Boston Flora

Category: Rhode Island

  • Friday, June 21 – Sunday, June 23 – The Newport Flower Show: At Home

    Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Newport Flower Show, June 21 – 23 at Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. You may also reserve your spot at the Opening Night Reception, the start of Newport’s summer season. For more information visit events@newportmansions.org.

    The 2024 Newport Flower Show will be back at Rosecliff, its original home, with the theme of “At Home” – celebrating the variety of florals and horticulture that we enjoy in our own homes.

    As visitors step into the foyer of Rosecliff, the air will be filled with the fragrances of abundant summer blooms. The enchanting exhibits will include an array of displays that showcase the relationship between flowers and the homes they beautify. The popular Botanical Arts division will include artists’ interpretations of items found in many homes: dolls, picture frames, the family dog and more.

    After viewing the displays in the Salon, Ballroom and Dining Room, guests will step onto the Terrace to admire the Horticulture entries and then the oceanside back lawn to explore a beautiful central garden display including a cutting garden, home orchard and pollinator garden, along with ideas to create a picturesque setting for outdoor living.

    Be sure to leave some time to browse the Marketplace, offering a variety of floral and plant options as well as home decor items for purchase.

    “At Home” will be a celebration of the beauty that flowers and plants bring to the spaces we call home. Whether you’re a flower enthusiast, a gardening hobbyist or someone seeking inspiration for home decor, this show promises a feast for the senses and a unique perspective on the intersection of nature and your home, indoors and out.

    Twice each day at 10 am and 2 pm, Lucy Hunter will present a talk and demonstration based on her book The Flower Hunter. Tickets for all events may be purchased at https://www.newportmansions.org/events/the-newport-flower-show-at-home/

  • Friday, April 19, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Blithewold in Bloom: a 2024 American Daffodil Society Show

    Join Blithewold Mansion Gardens & Arboretum and the American Daffodil Society on April 19 at 5 pm to celebrate the dedication of Blithewold’s exhibition space, which will be officially named the Marjorie Van Wickle Lyon Gallery. The address is 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, Rhode Island.

    Get a sneak peek at the glorious display of floral arrangements and specimens in the Visitors Center and throughout the first floor of the Mansion. Guests will enjoy delicious hors d’ouevre from The Kitchen at Blithewold, signature cocktails, and a performance by students at The Ballet Center.

    Pre-registration is required on Eventbrite HERE. Limited to only 100 tickets. $40 for members, $50 for nonmembers.

  • Wednesday, April 24, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Nature Mandala: Day’s Eye

    Local artist Beth Adoette is coming to Blithewold to share her unique practice of partnering with nature in a monthly workshop series. This workshop offers people the opportunity to unplug and be in the moment while exploring beautiful objects of nature. Please note that nature mandalas are ephemeral and will not be taken home. Photographs are encouraged. High-resolution, edited photographs can be ordered separately at the workshop for an additional fee.  $40 for Blithewold members, $45 for nonmembers.

    Hundreds of years ago, the daisy was called “day’s eye” in England, and “the eye of the day” in Wales. These lovely names are derived from the way this flower it opens its petals in the morning in the east, turns to follow the sun’s path, closes back up at night, and in the night turns towards the east again in anticipation of the sun. In this April 24 workshop, we take our cue from this humble yet wise flower, as we try to identify our objectives and create a nature mandala to act as a beautiful and practical reminder of our daily intentions. Register at https://www.blithewold.org/event/nature-mandala-series-with-beth-adoette-2/

  • Wednesday, March 20, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Nature Mandala: Gratitude and the Sun

    Local artist and author Beth Adoette is coming to Blithewold to share her unique practice of partnering with nature in a monthly workshop series. This workshop offers people the opportunity to unplug and be in the moment while exploring beautiful objects of nature. Please note that nature mandalas are ephemeral and will not be taken home. Photographs are encouraged. High-resolution, edited photographs can be ordered separately at the workshop for an additional fee.  The March session on March 20 (in the education room in the visitor’s center) is Gratitude and the Sun. In this workshop, participants contemplate what we can be thankful for both collectively and individually. We begin with the sun, the force which unconditionally guides and sustains us all. Then we consider the gifts we have been given individually. Make space for the gentle, yet powerful benefits that come from a grateful heart as we create individual gratitude mandalas which capture the blessings of our lives in this moment. $40 for Blithewold members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.blithewold.org/event/nature-mandala-series-with-beth-adoette-2/

  • Wednesday, February 28, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Nature Mandala: Expanding Peace Mandalas

    Local artist Beth Adoette is coming to Blithewold to share her unique practice of partnering with nature in a monthly workshop series. This workshop offers people the opportunity to unplug and be in the moment while exploring beautiful objects of nature. Please note that nature mandalas are ephemeral and will not be taken home. Photographs are encouraged. High-resolution, edited photographs can be ordered separately at the workshop for an additional fee. 

    The February 28 session begins at 6 pm with a brief introduction to the origins of the ancient Celtic Circle and Caim Prayers, and then challenges us to expand these concepts to see the world in a larger, more inclusive, and connected way. We begin with the hope for peace and protection for ourselves, and then explore what it might look like visually through an expanding view of the world. Let’s try to envision what an intention, hope, or prayer may look like that not only seeks peace for ourselves, but for a much larger world in which we are inherently connected.

    Class size is limited to 10. $40 Blithewold Members | $45 Nonmembers. Register at https://www.blithewold.org/event/nature-mandala-series-with-beth-adoette-2/

  • Thursday, January 25, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Eastern – ReSeeding Rhode Island, Online

    In 2022, Rhode Island Plant Society (RIWPS) began ReSeeding Rhode Island, an initiative to increase the availability of ecotypic seed and plants within the state. In this online Native Plant Trust session on January 25 from 5 – 6, you will learn from ReSeeding Rhode Island’s seed collector Shannon Kingsley about ecotypes and ecoregions, proper protocols for collection of wild seeds, and the types of species collected and grown by ReSeeding RI. Shannon will also delve into her experiences collecting wild seeds, the initiative’s partnerships with its wild seedbed growers, and the developing educational aspects of the project.

    Please note: We do not make video or audio recordings of classes or programs available after the fact, because we believe education is interactive, with instructors and students building a community and culture of learning. Some programs may be recorded strictly for instructor-training purposes. Please visit this page to review this and other FAQs about our policies.

    $15 NPT members. $18 nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/reseeding-rhode-island/

  • Sunday, November 26, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Evergreen Wreath Workshop – Register Now

    Learn how to create an evergreen wreath from scratch by collaborating to make a giant wreath for Casey Farm’s barn. This Historic New England farm is located at 2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, R.I. Then, use those skills to make a wreath to take home or give as a gift using all-natural materials. Casey Farm supplies hot cider, craft materials, and experts to guide your design. You bring your good cheer and creativity! Two other sessions have already sold out so register now.

    HNE Member $45; Nonmember $55. Log in or Join now to have your discount applied at checkout.  Register at https://my.historicnewengland.org/17429/cas-wreath-nov-26

    Please call 401-295-1030 ext. 5 for more information.

  • Thursday & Friday, November 2 & 3 – Embodied Carbon: The Sustainability Imperative of Preserving Places

    Plan to attend the Historic New England Summit 2023 in Providence, Rhode Island on November 2 and 3 convening leading voices in a panel discussing Embodied Carbon: The Sustainability Imperative of Preserving Places. How can we transform the predominant perception of buildings as expendable assets into a perspective where they are recognized as vital instruments in combatting climate change and addressing social disparities? Achieving this paradigm shift necessitates a multidisciplinary approach encompassing adaptive reuse, deconstruction, and innovative construction methods. This approach is essential for reshaping the discourse surrounding building lifecycles, whether existing or new, and for achieving the ambitious objectives of net-zero emissions and zero-waste sustainability.

    Moderator Philip Kennicott is Senior Art and Architecture Critic for the Washington Post. He will be joined by Dan Bergsagel, Sustainability Lead at schlaich bergermann, Rebecca Berry, AIA, LEED AP, and Jonathan Rosenbloom, Professor of Law at Albany Law School and Executive Director, Sustainable Development Code.

    Register HERE. Registration fees range from $45 to $160.

  • Thursday & Friday, November 2 & 3 – Historic New England Summit 2023, Live and Online – Save the Date

    New England’s largest conference about our collective roles in creating livable and resilient communities will take place November 2 and 3 at the VETS, Providence, Rhode Island, and livestream. The annual Historic New England Summit presents two days of exciting conversations that explore how 21st-century challenges and opportunities are transforming the fields of historic preservation, architecture, urban planning, conservation, arts and culture, museum studies, collections management, public history, and education. The program includes keynote presentations by regional and national leaders, panel discussions, provocations, networking opportunities, and more.

    The 2023 Historic New England Summit is your opportunity to gain inspiration from and connect with cutting-edge thought leaders in preservation, arts and culture, social history, education, advocacy, and municipal government. Join the continuing conversation on some of today’s most complex and pressing challenges in these fields and beyond. Share your ideas, collaborate on solutions, and discover new perspectives to strengthen the livability and vitality of our communities.

    One of this year’s themes is Sustainability and Climate Change. What is the role of cultural and preservation organizations in driving climate action? What strategies and commitments are essential to achieving net-zero and zero-waste sustainability targets? What innovative strategies are being deployed to protect collections from pervasive, destructive pests?

    On the National Register of Historic Places, The VETS is ideally located in downtown Providence on the revitalized Avenue of the Arts across from the Rhode Island State House. It is acclaimed for its unique combination of size and intimacy. The theater celebrates flawless acoustics, a breathtaking proscenium stage, and exquisite interior.

    Complete details and registration may be found at https://summit.historicnewengland.org/register/ Early bird pricing is available through July 16. Online 2-Day member price $55, nonmember $68. After July 17, $90 & $110.

  • Wednesdays through September 6, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Music at Sunset: Blithewold Concert Series 2023

    Spread out the picnic, soak up the warmth of the summer sun over Narragansett Bay, and enjoy a variety of musical performances by local musicians, at Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, Rhode Island.

    Guests are encouraged to bring picnic dinners and chairs or blankets. RI Cruisin’ Cocktails will be serving non-alcoholic as well as drinks with a kick inspired by the gardens! Provided by RI Cruisin’ Cocktails. There are 33 acres of gardens and grounds, including a 10-acre lawn, where you can spread out and enjoy the music and gorgeous views over the bay.

    6 – 8 PM $5 – $60

    Preregistration is required! Tickets will be sold online only. Carload pricing is for 4 passenger cars and 2 passenger cars.
    Additional tickets need to be purchased for additional passengers arriving in the same car.

    The day before the concert you will receive a printout. Please print it and place it in the windshield of your car. It will be checked in when you arrive. Rain dates for some concerts. To register visit https://www.blithewold.org/event/music-at-sunset-summer-concert-series/