Boston Flora

Tag: Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens

  • Monday, June 13 – Wednesday, June 15, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, and Thursday & Friday, June 16 and 17, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – Introduction to Botanical Art

    Explore the world of botanical art over five days in this course designed especially for you – the beginner.  Sarah Roche guides your experience through structured exercises, projects and demonstrations, exposing you to the basic techniques and methods of botanical drawing and watercolor painting.  If you have an interest in plants and a yearning to record what you see on paper, then this class is for you.  All experience levels welcome.  Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens – $275; non-members $325.  Register by calling 781-283-3094.  Image copyright 2012 Sarah Roche.

  • Friday, May 6, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Herbs and Wild Edibles of the Spring Season

    In this Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens workshop on Friday, May 6 from 1 – 3, herbalist Steph Zabel will join us in harvesting and sampling some of the first emerging plants of the season, including dandelions, chickweed, and violets.  These often-overlooked plants are highly nutritive and beneficial for human health.  We’ll focus on the medicinal and culinary uses of these herbs, how to prepare them, and practical ways to incorporate them into your daily life.  There will also be a demonstration on how to make an herbal-infused vinegar.  Please dress appropriately for the weather as we will be outside for part of the class.  Friends $20, non-members $30.  Register at www.wellesley.edu/wcbgfriends, or call 781-283-3094.  Image from www.tastespotting.com.

  • Wednesday, March 18, 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm – The Orchard Ecosystem

    Farmer and writer Michael Phillips (www.groworganicapples.com,) author of The Holistic Orchard, discusses his holistic approach: health-guilding orchard practices that bring about wholesome fruit.  A healthy orchard ecosystem includes unerstanding soil biology, boosting tree immunity with deep nutrition, timing maintenance tasks relative to tree growth cycles, approaching insect pest situations from a life cycle standpoint, and abetting biodiversity.  Growing tree fruits and berries is something that anyone with a passionate desire can do, given wise guidance and a personal commitment to observe the teachings of the trees.  This Wellesley College Botanic Garden lunch and lecture will be held Wednesday, March 18, from 12:30 – 3:30, and the fee is $45 from Friends of WCBG, $60 for nonmembers (includes lunch.) Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

  • Saturdays, November 1 – November 22, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – Fruits of Fall: Painting Acorns and Chestnuts on Vellum

    Esther Klahne guides you in capturing autumn fruits’ shapes and highlights as well as achieving a balanced composition.  Working on vellum, choose your subject from an assortment of acorn or chestnut specimens, either your own or those provided.  This Class, sponsored by the Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, will take place on four successive Saturdays, November 1 – 22, from 9:30 – 12:30, on campus.  The cost is $200 for Friends, $250 for non-members.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.  The tuition includes the cost of the provided vellum.

  • Tuesday, August 26 – Thursday, August 28, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Drawing Flowers and More

    Practice, practice, practice.  Give yourself these three days at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden to refresh and strengthen your own way of contour drawing.  Carol Ann Morley guides you through discovery exercises that help you draw accurately and confidently.  See in new ways, analyze flower and leaf shapes to recognize patterns and rhythms in botanical shapes, and conquer the perennial problem of foreshortening.  For all levels – some drawing experience required.  The classes will take place from 9:30 – 3:30 on Tuesday, August 26 through Thursday, August 28.  Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden: $250; non-members: $300.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

    http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/irazumov/lectures/illustration/botanical/20th%20century/carol_ann_morley.jpg

  • Monday, August 18, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – The Edible Landscape at Wellesley College

    The Ecological Landscaping Association will sponsor The Edible Landscape at Wellesley College with tour guide Tricia Diggins on Monday, August 18, from 5 – 7 on campus in Wellesley.  $20 for ELA and Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden members, $25 for nonmembers, free for Wellesley College students.

    Join Tricia to explore three main components of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens edible landscape.  As part of its collection policy, the WCBG is collecting and interpreting plants as food for humans and other organisms.  The tour will start in the kitchen garden courtyard that includes an herb garden, a vegetable garden, and other small fruit and nut plants.  The design for the vegetable garden changes each year and this year will be modeled after a Russian dacha garden.

    You will then move on to the Edible Ecosystem Teaching Garden and check on the progress of the garden started in 2010 and a new outdoor classroom.  The garden was designed by forest and permaculture specialists Dave Jacke and Keith Zaltzberg.  The garden features fruit and nut trees planted in association with herbaceous polycultures to maximize ecological functions using a wide diversity of pants.

    Lastly, you will walk to the nut tree collection in the Alexandra Botanic Garden and see a variety of native nut trees (and a few non-native as well), along with a 9 year old grove of paw paws (see picture of cluster below.)  Register on line at https://www.eventville.com/catalog/eventregistration1.asp?eventid=1010983.

  • Tuesday, July 29 – Thursday, July 31, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Painting with Sunshine: The Sunflower

    The Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens has scheduled a three day program at the height of sunflower season, July 29 – July 31, 9:30 – 3:30, which will lift your spirits.  Van Gogh’s iconic paintings of sunflowers have inspired many artists to capture their strength and vibrancy.  Don’t be daunted by the complexity of their spiral centers.  Join this workshop with Elaine Searle to explore the sunflower from all angles.  Create a study sheet or small painting filled with sunshine.  You may discover that the backs of the blooms are just as fascinating as their faces.  Friends price $340; non-members $425. Register by email at wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu, or call 781-283-3094. Image from www.naturework.wordpress.com.

    http://farmers1986.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/helianthus_whorl.jpg

  • Saturdays, July 26 and August 2, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Patterns from Nature

    The Arts and Crafts movement was noted for its nature-derived patterns.  Elaine Searle is your guide in this Wellesley College Botanic Gardens fun expansion of your art.  On the first Saturday, July 26, look at historical references and learn how to simplify a botanical form to make a pattern repeat.  Work up your unique pattern in between classes.  On the second Saturday, August 2, learn about restricted color palettes and use gouache paint (supplied) to work up your design.  Elaine will offer an email critique of your final work.  WCBG Friends – $225; non-members $280.  Register at 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

    http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/bd/48/ba/bd48ba1acd2e4cda560c7bd6d4d60237.jpg

  • Wednesday and Thursday, July 23 and 24, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Depth in Detail

    The ability to create convincing 3D realism in botanical art can make or break a piece.  This Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens two-day workshop, to be held Wednesday & Thursday, July 23 – 24, with Elaine Searle, covers the basics of making adjustments to the amount of detail, strength of shadows, clarity of colors, and more to enhance the perception of depth in a botanical painting.  You will work on a small painting in class that you can complete at home to reinforce your learning.  Elaine will offer an email critique of your final painting.  The class meets at the Visitors Center from 9:30 – 3:30, and costs $225 for Friends, $280 for nonmembers.  Call 781-283-3094 to register, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu. Picture below copyright Elaine Searle.

    http://www.botanicalartists.com/ElaineSearle/SearleElaine_Rheum_rhabarbarum.jpg

  • Tuesday, August 5 – Thursday, August 7, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Summer Flowers with Catherine Watters

    Master botanical composition with the Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens in a three day course August 5 – 7 at the Visitors Center of the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens.  Are you stymied when attempting to capture the beauty and grace of your favorite summer flowers?  Whether trying to portray a single flower or a garden bouquet, discover the nuance of botanical composition with Catherine Watters.  Analyze elements of composition with a focus on shape, structure and negative space, and then paint your composition.  Catherine will also discuss mixing colors as well as balancing light and shadow to make your painting come to life.  $395 for Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, $495 for nonmembers. Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

    http://www.catherinewatters.com/assets_d/4504/page_media/anemone-detail_139_sm.jpg