Boston Flora

Tag: Berkshire Botanical Garden

  • Monday & Tuesday, February 26 & 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – The Language of Flowers: A Splash of Red

    Join Anastasia Traina for an engaging and creative exploration of color in the world of flowers. Over two days, Feb. 26 and 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., we will delve into the fascinating world of color mixing, and to enhance our understanding, we’ll incorporate the psychology of color. As we turn our attention toward the red hues using watercolor and colored pencils, it’s essential to recognize that red is often associated with passion, energy, and intensity. We will also revisit the various shades of greens using watercolor and colored pencils, and consider not only the technical aspects of color mixing but also the emotional and psychological responses that different shades of green can evoke. In the realm of watercolors, we will experiment with creating a stunning rainbow grisaille effect. Grisaille involves painting in shades of gray to mimic the appearance of sculpture or drawing. By combining the technical aspects of color mixing with an understanding of color psychology, students will not only expand their artistic skills but also infuse a deeper layer of meaning and emotion into their botanical creations.

    The classes take place at Berkshire Botanical Garden, and are $200 for BBG members, $220 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/language-flowers-continues-splash-red

    Anastasia Traina is a writer and botanical artist. Her illustrations have been published in the children’s book, BITSY and RAFF, written by David Caudle, a story which highlights the power of friendship and inclusion. She is a member of the American Society of Botanical Art, the Tri-State Botanical Artists of NYBG, the Writer’s Guild of America and the Dramatists Guild of America. Her most recent exhibition, “Alchemy and Innocents” was on display at the BBG’s Leonhardt Galleries in 2023. Commissioned for the Berkshire Botanical Garden to create Lucy’s Garden, featuring topiary animals and other ‘live’ structures on paper. Donated by Lucy and Nat Day.

  • Saturday, February 17, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Medicinal Mushrooms

    Are you curious about the power of medicinal mushrooms? Join Berkshire Botanical Garden on February 17 at 2:00 pm, along with Willie Crosby of Fungi Ally. In the classroom, the woods and the kitchen, this exploration of medicinal mushrooms will serve as an introduction into some of the common mushrooms found in the Northeast woods and cultivated at home. We will learn how to prepare them to access their medicinal potency. We will get to know reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, maitake, and other fungal allies. 

    Owner of Fungi Ally, Willie Crosby has been growing mushrooms indoors and outdoors for nearly a decade. He works to reveal the power of mushrooms by educating people how to incorporate mushrooms into their gardens and lives. Willie teaches online for Stockbridge School of Agriculture, Cornell University, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, as well as in person at his farm in Hadley, Mass. $40 for BBG members, $60 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org

  • Saturday, February 10, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Plant-Pollinator Interactions on the Landscape: Native Pollination Systems

    Instructor Evan Abramson will discuss the critical role that plant selection plays in designing biodiverse landscapes at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Saturday, February 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Understand why pollinator habitat is the single most important factor to consider in creating resilient terrestrial ecosystems. An interdisciplinary presentation on plant-pollinator interactions and their intersections with science, design, climate resilience, ecological health and food security will be followed by a day-long design workshop with participants working in small teams. All necessary research and drafting materials and light lunch will be provided. $140 for BBG members, $160 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org

    Instructor Evan Abramson is the Founder and Principal of Landscape Interactions. A landscape designer and regional planner, he works closely with project partners along every step of the process, from conception through design, implementation and maintenance. He holds a Master of Science in Ecological Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design, Certificates in Permaculture Design and Biodynamic Gardening, and is the author of numerous publications.

  • Saturday, March 2, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Berkshire Botanical Garden 27th Annual Winter Lecture: Biodiversity at Great Dixter with Fergus Garrett

    Come to Lenox Memorial Middle and High School in Lenox, Massachusetts on Saturday, March 2, from 2 to 4 p.m., for Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 27th annual Winter Lecture — Biodiversity at Great Dixter: How a Flower Garden Can Support Some of the UK’s Most Threatened Species. The lecture is in-person only, at Lenox Middle and High School. However, a recording can be sent after the event upon request.

    We welcome Fergus Garrett, the CEO and head gardener at Great Dixter House and Gardens. Great Dixter was the family home of gardener and gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. It was the focus of his energy and enthusiasm and fueled over 40 years worth of books and articles. Now under the stewardship of the Great Dixter Charitable Trust and Christopher’s friend and head gardener, Fergus Garrett, Great Dixter is an historic house, a garden, a center of education, and a place of pilgrimage for horticulturists from across the world. The garden at Great Dixter is known for the way in which it merges the natural and the cultivated world. Its long grass, scattered ponds, old walls and changing flower borders provide a rich environment for all manner of fauna and flora.

    Fergus Garrett was born in Brighton to an English father and Turkish mother. He spent his formative years in Istanbul, Turkey. Upon returning to the UK, he went to school in Brighton and then studied horticulture at Wye College, University of London. He joined Christopher Lloyd as his Head Gardener in 1993.

    BBG members $40, nonmembers $55. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Saturday, February 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Houseplant Healthcare Clinic

    As the days begin to lengthen and thoughts turn toward spring, beloved and sometimes bedraggled houseplants also yearn for more light and warmth. The pressures of being inside can take a toll on even the most robust plants. On February 3, from 10 a.m. to noon, Plant Connector will guide participants in the basics of good house plant health care, from identifying pests and problems to the preventive steps that will ensure that prized plants make it through the winter. Students are invited to bring along a house plant they have questions about or one to which they’d like to give some extra TLC. Consider this a spa day for your houseplants. The venue is Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge, and the cost is $25 for BBG members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org

    The Plant Connector, co-founded in 2020 by Emilee Yawn and Bonnie Marks, is driven by a shared passion for fostering a sense of community and a mission to spread the joy of plants. Emilee brings her expertise in landscape urbanism to the venture, having relocated to the Berkshires in 2017. Her creative energy is a driving force behind the organization. On the other hand, Bonnie, a longtime resident of the Berkshires with 30 years of experience in owning small businesses, manages the financial and numerical aspects of the business, making them a well-balanced team.

  • Friday, February 9 – Sunday, February 25 – Musings on Nature Exhibit

    In a Berkshire Botanical Garden juried show presented by the Guild of Berkshire Artists, 20 member artists will each present three works that interpret their concept of what nature means to them. The Berkshires, where many members live and work, serves as the Guild’s muse. That includes Berkshire Botanical Garden itself, which hosts the Guild’s plein air group. The Guild’s work covers a wide range of visual media, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, wood, glass, and mixed-media.

    Opening reception is February 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 2024 art exhibitions will spotlight acclaimed regional and national artists united by a shared purpose: to foster community engagement by illuminating the interplay of art and the natural world. Some will captivate through sheer beauty and wonder, while others will prompt fundamental discussions on sustainability and the impact of human activities on the natural world.  For complete information visit https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/leonhardt-galleries-%E2%80%94-2024 Glittering Leaves by Luu Nguyen

    Glittering Leaves by Luu Nguyen

  • Saturday, January 27, 10:00 am – 11:30 am Eastern – Reimagined Garden, Online

    In this Berkshire Botanical Garden online class, learn about garden makeovers from Deborah Chud’s portfolio on January 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m online. Following a brief discussion of the features of wild landscapes fundamental to naturalistic landscape design, she takes you inside her solutions to garden dilemmas. The specific dilemmas addressed in this class involve: replacement of traditional shrubs, integration of a valued backdrop and existing trees, and whether there can be too much of a good thing in a garden.  $15 for BBG members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/reimagined-garden-online

    Deborah Chud is a retired Massachusetts physician turned garden maker, consultant and educator. Her six years of research on New Perennial  gardens, including those at New York City’s High Line, Chicago’s Lurie Garden, the Oudolf Meadow at Delaware Botanic Gardens, and Oudolf Garden Detroit, generated a comprehensive existing database of New Perennial plant combinations and led to the creation of her own highly unusual New Perennial garden. In the fall of 2020, she presented her work as part of “Piet Oudolf: How Does He Do It?”– an international event organized by Piet Oudolf’s co-author, Noel Kingsbury, under the aegis of Garden Masterclass (gardenmasterclass.org).

  • Saturday, January 20, 10:00 am – 11:30 am Eastern – Sun-Loving Native Perennials, Online

    Many gardeners know that a lot of native perennials grow well in shady sites. However, there are quite a few that also thrive in full sun. Instructor Duncan Himmelman will help participants discover a selection of sun-loving species that will delight the eyes, enhance any garden, and support an abundance of native wildlife on January 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. online. This webinar is offered by Berkshire Botanical Garden ($15 for members, $20 for nonmembers) and registration is required by visiting www.berkshirebotanical.org

    Duncan Himmelman earned his doctorate at Cornell University and taught horticultural science at the college level for 24 years. He recently retired as the education manager at Mt. Cuba Center, a public garden in Delaware devoted to native plant advocacy. He continues to enjoy teaching, designing landscapes and promoting ecologically focused gardening practices. 

  • Now through December 24 – Berkshire Botanical Garden Pop-Up Shop

    Visit the Berkshire Botanical Garden Pop-Up Shop for wreaths and amaryllis, weekdays 9 – 4, and Saturday December 16 from 8:30 – noon. Limited availability but a perfect last minute addition to your holiday decorating and gift giving. For more information visit https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/ Check in at the Visitor’s Center.

  • Saturday, December 16, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Four Seasons of Tree Identification

    In this Berkshire Botanical Garden class, we will revisit trees through the seasons, and witness their unique characteristics with and without leaves. We will learn how to identify species of trees, ID a tree by it bark, and understand which trees flower in which seasons, beginning on December 16, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come join in the journey of the magic of trees, starting with how to identify them in the landscape and forest settings. Led by Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, Certified Arborist (MCA, ISA, NH) CTSP and Tom Ingersoll, a Massachusetts Certified Arborist. $50 for BBG members, $65 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/four-seasons-tree-identification-0