Boston Flora

Tag: Container Gardening

  • Saturday, August 15, 10:00 am – Contained Exuberance Walkabout Tour

    Each summer, Berkshire Botanical Garden brings together some of the region’s most talented designers and invites them to create individual container gardens displayed in an exhibit called Contained Exuberance. Tucked away in different spots throughout the Garden, the installations remain on exhibit through September. Signage listing plant names and describing the designers’ inspiration, accompanies each display.

    A walkabout tour of the installations with the designers is scheduled for Saturday, August 15 at 10 a.m. and departs from the Center House. Timed, admission ticketing is required, as are masks. Click here to register.

    This year, BBG is proud to feature the following designers in this year’s Contained Exuberance exhibition:

    Ashley Davidson
    Thistle ‘n Thorn Floral

    Gregory Greene

    Rebekah Lamphere
    Hartland Designs Inc.

    Katy MacDonald
    Lead Gardener, Viridissima Horticulture & Design

    Max Rivinus
    Penelope and Lloyd

    Madaline Sparks
    Madaline Sparks Garden Design

    Matt Turnbull
    Director of Horticulture, Berkshire Botanical Garden

    Wenonah Webster
    Design/Creative Director, Webster Landscapes

  • Wednesday, May 13, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Intro to Container Gardening Online

    There’s no better time to learn how to grow your own food at home.
    Container gardening is a great way to grow food if you have limited space, or aren’t sure about the quality of your backyard soil. In this virtual free workshop, The Trustees will go over the basics of container gardening, offering some ideas of recycled materials that can be used as containers, and the basics of building your own raised bed. We will also review some of the best crops to plant in containers to maximize your harvest.

    There will be a live demonstration and time at the end to ask questions.

    All are welcome to join via Zoom:
    https://thetrustees.zoom.us/j/93514443534?pwd=UTd3THpNazNUa3RwcWU0SisxOG1Edz09

    If you can’t make it, the workshop will be recorded and posted on the Trustees’ Facebook page.

  • Wednesdays, March 11 – March 25, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Container Gardening

    This Berkshire Botanical Garden Container Gardening course meets for 3 weeks on Wednesdays, March 11 – March 25, 5:30 – 8:30 pm, at the Education Center at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge.

    Get to know the plants that thrive in containers, how to care for them and keep them looking fabulous. During the three sessions of this course you will acquire a knowledge of the skills required for beautiful and successful container gardens. We will cover the full scope of gardening in pots – from container, plant and soil selection to grooming and maintaining your collection to techniques for overwintering.

    Instructor Jenna O’Brien, owner and founder of Viridissima Horticulture & Design since 2003, has been working in Berkshire gardens for over 20 years. Jenna specializes in container gardening, perennial garden design and care, and estate garden and conservatory management.

    BBG Members: $135, Non-Members: $145. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Saturday, May 25, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – A New Perspective on Container Gardening

    Jenna O’Brien, founder and owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design, uses containers in the landscape to enhance and extend seasonal beauty, produce food and help create an authentic sense of place. In this May 25 Hollister House Garden illustrated presentation at 300 Nettleton Hollow Road in Washington, Connecticut, you will learn how Jenna carries out her container designs. Beginning with a discussion on functional and conceptual design she will talk about pot, plant and soil selection. The presentation will be followed by a hands-on demonstration and a lucky attendee will win the completed container.

    Hollister House Garden members $25, non-members $35. Register at https://hollisterhousegarden.org/events/a-new-perspective-on-container-gardening/

  • Thursday, July 19, 10:30 am – 11:30 am – Mixed Container Tour

    Join Tower Hill Botanic Garden conservatory staff member Jessie Blum on July 19 at 10:30 am for an exploration of container gardening. Learn how to design using textures, colors, and growth habits, and get ideas for next year’s garden!

    Jessie Blum, Conservatory Horticulturist, has been at the Garden for three years. She graduated from Smith College in 2015, where she majored in Environmental Science and Policy, and minored in Biology with a plant focus. While at Smith, she worked at the botanic garden under the chief arborist. Free with admission to the Garden. For more information visit www.towerhillbg.org.

    Image result for mixed container garden

  • Sunday, May 6, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Container Gardening with Native Perennials at Nasami Farm

    Kick those petunias to the curb and create a show-stopping container garden using native plants! Become familiar with the species that thrive in containers and discover how to combine them. Learn about containers, soil mechanics, fertilizers, and proper care. Bring your own container and get creative. Plants are available for purchase, and potting soil is provided. This New England Wild Flower Society session will take place at Nasami Farm Nursery in Whately on Sunday, May 6 from 10 – 12, and is $26 for NEWFS members, $32 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/container-gardening-with-native-perennials-at-nasami-farm

    Image result for spring New England native plants

  • Saturday, March 24, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Container Gardening

    Jenna O’Brien, owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design, uses containers in the landscape to enhance and extend seasonal beauty, produce food and create an authentic sense of place. Learn how Jenna carries out her container designs from functional and conceptual design to pot, plant and soil selection while viewing a slideshow of her latest designs followed by a hands-on demonstration. The March 24 class will be held at Berkshire Botanical Garden from 10 – 4, and is $25 for BBG members, $35 for nonmembers. Register online at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    Jenna O’Brien, owner and founder of Viridissima Horticulture & Design since 2003, has been working in Berkshire gardens for over 20 years. Jenna specializes in container gardening, perennial garden design and care, and estate garden and conservatory management.  Advance registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome, space permitting.

    Image result for Jenna O'Brien Viridissima

  • Sunday, May 7, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Container Gardening

    Kick those petunias to the curb and create a show-stopping container garden using native plants at this New England Wild Flower Society workshop to be held at Nasami Farm Nursery on North Street in Whately on Sunday May 7 from 10 – noon. Become familiar with the species that thrive in containers and ways to combine them. Learn about containers, soils, fertilizers, and proper container care. Bring your own container and get creative. Plants are available for purchase; potting soil is provided. Perfect timing for a Mother’s Day gift! The class will be lead by Kate Stafford and is $26 for NEWFS members, $32 for nonmembers. Register online at www.newfs.org.  Image from houzz.com.

  • Thursday, September 10, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Northeast Region Perennial Plant Symposium

    Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Perennial Plant Association at their annual symposium, this year’s topic will be “Perennial Inspirations and Concepts.” The symposium is open to all levels of gardeners and professionals. This year’s symposium includes six presentations led by some of the perennial industry’s best focusing on plant selection, native perennials and container plantings.

    Featured Presentations:

    Native Perennials and Nativars for the Pocket Prairie Garden
    Jennifer Brennan of Chalet Nursery and Garden Shop, Wilmette, IL

    Jennifer Brennan will highlight the native plants and also native plant cultivars that can be used in various sites including shade, full sun, and half & half shade/sun. Many of these selections are quite useful for nectar and pollen for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.

    The New American Garden: Modeling the Regional Landscape: An Anarchist Primer
    Donald Pell of Donald Pell Gardens, Phoenixville, PA

    Donald Pell calls his gardens impressionistic models of regional landscapes. Understanding specific plants and how they may integrate into any given landscape is the key to programming these gardens. He will look at how cool and warm season plants are accessed for performance to stabilize soils and create desirable compositions. Donald will discuss the role of ephemeral plants to build desirable seed banks while a garden is evolving and look at the role of aggressive and invasive plants. He will discuss the successes and failures of projects as well as what inspires these gardens. This is a presentation to inspire you to tear out that front lawn and boring boxwood hedges and to create a dynamic and experiential landscape.

    Tropical Flair
    Jason Reeves of the University of Tennessee Gardens, Jackson, TN

    Tropicals work beautifully with perennials, and make a big impact in any garden. The bold foliage stands out whether in large landscape displays or everyday back yard gardens and containers. Get a refresher on tried and true varieties as well as some hot new selections that will make any perennial purist think twice.

    Successful Gardening in Deer Country
    Ruth Rogers Clausen of Easton, MD

    Keeping your beautiful garden safe from deer is as simple as choosing the right plants. Ruth will discuss plants that do not require us to fence the deer out or the gardener in.

    Perennials in Pots: Creative Combinations for Jaw-Dropping Containers
    Deborah Trickett, MCH MCLP of Westwood, MA

    The container gardening craze, which began over ten years ago, shows no sign of slowing down. More than ever these perfectly sized “gardens” are the answer for time-pressed gardeners, down-sizing gardeners, city-dwelling gardeners, aging gardeners and more. The good news is the container gardens of yesterday (think geranium and vinca) have evolved. Today’s containers showcase many types of plants, including perennials. Join Deborah Trickett, principal and owner of The Captured Garden, and learn how to use perennials to transform your containers from “blah” to “aah”. She will share fundamentals of container gardening, “out of the box” design tips, as well as some of her favorite tried and true perennial performers.

    Are They Better or Just New??
    Paul Westervelt of Saunders Brothers, Inc. Piney River, VA

    With so many new perennials released every year, it can be difficult to distinguish legitimately better cultivars from those that are simply marketable. Through production trials, garden visits, vendor visits, and conversations with other growers, Paul works to select the true winners for our region.

    Register at http://goo.gl/EDWmtn

    $99 Early Bird, $109 after September 2

  • Tuesday, April 21, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Jaw-Dropping Container Gardening

    Tired of the same old window boxes? Have you ever wanted to create lush container gardens that would be the envy of the neighborhood? Join Master Gardener Deborah Trickett, owner of The Captured Garden, who will take your container gardens from “blah” to “aah”. Starting with the basics including containers, soil mixes and plant choices for different site conditions then proceed to new and unusual plant material and uncommon container choices. The Needham Garden Club program will take place Tuesday, April 21, from 10 – 11:30 at the Needham Public Library, 1139 Highland Avenue in Needham.
    Cost: $4.00 donation from the public. Contact: Bonnie Waters, Program Chair at bonniewaters@comcast.net.