Boston Flora

Tag: Burlington

  • Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24 – Garden Gate Magazine Program at The Sagamore

    This program generated a lot of interest when it was initially scheduled for March 2009. But due to the massive renovations the resort was undertaking, the program was rescheduled for October 23 & 24, 2009. The Sagamore’s multi-million dollar facelift will provide the perfect setting for an unforgettable gardening event. Overnight package and day only rates are available.

    Garden Gate magazine (http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/), the program sponsor, is an outstanding publication that is pure pleasure to read. Features include top plant picks; detailed garden plans; maintenance tricks and techniques; featured gardens used to illustrate design tips; what’s new in garden products and plants; how-to-do or build fun projects; and much more. And there are no advertisements! All program participants will receive a complimentary, one-year subscription to Garden Gate, a $24 value.

    The program kicks off 7:00 p.m. Friday night (October 23rd) with a lively PowerPoint presentation by Lindsay Irish, a history buff and specialist on The Sagamore’s fascinating history. A gourmet dinner in the newly renovated Trillium Restaurant follows. Saturday the fun continues with five lively gardening talks:

    *The Art and Science of the Perennial Landscape. Designing a successful landscape with
    perennials involves both art and science. Horticulturist and avid gardeners, Dr. Leonard Perry will discuss and illustrate through photos of various garden settings the aesthetic considerations and habitat considerations (the “science”) when choosing and placing flowers. Best plant growth with the least maintenance, and fewest problems, is in large part a result of picking the right plant for the right environmental habitat. The common garden habitats, with some representative and choice perennials for each, will be featured.
    *The Art of Shade Gardening – Seeing Your Way Out of the Dark. Kerry Mendez will introduce
    you to some perennials, flowering shrubs, and annuals that steal the show in less than sunny
    areas. Discussion includes design tips and as well how to care for low-maintenance gardens.
    *Some of the Newest and Best Annual Flowers. Dr. Perry has managed the All-America
    Selections Flower display garden in Burlington, Vermont for 25 years. He’ll illustrate some of
    the best of the flowers, as well as some of the best new introductions (including perennials
    disguised as annuals), for outstanding performance in colder climates. Learn some tips on
    combining the many choices available through viewing some eye-catching examples.
    *Garden Thugs in Disguise. As an undercover agent on the lookout for garden thugs being
    promoted as valued perennials, Kerry Mendez will blow the whistle on plants that become
    maintenance nightmares despite what the plant tags tell you. Some of these impersonators
    may surprise you. She’ll also share how to corral the ones already in your gardens and
    give some helpful trade secrets on jump-starting gardens in the spring.
    *Floral Design with Flare! Join Tanya Sawn as she shows you how to make incredible
    floral arrangements for your home as well as unique gifts. Tanya does all of the floral displays
    for The Sagamore’s grandiose hotel and special events. The talk includes a tour of the resort’s
    new floral workshop.

    Dr. Perry

    is the Greenhouse and Nursery Extension Specialist for the University of Vermont. He is a frequent guest on the television show Across the Fence as well as on the radio. Professor Perry, along with graduate students, has an active research program on all aspects of perennial production and overwintering. Communities across the U.S. have met him through his past role as a judge for the America in Bloom program. Dr. Perry is becoming known across North America for his internet web site– Perry’s Perennial Pages (www.perrysperennials.com) which features information, links, news articles, research and more on herbaceous perennials.

    If you’ve never stayed at The Sagamore before, you’re in for a treat. Even if you have, you’re still in for a surprise when you see the completed multi-million dollar renovations. It seems no expense is being spared to create a spectacular resort featuring fine dining, accommodations, health spa, and other amenities.

    The Friday night package includes a presentation on The Sagamore’s history,
    gourmet dinner, room accommodations, Saturday’s breakfast, five gardening talks,
    handouts, garden catalogs, door prizes, and a garden gift. The single rate is $336; a
    double room is $507 ($253.50 per person). Weekend packages include all of the
    above plus Saturday’s dinner and accommodations as well as Sunday’s breakfast. The
    single weekend package is $597; $864 for a double room ($432 per person).     Taxes
    and gratuity are additional for all packages    .     These are incredible package prices
    given the usual one night room rate is $410!     For reservations, please call The
    Sagamore at (866) 385-6221 and ask for the fall gardening package.

    The Saturday day only rate is $89 per person. This includes five garden talks on
    Saturday, morning coffee, handouts, catalogs, door prizes and a garden gift. Registration for
    day only guests is through Perennially Yours. Please visit
    www.pyours.com/gardenclasses.htmlor call me at (518) 885-3471.

  • Sunday, September 20 – Monday, September 21 – Third Annual Garden Party at Basin Harbor Club

    Dreamy. Refreshing. Unparalleled. Basin Harbor Club (www.basinharbor.com) in Vergennes, VT (just south of Burlington, VT) is a majestic, 700-acre resort on Lake Champlain. It has charming cottages, a statuesque Main Lodge, great dining facilities, beautiful gardens, tennis courts, nature trails, heated outdoor pool, an 18-hole golf course, and more. The program kicks off Sunday afternoon, September 20th at 3:00 p.m. with a garden talk by the infamous garden designer, Sydney Eddison. This will be followed by a wine and cheese boat cruise. The garden program continues on Monday, September 21 until 3:00 p.m. Overnight and day-only rates are available.

    This year’s program will be hosted by Sydney Eddison, Anita Dafonte, and Kerry Ann Mendez. Sydney has written six award-winning gardening books and is currently writing her seventh masterpiece to be out in 2010. Based in Newtown, CT, Sydney travels around the country giving her infamous talks. Her gardens have been featured in Martha Stewart Living and on The Victory Garden. She has received the Connecticut Horticultural Society’s Gustav A.L. Melquist Award in 2002; the New England Wild Flower Society Kathryn S. Taylor Award in 2005 and 2006, and The Federated Garden Club of Connecticut’s Bronze Medal. Anita is the associate editor of People, Places & Plants magazine and has worked in national gardening sales for years. She’s an avid gardener and cook and was also the manager of a vintage-car race team!

    Sydney will present two dynamic talks. Her first on Sunday afternoon is titled The Rainbow Contained. This talk explores connections between color in art, nature and the garden and how you can create contrast and harmony to create beautiful compositions. On Monday Sydney will have
    you thinking outside the box with her presentation The Unsung Season, Gardens in
    Winter    . Kerry will lead two interactive garden talks. Putting Your Gardens to Bed for the
    Winter     will cover shortcuts and proven techniques for wintering over gardens including care
    for shrubs, roses, and vines. She’ll also cover tips for getting the best deals at fall garden
    center sales. Her second talk, Give New Life to Tired Gardens will feature a pro’s secrets for beautifying and revitalizing lackluster gardens, including some of her favorite, top performing plants. Anita will delight you with her popular talk Eggplants on Parade. The presentation will feature a slide show from her own gardens and how to make a vegetable garden both productive and beautiful.

    The one night package includes Sunday afternoon’s lecture by Sydney; the wine and cheese boat cruise; one night’s accommodations; breakfast and lunch buffets on Monday; four garden talks on Monday; handouts, colorful garden catalogs, and a garden gift. Package rates are $220 for a single and $335 for a double ($167.50 per person). Taxes and gratuity are additional. The Sunday and Monday day-only rate (includes all of the above except overnight accommodations) is $160 per person. The Monday only day rate is $110 and includes the garden program, handouts, morning coffee, lunch, and a garden gift. To see how incredible these resort rates are, check out the video tour on the Club’s web site. Please call Basin Harbor Club at (800) 622-4000 to reserve overnight packages. Day only reservations go through Perennially Yours. Please visit www.pyours.com/gardenclasses.html or call  (518) 885-3471.