Boston Flora

Tag: Cornwall

  • Wednesday, February 2, 2:00 pm – A Princely Estate: The Duchy of Cornwall, Online

    The Duchy of Cornwall is England’s first and oldest dukedom founded in 1337 by King Edward III for his son and proclaimed heir, Richard of Woodstock – the Black Prince. The estate was created to provide the heir apparent to throne and his family with an income during the period he was Prince of Wales.

    Today, almost 700 years later, the Duchy performs the same role it did at the outset. The present holder of the title is His Royal Highness, Charles, Prince of Wales and the estate will pass to his son, Prince William, when he accedes to the throne.

    In his Royal Oak Foundation talk on February 2 at 2 pm, Ian Cox will explore this unique English institution and look at its history, its holdings and some of its peculiarities. The work and stewardship of the Duchy by Prince Charles, the longest serving Duke of Cornwall, will be considered and projects such as the organic farm at Highgrove and Poundbury new town in Dorset will be highlighted. Ian Cox studied at the Universities of Keele, London and Glasgow. He developed his career as a decorative arts historian in the 1980s and was the Director of the Christie’s Decorative Arts Programme at the University of Glasgow and then Director of Studies for Christie’s Education in London. Ian also ran a prestigious Decorative Arts Summer School for Christie’s in New York and was Co-Director of the Victorian Society of America London Summer School. Ian has published widely in the history of the decorative arts, particularly on furniture and ceramics. In more recent times, he has directed cultural holiday programmes for the ACE foundation in Cambridge and is a regular round the world lecturer for the Seabourn and Silverseas cruise lines. He has been a lecturer for The Royal Oak Foundation in the USA since 2006.

    In addition to the live lecture, you may choose to purchase a rental version of the talk, available from February 3 – February 14. $15 for Royal Oak members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.royal-oak.org/events/winter-2022/cornwall/

  • Sunday, June 10 – Monday, June 18 – England, Gardens of the West Country

    Cornwall, Devon, Somerset & Wiltshire — Come explore the enchanting West Country of England, with rich gardening traditions that have influenced Western horticulture, on June 10 – 18 with the American Horticultural Society. Our trip starts in coastal Cornwall, where the mild, maritime climate supports both subtropical and Mediterranean-style plantings. From there, we will continue on through equally lush and diverse garden settings in Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire. Your AHS Hosts will be Holly and Osamu Shimizu, horticultural professionals who trained in England. Holly is an AHS Board member and is currently the Interim Executive Director of the AHS.

    Our itinerary begins on the picturesque Cornish coast with walks through the Lost Gardens of Heligan (pictured below), the Eden Project, Trelissick, and Glendurgan Garden. Crossing into Devon we will visit the Antony House and its gardens, the thatched cottages of Mothecombe, the gardens and interiors at Mothecombe House with its architectural additions by Sir Edward Lutyens, and the Garden House with a famed two-acre walled garden.More historic houses and gardens await us in Devon, including the Elizabethan manor, Cadhay, and Killerton House, where the landscape was created by Capability Brown and Scottish horticulturist John Veitch. In Somerset and Wiltshire we will see Wells Cathedral and nearby Milton Lodge, then the next day visit Bath, Bradford on Avon, and Iford Manor with its hillside garden by Harold Ainsworth Peto. At Claverton Manor we will tour the American Museum and its Mount Vernon Garden, a replica of the flower garden at George Washington’s home. Our tour organizer is Susie Orso, a native of Britain, who has arranged and led dozens of AHS Travel Study programs. Susie has created this special tour, offered exclusively to our AHS travelers. For complete itinerary and information visit http://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/travel-study/england-gardens-of-the-west-country2018

  • Thursday, August 31, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Digging Dahlias

    On Thursday, August 31, from 10 – 12, come with Berkshire Botanical Garden to Something to Crow About, an extraordinary dahlia farm located in Cornwall in the northwest corner of Connecticut, where dahlia grower Amanda Chase will lead our group through her collection of 2500 plants (over 200 cultivars) to see these beauties in full flower. Not only is the end of August peak season for dahlia bloom, it is also the perfect time to learn about cultivating dahlias. Amanda Chase will point out some of the best varieties to grow and provide tips for maintaining these plants from year to year, such as when to plant, when to lift, and how to store during the winter months. Following the tour participants will be able to order tubers, and buy plants or cut flowers – a great way to start a collection, or add to an existing one, of these amazing plants from our neighboring country south of the border.

    BBG members $25, nonmembers $30. Advance registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome, space permitting. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org.