Boston Flora

Tag: Florence

  • Monday, October 16 – Saturday, October 21 – A Tour of Florence (Reservation Deadline March 6)

    This autumn, October 16 – 21, join The Royal Oak Foundation for a special tour in Florence. The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence was endowed with magnificent buildings and works of art by the illustrious Medici dynasty. Exploring the city, we will appreciate the endless fascination which it has held for British and American travelers and residents, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

    Highlights will include admiring Cosimo de Medici’s library of manuscripts in the monastery of San Marco, exclusive visits to Villa La Pietra, home and art collection of the late Sir Harold Acton, and to a villa set in a vast garden – landscaped in the English style – as well as hosted dinners at two of the great Florentine Renaissance palaces.

    Traveling with Royal Oak Heritage Circle members is Frank Dabell. Mr. Dabell is a specialist in the Italian Renaissance and teaches history of art at Temple University’s program in Rome, where he has lived for 20 years. Educated in England at Shrewsbury School, he is a graduate of Merton College, Oxford and a former Fellow of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and lectures for the Met and other museums throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, including past journeys on Sea Cloud II where the Royal Oak Foundation was the co-sponsor with the Met. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and was recently on the advisory committee for the restoration of Piero della Francesca’s Resurrection in Sansepolcro. Deadline to reserve is March 6. View the Brochure and details at https://www.royal-oak.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ROF-FlorenceBrochure.pdf

  • Saturday, September 28 – Saturday, October 5 – Tuscany

    Join Pacific Horticulture Society for an Indian summer ramble through the golden rolling hills of Tuscany as we explore the Italian countryside and cities that gave birth to the Renaissance. Our itinerary features gardens designed throughout the ages, including Medici villas reflecting Renaissance ideals, theatrical Baroque landscapes, the influence of English landscapers on private romantic gardens, and contemporary creations bringing new life to this ancient landscape. Discover history, culture, cuisine, and beauty in Tuscany. Our program has a lovely combination of historical and contemporary gardens, villas, and palaces which we plan to visit while also enjoying the culinary delights of this land, complete with a farm-to-table cooking class experience. You will visit Lucca, Chianti, Siena, and Florence. $4,995, single supplement $950. The complete itinerary may be found at https://www.pacifichorticulture.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/brochure_Tuscany_2019_-_Signature-Italy.pdf

    Image result for Villa Chigi Cetinale

  • Saturday, May 21, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Successful, Ecological Lawns

    Join the Ecological Landscaping Association on Saturday, May 21 at Look Memorial Park in Florence, Massachusetts from 10 – noon, and then move on to Rocky Hill co-Housing in Northampton, Massachusetts from noon – 2 pm, for an informative walking tour of two successful, ecological lawns, with co-hosts Bernadette Giblin and Julie Meyer.  Look Memorial Park is a 157 acre private park, one of two organic lawn demonstration projects in Western Massachusetts.  The Pines Theater is being transitioned from a traditional turf management program to organic, non-soluble, slow release fertilizers and organic pest management strategies.  Bernadette will explain the organic cultural practices that promote beauty, environmental efficiency, and cost effectiveness being used on the Pines Theater lawn.  She will also discuss what organic products are most effective in working with nature to achieve greater soil stability while lowering ecological and human health threats on lawns.

    Rocky Hill is a thriving community of neighbors committed to living lightly on the earth.  This mission led to the choice to plant low-mow turf.  This tour will include discussion about low-mow grass including why it might be a good choice for lawns, where this lawn alternative is used, what species were selected, and research findings on new cultivars.  Julie Meyer will also share residents’ evaluation of its aesthetics, maintenance, and performance ov er time and across micro-climates.  Visitors will review the planting plan of the property, and visit areas of the neighborhood where low-mow turf is growing.  The Eco-Tour begins at Look Memorial Park, located at 300 North Main Street, Florence, and then will continue on to Rocky Hill, where guests should park on Black Birch Trail, not the parking lot.  The tour will meet at the Common House entrance at 100 Black Birch Trail.  Registrations are limited.  Call 617-436-5838 or email ela.info@comcast.net.

  • Saturday, October 15 – Saturday, October 22 – A Tuscan Harvest

    Join Ethne Clarke, Editor in Chief of Organic Gardening magazine, on Organic Gardening’s premiere reader tour – a trip through the beautiful Tuscan countryside of central Italy. You’ll be stopping (and sampling) at artisanal, organic wineries, olive groves and fattoria, beguiling gardens and more; dining at local organic restaurants, and sharing cooking lessons in true Tuscan kitchens to experience the authentic foods and recipes of Tuscany.

    Ethne says “I hope you’ll come with me to learn about and savor the joy of a Tuscan harvest as celebrated in the Italian heartland. Our guide and gardening expert, Alessandro Tombelli, will share his knowledge of secret Tuscany, so it’s going to be a memorable journey – a once in a lifetime experience. Andiamo!” Touring will be by bus, with options to walk several hours on two days (walk rating: easy.) $4,995 per person, double occupancy, with a single supplement of $830, airfare not included, for the eight day, seven night trip. The tour begins in Florence and ends in Siena. Full travel services are available to meet this tour in Florence through Wayfarers’ Travel. For a complete itinerary, log on to www.thewayfarers.com/atuscanharvest.