Boston Flora

Saturday, December 15, 11:30 am – 2:00 pm – Holiday Centerpiece

Design a Williamsburg-inspired centerpiece for your holiday table. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden class on December 15 from 11:30 – 2 with Betsy Williams will sell out fast. Choose from a selection of fragrant fresh greens, fruits, seasonal berries and pinecones to create a beautiful holiday centerpiece in an attractive container. With proper care, your table arrangement will stay fresh and lovely for the entire holiday season. Please bring floral scissors and an apron to class.

Betsy Williams teaches, lectures and writes about living with herbs and flowers. A gardener and herb grower since 1972, Betsy trained as a florist in Boston and England. She combines her floral and gardening skills with an extensive knowledge of history, plant lore and seasonal celebrations. Betsy is the author of several books on the uses and stories of herbs and flowers. She has appeared on the Discovery Channel and greater Boston cable stations as well as local and national radio talk shows. Betsy lectures and teaches locally and nationally. $80 for THBG members, $90 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

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Saturday, December 8, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – A Coastal Christmas

The Osterville Garden Club presents A Coastal Christmas – A Tour of Five Holiday Homes in Osterville, Centerville and Cotuit, on Saturday, December 8 from 10 – 4.

Advance tickets $35 Day of event $40. For information and tickets visit www.OstervilleGardenClub.org

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Saturday, December 8, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Propagating Native Plants from Seed, Part I: Dormancy and Sowing Techniques

On Saturday, December 8, from 1 – 4 at Nasami Farm in Whately, learn to propagate native plants from seed in the first session of this two-part, hands-on workshop that focuses on practical methods for small-scale propagation. This workshop is appropriate for beginners and propagators with some experience. Take one or both classes. Part 1 explores seed biology, overcoming dormancy, and sowing techniques. $40 for New England Wild Flower Society and Northeast Organic Farmers Association members, $48 for nonmembers. Kate Stafford leads the class. Register at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/propagating-native-plants-from-seed-part-1-dormancy-and-sowing-techniques

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Holiday Wreaths – Black Friday

No, we’re not offering a sale price today, but since you are online and perhaps looking to finish up that holiday gift list, may we suggest ordering a beautiful wreath for friends, family, or a co-worker, right now at http://gardenclubbackbay.org/shop? All proceeds benefit the tree canopy of the City of Boston, and the other good works done or funded by The Garden Club of the Back Bay. For those who may not know, we are a totally volunteer organization. We have no paid employees (although we do pay our CPA for annual audited financial statements!) and our two websites, www.gardenclubbackbay.org and www.backbaytrees.org, are advertisement-free and managed by our members. Help us keep up the work of being an environmental watchdog and a force for beautification in the community.

Thursday, December 6, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – All Things Evergreen

Do you have a prized rhododendron? Perhaps a prominent spruce? We love those plants that bring some green life into the interminable gray of winter. But did you know they grow differently, have different needs, and therefore need to be cared for differently from plants that lose their leaves? Explore all these topics and more at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston on Thursday, December 6 from 11 – 1 with Worcester Tree Initiative’s Community Forester, Derek Lirange.

Derek Lirange began working at Worcester Tree Initiative (WTI) days after completing his Bachelor’s Degree, from UMASS Amherst, in Urban and Community Forestry in 2013. As WTI’s Community Forester, Derek’s primary role is to work with WTI’s partners coordinating tree plantings, education programs, and workdays. $10 for THBG members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

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Happy Thanksgiving from The Garden Club of the Back Bay

We wish all our followers a very Happy Thanksgiving, filled with joy, family, good food, and warm memories. And because we are wreath-obsessed this time of year, we hope you enjoy the burlap wreath below (not ours!) decorated in fall finery.

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Saturday, December 1, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Easton Holiday Greens Sale

The Easton Garden Club will hold its Holiday Greens Sale on Saturday, December 1 from 9 – 1 at the Easton Historical Society & Museum, 80 Mechanic Street in North Easton. You will find fresh designer decorated wreaths, arrangements, potted amaryllis, bagged greens and berries, and all the necessary elements for holiday decorating or gift giving. There will also be spectacular door prizes. Free admission.

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Wednesday, December 5, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Massachusetts Rivers Alliance Annual Meeting and Dinner

Please join The Massachusetts Rivers Alliance on Wednesday, December 5th, 6-9 pm at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech Street in Belmont for a wonderful evening of great company, good food and lots of talk about water. It is Mass Rivers’ annual tradition to bring together our friends and colleagues for a warm and lively evening of celebrating our rivers and the year’s achievements.

Guest speaker: Nationally known author and photographer, Tim Palmer. Did you know we have three Wild and Scenic Rivers here in Massachusetts, and a fourth under study? Tim is a national expert on Wild and Scenic Rivers, and will entertain you with his breathtaking photos and fascinating stories about Wild and Scenic rivers across the country. Please join us in celebrating this path-breaking approach to conservation on the 50th anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2018.

We are delighted to honor these Massachusetts River Champions :

River Hero: Rep. Smitty Pignatelli and Sen. Anne Gobi, Chairs of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environmental, Natural Resources and Agriculture

River Advocate: Access to Justice Fellow Irene Freidel and Earthrise Law Center Attorney Kevin Cassidy

River Friend: Elizabeth Ainsley Campbell, Executive Director of the Nashua River Watershed Association

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Saturday, December 1, 11:30 am – 4:30 pm – Harwich Holiday House Tour

The Garden Club of Harwich invites you to tour 6 Harwich homes and the recently restored South Harwich Meeting House decorated for the holidays! The event takes place Saturday, December 1 from 11:30 – 4:30. Locations will be sent upon purchase. Ticketed guests will enjoy complimentary refreshments and access to Santa Workshop at the Meeting House. Buy tickets ($35) on line at https://www.gardenclubofharwich.org/events

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Saturday, December 1, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Weeds and Wildflowers in Winter

This New England Wild Flower Society class on December 1 from 11 – 2 focuses on the identification of herbaceous plants in winter—both native and naturalized species of wildflowers and grasses. Students look closely at the distinctive winter characteristics of these species that allow them to be identified well past their flowering and fruiting period. The session, taught by Ted Elliman, will take place at the Barber Town Reservation in Sherborn. $28 for NEWFS members, $35 for nonmembers. Register online at www.newenglandwild.org. Image from www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org.

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