Boston Flora

Tag: Dorthe Hviid

  • Saturday, July 3, 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Fête des Fleurs

    On Saturday, July 3, Berkshire Botanical Garden is bringing back one of the most beloved traditions in the BBG calendar: our Fête des Fleurs. At this year’s garden party, we are so pleased to honor our recently retired Director of Horticulture, Dorthe Hviid. Her going away party in 2020 was yet another casualty of the pandemic, so we can’t wait to publicly thank her for the enduring legacy she has left us at BBG. Over nearly three decades, Dorthe helped shape the Garden in countless ways, by creating and improving on garden design, plant choices, and ecological principles. During her tenure, Dorthe grew a dedicated and knowledgeable horticulture team, oversaw our college internship program, and perhaps most importantly, nurtured a dedicated community of BBG volunteers and friends. 

    While we thank Dorthe for her many contributions to BBG, we will share with you the magic of our garden grounds in high summer splendor. You will encounter our TAKING FLIGHT art exhibition full of airborne creatures, both on grounds and in our Leonhardt art galleries. Be inspired by our Caterpillar Lab in its July residency in Center House, and see first-hand the amazing world of native insects through art and science.

    A Berkshire tradition, BBG’s annual Fête des Fleurs gala is THE quintessential garden party in the Berkshires — filled with merriment, elegance and surprises, and a perfect opportunity to catch up with fellow Garden friends under a festive tent. 

    All proceeds benefit the Garden’s education and horticulture departments. Tickets start at $125 for BBG members, $150 for nonmembers, and may be purchased by clicking HERE.

  • Berkshire Botanical Garden Appoints New Director of Horticulture

    Berkshire Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Turnbull as Director of Horticulture at the Garden, located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, following an intensive nationwide search. Turnbull will fill the position being vacated in May by retiring Director of Horticulture Dorthe Hviid, who has served in that capacity since 1992. 

    Turnbull, who joined Berkshire Botanical Garden on April 20, is a graduate of the Professional Gardener Program at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. He was the Natural Heritage Garden Manager at the South Carolina Botanical Garden in Clemson, SC. Turnbull went on to become Assistant Director of Horticulture at Wave Hill, Bronx, NY, and most recently took on the role of Greenhouse and Gardens Manager at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In his new position at BBG he will manage the continuing growth and transformation of one of the oldest public gardens in New England through implementation of a multi-year Master Site Plan, while working closely with BBG’s other senior management on realizing the Garden’s long-term strategic plans. “I am thrilled to join the team at Berkshire Botanical Garden,” said Turnbull, “The Berkshires are a beautiful region of the country and the Garden is a great intersection of horticulture, education, arts and culture with a bright and exciting future,” he added.


    “We all look forward to having Matt join our excellent team of Garden professionals and continue the terrific work accomplished by Dorthe and the Horticulture Department over many years. We have big plans for the future of BBG, and I know Matt will bring invaluable experience and talent to his new role,” said BBG Executive Director Mike Beck.

    Established in 1934 and revered as one of the older public display gardens in the United States, Berkshire Botanical Garden encompasses 24 acres of land in the heart of the Berkshires. Visitors to the Garden enjoy more than 3,000 species and varieties of herbaceous and woody plants that thrive in zone 5A. The Garden’s mission to fulfill the community’s need for information, education and inspiration concerning the art and science of gardening and the preservation of our local environment is emulated by a robust education program as well as a full schedule of events planned throughout the year. For additional information visit the Garden’s website, berkshirebotanical.org

  • Through Sunday, March 29 – The Bulb Show – POSTPONED

    Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Fitzpatrick Greenhouse becomes a harbinger of spring now through Sunday, March 29, when the public is invited to enjoy hundreds of flowering bulbs in an annual exhibition featuring New England springtime favorites and a collection of South African bulbs rarely seen in the northeast.

    Visitors to the greenhouse will see an evolving collection of blooming plants including traditional New England favorites such as narcissus, tulips and grape hyacinths along with the Garden’s unique collection of South African bulbs.  Grown by collectors for their remarkable late winter floral displays, these bulbs evolved in Fynbos, South Africa’s Cape floral kingdom, considered one of the richest areas in the world for plant biodiversity. Admission is free. The Bulb Show is open weekdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

     

  • Thursday, October 13 – Saturday, October 15 – The Gardens of Greater Philadelphia Study Tour

    Join Berkshire Botanical Garden staff members Elisabeth Cary and Dorthe Hviid for a three-day Study Tour in Greater Philadelphia, October 13 – 15. The cornerstone of this trip includes attendance at the Perennial Plant Conference held at the extraordinary Scott Arboretum, located on the campus of Swarthmore College. Attended by professionals and avid home gardeners from the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, this conference is by far the most sophisticated, cutting-edge gardening conference held on the East Coast. This three-day trip includes transportation, tours of exceptional gardens both public and private, and admission to a world-class gardening conference. There will also be a bit of free time for relaxing and resting weary feet! On the return trip, the group will make a side trip to Terrain, the fabulous garden life-style store located in Glen Mills, PA. The staff is eager to share this wonderful gardening adventure with you.

    Included in the cost:

    Motor-coach transportation
    Registration fees for attendance of the Perennial Plant Conference at Swarthmore College (2016 speakers include Cassian Schmidt, Director of Hermannshof, the seminal German naturalistic botanical garden; Seattle-based landscape designer Richard Hartlage; Canadian garden personality Larry Hodgson; Peter Zale, Curator of Plants at Longwood Garden; Jessica Walliser, author of Attracting Beneficial Bugs to the Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control; and Jared Barnes of NC State University Department of Horticulture). Tours of two private gardens as well as Chanticleer Garden, Longwood Garden, and The Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College. A two-night stay (double occupancy) at the Radnor Hotel on Philadelphia’s Main Line in Wayne, PA, conveniently located near area gardens, plus all breakfasts and lunches and a wine reception.

    Evening meals are on your own; a variety of different restaurants are located within walking distance of the hotel. This excursion departs Thursday, October 13 at 7:30am from BBG and returns Saturday, October 15 at 7pm.

    Cost: $975. A deposit of $400 is due upon registration. To register, call 413-298-3926, x 10 or x15. To download Registration Form and Tour Contract visit https://berkshirebotanical.org/education/field-trips/.

  • Thursday, October 13 – Saturday, October 15 – Tour of Garden in the Brandywine Valley

    Join Berkshire Botanical Garden staff Dorthe Hviid, Elisabeth Cary and Molly Boxer October 13 – 15 for a three-day study weekend in the Brandywine valley of Pennsylvania. The cornerstone of this trip includes attendance to the Perennial Plant Conference held at the extraordinary Scott Arboretum located on the campus of Swarthmore College (pictured below.)  Attended by both professional and avid home gardeners from the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, this conference is by far the most sophisticated, cutting edge gardening conference held on the East Coast. This three-day trip includes transportation tours of exceptional gardens both private and public, admission to a world class gardening conference and optional evening lectures. There will be a bit of free time for relaxing and resting weary feet! The staff is eager to share this wonderful gardening adventure with you.

    Included in the $765 cost (add $180 for a single room, and one must join the Berkshire Botanical Garden if not already a member):

    Attendance to The Fall Perennial Plant Conference at Swarthmore College. Speakers include Fergus Garrett, Nan Sinton, Sydney Eddison, Roy Diblick, Gregg Tepper and the ever popular Promising Perennial Forum. For more information visit www.perennialplantconference.com.

    Garden visits include:

    Hortulus Farm, the private garden of Renny Reynolds and Jack Staub, New Hope, Pennsylvania.

    Chanticleer Garden, Wayne, Pennsylvania

    Scotts Arboretum, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

    Longwood Garden, Kennett Square, PA

    Overnight accommodation at the Radnor Hotel on Philadelphia’s Main Line in Wayne, PA conveniently located near area gardens.

    All lunches and breakfasts, admission to all gardens and the conference are included in the fee. Evening meals are on your own – a variety of different restaurants are located within walking distance to the hotel.  A non-refundable $400 deposit is due by August 15.  For more information, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org.