Boston Flora

Tag: Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden

  • Wednesdays, May 9 – May 23, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm – Drawing and Painting for the Petrified

    In this relaxed, informative seminar at the Wellesley Botanic Gardens, with plenty of helpful demonstrations, you will work towards developing your drawing and painting skills.  Sarah Roche encourages your observational skills to grow as you experiment with line drawings and the accurate representations of botanical forms.  Leap into watercolor painting as Sarah guides you through a series of fun beginning botanical watercolor exercises.  The class will be held on three successive Wednesdays, May 3, 16 and 23, from 9:30 – 1:30.  Please bring to the first class: 9×12 sketch paper, HB (No. 2) pencils, and white plastic eraser.  Sarah will discuss brushes, palettes, and watercolor papers needed for remaining classes.  Samples of paint are provided.  WCBG Friends $125, nonmembers $150.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.  Painting below by Sarah Roche.

  • Wednesday, October 18 – Friday, October 20, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Painting Fall Treasures

    Learn to paint the autumnal treasures that can be found in abundance at this time of year, in this three-day Wellesley College Botanic Garden workshop with two noted botanical artists, Dianne Sutherland and Shevaun Doherty. You will draw and paint a small “table top” collection of subjects, such as richly colored leaves, seed pods, and small, jewel-like fruits. You are encouraged to bring in your own subjects, but subject material will also be provided. Dianne specializes in leaves and Shevaun in fruits, but they are both familiar with all subjects. Benefit from more individual instructor time per student as both Dianne and Shevaun work cooperatively to support the class in the learning process. You will learn about lighting subjects, composing the page, and watercolor techniques such as washes and color mixing. The class takes place October 18 – 20 from 9:30 – 3:30. Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden $450, nonmembers $550. Register at 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu. Image copyright Shevaun Doherty.

  • Tuesday, September 19, 1:30 pm – Botanical Artists of the USDA

    During the years 1886-1942, a small staff of professional botanical artists was employed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Division of Pomology to support the agricultural initiatives of the Division. The artists’ impressive body of work, known today as the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection, consists of more than 7,700 watercolor paintings, pen and ink drawings, and wax models of fruit specimens. Most of this work was produced by ten botanical artists during the years 1886 – 1920, although as many as fifty artists are known to have worked there. Pat Harrington will speak at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden on Tuesday, September 19, beginning at 1:30 pm, and will explore the origins, nature and scope of the work: why, where, and how it was done, and the artists themselves. Co-sponsored with the New England Society of Botanical Artists. Sponsor members free, nonmembers $10. Register at wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu, or call 781-283-3094.

  • Wednesdays, January 25, February 1, 8, 15, and March 1, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Landscape Design Studio

    This Wellesley College Botanic Garden five session hands on design studio with Christie Dustman starts with learning about the design principles and elements of a garden – the building blocks. Then, discuss what kinds of goals and problems garden design can resolve. Put all of this together through the eyes of a landscape designer who shows you design projects from start to finish. Try your hand at designing a garden based on sample homeowner criteria and site realities. Then use your own landscape and your list of requirements to work on a plan for your home. The classes will take place January 25, February 1, 8, and 15, and March 1, from 6:30 – 8:30, with a snow date of March 15. Friends of Wellesley Botanic Gardens $110, nonmembers $135. Call 781-283-3094 to register.

  • Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm – Mary Vaux Walcott: The Audubon of Botany

    The Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and the New England Wild Flower Society will co-sponsor Mary Vaux Walcott: The Audubon of Botany, on Wednesday, July 13 beginning at 7 pm in the Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell building, 125 Arborway in Boston.  Mary Morris Vaux Walcott (1860 – 1940) was a gifted artist whose stunning watercolors comprise a catalog of North American wildflowers.  This talk by biographer Marjorie Jones reveals rich intersections of history, religion, politics, women’s studies, science, and art during the transformative times in which Walcott lived.  View the “Woody Plants” exhibition by the New England Society of Botanical Artists, on display July 8 – September 11 in the Hunnewell Building lecture hall.  Members of sponsoring organizations – free; nonmembers $5.

  • Thursdays, July 7 – July 28, 9:30 am – 12:30 am – Calligraphy for the Botanical Artist

    You want to complement your beautiful pen and ink, watercolor, or graphite botanical illustration with equally beautiful lettering.  Through demonstrations, handouts, guided exercises, classroom projects, and homework critiques, professional calligrapher Nancy Galligan will introduce you to the stately, majestic, and versatile Roman Capital alphabet and its lowercase accompaniment Foundational.  Over the course of these four Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden sessions, we’ll discuss the history of these alphabets and quickly delve right in with nib and ink to gain an understanding of ideal proportions, spacing, and modern use.  No previous experience required, and all materials will be provided.  Friends members $150, non-members $200.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

  • Mondays, July 11 – July 25, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Wellesley College Botanic Garden Florilegium

    Head outdoors with Carol Govan and Ellen Duarte to observe botany in action in the Wellesley College’s meadows, in this three session class to be held July 11, July 18, and July 25 from 9:30 – 3:30.  Bring flowering plant specimens to the Visitor’s Center to record them using pencil and pen sketches and dry brush watercolor.  All experience levels are welcome.  WCBG members $250, non-members $300.  Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.  Image by Ellen Duarte.

  • Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Maria Sibylla Merian: The First Ecologist?

    Tuesday, March 29, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Maria Sibylla Merian: The First Ecologist?

    Maria Sibylla Merian’s (1647 – 1717) illustrations were not only the first to depict the life cycles of insects along with their plant hosts, they were also the first to emphasize interactions among the species portrayed – the very foundation of the study of ecology.  Kay Etheridge, Professor of Biology at Gettysburg College, provides an overview of Merian’s contributions to natural history.  Co-sponsored by The Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden and by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the program will be held Tuesday, March 29 beginning at 7 pm in the Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell Building, 125 Arborway in Boston.  Members of sponsoring organizations – $5; non-members $10.  Register by calling 781-283-3094.

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  • Wednesday, November 5, 1:30 pm – Food of the Gods: Chocolate Production from Bean to Bar

    This Wednesday, November 5 talk by Wellesley College Botanic Garden fellow Katie Goodall will explore the journey of chocolate from tropical landscapes to consumers all over the world.  Focusing on Latin America, she will discuss cacao’s botanical origins, cultural history, cultivation methods, and their ecological impacts.  And what’s a chocolate talk without a tasting?  Be sure to come (1:30 pm at the Visitor’s Center of the Botanic Garden) ready to savor the flavors of local specialty chocolates. Image from www.neroandbianco.com.  WCBG Friends free, nonmembers $10.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

  • Fridays, October 17 – November 14, 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm – Plant Stories and Poetry Reading Group

    Bring your lunch and join the Friends of the Wellesley College Botanic Garden for a weekly discussion of short stories and poetry featuring plants, October 17 – November 14, from 12:15 – 2, with experienced group leader Joan Parrish.  Joan is a WCBG docent with a master’s degree in adult education.  Each week read one assigned short story and one poem for discussion.  A variety of gardens provide inspiration for works by authors including Eudora Welty, Garrison Keeler, and Jane Smiley.  The story and poem for the first session can be picked up at the WCBG Friends office, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu. WCBG members free, non-members $25.