Boston Flora

Sundays, June 22 – August 10 (excluding July 6 & August 3), 4:00 pm – 6:40 pm Eastern – Plants for Gardens, Online

by

Examine the use of plants in the garden, with an emphasis on choosing the right plant for the right place based on site-specific design and maintenance criteria in this New York Botanical Garden online live twelve session course with Daryl Beyers. Learn aspects of special garden values such as size, texture, color, as well as flowering and fruiting seasons. You’ll review trees, shrubs, groundcovers, annuals, and perennials suitable for gardens throughout the United States. The Sunday sessions begin June 22, from 4 – 6:40 pm.

This course is an online equivalent of Plants for Landscaping specifically for students who are completing NYBG’s Gardening Certificate program or those taking classes leisurely. Please note, this class cannot be applied toward a Horticulture or Landscape Design Certificate. Members $423, nonmembers $470. To register and for complete schedule, visit www.nybg.org

Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22 – The Newport Flower Show: A Floral Fair

by

The 2025 Newport Flower Show, themed “A Floral Fair,” will shine at Rosecliff from June 20-22, 2025, celebrating two enchanting and vibrant themes. Inside the elegant rooms of Rosecliff, guests will be transported back to the Gilded Age, honoring the legacy of Theresa Fair Oelrichs, the mansion’s original owner. Exhibitors in Floral Design and Botanical Arts will draw inspiration from her 1913 fairy tale-themed dinner, creating captivating displays of imagination and elegance. Adding a fun twist, the first floor will also bloom with playful arrangements reminiscent of a cheerful summer county fair.

The festivities continue outdoors on Rosecliff’s rear terrace and lawn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Here, the Horticulture Division and Garden Displays will bring the themes to life with competitions of delightful plants, vibrant cut flowers and inspiring displays crafted by skilled amateur gardeners and local garden clubs.

After soaking in the floral splendor, don’t forget to visit the Marketplace for some well-deserved retail therapy! From the ever-popular Newport Mansions Stores to carefully selected vendors offering unique treasures, there’s something for everyone.

Mark your calendar to join us this summer to celebrate creativity and the beauty of nature. Preservation Society members $35, nonmembers $45. Additionally, join the celebration on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 6 pm and step into the breathtaking interiors and garden displays at Rosecliff, transformed into a fragrant wonderland of blossoms and lush displays. Sip refreshing cocktails, savor delectable small bites and shop exclusive finds, all while mingling with fellow flower lovers. With live music, stunning floral designs and the magical summer ambiance of Newport in full bloom, this is the must-attend garden party of the season. $250 members, $275 nonmembers. Tickets available for both the Show and the Party at https://www.newportmansions.org/events/the-newport-flower-show-a-floral-fair/. Photo below from 2024 taken by Sandra Gilpatrick.

Wednesday, June 18, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm – The Future PRFCT: Ground Rules for Gardening in a Perfect World

by

Do you want to do something truly beneficial—for your family, your community, and the environment? It all starts with how you relate to your land. Join Perfect Earth Project’s Edwina von Gal in the Far Barn at the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury on June 18 for an inspiring and practical talk on ecological land care. She’ll explore what it means to work with your landscape rather than against it—eliminating toxic chemicals, reducing maintenance stress, and fostering resilience, biodiversity, and beauty. Learn how simple changes can create a healthier, more sustainable outdoor space that supports pollinators, wildlife, your pets, and you. After the talk, Edwina will be joined by local experts for an interactive Q&A and discussion. Bring your questions on topics like toxic-free lawn care, habitat creation, tick and pest management, and cost-saving alternatives to conventional landscaping.

Free. Space is limited, those who are pre-registered will be admitted first. Pre-register here.

Wednesday, June 25, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – A Summer Party

by

Each summer, more than 200 park supporters gather to celebrate summer in the city and our beautiful, historic parks at our Summer Party! This two-hour cocktail party gives our guests the opportunity to enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvre while raising funds for The Friends of the Public Garden’s continued maintenance of Boston’s #threeparks.

This year’s Summer Party will be held on Wednesday, June 25 at the Garden at King’s Chapel Parish from 6-8 PM. Support your parks as we usher in the summer season in a plush outdoor hidden garden. Come dressed in your best Garden Chic attire! Register for the event at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/events/summer-party/. Individual tickets $100.

Tuesday, June 17, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Resist, Endure, Adapt: The Ethics and Practice of Plant Conservation

by

You have probably heard that diversity is good for the environment, but have you ever wondered how exactly plant diversity benefits ecosystems and the life (including yours) that these ecosystems support? Join CEO of Native Plant Trust Tim Johnson at the Boston Athenaeum on June 17 for a wide ranging talk about the history of the conservation movement in the United States, the tools plant conservationists use to protect plants from extinction, and what plant ecology can teach us about how to resist, endure, and adapt when the things we hold dear come under attack.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Tim Johnson grew up fishing public waterways and hunting the county forests, state natural areas, and his neighbors’ fields in Wisconsin. There, he learned that science can teach us how ecosystems work, but conservation is all about changing hearts and minds. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MS and PhD in environmental horticulture from the University of Florida, where he researched methods for conserving rare orchids on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. After completing his doctorate, Johnson worked as the Head of Preservation and Seed Bank Manager for Seed Savers Exchange and the Director of the Botanic Garden of Smith College. He joined Native Plant Trust in January of 2024.

TICKETS & TICKET POLICIES

Tickets are required for this event. Members and their guests are at no cost. Visitor tickets are $20 and include first floor admission. Tickets are refundable if canceled up to 48 hours before the event. To purchase online visit www.bostonathenaeum.org

The Boston Athenaeum welcomes people of all abilities. If you have questions regarding accessibility, please email events@bostonathenaeum.org.

Tuesday, June 17, 10:00 am – 11:15 am – Recover Green Roofs

by

The Garden Club of the Back Bay is sponsoring another Member’s Only popup on June 17 from 10 – 11:15. Join them to view and learn about the work Recover Green Roofs (RGR) is creating around Boston. RGR creates green roof gardens and farms across New England and beyond. They strive to create long-lasting, thriving green roofs that aid in recovering nature in our built environment in order to support healthier communities and more resilient cities. Lead horticulturalist, Jonas Herbst-Rubio, will give us a tour of a rooftop garden they created here in Boston. We will learn about the social, ecological and economic benefits of green roofs and enjoy the blooming plants! Meet at 127 Tremont Street, Boston. There is room for 10-15 participants.
RSVP to Stephanie Fletcher betze47@yahoo.com. Not yet a member? Join at https://gardenclubbackbay.org/

Friday, June 13, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Evening in the Garden

by

As the light fades and day turns to evening, enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and see the beauty of the Hollister House garden in a different light. Come have a glass of wine in the barn. Then enjoy a walk in the garden where you will delight in the intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and overflowing with exuberant plantings.

This event will take place rain or shine on Friday, June 13 from 6 – 8.. In the event of inclement weather we will enjoy wine in the barn! This event is generously sponsored by HHG board member Rod Pleasants. Hollister House Garden is located at 300 Nettleton Hollow Road in Washington, Connecticut.

RESERVATIONS

Advance Reservations $20 per person (includes a glass of wine). Advance reservations available until 4 pm on the day of the event. Pay at the door $25 per person (cash or check only).

Tuesday, June 17, 12:00 noon Eastern – Ungardening for Biodiversity: A Photographic Exploration of the Hidden Life in Gardens, Online

by

Join Mark Millan online on June 17 at noon Eastern to learn about the fascinating world of insects and their role in promoting biodiversity. Climate change, habitat loss, intensive agriculture, industrialization, invasive species, novel pathogens, and pollution are exerting increase pressure on native flora and fauna across the planet. Paradoxically, while rampant concrete and sprawling cities are inherently bad news for wildlife, urban green spaces like parks and gardens offer a potential refuge for a variety of plants and animals, including bees, butterflies and beetles.

This is important since, like birds, bats and other animals, insects have suffered serious global and local declines in numbers and species richness over recent years. Moreover, while they don’t have quite the same aura as giant pandas or cuddly koalas, there’s more to bugs than annoying wasps and wretched greenflies.

Join Mark Millan to hear about the important services that insects provide, such as:

pollinating flowers, bushes and trees
providing food for birds, frogs, bats, hedgehogs
recycling leaves and other debris to fertilize the earth
consuming pests of flowers and vegetables (aphids, plant-chewing bugs, slugs and mildew).

In view of the above, it would seem like a good idea to nab insects with a camera rather than a rolled-up newspaper, and this talk is based on the photographic documentation (2020 to 2024) of insects in Mark Millan’s own garden situated in the green belt West of Paris. £10 Livestream (watch live or on demand). Register at www.gardenmuseum.org

Thursday, June 12, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Juneteenth Celebration at Nightingale Garden

by

Come celebrate Black history and liberation in the Nightingale Garden! Cohosted by The Trustees of Reservations, Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation, Egleston Main Street, and Dorchester Food Coop. The event takes place Thursday, June 12 from 5:30 – 7:30 at Nightingale Garden, 512 Park Street in Boston. For complete details visit https://thetrustees.org/event/440287/