Daily Archives: April 17, 2025


Saturday, April 26, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Top 40 Plants for the Naturalistic Garden

Many gardeners are experimenting with the more natural style of planting popularized by the “Dutch Wave” and New York City’s High Line, but most of the plants that work best for these designs aren’t as familiar as our classic border perennials. Join plantsman Robert Clyde Anderson as he guides you through his best recommendations, a list distilled from over 20 years of nursery and planting experience. This three-hour session on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. will include an illustrated lecture, handouts, an on-site walkabout on the Berkshire Botanical Garden grounds, and time for questions and shared experiences. BBG members $50, nonmembers $70. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/top-40-plants-naturalistic-garden

Robert Clyde Anderson is a garden designer, consultant and writer who found his way to the Hudson Valley after a New York City career in illustration and book design. A native of Louisiana and a lifelong gardener, he has designed and maintained gardens in COlumbia County as well as working in area nurseries, most recently at Pondside Nursery in Hudson, N.Y., for five years, and before that at Loomis Creek Nursery in Claverack, N.Y., for eight years. Robert makes his home in Stuyvesant, N.Y., where he maintains a two-acre “laboratory” garden that includes shrub borders, a sunny terraced xeric garden, a shady wooded streamside area, a moist meadow planting, a kitchen garden, and a small flock of chickens. He writes about plants and gardening on his personal blog, Sempervivum, at www.robertclydeanderson.com.


Saturday, May 3, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Early Spring Blooms

At the beginning of May, flowers are just starting to emerge from the trees and shrubs of the Arboretum: cherry trees, dogwood, redbuds, and magnolias are all blooming this time of year. Join Arboretum docent Paul Eldrenkamp on May 3 at 10 am in front of the Hunnewell Building to see, smell, and learn about these early spring blooms! This tour will include paved roads and woodchip paths. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed toe walking shoes. Tours may be canceled in cases of the following weather conditions: severe wind, snow, ice, thunder or lightning events; temperatures over 90 degrees; temperatures below 20 degrees; or other weather events at the discretion of Arboretum staff. In the case of cancelation, you will be contacted by Arboretum staff no later than 2 hours before the start of the event. If you have questions about the status of a program, please email or call the Visitor Center at (617) 384-5209 between 10:00am and 4:00pm. Register at https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/early-spring-blooms-302/?occurrence=2025-05-03