For over twenty years, a lovely woman in the Berkshires has allowed members of our Club to forage for materials on her property. Most of our milk week pods, rose hips, and white pine come from her fields. Recently, her brother moved to Boston as the Editorial Page Editor at The Boston Globe. We made him a wreath, choosing materials that came from his sister’s property, including the Jimson Weed sprayed gold. Welcome to the Back Bay, Jim Dao.
In July 2019 Doug Aitken and The Trustees will present NEW HORIZON, a multifaceted art event/ journey through the landscape by air, that challenges the notion of art in the 21st-century. The project is composed of a series of live events across the state of Massachusetts, centered around a stunning reflective hot air balloon and gondola.
One of the great American mythologies is the road trip. New Horizon is a 21st century version of a journey, traveling through the landscape by air. The project is composed of a series of live events across the state of Massachusetts. At each stop the mirror balloon touches down becomes a happening. It is both an artwork and an event where ideas, conversation, music and art are shared. The journey creates a continuous, flowing event, encountering unique individuals and providing an insight into the future of our culture.
Happenings will take place at a selection of iconic Trustees properties, starting at Long Point Wildlife Refuge in Martha’s Vineyard on July 12, followed by stops in the greater Boston area, including the Crane Estate in Ipswich and ending on July 28, in the Berkshires. For more information visit www.thetrustees.org/newhorizon.
On September 27th, get exclusive access to a celebrated landscape in Massachusetts and hear directly from the designers and the clients about their collaborative process.
How do clients and designers work together? What makes for a great, enduring collaboration? Garden Dialogues provides unique opportunities for small groups to visit some of today’s most beautiful gardens created by some of the most accomplished designers currently in practice.
The Clark, New Landscape, will be presented by the Cultural Landscape Foundation on Saturday, September 27, from 4:30 – 7 in Williamstown, and a limited number of tickets are still available. Speakers will be Gary Hilderbrand, Reed Hilderbrand LLC, with Richard Rand, Senior Curator at The Clark and Matt Noyes, Grounds Manager at The Clark.
The new landscape and building complex at Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, part of a 140-acre campus in the Berkshire Mountains, is one of 2014s most anticipated and highly praised projects. Fourteen years in the making, the ambitious expansion campaign led by architect Tadao Ando and landscape architects Reed Hilderbrand matches the museum’s mission to facilitate the interrelationship of art and nature. The institute, a respected art museum and center for research and higher education originally chartered in 1950 and built around the Clark family’s private collection, has grown to national stature and features European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the Renaissance to the early twentieth century.
The new Clark Art Institute landscape, which opened to the public on July 4, 2014, includes four miles of new walking trails, five new pedestrian bridges, and more than a thousand new trees. The focal point of the landscape is a set of tiered reflecting pools. Conceived by Ando and designed Reed Hilderbrand, the reflecting pools orchestrate a unified composition among the diverse architectural characters of the Institute’s family of buildings and the sweeping pastoral landscape beyond. $125. Register at http://tclf.org/event/2014-garden-dialogues-massachusetts.
For woody plant and tree lovers, join staff from the Berkshire Botanical Garden on Thursday, May 8 for an exploration of a lesser known horticultural gem, Pine Hollow Arboretum, located in Slingerlands, NY. In 1966, founder John W. Abbuhl, M.D., started planting trees around his home to create an attractive setting. His affinity with the land, his interest in horticulture and his love of trees combined to inspire the creation of an arboretum. The arboretum’s cataloged collection consists of over 3,300 unique trees, shrubs and other woody plants from around the world. This living collection is aesthetically arranged in a natural setting that includes 12 ponds and a succession forest, all easily accessible by a network of walking trails and bridges. Tour the grounds with the founder, Dr. Abbuhl, and learn about the small, flowering tree collections, including magnolias, dogwoods, crabapples and more. View cultivars of unusual genera, too, such as styrax, stewartia and heptacodium. A great way to view specimen plants in a naturalistic setting, just an hour’s drive away.
Participants can choose to carpool or drive separately. Those joining the carpool should meet in the parking lot at Berkshire Botanical Garden for a 9 am departure. Carpool will return at approximately 1 pm. BBG member price $25, non-members $30. Register by visiting http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/ai1ec_event/pine-hollow-arboretum-study-tour/?instance_id=2620.
Join well known gardener and author Page Dickey on Wednesday, June 4, from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm for a Berkshire Botanical Garden private study tour of her North Salem, New York garden at the height of the shrub rose bloom. Page will share her insights into gardening and will discuss the use of fragrant shrubs, with a focus on her favorite shrub roses. Learn about how she selects, designs and cultivates these fragrant beauties. This tour will inspire even the most casual gardeners to get down on their knees and plant shrubs. Following the tour, Page invites participants to picnic on the lawn. On the return trip we will stop at one of Page’s favorite local nurseries, Claire’s Garden Center, in Patterson, NY.
Page Dickey is a gardener and garden writer living and gardening at Duck Hill in North Salem, NY. Her books include Embroidered Ground, Gardens in the Spirit of Place, the award-winning Breaking Ground: Portraits of Ten Garden Designers, Duck Hill Journal: A Year in a Country Garden, Dogs in Their Gardens and Cats in Their Gardens. A contributor to numerous magazines over the years, she lectures across the country and is one of the founders of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program. She lives and gardens with her husband in the company of assorted dogs, cats, and chickens.
Participants can choose to carpool or drive separately. Those joining the carpool should meet in the parking lot at Berkshire Botanical Garden for an 8:30 am departure. Carpool will return at approximately 3:30 pm. BBG member price $50, nonmembers $60. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call Elisabeth Cary at 413-298-3926 x15. Image from www.westchestermagazine.com.
The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s What’s Out There Weekend, scheduled for September 21 and 22, features free, expert-led tours at more than two-dozen significant examples of cultural landscapes in the Berkshires region, including important historical sites along the African American Heritage Trail, historic farmsteads and town commons, and iconic landscape design at places like Naumkeag and the Mount. The weekend also highlights the Berkshires’ golf history, with tee times at significant courses all over the region. The tours offer people opportunities to learn about landscape architecture and the design and cultural history of places they may pass every day but don’t necessarily know about. This event is coming to the Berkshires through a collaborative effort with Berkshire Synergy Project (BSP).
Complete details can be found at http://tclf.org/event/wotw-berkshires, but below are a few of the optional tours scheduled to take place. Each participant is limited to five tours:
Freight Yard Historic District
NORTH BERKSHIRES/NORTH ADAMS
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:30am to Noon
Guide: Judy Grinnell; Robert Campanile; Paul Marino; Justyna Carlson; Gene Carlson
Meet: Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Building 5A, State Street, North Adams
Bascom Lodge & Mt. Greylock
N. BERKSHIRES/LANESBOROUGH
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:00 to 2pm
Guide: Alec Gillman; Paul Dudek
Meet: Summit of Mt. Greylock
In front of Bascom Lodge, 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
Pittsfield Park Square
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 to 11:30am
Guide: Pittsfield Guide
Meet: The Athenaeum Public Library
1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield
Wahconah Ball Park
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, Noon to 1:00pm
Guide: Jim McGrath
Meet: 105 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield
Hebert Arboretum, Springside Park
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2:00 to 3:30pm
Guide: Bob Presutti
Meet: Elmhurst Parking Lot
874 North Street, Pittsfield
Hancock Shaker Village (Tour I)
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2:00 to 3:00pm
Guide: Todd Burdick; Lesley Herzberg
Meet: Ticket Desk, 34 Lebanon Mountain Road, Pittsfield
Ventfort Hall
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 to 11:00am
Guide: Tsaja Sprague
Meet: Covered Driveway, 104 Walker Street, Lenox
Tanglewood
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Saturday, Sept. 21, 11:30am to 12:30pm
Guide: Tanglewood Staff
Meet: Main Gate at Tanglewood, 297 West St, Lenox
Tub Parade
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:15 to 2:15pm
Guide: N/A
Meet: Main Street, Lenox
Ice Glen (pictured below)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 8:30 to 9:30am
Guide: Jess Toro; Jim Murray
Meet: End of Park Street, by the bridge
Berkshire Botanical Garden
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 to 11:00am
Guide: Berkshire Botanical Garden Guides
Meet: Visitor Center, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge
Naumkeag (Tour I)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 11:00am to Noon
Guide: Naumkeag Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, 5 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge
Chesterwood
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 12:30 to 1:30pm
Guide: Anne Cathcart
Meet: Barn Gallery, Chesterwood
4 Williamsville Road, Stockbridge
Bartholomew’s Cobble (Hawk Watch)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/SHEFFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 11:00am to 1:00pm
Guide: Rene Wendell
Meet: Main Entrance, 105 Weatogue Rd
Ashley Falls, Sheffield
Bidwell House
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/MONTEREY
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:00 to 2:30pm
Guide: Rob Hoogs
Meet: 100 Art School Road, Monterey
Ashintully Gardens (Tour I)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/TYRINGHAM
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:00 to 4:00pm
Guide: Ashintully Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, Sodom Road, Tyringham
Housatonic River Walk
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/GREAT BARRINGTON
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:00 to 4:00pm
Guide: Rachel Fletcher; Will Conkin
Meet: Du Bois River Garden Park
Church & River Streets, Great Barrington
W.E.B. Du Bois Historic Site
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/GREAT BARRINGTON
Saturday, Sept. 21, 4:00 to 5:00pm
Guide: Emily Oswald; Wray Gunn
Meet: Parking Lot, 612 South Egremont Road, Great Barrington
Hancock Shaker Village (Tour II)
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2:00 to 3:00pm
Guide: Todd Burdick; Lesley Herzberg
Meet: Ticket Desk, 34 Lebanon Mountain Road, Pittsfield
Jacob’s Pillow Dance
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/BECKET
Sunday, Sept. 22, 10:00 to 11:00am
Guide: Jacob’s Pillow Staff
Meet: Welcome Center, 358 George Carter Road, Becket
Lee Town Park and Main Street
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LEE
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1:00 to 2:30pm
Guide: Craig Okerstrom-Lang
Meet: Lee Town Hall, 32 Main Street, Lee
The Mount
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Sunday, Sept. 22, 3:00 to 4:30pm
Guide: Tom Ingersoll
Meet: Entry Court, The Mount
2 Plunkett Street, Lenox
Stockbridge Main Street
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Sunday, Sept. 22, 10:00 to 11:00am
Guide: Tom Daly
Meet: Children’s Chimes Tower
Village Green, Stockbridge
Naumkeag (Tour II)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:00am to Noon
Guide: Naumkeag Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, 5 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge
Laurel Hill & Mary Flynn Trail-1
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1:00 to 2:30pm
Guide: Patricia Flinn
Meet: Stockbridge Town Offices
6 East Main Street, Stockbridge
Lime Kiln Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/SHEFFIELD
Sunday, Sept. 22, 10:00am to Noon
Guide: Rene Laubach
Meet: Public Parking Area, Silver Street, Sheffield
Bartholomew’s Cobble (Hike)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/SHEFFIELD
Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:00am to 1:00pm
Guide: Bartholomew’s Cobble Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, 105 Weatogue Road, Ashley Falls, Sheffield
Ashintully Gardens (Tour II)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/TYRINGHAM
Sunday, Sept. 22, 11:00am to Noon
Guide: Ashintully Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, Sodom Road, Tyringham
Gould Farm
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/SHEFFIELD
Sunday, Sept. 22, 1:00 to 3:00pm
Guide: Robert Rausch
Meet: Harvest Barn, 54 Gould Road, Monterey
Calling all gardeners – get a jump start on the gardening season and choose from thousands of plants, shrubs, and trees – many grown at Berkshire Botanical Garden – at the 34th Annual Plant Sale on Friday and Saturday, May 6 and 7. BBG members receive early buying privileges and a 10% discount on plant purchases. Early buying hours for members are Friday, May 6, from 8 – 11 am, and regular hours are Friday, May 6, 11 – 5, and Saturday, May 7, 9 – 5. The Plant Sale is generously sponsored by Ed Herrington, Inc. Rain or shine event. Photograph by J. Parker for www.ruralintelligence.com.
Get ready for the Garden Club of the Back Bay’s annual wreath making week (a detail of one of our wreaths is seen below)Â by trekking out to the Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge for this hands on workshop on Wednesday, December 1, from 1 – 3 pm.
Create a beautiful evergreen wreath for the holidays, using the bounty of the fields and forests of the Berkshires. Learn about the natural history of common and not-so-common plants that can be used to create interesting holiday decorations. Consider a wide selection of plant material including: evergreen boughs, berries, seedpods, fern fronds and moss. Construct and take home a simple evergreen wreath. Take it home and the knowledge to create wreaths for holidays to come. Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been collecting plant materials from the wild and creating wreaths for over fifteen years. The cost of this workshop is $40 for BBG members, $45 for non members, and the materials are included in the cost of the class. Bring pruners and gloves. To register, or for more information, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org.
Come to Ashfield, Massachusetts Tuesday, October 12 and Wednesday, October 13 for a two day intensive course in the foothills of the Berkshires. This course of study will explore Beaver Lodge, a residence designed by Marie Stella, who spoke to The Garden Club of the Back Bay in March, 2010. This handsome laboratory setting will offer information on the promotion of sustainability, innovative use of native plant materials, construction of rain gardens, green roofs, and vegetated walls. Rainwater harvesting and organic vegetable gardening will also be featured. A “petting zoo” of green materials will help familiarize you with the latest products available. Enjoy locavore gourmet meals and learn about Slow Food. Beaver Lodge is Platinum LEED certified, the highest level of achievement designated by the US Green Building Council in Washington, DC, and the only such home in western Massachusetts. Cost per person for the two day Tri-Refresher Workshop (Landscape Design, Gardening Studies School, and Environmental Studies) is $200 for eight hours of instruction. Room and Board: Per night including breakfast (12 persons can be accommodated dormitory style at Beaver Lodge), $75. Tuesday dinner and Wednesday lunch – organic local produce and products: $75. Note: One group can stay overnight Tuesday and the other on Wednesday. Total immersion is an integral part of the Beaver Lodge experience. A list of items to bring will be mailed to participants, as well as directions. To register, or for a copy of the complete schedule, contact Marie Stella, 719 Barnes Road, Shelburne Falls, MA by emailing marie@mariestellabeaverlodge.com. You may also check her website at www.mariestellabeaverlodge.com.
Bascom Lodge, on Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts (below), will hold a Talk and Dine Series Event on Wednesday, July 21, beginning at 6 pm. Producer/Director Sharon Wyrrick will speak about Community Supported Agriculture, its beginnings in the United States and in the Berkshires, and its importance and promise for revitalizing local food systems and economies. She will show footage from her documentary movie Food Matters: From the Ground Up, focusing on some of the rock stars of the North Berkshire food system – the farmers. For more information, log on to http://bascomlodge.net/Events.html. The talk is free, and there is a dinner to follow for which reservations (413-743-1591) are required.
From the Mass Turnpike, take Exit 2 in Lee, and follow Rt. 20 to Rt. 7 North. Continue North to Lanesboro, watch for Mt. Greylock Reservation and Visitor Center signs on the right. Turn right onto North Main Street and follow Mt. Greylock and Bascom Lodge signs 9 miles to the summit.
