Come to the Botanic Garden of Smith College on Saturday, November 6, and see the most glorious display of autumn blooming chrysanthemums. The show will on view through November 21, and you will see many varieties you’ll want to plant in your own garden next season. Or, just come and enjoy the fabulous color – this is a terrific fall outing for those gray November New England days. For hours and more information, log on to www.smith.edu/gardens, or email garden@smith.edu.
Come to the Barnstable High School Performing Arts Center, 744 West Main Street in Hyannis on Saturday, April 17, for a full day conference beginning at 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, sponsored by the Master Gardener Association of Cape Cod. The program will feature:
Rick Darke, The Wild Garden: A fresh look at the wild garden concept and will illustrate why it is the most enjoyable, sensible approach for livable, ecologically sustainable modern landscapes;
Vincent Simeone, Wonders of the Winter Landscape: How to enhance the aesthetic value and interest of the garden by using horticultural treasures such as winter fruiting plants, broadleaved evergreens, conifers and trees with interesting bark;
C.L. Fornari, The Top 25: 25 plants that she thinks you should know about, along with the 25 most interesting/amusing/useful bits of gardening information she has learned in over 25 years of gardening.
Book signings with speakers, lunch, marketplace, and a raffle will be part of the day. MCLP and MCH professional credits are available. The cost of $60 includes lunch. For more information, call 508-375-6690, or email tramos@barnstablecounty.org. You may also find information at www.capecodextension.org.
The Brockton Garden Club presents The Garden Show and a Standard Flower Show emphasizing the 4 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover, on Sunday, April 11 at The Shaws Center, 1 Lexington Ave., Brockton, Massachusetts. For hours and complete schedule and information, contact Peg Kearney at 508-942-7535, or email brocktongc@verizon.net.
Learn the why’s and how’s of pruning – why to prune, if you even need to prune, when to prune, and what cuts to make. Wellesley College Botanic Gardens Senior Horticulturist Tricia Diggins teaches you to make cutting edge decisions about nearly every pruning job from house plants to large tres. She explores with you how these general principles relate to specific plants like flowering shrubs, evergreens, older trees, young plants and fruit trees. Approximately half the class time will be indoors and the remaiinder will be outside in the Hunnewell Arboretum and Alexandra Botanic Gardens, looking at the pruning needs of a variety of trees and shrubs. The Wellesley College Hunnewell Arboretum can be damp under foot in early spring. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Class number HOR 10 080, WCFH members $20, non members $25. To register, or for directions, log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH, or email horticulture@wellesley.edu.
Founded in 1982, The Longwood Symphony Orchestra is recognized as a unique model of community engagement. The group uses its performances to raise both funds and awareness through its healing Art of Music ™ program. On Saturday, March 13, at the New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, the Longwood Symphony Orchestra will hold a concert benefiting The Food Project. Tickets will be available for $40 per individual. $100 will buy a ticket to the concert and a pre-concert reception. $250 will purchase a ticket to the concert and reception, as well as two tickets for Food Project youth and/or members of their families. For more information, or to reserve tickets, email events@thefoodproject.org.
The Ecological Landscaping Association will hold its Annual Conference and Marketplace on Thursday, February 25, beginning at 8:00 am at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main Street in Springfield, Massachusetts. Learn how to maximize biological potential, minimize environmental impacts, and obtain spectacular results. Sessions will focus on water use, landscape design, and practical skills. You may also visit the Eco-Marketplace. Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia’s Garden, will share his design approach to sustainable landscaping. There will also be a Keynote Dinner at 6:45 PM. For admission data, contact www.ecolandscaping.org, telephone 617-436-5838, or email elawebmaster@verizon.net.
On Saturday, January 16, beginning at 11 am, enjoy the signs of winter wildlife at the Mass Audubon Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, with a Teacher Naturalist as your guide. Snowshoeing is an easy and fun way to get around. You’ll discover animal tracks and signs, beautiful winter scenes, and hidden winter treasures. Preregistration is not required, and snowshoe rental is included in the price ($8 for Mass Audubon members, $12 for non members), For more information, call 617-983-8500, or email bnc@massaudubon.org.
Take a winter’s day drive to Alfalfa Farm Winery in Topsfield for their annual Customer Appreciation Event, with free wine, cheese, live music, and, here’s the best, the Worst Holiday Sweater Contest. Alfalfa Farm Winery is a family owned and operated vineyard which produces a variety of hand crafted wines and hosts functions and events for many local nonprofit organizations. For directions and more information, call 978-774-0014, or email alfalfafarm@comcast.net. You may also visit the web site at www.alfalfafarmwinery.com.
The 9th annual NOFA Course in Organic Land Care will be held January 13, 14, 15, 19 and 20, 2010 at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, 6 Plum Island Tpke., Newburyport, MA. (pictured below). This 5-day intensive course trains and accredits professionals to practice organic land care (caring for land without the use of synthetic pesticides or soil amendments). It is recommended for landscapers, designers, municipal and parks employees, horticulturists, master gardeners and entrepreneurs.
$550 Course Course fee includes a delicious, catered lunch daily
• $150 Exam & Accreditation (optional)
Exam & Accreditation may be paid during the course
• NOFA Membership Discounts
Visit www.organiclandcare.net for more information or call Kathy Litchfield at (413) 773-3830 or email: kathy@nofamass.org.
