Boston Flora

Tag: American Horticultural Society

  • Sunday, February 13, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Botanical Gardens World Tour: Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and Western Australia Botanic Garden, Online

    Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape with Smithsonian Associates as horticultural experts lead a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as far-flung as Shanghai, the Hudson River Valley, and Australia. In vibrant visuals they explore how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they all celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. On February 13, the focus will be on the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and Western Australia Botanic Garden.

    The only garden in North America to focus solely on alpine plants, Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (below) in the Colorado Rockies is the highest-altitude public garden on the continent. Compact and exquisitely landscaped, it interprets the diversity and complexity of alpine plants of the world. Superb horticulture and educational signage are hallmarks of this remarkable garden. 

    Located in the world’s most remote provincial capital, Western Australia Botanic Garden is the jewel of Perth. Set above the Swan River in Kings Park, its landscape displays a highly regionalized collection of plants. Southwestern Australia is one of the earth’s five Endemic Kingdoms for plant diversity, making this garden one of the world’s most unique living laboratories. 

    Presenter Keith Tomlinson, superintendent of the American Horticultural Society, has worked as a naturalist for 35 years and studied wilderness areas and botanical gardens around the world. His is the author of numerous technical and popular articles on the conservation of plant diversity, botanical garden travel, and environmental education.

    $25 for Smithsonian Associates members, $30 for nonmembers. You also save if you sign up for the entire series, with additional sessions on February 20 and February 27. Register HERE.

  • Saturday, April 30 – Sunday, May 8 – Treasures of Japan

    The American Horticultural Society is sponsoring a Ponant Cruise with AHS hosts Holly and Osamu Shimizu on April 30 – May 8, having been rescheduled from 2021. At its core, Japan is a place of tranquility and spirituality, where nature’s beauty remains abundant and unspoiled. Tour the Land of the Rising Sun via a beautifully appointed small ship and experience some of the most serene and breathtaking gardens in the world.

    Highlights include a visit to the Korakuen Garden, considered one of the three best landscape gardens in Japan, a special performance of the Kagura dance at Itsukushima Shrine, a tour of Matsue Castle made entirely of pine and built in 1611, and the opportunity to be a guest of the Abbot at Kofukuji Temple in the heart of Nagasaki. You will also see an old sake brewery, the Amazake Chaya Teahouse, the Uchikoza Theater, and the Kami Hagitei, the former home and workshop of one of Uchiko’s most influential families. There will also be an exploration of scenic tea plantations en route to Chiran, a small town known for its fine collection of samurai houses and their enclosed gardens.

    For more information and to make reservations, please contact Susan Klejst, Director of Development & Engagement at (703) 768-5700 ext. 127, or email development@ahsgardening.org. Itinerary may be found at www.ahsgardening.org.

  • Saturday, February 5 – Sunday, February 27 – Gardens, Wine & Wilderness: A Tour of New Zealand

    From soaring peaks to lush rainforest, from gorgeous vineyards to carefully cultivated gardens, The American Horticultural Society is thrilled to once again offer the opportunity to experience the wonders of New Zealand. Please join us, as we visit some of the most spectacular places on earth while experiencing this special country’s unique culture and history, February 5 – 27, 2022. Updated brochure and reservation form (includes pricing information)are now available.

    Featuring a unique blend of destinations and culinary delights, this tour achieves a perfect balance between invigoration and relaxation and its Southern Hemisphere summer is a treat for winter-weary visitors.

    Our AHS Host for the trip will be Rachel Muir, an environmental scientist and ecologist who over the course of a 40 year career worked for a variety of private firms and Federal agencies. Now retired, she spends her time writing, traveling, gardening, and teaching at the North Carolina Arboretum. Our Tour Leader is Richard Lyon a native Kiwi who practices landscape architecture in southeastern Pennsylvania. Tour highlights include:

    • Brilliant gardens that reflect the unique flora of this amazing country, ranging from large, impressive botanic gardens to romantic and intimate gardens.
    • Insight into native New Zealand history and culture through museum visits.
    • Pristine nature, experienced through environments ranging from glacial lakes to rugged landscapes to rich coastal plains.
    • Adventurous activities that include a visit to Mount Cook, the highest peak in New Zealand; bungee jumping (as a spectator or, for the more daring, as a participant); and opportunities for helicopter rides, zip-lining, or jet boating.
    • An introduction to New Zealand’s wine culture through visits to several vineyards.
    • Delightful cities: Christchurch, called the Garden City; Auckland, blessed with beautiful parks and a lively waterfront; Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, with a wonderful cosmopolitan vibe; Queenstown, an alpine city with much to see and do.
    • Serene sailings that include a cruise of Doubtful Sound aboard the Fiordland Navigator and ferry sailings, including an unforgettable experience as the sun sets behind the Auckland skyline.
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  • Keith Tomlinson Appointed Director of the American Horticultural Society

    The American Horticultural Society is excited to announce the appointment of a new Director, Keith Tomlinson, a renowned horticultural leader who was previously the Botanical Director at Meadowlark Gardens in Vienna, VA. Keith brings both strategic and operational skills to our team along with extensive fundraising and outreach experience. Tomlinson replaces former Interim Executive Director J. Robert Brackman, who resigned on September 30, 2021. Tomlinson begins his tenure at a pivotal time for AHS and River Farm. With the Board’s recent rejection of the plan to sell the historic property after a year-long debate over its future, there are new opportunities for implementing a long-term strategic vision for both AHS and River Farm. Access the press release HERE.

  • Friday, October 9, 4:00 pm – Conversations with Great American Gardeners: Karen Washington, Online

    The American Horticultural Society is pleased to announce our new speaker series featuring current and past Great American Gardeners Award Winners and Book Award Winners. Since 1953, the AHS has been recognizing and celebrating horticultural champions that represent the best in American gardening and we are thrilled to soon launch a new dedicated webinar series to highlight these outstanding individuals.  

    The first conversation in the series will launch Friday, October 8, with Karen Washington, an award-winning urban farmer and food justice activist who was the recipient of the 2018 Urban Beautification Award. Karen has been a community gardener and activist in New York City since 1985. As a New York Botanical Garden trustee, she currently works with Bronx neighborhoods to turn empty lots into gardens. In her earlier role as an advocate and former president of the New York City Community Garden Coalition, she championed garden protection and preservation. She’s also active with the La Familia Verde Garden Coalition, helping to launch a City Farms Market to bring fresh vegetables to the community. She serves as a board member of organizations such as Why Hunger and Just Food, often leading workshops on food justice and growing food. Washington is also a co-owner and farmer at Rise & Root Farm. In 2012, Ebony magazine voted her one of the 100 most influential African Americans in the country. In 2014, she was the recipient of the James Beard Leadership Award.

    Host Holly Shimizu, former executive director of the United States Botanic Garden and an AHS board member, will lead the conversation, which you won’t want to miss!

    To register, access the member and non-memberrates. Sponsorship opportunities are available to support the speaker series.

  • Friday, September 17, 8:00 pm Eastern Time – Melbourne’s Tesselaar Tulip Festival, Online

    Get ready for something special. We’re traveling to Melbourne with no passport, no plane ticket and no luggage. And yet you’ll experience all the sights, sounds and stories with just your laptop, favorite snack and an amazing content creator.

    The tour will last about 60 minutes and will be live-streamed by tour guide Alexander directly from Melbourne. Forget about slideshows or pre-recorded videos, this is a live broadcast and anything can happen!

    While on the tour you’ll be able to see a full screen video of your content creator and their surroundings, interact with them and other travelers through the live chat, see where you are in the world on a map and show your appreciation with a tip.

    If you’re a fan of Tulips then you’ll undoubtedly LOVE this tour! A festival dedicated entirely to Tulips, showcasing a variety of colors and patterns. This is an annual event.

    Tulips are known for their bold colours, symmetry and exquisite shapes. They are a true symbol of unconditional love and, when you’re in a field full of them, it’s hard to not feel loved!

    Heygo is running these tours on a tip-supported basis to make them as accessible as possible. They are free to join, but you have the option to leave a tip during the tour.

    The majority of your tip goes directly to support the channel, while the rest helps Heygo continue to build a place that brings the world closer together. The event is sponsored by Heygo in conjunction with the American Horticultural Society and Garden Design Magazine. Register at https://www.heygo.com/tours/melbournes-tesselaar-tulip-festival

  • Through October 31 – AHS Virtual Art Show & Sale

    The American Horticultural Society invites you to its Virtual Art Show & Sale now through October. Browse a wide selection of garden and nature themed watercolor paintings from the artists of Salon 8. All of the artists share a passion for the natural world and a love of trying to capture it through the challenging medium of watercolor. All artists are members of Potomac Valley Watercolorist, a regional juried arts organization, and have exhibited locally, regionally and nationally. A portion of all sales benefits the American Horticultural Society’s national programs. Browse the offerings and bid online HERE.

  • Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 10 – Gardens of Provence

    Join the American Horticultural Society May 3 – 12, 2021 with host Sherran Blair and tour leader Amy Kupec LaRue of SpecialTours for a picture perfect excursion to the South of France. Highlights include a stay in Nice, on of the most envied cities in the world, superb cuisine, several private gardens, a visit to Grasse, where you will be surrounded by fields of lavender, jasmine, and roses, a tour of the Villa Fort France garden (below), the city of Aix with Roman origins and center of medieval culture, and a stay in the walled city of Avignon. For more information and to make reservations, please contact Susan Klejst, Director of Development & Engagement at (703) 768-5700 ext. 127, or email development@ahsgardening.org. For complete brochure visit www.ahsgardening.org.

  • Friday, September 3 – Saturday, September 11, 2021 – Gardens of Bavaria

    Newly rescheduled by the American Horticultural Society for September 3 – 11, 2021, accompany Holly and Osamo Shimizu and tour leaders Harriet Landseer and Verity Smith of Specialtours this irresistible tour to Bavaria . Highlights include

    • Munich’s Botanischer Garten, one of the most important botanical gardens in the world with nearly 20,000 species and subspecies
    • Schloss Nymphenburg, a favorite summer residence of the former rulers of Bavaria
    • Mainau, nicknamed the Flower Island and famous for its extraordinary diversity of flowers, trees, and shrubs, including rare and subtropical plants
    • Alte Pinakothek, with an outstanding art collection that includes Leonardo da Vinci’s Madonna of the Carnation as well as works by Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Giotto, Raphael, El Greco, and Diego Velázquez
    • Westpark, designed for the International Garden Expo of 1983 and featuring a rose garden with more than 20,000 specimens from 500 varieties
    • Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, where the magnificent state rooms offer a journey through Baroque, Rococo, and Neoclassical architecture
    • Six visits to private gardens that showcase their owners’ creativity and originality

    For more information and to make reservations, please contact Susan Klejst, Director of Development & Engagement at (703) 768-5700 ext. 127, or email development@ahsgardening.org. Our fax number is (703) 768-8700. The complete brochure may also be found at https://ahsgardening.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Bavaria-2021.pdf

  • Thursday, February 25, 11:00 am – 12:00 noon – Leslie Bennett: Gardens of Sanctuary, Online

    Founder and owner of Pine House Edible Gardens, Leslie Bennett designs, builds, and maintains edible and culturally resonant landscapes that are beautiful and productive. The gardens she creates provide visual, physical, and cultural inspiration-along with nourishing organic harvests of food, flowers and medicinal herbs. With degrees from Harvard, Columbia Law School, and University College London in the fields of environmental law,cultural property, and social justice, Bennett brings a rare and important perspective to her landscape designs and her business practices. One effort of Pine House Edible Gardens is the Oakland, CA-based Black Sanctuary Gardens project, founded by Bennett in 2018, which actively works to create garden spaces of refuge and beauty in collaboration with Black women and communities.

    Recently, Leslie Bennett received the American Horticultural Society’s 2020 Great American Gardeners Landscape Design Award. She is co-author of The Beautiful Edible Garden, and has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Martha Stewart Living, and Garden Design. Joining Bennett in conversation will be Jennifer Jewell, creator and host of the award-winning public radio program and podcast Cultivating Place.

    This February 25 online program is sponsored by the New York Botanical Garden as part of its Winter Lecture Series, and begins at 11 am Eastern time. To register, or for more information, visit www.nybg.org.