Boston Flora

Tag: Elisabeth Cary

  • Wednesday, January 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Growing a Cutting Garden

    Cutting gardens are lovely to view, provide fresh-cut flowers and keep your perennial borders from being raided for indoor display. On Wednesday, January 21 from 10 – 12 at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, learn how to make a small, highly productive cutting garden as an addition to the vegetable garden or as a stand-alone garden. Consider all aspects of growing cut flowers, including selecting varieties that hold up best, sowing, planting, transplanting, cultivating and preparing for indoor use. This program is designed for the home gardener.

    Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over 25 years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed-border gardens.  BBG members $90, nonmembers $100.  Register at http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/event/passion-for-plants-study-group-a-floral-display-growing-a-cutting-garden/?instance_id=3196.  Image from www.trinitynursery.com.

  • Wednesday, January 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Woods on Fire: Ornamental Shrubs and Trees for a Fiery Fall Display

    Woody plants are a low maintenance option for the home landscape. These great plants are gaining in popularity as gardeners learn how to use them to their best advantage. Consider how these plants extend the garden season until late fall. This Berkshire Botanical Garden program on Wednesday, January 14 from 10 – noon will cover ornamental aspects, varieties, cultural requirements and siting these beauties in the garden.

    Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over 25 years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed-border gardens. BBG members $90, nonmembers $100. Register at http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/event/passion-for-plants-study-group-woods-on-fire-ornamental-shrubs-and-trees-for-a-fiery-fall-display/?instance_id=3192.  Pictured: Staghorn sumac from www.i.telegraph.co.uk.

  • Wednesday, June 4, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm – The Especially Fragrant Garden of Page Dickey: Shrub Roses and More

    Join well known gardener and author Page Dickey on Wednesday, June 4, from 10:30 am – 3:30 pm for a Berkshire Botanical Garden private study tour of her North Salem, New York garden at the height of the shrub rose bloom. Page will share her insights into gardening and will discuss the use of fragrant shrubs, with a focus on her favorite shrub roses. Learn about how she selects, designs and cultivates these fragrant beauties. This tour will inspire even the most casual gardeners to get down on their knees and plant shrubs. Following the tour, Page invites participants to picnic on the lawn. On the return trip we will stop at one of Page’s favorite local nurseries, Claire’s Garden Center, in Patterson, NY.

    Page Dickey is a gardener and garden writer living and gardening at Duck Hill in North Salem, NY. Her books include Embroidered Ground, Gardens in the Spirit of Place, the award-winning Breaking Ground: Portraits of Ten Garden Designers, Duck Hill Journal: A Year in a Country Garden, Dogs in Their Gardens and Cats in Their Gardens. A contributor to numerous magazines over the years, she lectures across the country and is one of the founders of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program. She lives and gardens with her husband in the company of assorted dogs, cats, and chickens.

    Participants can choose to carpool or drive separately. Those joining the carpool should meet in the parking lot at Berkshire Botanical Garden for an 8:30 am departure. Carpool will return at approximately 3:30 pm. BBG member price $50, nonmembers $60. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call Elisabeth Cary at 413-298-3926 x15.  Image from www.westchestermagazine.com.

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  • Thursday, May 22, 7:30 am – 6:30 pm – Down and Dirty in Rhode Island

    Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden staff on Thursday May 22 for a day-long adventure to the southeast coast of Rhode Island to explore an extraordinary garden, nurseries and more. Sakonnet Garden, in Little Compton, RI, will be the featured visit of the day. This “exceptional American garden” (as quoted by Marco Polo Stufano, former Director of Wave Hill, and John Trexler, former Director of Tower Hill Botanic Garden) is a garden full of inspiration. Sakonnet is a secret garden embedded within a native coastal fields landscape. At the diminutive scale of a cottage garden, it is conceived of as an intimate place to explore, with multiple paths leading one onward to unexpected experiences.

    Owners John Gywnne and Mikal Folcarelli will lead a tour of their property. First, consider a restored meadow managed for endangered bobolinks. Learn about the ecological theory behind the meadow’s management and hopefully spot one of these wonderful upland meadow birds. Then, explore the small walled garden, designed as a series of small garden rooms. Following the tour, Ed Bowen from Opus Nursery of Little Compton, RI, will be on hand to sell some of his great Zone 5 plants.

    Enjoy a picnic lunch on the lawn—or wait—for the next stop! As we leave the coast, we will stop at the head of the Sakonnet River for a take-out order of fish ‘n’ chips (optional, of course). Enjoy this Rhode Island tradition at well known Evelyn’s Clam Shack (as seen on the Food Channel: Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, hosted by Guy Fieri). The coastal scenery, including boats in the harbor, will be a special treat for us upland creatures. On the return trip we will detour into western Connecticut for a tour of the fabled greenhouses of Logee’s. In business since 1892, this series of five connected greenhouses holds an extensive collection of tropical, semi-tropical and tender perennial plants, as well as orchids, begonias, scented geraniums, citrus and so much more. The staff of Logee’s will give an introduction to the group, and participants can roam the greenhouses and purchase special plants to take home. Enjoy the hosting skills of the BBG staff, including a mid-morning snack and afternoon wine and cheese.

    Dress for the weather, bring a bag lunch and wear comfortable, sturdy footwear. Those wishing to order the take-out meal of fish ‘n’ chips will be charged an additional $20. Coach bus leaves Berkshire Botanical Garden promptly at 7:30 am. If you wish to join the group in Rhode Island, call Elisabeth Cary at 413-298-3926, x 15. BBG members $100, nonmembers $120. Register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

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  • Thursday, July 18, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – Meadow Gardening at its Very Best

    This Berkshire Botanical Garden sponsored field study will give participants an in-depth look at an exceptional ten-year-old New England meadow, designed by meadow expert Larry Weaner. Tour this amazing 40-acre upland meadow at the height of its bloom with head gardener Deb Munson and learn about planting, maintenance, plant selection, weed control and more. Additionally, tour the beautiful formal gardens surrounding this Georgian home and enjoy spectacular views of the northwest corner of Connecticut. The owner will make a presentation on the development of the garden and has graciously invited participants to picnic on the lawns of this exceptional estate. A mere 40-minute drive from Berkshire Botanical Garden, this extraordinary horticultural gem is a wonderful place to spend a summer morning.

    Deb Munson is a horticulturist with a strongly environmental and sustainable ethic in her gardening practices.  BBG members $50, nonmembers $60, and full directions will be sent upon registration at www.berkshirebotanical.org.  You may also call Elisabeth Cary at 413-298-3926.

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  • Thursday, July 11, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Collecting Woody Plants

    Longing for that special hydrangea? Learn how to propagate easy-to-grow shrubs and trees in a hands on workshop at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Thursday, July 11, from 10 – noon. This workshop led by Elisabeth Cary will cover how to collect, prepare and propagate shrubs and trees from softwood cuttings. Set at a great time of the year, participants will take cuttings, make a simple propagator and learn techniques to insure successful rooting. Easily propagated shrub varieties, cultivation requirements, timing and care will be the focus of this program. Participants will go home with wonderful selections from the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s collection. BBG members $35, nonmembers $45. To register, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over 25 years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed-border gardens. Image from www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com.

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  • Saturday, June 15, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – At Home in a Potager Garden

    Growing food at home in a beautifully designed potager garden is a combination of the best of both gardening worlds: utility and beauty. On Saturday, June 15, visit a Berkshire County garden homestead with a focus on growing food, flowers and fruit in a secluded setting with extraordinary views to the west. Designed and cultivated by a husband and wife team, this is their vision of sustainable gardening. Consider design elements including paths, vertical structures, fencing, ornamental pots and layout. Also learn about plant selection, crop rotation, companion planting, mulching of both food and flowers, and don’t forget a trip to the compost pile. The owners will share their experiences with extending the vegetable season in cold frames and unheated hoop house. The owners invite students to picnic on the lawn or back porch following the workshop. The leader of this Berkshire Botanical Garden sponsored tour, Elisabeth Cary, is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over 25 years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed-border gardens. Bring a bagged lunch and dress for the weather. Enrollment is limited: $45 for BBG members, $55 for nonmembers. Register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-298-3926.

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  • Saturday, September 8, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Garden Wrap Up 1

    On Saturday, September 8 from 10 – noon, assess the year’s gardening successes and failures, review the gardening events of the spring and summer and begin planning for next season, at Berkshire Botanical Garden. Consider winter interest in the garden and understand when to prune perennials. Learn how to prepare gardens for the coming winter season, including soil amendment, mulching, cutting back, and fall division of perennials. Seed saving for the coming spring, division of plants that require fall planting, and bulb planting techniques will be covered. Take home a variety of seeds, cuttings and perennials for next season’s garden.

    Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over 20 years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed border gardens. She will share some favorite perennials from her own garden.  To register ($22 for BBG members, $27 for non members) visit www.berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Saturday, November 19, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Tiny Gardens: Build a Terrarium Garden

    Although not new to gardening, terrariums are enjoying renewed interest. In this Berkshire Botanical Garden class, to be held Saturday, November 19 from 10 – 12, learn about gardening under glass — a way to bring nature indoors year round. When enclosed in glass, plants thrive with almost no help from outside of their little world. This hands-on workshop will address the aesthetics and technical aspects of terrarium building including plants, soil preparation, planting, container selection, design and maintenance. Participants will build a tiny garden gem in glass using a unique selection of plants. Elisabeth Cary, who will conduct this session, is Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been making terrariums for many years. She is a home gardener and specializes in woody plants, mixed borders and vegetable gardening. The fee is $50 for BBG members, $60 for non-members, plus a $15 materials fee paid to the instructor. You may register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

  • 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.