Boston Flora

Category: Class

  • Wednesday, July 15, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Essential Oil Perfume Workshop, Online

    Perfume can be traced back thousands of years to an Ancient Egyptian tradition, beloved by Cleopatra. Discover the history of perfume and the therapeutic benefits of essential oils. Learn scent-blending techniques and how to identify and keep perfume notes. Through demonstration, you’ll learn how to formulate three unique signature scents using wax, carrier oils, and essential oils, and one solid perfume, aromatherapy spray, and a roll-on perfume. This New York Botanical Garden online workshop takes place July 15 from 6 – 8 pm, and is $62 for NYBG members, $68 for nonmembers. Register at www.nybg.org

    Materials for Online Sessions: Click Here for pdf. Karine Gordineer is the instructor. Karine Gordineer is an Herbalist, Educator, and Healing Arts Practitioner with over 35 years of experience in herbalism, sustainability, and Earth-centered healing traditions. Introduced to the medicine ways by her father of Algonquin heritage and carrying forward the work of her grandfather and great-grandfather, both herbalists, she blends ancestral knowledge with formal, clinical training, including a Certificate in Botany from the New York Botanical Garden.

    Karine is also a Certified Plant Spirit Healing Practitioner, Shamanic Practitioner, and Reiki Master/Teacher. As the founder of Green Girl Herbs & Healing working with clients and as an instructor at NYBG, she weaves plant science, herbal wisdom, and spiritual traditions into teachings that help students reconnect with the Earth and its healing gifts.

    While participants are not required to blend materials along with the demonstration, the materials list explains what supplies you’ll want to have available so you can put what you’ve learned into action after class.

  • Thursday, July 16, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm Eastern – Plants that Pay the Rent, Online

    Many young and new gardeners approach gardening enthusiastically, but often without sufficient knowledge to make the best choices. They count on the word of a less-than-trained employee or standardized marketing labels to select plants for their garden. The aim of this Ecological Landscape Alliance online talk on July 16 at noon is to provide pithy information and plant suggestions that will end the cycle of buying or killing non-performing plants. They can then remove them (or not buy them) and replace with ones with traits ascribed to the selections vetted by Dan and horticulturists across the US. As one horticulturist could not know every great plant for every region, the author has reached out to others across the US to compile lists and pictures of plants that do not disappoint.   Plants are graded on everything from pest and disease resistance to flowering period, fall color and controlled nature.  Each chapter will cover a subclass of horticulture and the best plants within this group to plant. This talk has been adapted to accommodate various hardiness zones (Pacific Northwest, Midwest, Southeast and Southwest) and listed for cold tolerance to humidity to sun tolerance. Individual plant listings will be assigned a score based on the points accumulated by a criteria poll.

    Instructor Dan Heims has been deeply involved in all facets of horticulture since 1973. He has taught horticulture courses, wholesaled exotic plants, and run his own design-and-install landscape business. Terra Nova’s breeding programs have produced numerous international gold- and silver-medal winners, not to mention an impressive 1400 plant introductions! Dan’s articles and photography have been featured in a number of magazines. He has hosted a weekly radio gardening show on KKSN and has appeared on The Martha Stewart TV Show, Martha Stewart Omnimedia Radio, HGTV, and the BBC. His work and his garden have been featured in USA Today, Forbes, Better Homes and Gardens, Sunset Magazine, and Organic Gardening. Dan is a published author, having written 2 books. Dan travels the world in search of the newest plants. Along the way, he uses his unique blend of knowledge, wit, and humor to captivate audiences around the globe. He is a frequent speaker in every corner of the United States, as well as in Japan, England, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Australia, and Canada. Winner: Reginald Cory Memorial Cup | Royal Horticultural Society 2003 Winner: Award of Merit |Perennial Plant Association 2019 Winner: Luther Burbank Award | American Horticultural Society 2020.

    Free for ELA members, $35 for nonmembers. Register at https://ecolandscaping.org/events/

  • Tuesday, July 14, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Garden to Glass

    Learn fresh cocktail making tips & tricks featuring ingredients from the UP roof garden during this free class on July 14 at Urban Park.

    Let’s shake things UP! During this class we’ll be learning cocktail making tips and tricks, featuring ingredients growing in the raised veggie beds at the Urban Park roof garden! For July we will be making a “Garden Gimlet” with cucumbers and basil from our garden.

    Each class will last approximately 1 hour. We ask that registered attendees arrive no later than 10 minutes after class start to ensure they can participate. Guests that have not checked in by this time, may be counted as no shows so that we can open spots to walk ins.

    Every occurrence of this popular series is free to attend and open to all, but space is limited and registration is required. T The only way to register is via Eventbrite. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-garden-to-glass-garden-gimlet-tickets-1990439263418?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

    As space is limited for these classes, please cancel your registration if you can no longer attend, and do so a minimum of 1 hour prior to the class start. Each session typically has a waitlist, so cancelling your registration in a timely manner gives those waiting a chance to register and attend.

    The Urban Park (UP) roof garden is a public park atop the Kendall Center Green Garage in Cambridge, MA. Come on up and enjoy a rooftop oasis; accessible via the garage’s elevators and stairwells or via the Main Street social stair next to the MBTA outbound station.

  • Thursday, July 16, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Summer Bouquet Making Workshop

    Join Mount Auburn Cemetery on July 16 at 5:30 pm for a hands-on summer bouquet workshop led by a member of Mount Auburn’s Greenhouse team. Fee from $33.42 through Eventbrite. Register HERE.

    Learn the basics of floral arranging while creating your own seasonal bouquet inspired by the beauty of the landscape. All materials and supplies will be provided by Mount Auburn. Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

    For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

    Mount Auburn is proud to participate in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.

    Refund Policy:

    Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.

    If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.

  • Saturday, July 11, 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm – Keeping Up With the Crops

    The Urban Farming Institute invites you to a July workshop session – Keeping Up with the Crops – on Saturday, July 11 from 12 – 2 at the Fowler Clark Epstein Farm, 487 Norfolk Street in Mattapan. Registration is encouranged by email at info@urbanfarminginstitute.org or call 617-989-9920. Free.

  • Wednesdays, August 12, 19, & 26, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern – Fall Gardening Know-How, Online

    The Massachusetts Master Gardener Association presents Fall Gardening Know-How online on three successive Wednesdays, August 12, 19, & 26, from 7 – 8:30 Eastern. Topics include growing bulbs, saving seeds, organic gardening, and preparing the garden for winter. Registration closes August 9. Questions – email knowhow@massmastergardeners.org and visit https://www.massmastergardeners.org/educational-resources/gardening-know-how-series

  • Thursday, July 9, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Flower Arranging with Bedrock’s Blooms

    In this creative, hands-on Bedrock Gardens floral design workshop, students are invited to bring a special vase or vessel from home and use it as the foundation for a one-of-a-kind arrangement. Whether your container is tall, wide, vintage, or unconventional, you’ll learn how to design in a way that highlights its unique shape and character—ensuring every participant leaves with something truly personal.

    Together, we’ll explore how vessel size and form influence floral composition, along with key design principles that help arrangements feel balanced and expressive. The class will also include a discussion on color theory, focusing on the use of monochromatic versus polychromatic palettes to create different moods and visual impact.

    Erin Prawoko will provide floral mechanics as needed and will introduce agra wool, a sustainable alternative to traditional floral foam, giving participants a chance to work with more eco-friendly materials. Erin Prawoko is in her third season as a Bedrock gardener. Prior to joining Bedrock, her work experience includes nursery/ greenhouse, farming and visual merchandising. She loves every aspect of gardening from seed starting, to harvesting and design. A real flower nerd. Erin approaches the process of bouquet-making with a playful and whimsical touch – tapping into that childhood wonder is part of the craft. With a background in photography, she also applies principals of photographic composition when creating.

    This workshop is perfect for beginners and seasoned flower lovers alike who want to deepen their creativity and see everyday vessels in a whole new way.

    Tickets are are $45 for members (with member discount code) and $55 for non-members which includes a full day pass to the gardens. Bedrock Gardens is located at 19 High Road in Lee, New Hampshire. Sign up and learn more at https://www.bedrockgardens.org/program-calendar.html

  • Friday, June 26, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Poetry Writing Workshop: What Words for Nature’s Beauty?

    With Hollister House Garden in Washington, Connecticut as a source of inspiration, Woodbury poet laureate emerita Sandy Carlson invites you to explore of the role of nature in poetry. Spend time exploring the garden rooms at Hollister House, observing, wandering, and writing as you feel inspired. Go where the Muse takes you- being as contemplative or as playful as you please. Carlson will be available for support and feedback throughout the afternoon. The workshop will conclude with an informal open mic, offering participants the option to share their work with the group while enjoying a beverage.

    This June 26 workshop is for everyone who loves words and the natural world—no previous poetry or writing experience is required. Bring a notebook and your favorite pen or pencil.

    Sandy Lee Carlson is a widely published poet, educator, and Poet Laureate Emerita of Woodbury. She founded the monthly open mic at Woodbury Public Library, and she organizes poetry events in Litchfield and New Haven counties. She edits and publishes poetry anthologies as managing partner of Orenaug Mountain Publishing and hosts the podcast People and Their Poems, featuring conversations with area poets about their work and the poems that have shaped people’s lives. Sandy teaches high school English in Litchfield. A Master Gardener, she spends her free time removing introduced plants wherever she finds them clogging the landscape. Learn more at sandycarlson.net.

    HHG members: $30. Non-members: $35. Register at https://hollisterhousegarden.org/event/poetry-workshop-what-words-for-natures-beauty/

  • Wednesday, June 24, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Blossoms & Bites

    What goes better together than chocolate and flowers?

    In this New England Botanic Garden event on June 24, a dual-maker workshop, you’ll step into the world of artisanal chocolate with Viviane of Vivilicious Chocolates, learning the craft behind chocolate tempering, making and designing two of your own floral-infused creation. Incorporate botanicals like rose, lavender, and chamomile and explore chocolate not as candy, but as an ingredient of depth and structure, where each botanical is expressed with clarity and balance.

    While your chocolate sets, Sam of Sam’s Stems will guide you through the art of creating a colorful summer garden arrangement. Using fresh seasonal blooms, you’ll compose something simple and beautiful and pick up the basics of caring for cut flowers at home, including whatever might already be growing in your garden.

    Leave with a chocolate treat you made yourself, a bouquet to brighten your space, and a handful of new skills to carry into the season.

    No experience needed. Just a love of beautiful things. And chocolate. Definitely chocolate. $125 NEBG members, $140 nonmembers. Pair pricing: $165 NEBG members, $180 nonmembers, but pair pricing includes only ONE set of materials to share. Register at www.nebg.org

  • Wednesday, June 24 & Saturday, June 27, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern – Balancing Native & Non-Native Plantings, Online

    Hear practical, approachable tips for incorporating native plants into your landscape alongside non-native favorites. Native plants play a critical role in supporting pollinators and wildlife, strengthening biodiversity, and creating plant communities adapted to local conditions. Non-native species contribute structure, seasonal interest and continuity. Learn how to integrate them for a balanced, thriving landscape. This two part Zoom presentation with Marie Chieppo is offered by the Native Plant Trust on June 24 & June 27 for $25. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/balancing-native-and-non-native-plantings/