Join the Isabella Stewart Gardner Curator of the Collection Alan Chong for this fascinating exploration of Isabella Gardner’s artistic vision and broader goals in creating a museum that would be architecturally distinct yet seamlessly interwoven into Boston’s urban fabric. Tickets are free and may be reserved in advance. A $1.50 service fee applies to tickets reserved online. Tickets may also be reserved in person at the Museum’s front entrance at 280 The Fenway or by calling the Gardner Box Office at 617-278-5156. For more information log on to www.gardnermuseum.org.
Category: Class
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Wednesday, June 10, 6 – 8 pm – Floral Designs Inspired by Art
Artwork can be interpreted with flowers just as it can be expressed with words. Kathy Thomas, an accomplished landscape painter and a top floral designer, will use her own works and Elm Bank’s flowers to create a series of arrangements that reflect the mood and composition of the artwork. She’ll show you how she approaches the art and the tools she employs to capture the essence of a painting with flowers. $10 non-members, $5 members. For directions, and to register on line, log on to www.masshort.org.
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Wednesday, May 20 – 6-8 pm – Using Bulbs in a Mixed Border
It’s the middle of May, there has been ample rain, and so everything around your garden probably looks great about now. But what about later on in the season? And, what about the early spring when perennials are still green nubs and deciduous shrubs are bare? That’s when flowering bulbs can make all the difference between a perennial border that draws compliments in May and June, and one that delights the eye from April through September.
Visit Elm Bank, home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, where Brent Heath of Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, a world-renowned expert on bulbs, will explain how to most effectively incorporate bulbs into a mixed border. His program will include examples, using slides, of various approaches to this type of garden composition. $10 members, $15 general admission. You may register on line and get directions by logging in to www.masshort.org.
This Wednesday evening at 6 p.m., Mass Hort is pleased to welcome Brent Heath, co-owner of Virginia-based Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. Brent is a world-renowned expert on bulbs, and he’ll explain how to most effectively incorporate spring- and summer-flowering bulbs into a mixed border.
Brent’s program will include examples, using slides, of various approaches to this type of garden composition. He’ll bring designs that offer color for spring and summer, showing how even modest investments can return years of bright, long-lasting blooms. He’ll answer questions and offer hands-on advice on caring for and maintaining mixed borders.
If you were on the Greenway from mid-April through early May, you had the opportunity to see a spectacular canvas for Brent and Becky’s Bulbs. They were extremely generous in donating approximately ten thousand daffodil bulbs that brought a blaze of color to the Greenway Gardens.
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Wednesday, June 3 – Thursday, June 4 – Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Annual Meeting
Please join President Celeste Wilson at the 82nd Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 3rd through Thursday, June 4 at The Westford Regency Inn & Conference Center, 219 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886. Registration begins Wednesday at 2:30 pm, followed by a design workshop “Summer Elegance” with Thelma Shoneman. At the 5:30 Cocktail Reception and 6:30 dinner meet honored guest Renee Blaschke, President of the National Garden Clubs. Thursday’s activities begin with coffee and boutique shopping at 8 a.m., a speech by Peter Alden entitled “Changes in Flora and Fauna, Understanding Invasives”, and Julie Lapham with a design presentation “Hats Off to Our Presidents.” Following the Awards Luncheon, Presentation of Awards and Installation of Officers and President’s Message, the meeting will adjourn at 3:15. For full registration forms and material, check the most recent Mayflower, or log on to www.gcfm.org.
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Saturday, April 25- Sunday, April 26 – Gardeners Weekend at MIT Endicott House
Nurturing Your Garden: Learn the techniques of creating and maintaining a New England garden from Endicott House’s own horticultural staff. Enhance your garden with vibrant colors and invigorating depth through hands on planting, lectures and demonstrations in our greenhouse. Bring your landscape diagram and find out what will work best for you. Experience 25 acres of theme gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmstead. 80 Haven Street, Dedham, Massachusetts. By weekend’s end you will have chosen a variety of plants from our greenhouse, which we will nurture for you until planting time. $189 per person.
Package includes:overnight accommodations, refreshment breaks, lunch and dinner Saturday,brunch on Sunday.Mansion rooms blocked on a first come first serve basis. For more information, or to make a reservation, call 781-326-5151.
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April 6,13,20 &27, 1-4 pm – Introduction to Botanical Drawing and Painting: Woody Plants
Study techniques for depicting the finer details of trees and shrubs – budding boughs, newly unfurled leaves, and blossoming twigs with artist Ruth Ann Wetherby-Frattasio. Learn to see like an artist in an encouraging atmosphere. A simple drawing method will be demonstrated followed by instruction in painting techniques, including the color mixing necessary for achieving the neutrals of bark, the mossy greens of leaves, the whites of emerging buds, and the delicate pinks, violets, reds, and yellows of flowers. Beginners will start with a technique for placing an image on paper. Continuing students will develop their skills further. During this class, botanical works of artist Esther Heins will be on display in the lecture hall, providing inspiration. List of materials required will be sent upon registration. Four Mondays, 1-4, in the Hunnewell Building, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain.  Offered in collaboration with Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture. $130 members of the Arnold Arboretum or the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture, $155 non-members. For more information, call 781-283-3094, or log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH.
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Tuesdays, March 2 – April 6, 6:30 – 8:30 pm – The Plant Kingdom: An Overview
Join K.N. Gandhi, Botanist at the Harvard University Herbaria, for this six session introductory course in botany, beginning March 2 at 6:30 pm. Through lectures and work in the laboratory, Dr. Gandhi will provide a deeper understanding of the plant kingdom, from the simple plants to those that are highly evolved. He will outline the structure and reproduction of bacteria, cyano-bacteria, algae (fresh water and marine), fungi, moss, ferns, pines, and flowering plants. You will learn about the fundamental differences in the plant structure of these groups and also their capabilities in reproducing both sexually and asexually. The role of xylem, phloem, fruits, and seeds in the success of flowering plants will be discussed.
Fee $165 Arnold Arboretum member, $200 nonmember. For additional information, and to register, log on to www.arboretum.harvard.edu.