Boston Flora

Tag: Botanical Garden

  • Saturday, August 13, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Build a Stone Trough Planter

    Learn how to make planters that look like old stone troughs out of a mixture called “Hypertufa”. In Europe, plants are often grown in stone troughs-ancient vessels once used for watering livestock. The craggy look of the hewn stone perfectly complements herbs, flowers and most especially rock garden and drought tolerant plants. Planting in troughs also raises the height of plants in the garden and segregates them from their larger neighbors. Learn how to design and produce unique Hypertufa troughs for your garden. Students will be guided through the process and will take home several troughs of their own creation. Debra Pope is an artisan working with Hypertufa medium to construct artistic custom troughs. Her troughs are sold throughout the northeast including Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Berkshire Botanical Garden and Stonecrop. Her popular workshops are offered at botanical gardens and for garden clubs in New England.  The workshop will be held Saturday, August 13, from 10 – noon at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, 5 West Stockbridge Road in Stockbridge, and costs $45 for BBG members, $50 non-members, plus a $15 materials fee.  For more information, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org. Molds for project below from www.delsmolds.com.

  • Wednesday, December 1, 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Wreaths from the Wild

    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)  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.

  • Saturday, November 20, 10 am – 3 pm – Wrapping Stones Japanese Style

    Participate in a hands on workshop at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, November 20 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. It is mysterious, but basket makers and gardeners alike love and collect beautiful stones! We keep them in our studios, gardens and touch them often. Now you can learn to “wrap stones” and further that connection between stones and people. Using raffia, waxed line and cane, each participant will weave an open pattern over each stone. Start collecting! Put them on your windowsills, line your garden paths or give them as gifts. Nancy Moore Bess is a master basket maker and exhibits her baskets worldwide. She has championed Japanese basketry in the west and is the author of Bamboo in Japan. Her popular workshops always sell out. Bring a bagged lunch. BBG members $75, non-members $85, plus a $15 materials fee paid directly to the instructor.  For more information, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Fridays, June 18, July 16, and August 20, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Cocktails in Great Gardens of the Berkshires

    The Berkshire Botanical Garden has arranged for a series of Friday evening visits to spectacular private gardens featured in the Rich Pomerantz’s beautiful book, Great Gardens of The Berkshires. Enjoy this rare opportunity to roam these private spaces with the gardeners themselves while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvre in the beautiful waning light of the summer day. The book’s creators will be in attendance. For advance reservations contact call the Garden: 413-298-3926. The parties will all take place from 5 – 7 p.m.    Admission is limited. Berkshire Botanical Garden Members $20, non-members $25; all three for $50/65.

    The dates and locations are: June 18, Molly’s Folly in Richmond, MA; July 16, Richard Brown Garden in Stockbridge, MA ; and August 20,  Three Hills Farm in Richmond, MA.   For additional information, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org.  Photo below by Rich Pomerantz.

    http://www.richpomerantz.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/kuhn-9505-nwsltr.jpg

  • Saturday, March 6 – Sunday, March 21, 10 am – 4 pm – Spring Bulb Show, and Saturday & Sunday, March 27 – 28 – After the Show Bulb Sale

    Visit the Smith College Lyman Conservatory beginning Saturday, March 6 through Sunday, March 21 from 10 am – 4 pm daily to view a gorgeous display of Spring Bulbs, guaranteed to raise your spirits after a cold, dark winter.  There also will be special evening hours on Friday, March 12 and Friday, March 19 from 6 – 8 pm, and as detailed below, an Opening Lecture entitled Parks, Places and Plants by Lynden Miller on Monday, March 5, beginning at 7:30 pm in the Campus Center Carroll Room.  A $2 donation is requested.  If you are a member of the Smith College Botanical Garden, there will be members only hours each day from 9 – 10 am – please bring your membership card.  Then, on Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, bring your wallet for the After the Show Bulb Sale.  Members hours Saturday, March 27 9:00 am – noon, general public noon – 3 pm Saturday, and 9 am – 3 pm Sunday.  For directions, log on to www.smith.edu.

  • Saturday, February 13 – Berkshire Botanical Garden Annual Winter Lecture

    Prince Charles’s Head Gardener, Debs Goodenough, will be the featured speaker at the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Annual Winter Lecture on Saturday, February 13, from 2 pm – 4 pm, at Monument Mountain High School in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.  A reception and book signing will follow the lecture.

    Ms. Goodenough replaced David Howard in 2008 as Head Gardener of The Highgrove Estate.

    Tickets cost $30 for members of the Botanical Garden, and $35 for the general public.  Reservations are essential. For tickets and more information, you may call 413-298-3926, or email info@berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Wednesday, December 2, 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Wreaths from the Wild

    Get ready for the Garden Club of the Back Bay’s annual wreath making week by trekking out to the Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge for this hands on workshop on Wednesday, December 2, 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.
    http://www.anthonyschristmastrees.com/images/lg_traditional_22.jpg

  • Friday, December 4, 5:00 – 7:30 pm – Holiday Marketplace Cocktail Party

    The Berkshire Botanical Garden will host a Holiday Marketplace Preview Cocktail Party on Friday, December 4, from 5:00 – 7:30 pm.  This is your chance to do some early buying of handcrafted wreaths, holiday decorations, seasonal blooms and greens, herb products, crafts and gift items.  The Holiday Marketplace itself begins Saturday, December 5 and runs through Sunday, December 6, from 10:00 am – 5 pm.  This event is part of Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas celebration.  Admission on Saturday and Sunday is free, but there will be a charge for the Cocktail Party.  Call 413-298-3926 for details and reservations.

    http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_C2GNFnrrbpg/R0-d6I8Nr1I/AAAAAAAAAdM/IxJYtlcc95k/s400/IMG_1756.JPG

  • Saturday, November 21, 10:30 – 12:30 pm – Specialty Perennials: Five Genera for the Shade

    Many excellent perennials thrive in the shade. A continuation of bloom with outstanding foliage is the dream of many gardeners. Exciting new cultivars will be featured including many rare forms of Polygonatum, Astilbe, Anemonella (below), Primula sieboldii and hardy Arisaema. This lecture at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts will focus on specialty perennials for the shade border. Learn from an expert propagator. Leo Blanchette is the owner and propagator of Blanchette Gardens in Carlisle, Massachusetts a nursery specializing in perennials. It features numerous rare and unusual varieties. He lectures through out the United States as well as in Canada and Japan. He was awarded the Silver Medal from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, the Bronze Medal from the American Rhododendron Society and he has been featured in national gardening magazines.  The lecture will take place Saturday, November 21 beginning at 10:30 am, and will cost $20 for BBG members and $25 for non-members.  For more information, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/image_files/showreport/sizedAnemonella%20thalictroides%20-%20Ian%20Leslie1420.jpg

  • Saturday, November 21, 10 am – 3 pm – Wrapping Stones Japanese Style

    Participate in a hands on workshop at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts on Saturday, November 21 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. It is mysterious, but basket makers and gardeners alike love and collect beautiful stones! We keep them in our studios, gardens and touch them often. Now you can learn to “wrap stones” and further that connection between stones and people. Using raffia, waxed line and cane, each participant will weave an open pattern over each stone. Start collecting! Put them on your windowsills, line your garden paths or give them as gifts. Nancy Moore Bess is a master basket maker and exhibits her baskets worldwide. She has championed Japanese basketry in the west and is the author of Bamboo in Japan. Her popular workshops always sell out. Bring a bagged lunch. BBG members $55, non-members $60, plus a $15 materials fee paid directly to the instructor.  For more information, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    japan2009-96.jpg image by bricology3