Boston Flora

Saturday, August 6, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – The Gibsons and Nahant Walking Tour

Join The Gibson House Museum for a two-hour historical walking tour of Nahant led by Chris Mathias (past president, Nahant Historical Society) and Ken Turino (Historic New England).

The smallest town in Massachusetts, Nahant does not come up short in history. Located on two islands, it was originally part of Lynn (1629), separating in 1853.

On this tour you will see significant and architecturally diverse Nahant historical sites, the summer homes of the Gibsons and their Hammond relatives, and the location of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house. At frequent stops along the way, you’ll learn about Nahant’s rich history. Hear the stories of the workers, politicians, poets, scientists, artists, and Egg Rock lighthouse keepers who called Nahant home. See the sites of the grand hotels dating from when Nahant was “the” summer resort for the Boston elite, as well as an amusement park and military installations for coastal defense.

The tour loops from one end of Big Nahant to the other, with spectacular views out to the open ocean one way and Boston on the other.

Expect a leisurely stroll of 2.5 miles on paved roads, with the ups and downs of Nahant’s terrain. The tour will end with a glass of bubbly or lemonade, with time to reflect on what you have experienced on the terrace of the hosts’ home overlooking the ocean.

We promise an enjoyable and enlightening experience! Come prepared with sturdy walking shoes and an inquisitive mind.

Ken Turino and Chris Mathias are the authors of Nahant (1999); in December 2021 Chris Mathias authored Nahant Revisited.

$25 Gibson House members; $30 non-members Space is limited!

Saturday, August 6, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm – Digging Deeper: The Low Maintenance Garden

While many people admire the “English garden look,” the almost daily care such plantings require can be daunting. By judiciously selecting and grouping shrubs, perennials, and a smattering of annuals, however, it is possible to create a low-maintenance version of this classic style. Landscape Designer Andrew Grossman will teach you how to easily re-create the look at your own home as we tour the newest addition to his Seekonk property, a swimming pool garden brimming with lush plantings and summer color. The program is sponsored by The Garden Conservancy on August 6 from 11 – 12:30, and is $30 for Conservancy members, $40 for non members. For more information, please contact the Garden Conservancy by telephone 845.424.6500, M-F, 9-5 Eastern, or email events@gardenconservancy.org. Register online at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/open-days/open-days-schedule/digging-deeper-the-low-maintenance-garden

Wednesday, August 3, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Wine & Walk: Treasured Trash Exhibit Tour

Have you ever wanted to take a tour of Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich after hours, without the crowds, and with a glass of wine in hand? If so, then you won’t want to miss our Wine & Walk Exhibit Tours!

In this program, Assistant Curator, Amanda Wastrom, will lead a small group on a tour of this season’s outdoor art installation, Treasured Trash, after regular visiting hours. Start with a glass of wine and a light snack before striking out on a walking tour of the artworks in their beautiful garden settings. Along the way, Amanda will share fascinating insights about each piece and the artist who created it that you can’t get from just reading the labels. Refreshment refills will be available throughout the tour. Program registration includes wine and light snack. Spots are extremely limited for this rare opportunity, so reserve your place today! Advance registration required.

Please note: This is an adult walking tour and will cover about 1.25 miles on various terrain. In the event of severe inclement weather, this program will move to the rain date, Thursday, August 4, from 5:00-7:30 pm.

Program fees fund Heritage’s mission to inspire people of all ages to explore, discover, and learn together. Thank you for your support. Program Registration Fee: $45 Members, $50 Non-Members. Register at www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org

Thursday, September 15, 4:00 pm – Tuesday, September 20, 4:00 pm – 2022 American Conifer Society National Meeting and Post-Meeting Tour

NATIONAL MEETING (Sept 15-18)

Program Overview: Where can you find over 30 public gardens in a 30-mile radius? Philadelphia! And that doesn’t include private gardens. The ACS National Meeting planners, Mike Larkin and Frank Goodhart, have lined up a great schedule of talks and visits to several public and cutting-edge private gardens. Public gardens include Chanticleer, Morris Arboretum, Stoneleigh, and Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. The last two are recently anointed ACS Conifer Reference Gardens, which demonstrate that conifers are on the rise and much loved in the Philly area. Private gardens on the schedule are those of Fred and Helen Consaley, and Michael Kates. These private gardens are just as impressive for their size as the public gardens, given that they don’t have the public resources and staff to develop and maintain them. They are also focused heavily on conifers, which heightens their appeal.

The meeting kicks off Thursday night with dinner and a talk by William Thomas, Executive Director of the Chanticleer Foundation, on “The Art of Gardening at Chanticleer.” Bill is a life member and former president of the ACS. Then we’re off for two days of spectacular garden tours. You won’t want to miss the popular conifer auction on Saturday night and the parking lot sale on Sunday.

NATIONAL MEETING HOTEL: Your hotel registration must be made separately.

Headquarters for the 2022 National Meeting is the Marriott Philadelphia West in West Conshohocken, PA, about 10 miles northwest of downtown Philadelphia.

The ACS rate is $134/night plus tax, guaranteed until August 24, 2022. For reservations, book at American Conifer Society National Meeting, or call 800-228-9290 and ask for the American Conifer Society room block.

POST-MEETING TOUR (Sept 18-20)

Program Overview: Mike Larkin, Frank Goodhart and their team including Rebecca Boylan and Dan Romenesko have outdone themselves putting together three action-packed days. Attendees will visit four unique public garden sites (two of them with specialty nurseries) and three outstanding private gardens. Unwind in the evenings at the elegant Golden Plough Inn in New Hope, PA, with a Murder Mystery dinner thrown in Sunday night for entertainment. The Spring 2022 issue of CONIFERQUARTERLY will feature a full article and pictures about the Post-Meeting Tour. Want to know more? Please contact Mike Larkin.

POST-MEETING TOUR HOTEL: Your hotel registration must be made separately.

The host hotel for the post-meeting tour will be the Golden Plough Inn, 5883 Lower York Rd., New Hope, PA 18938. For reservations please call 215-794-4004. The ACS rate is $139/night plus tax, guaranteed until August 24, 2022. Ask for the American Conifer Society room block when making reservations.

The post-meeting tour will be limited to 52 people, the maximum that the accommodations will allow. A minimum of 30 people must register for the tour to run. The Golden Plough Inn is holding a block of rooms for us in two adjacent buildings. One building does not have an elevator, but the hotel staff will help with the luggage. If you need elevator access to reach your room, please inform the hotel at registration.

At the time of the event, all or some of the venues may require masks for COVID safety. We will follow State COVID guidelines or the venue’s requirements at that time. We will provide an update as the event approaches

PRINTABLE REGISTRATION FORMS: A separate Registration Form and Fee is required for each event.

National Meeting Registration Form (Sept 15-18) – Maximum Attendees = 200.

For online registration click here

Post-Meeting Tour Registration Form (Sept 18-20)– Maximum Attendees = 52; Minimum Attendees = 30.

For online registration click here

Registration Deadline Both Events: August 15, 2022. No registrations at the door.

Thursday, July 28, 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm – Good for the Land, Good for Us: How Farming Can Improve Human Health, Online

Are you really only what you eat? David R. Montgomery, a professor of earth and space sciences at the University of Washington, and biologist and environmental planner Anne Biklé view human health as dependent on the health of the soil on farms, which ripples through to that of crops, livestock, and ultimately us.

The long-running partnerships through which crops and soil life nourish one another suffuse plant and animal foods in the human diet with an array of compounds and nutrients our bodies need to protect us from pathogens and chronic ailments. Unfortunately, say Montgomery and Biklé, conventional agricultural practices unravel these vital partnerships. Can farmers and ranchers produce enough nutrient-dense food to feed us all? Can we have quality and quantity?

Drawing on their new book What Your Food Ate, Montgomery and Biklé examine why what’s good for the land is good for us, too. They reveal why regenerative farming practices, which strengthen the health and vitality of soil, can also offer untapped potential for improving human health. This Smithsonian Associates webinar on July 28 from 6:45 – 8:15 is $20 for Smithsonian Associates members, $25 for nonmembers. Sign up, and learn how to purchase the book at a discount, at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/good-for-land-good-for-us

The Fifty State Flower Garden Project

As part of the American Horticultural Society’s Centennial Celebration this year, it is partnering to highlight 100 flower farms in the United States that are modernizing the notion of “state flowers” with beauty and inspiration. At the heart of The Fifty State Flower Garden Project is the idea of expanding the definition of state flowers (last updated in the 1900s) to showcase the diversity of botanical varieties nationwide, and the stories – and people – behind them. The project has enlisted partnerships with great companies like Gibson & Dehn candles, who are developing customized scents based on the state flowers and renowned designer of hand-painted porcelain, Anna Weatherly. You’ll enjoy learning more about this exciting program here.

Over the past two years, more than 20 million people have turned to gardening as a way to enjoy nature and improve their home environment. Studies reveal that more younger people are choosing to make a living as flower farmers and focusing their efforts on biodiversity and eco-friendly innovations. Collectively this means that it’s time to examine flower farming, circa 2022, and share the stories of the people and places making a difference in one of the nation’s most important agricultural sectors.

Wednesday, July 27, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Immigrant Landscapes

Wambui Ippolito is the 2021 “Best in Show” award winner at the Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest show of its kind in North America. Born in Kenya, Ms. Ippolito was influenced by her mother’s garden in Nairobi, her grandmother’s farm in the countryside, and the natural landscapes of East Africa. Speaking from personal experience, Wambui’s talk will follow immigrant footprints through the American landscape. The Polly Hill Arboretum Lecture will take place Wednesday, July 27 at 5:30 pm on Martha’s Vineyard. $5 for PHA members, $10 for nonmembers.

Registration is required. Sign up here: bit.ly/Immigrant-Landscapes

Through Summer, 2022 – Stoneroot Epistle

Collage and Words in Conversation is a superb definition of the Arnold Arboretum’s current show in the Hunnnewell Visitor Center, Stoneroot Epistle. Poet Joyce Swagerty and her daughter, artist Daina Swagerty, collaborated to bring to the Arboretum this singular interpretation and articulation of the journey of a seed—an acorn—traveling though life. Our art shows are offered in-person at the Hunnewell Building at 125 Arborway (open noon–4pm, Friday through Monday) and virtually HERE.

Tuesday, July 26, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Cooking with the Expert: African American Flavors & Stories, Online

A recipe is so much more than a culmination of ingredients; a recipe can carry a story, passed from generation to generation. This concept is familiar to cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor. Nicole combines traditional African-American flavors with a modern flair in recipes that encompass our past, present, and future.

Nicole’s latest cookbook, Watermelon and Red Birds, is the first cookbook to celebrate Juneteenth. Her recipes and anecdotes aim to inspire celebrations of this important American holiday. Nicole has also written for the New York Times, Bon Appetit, and Food & Wine, and is the executive producer of If We So Choose, a documentary short about the desegregation of an iconic fast-food location. Join GBH on July 26 as we explore her latest cookbook and cook alongside her. Bring your culinary questions to the table for Nicole to answer!

This virtual event will begin at 7PM EDT Have a question? Contact our Audience and Member Services Department at info@wgbh.org or 617-300-3300 Register for free ticket HERE

Tuesday, August 9 – Thursday, August 11, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Painting Hydrangeas

Wellesley College Botanic Gardens is holding an in person, three day class in the Putnam Classroom at The Gardens at Elm Bank in Wellesley on August 9 – 11 from 9:30 – 3:30. Hydrangeas, gorgeous ornamental plants that come in a variety of colors and sizes, are lovely in all stages, from spring blossoms to fall colors. Catherine Watters will teach you how to observe and draw your subject, focusing on form to accurately depict the inflorescence. Color mixing demonstrations will show how to layer colors to capture the depth, shape and texture of your subject, making your work come to life. The focus is on watercolor, but you can use graphite or colored pencils if you prefer. Suitable for all Techniques level students. Wellesley College Botanic Garden members $425, nonmembers $525. To register, email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu