazi Gardens. Sponsored by Pacific Horticulture.

    View 2025 British Columbia Garden Tour brochure

  • Monday, June 2 – Tuesday, June 10 – France’s Loire Valley: Majestic Royal Châteaux & Gardens

    In France’s Loire Valley, experience the riverscapes that have inspired artists and writers for generations. Join The Royal Oak Foundation on an exclusive, 7-night journey through this region, known as the “Garden of France.” You’re invited to experience a lavish world where French royalty spared no expense, going behind the scenes of truly impressive châteaux they built amid the Loire Valley’s fertile landscapes, popular among nobility as a hunting ground. The trip takes place June 2 – 10. 2025. Questions? Contact Branwynne Kennedy at BKennedy@Royal-Oak.org Read the itinerary at https://www.royal-oak.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ROF_Loire_250602_Brochure.pdf

  • Sunday, April 27 – Saturday, May 3 – Tropical Treasures: Hawaii’s Garden Delights & Lei Day Festivities

    Embark on a breathtaking journey to the Hawaiian Islands of Kauai and Oahu with American Horticultural Society and host Keith Tomlinson. From ancient lava flows and craggy volcanic peaks to emerald river valleys and fluted sea cliffs, the Hawaiian Islands are an awe-inspiring horticultural and geological wonderland. Natural wonders on Kauai and Oahu include lush greenery, thundering waterfalls, deserts, rain forests, volcanoes, golden beaches, and more. Discover a wide range of natural habitats and a fascinating diversity of marine life, including tropical fish, sea turtles, and possibly humpback whales that migrate to Hawaiian waters for the winter. On relaxed hikes, search for elusive forest birds, sea birds, spectacular geologic formations, and eye-catching endemic plants. Spring is a time of celebration worldwide, and Hawaii distinguishes itself in unique and culturally rich ways on Lei Day. Experience a festive parade and Lei Day festival at Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, featuring a lei making competition, crafts on display, and hula performances. AHS Host Keith Tomlinson will provide insights from his time as a student at the University of Hawaii and work in the Botany Department at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. An optional post-trip extension on the Big Island is also available. Email travel@ahsgardening.org to express interest and pre-register. Join an optional post-trip extension on the Big Island, including exploration of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, and coffee and garden tours on the Kona coast.