Boston Flora

Tag: Gardens Trust

  • Tuesday, December 2, 5:00 am – 6:30 am Eastern (but recorded) – Queer Gardens: Queer Ecology

    Gardens are many things. An oasis for nature, a retreat from the outside world, a haven for blooms. But how has the LGBTQI+ community been involved with their design, upkeep and prominence throughout the years? How is queerness seen in the natural world?

    As well as being a historian and tour guide, Sheldon K Goodman is also passionate about gardening. He will give three talks looking at queerness in gardens from the work of gardeners, LGBTQI+ led community gardening initiatives in London, historical people such as Virginia Woolf, Reginald Farrer and Sir Francis Bacon and queer ecology’s roots in Michel Foucault’s The History of Sexuality (tr. Robert Hurley, 1978-2021, Pantheon Books) as well as queer gardening in the here and now.

    The second session on December 2 is Queer Ecology. Nature is queer! The heteronormative lens that the natural world has been viewed with until comparatively recently is a sham. Nature is full of wonderful and remarkable examples of diversity, such as sex changing ferns, dual-genitaled garden pests and the unique same-sex relationships between some of our favourite garden birds. Sheldon will showcase some of these instances of queerness and will also be highlighting the work of queer ecologists who are tirelessly bringing awareness to our parks, gardens and open spaces through events, engagement and education. This Gardens Trust talk is £8 through Eventbrite. Register HERE Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 1 week.

  • Wednesday, November 26, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern – Katie Campbell’s Favorite Gardens, Online

    The Gardens Trust continues its online series on favorite gardens on November 26 at 1 pm Eastern with Katie Campbell’s Favorite Gardens. Katie is writer and garden historian. She lectures widely, has taught at Birkbeck, Bristol and Buckingham universities, writes for various publications and leads art and garden tours. Her most recent book, Cultivating the Renaissance (Routledge, 2022) explores the evolution of Renaissance ideas and aesthetics through the Medici Tuscan villas. Previous publications include British Gardens in Time (Quarto, 2014) to accompany the BBC television series, Paradise of Exiles (Francis Lincoln, 2009) a study of the late nineteenth century Anglo-Florentine garden-makers, and Icons of Twentieth Century Landscape Design (Frances Lincoln, 2006).

    Whether carved from an arboreal forest or a tropical jungle, a rubber plantation, an olive grove or an ancient oak wood, Katie finds that that the gardens which remain with her are the ones which respect the indigenous flora and agricultural traditions, but interpret these in a way which reveals as much about the designer as it does about the site.

    This ticket LINK is for this individual session and costs £8, and you may purchase tickets for other individual sessions via the links below, or you may purchase a ticket for the entire course of 4 sessions at a cost of £28 via the link here. (Gardens Trust members £6 or £21). Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session (available for 2 weeks) will be sent shortly afterwards.

    ©Katie Campbell

  • Wednesday, November 12, 1:00 pm Eastern – Craze for Collecting: Dispatches from the Cape, Online

    Were they intrepid explorers and suppliers of beauty and scientific advancement, or imperialist plunderers and destroyers of fragile environments? The reputation of plant-hunters as brave adventurers tracking down botanical wonders has taken something of a battering in recent years. Make your own mind up about their role and continuing importance as The Gardens Trust shares some plant-hunter stories in this new five part series. Learn about the exploits of the late-18th century ‘father’ of modern plant-hunting and the adventures of a once-celebrated woman who led botanical expeditions to the Andes. Hear tales from those who’ve followed in the footsteps of famous collectors, revisiting the native habitats of exotic plants which are now staples in the British garden, and ponder on ideas about the very different role of collectors today in plant conservation and public education. This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Register through Eventbrite HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    Proteas are iconic wildflowers from Africa (most diverse and prominent in the fynbos region) and globally beloved as cut flowers, but what are the social and environmental contexts of this trade in the Cape? In this November 12 Gardens Trust talk, Rupert will explore some of the issues in his article with Prof Dave Bek in Protean Routes: Following the Commodification Chain of the Protea Flower between South Africa and the Netherlands (Dwaalstêr Editions, 2025).

    Plus, as English gardens embrace more naturalistic planting and meadows are trendy, what are the consequences in places where the more formal style of gardening and landscaping is still entrenched?

    Rupert Koopman is a fynbos-obsessed botanist based in Cape Town, South Africa who uses the flexibility of freelance work to protect and increase the appreciation of South Africa’s flora. Previous roles in both government and the NGO sector focussing on the protection of South Africa’s plants, especially fynbos of the Cape, give him a good overview of the country’s green wealth. Rupert’s interests include SA’s threatened plant species, citizen science, food plants, making plant conservation more relevant and accessible to a broader audience and participating in multidisciplinary projects. Being a qualified tour guide gives him a further platform to weave history, science and current affairs into a single narrative.

  • Tuesday, November 18, 5:00 am – 6:30 am Eastern (but recorded) – “An Awful Precipice”: Price, Knight, and the Picturesque

    The 18th century landscape is viewed by many as being the pinnacle of English garden design. From its early Arcadian experiments and passion for all things classical, through to the vast and minimal landscapes of Capability Brown and his contemporaries, the gardening century was brought to a close with conflicting appeals for rugged wildness and domestic prettiness.

    In a new five part series sponsored by the Gardens Trust, Dr Laura Mayer will explore some of the themes and trends that emerged during the century, with a particular focus on the role of art, antiquity and architecture in shaping 18th landscape designs. The series is designed to pick up on themes and ideas not covered in any depth in last year’s introductory course on the History of Gardens – and so may appeal whether or not you joined us for the earlier series. The ticket for the entire series costs £35 for the 5 sessions, or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £8. [Gardens Trust members £26.25 or £6 each]. To register through Eventbrite, click HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk (If you do not receive this link, please contact us), and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    The final episode of the series takes place November 18, on the Picturesque. The aesthetic category known as the Picturesque developed in the latter part of the eighteenth century. Defined by the artist and travel writer William Gilpin as ‘that peculiar kind of beauty which is agreeable in a picture’, it was equally applicable to art, architecture and even music. In the case of British landscape, the Picturesque aesthetes championed a Romantic appreciation for rugged and sublime topography. Gilpin’s guidebooks provided advice on how to paint picturesque scenery and promoted picturesque destinations such as the Lake District to a growing band of domestic tourists who had turned their back on the Grand Tour.

    Through their writings, Sir Uvedale Price and Richard Payne Knight harnessed a growing disdain for the minimal landscapes of Brown and his contemporaries, instead encouraging Picturesque values of irregularity and wildness. This lecture grapples with the paradoxes inherent in a movement which championed unbridled naturalism through the artificial lens of taste, whilst recognizing the early role of the Picturesque writers in championing wilderness preservation.

  • Tuesday, November 11, 5:00 am – 6:30 am Eastern (but recorded) – The Architectural Aspirations of Capability Brown and Humphry Repton, Online

    The 18th century landscape is viewed by many as being the pinnacle of English garden design. From its early Arcadian experiments and passion for all things classical, through to the vast and minimal landscapes of Capability Brown and his contemporaries, the gardening century was brought to a close with conflicting appeals for rugged wildness and domestic prettiness.

    In a new five part series sponsored by the Gardens Trust, Dr Laura Mayer will explore some of the themes and trends that emerged during the century, with a particular focus on the role of art, antiquity and architecture in shaping 18th landscape designs. The series is designed to pick up on themes and ideas not covered in any depth in last year’s introductory course on the History of Gardens – and so may appeal whether or not you joined us for the earlier series. The ticket for the entire series costs £35 for the 5 sessions, or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £8. [Gardens Trust members £26.25 or £6 each]. To register through Eventbrite, click HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk (If you do not receive this link, please contact us), and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    Week Four on November 11 will focus on The Architectural Aspirations of Capability Brown and Humphry Repton, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and Humphry Repton are famous for being the century’s most prolific landscape gardeners, and yet both men harboured strong architectural ambitions. Significantly, Brown even referred to himself as a ‘place-maker’, a term specifically chosen to encompass his abilities as both landscaper and architect.

    In 1771, Brown formed a resourceful partnership with Henry Holland, a successful builder and architect. In 1796, Repton entered into a formal partnership with the architect John Nash, having previously worked alongside William Wilkins and Samuel and James Wyatt. In 1773, Holland married Brown’s daughter Bridget, whilst Repton’s sons, George Stanley and John Adey, were pre-destined for a career in architecture and apprenticed from a young age to Nash.

    This lecture explores the lesser-known, architectural side of Brown and Repton’s careers. It considers how they involved themselves – both directly and indirectly through their sons and business partners – with the broader design of country estates. This included ambitious architectural design, the building of garden temples within the landscape and even interior decorative schemes, all intended to seamlessly integrate a house with its setting.

  • Wednesday, November 5, 1:00 pm Eastern – Craze for Collecting: A Mid-Summer Expedition to Yunnan, Online

    Were they intrepid explorers and suppliers of beauty and scientific advancement, or imperialist plunderers and destroyers of fragile environments? The reputation of plant-hunters as brave adventurers tracking down botanical wonders has taken something of a battering in recent years. Make your own mind up about their role and continuing importance as The Gardens Trust shares some plant-hunter stories in this new five part series. Learn about the exploits of the late-18th century ‘father’ of modern plant-hunting and the adventures of a once-celebrated woman who led botanical expeditions to the Andes. Hear tales from those who’ve followed in the footsteps of famous collectors, revisiting the native habitats of exotic plants which are now staples in the British garden, and ponder on ideas about the very different role of collectors today in plant conservation and public education. This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Register through Eventbrite HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

  • Tuesday, October 28, 5:00 am – 6:30 am Eastern (but recorded) – Visiting Arcadia: Architecture and Antiquity

    The 18th century landscape is viewed by many as being the pinnacle of English garden design. From its early Arcadian experiments and passion for all things classical, through to the vast and minimal landscapes of Capability Brown and his contemporaries, the gardening century was brought to a close with conflicting appeals for rugged wildness and domestic prettiness.

    In a new five part series sponsored by the Gardens Trust, Dr Laura Mayer will explore some of the themes and trends that emerged during the century, with a particular focus on the role of art, antiquity and architecture in shaping 18th landscape designs. The series is designed to pick up on themes and ideas not covered in any depth in last year’s introductory course on the History of Gardens – and so may appeal whether or not you joined us for the earlier series. The ticket for the entire series costs £35 for the 5 sessions, or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £8. [Gardens Trust members £26.25 or £6 each]. To register through Eventbrite, click HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk (If you do not receive this link, please contact us), and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    Week Two on October 28 is Visiting Arcadia: Architecture and Antiquity. The Grand Tour transformed British culture in the eighteenth century; its effects visible in everything from art to antiquarianism, and fashion to food. A carefully prescribed route took in ancient ruins, sun-drenched landscapes and must-see objects d’art. Consequently, the Grand Tour became an educational rite of passage for the classically trained, encouraging the excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii, and providing a constant stream of commissions for artists like Batoni, Piranesi and Canaletto.

    The Tour was also a socially sanctioned cover for all types of excess, from gambling and pillaging, to whoring and drinking. Yet despite these temptations, many young men returned from the Continent genuinely enlightened. Clubs were set up to encourage aspiring architects and garden designers to mingle with collectors and would-be patrons.

    This lecture explores the dual nature of the Tour and reveals how a network of wealthy connoisseurs influenced the Arcadian landscape gardens of the Georgian gentry.

  • Wednesday, October 29, 2:00 pm Eastern – Craze for Collecting: In The Footsteps Of …, Online

    Were they intrepid explorers and suppliers of beauty and scientific advancement, or imperialist plunderers and destroyers of fragile environments? The reputation of plant-hunters as brave adventurers tracking down botanical wonders has taken something of a battering in recent years. Make your own mind up about their role and continuing importance as The Gardens Trust shares some plant-hunter stories in this new five part series. Learn about the exploits of the late-18th century ‘father’ of modern plant-hunting and the adventures of a once-celebrated woman who led botanical expeditions to the Andes. Hear tales from those who’ve followed in the footsteps of famous collectors, revisiting the native habitats of exotic plants which are now staples in the British garden, and ponder on ideas about the very different role of collectors today in plant conservation and public education. This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Register through Eventbrite HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    This lecture is an account of Toby’s experiences of following in the footsteps of two plant hunters: Sir Joseph Hooker (1817 – 1911) in the Himalayan wilds of northern Sikkim, India and George Forrest (1873 – 1932) amongst the dramatic landscape of the biodiversity hotspot of Yunnan Province, China.

    With a degree in horticulture and a Ph.D. in garden history, both from Reading University, Toby Musgrave is an independent scholar, lecturer and author specializing in garden and plant history. His fifteenth book will be published by Phaidon in Spring 2026. Toby lives in Denmark where he gardens one of the historic De Runde Haver. He is also a submersible pilot.

  • Tuesday, November 4, 5:00 am – 6:30 am Eastern (but recorded) – Garden Buildings, Grottoes and Entertainment al Fresco

    The 18th century landscape is viewed by many as being the pinnacle of English garden design. From its early Arcadian experiments and passion for all things classical, through to the vast and minimal landscapes of Capability Brown and his contemporaries, the gardening century was brought to a close with conflicting appeals for rugged wildness and domestic prettiness.

    In a new five part series sponsored by the Gardens Trust, Dr Laura Mayer will explore some of the themes and trends that emerged during the century, with a particular focus on the role of art, antiquity and architecture in shaping 18th landscape designs. The series is designed to pick up on themes and ideas not covered in any depth in last year’s introductory course on the History of Gardens – and so may appeal whether or not you joined us for the earlier series. The ticket for the entire series costs £35 for the 5 sessions, or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £8. [Gardens Trust members £26.25 or £6 each]. To register through Eventbrite, click HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the first talk (If you do not receive this link, please contact us), and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    Week Three on November 4 covers Garden Buildings, Grottoes and Entertainment al Fresco. For all its aesthetic ideals and painterly compositions, the English landscape garden was ultimately intended for recreation. Follies, tea temples and other small-scale garden buildings encouraged architectural experimentation, whilst practically supplying shelter and shade for picnics and an exciting destination for drinking and dining.

    Set apart from the country house, hermitages and classical pavilions provided privacy, seclusion and a sense of retreat within the landscape, encouraging study and quiet contemplation. At night, shadowy grottoes were illuminated by candlelight, and fireworks launched – often disastrously – from lodges or other purpose-built structures.

    This lecture explores the role of architectural features within eighteenth-century garden design and considers how they were used and enjoyed in all weathers and throughout the seasons.

  • Wednesday, October 22, 7:30 am – 8:00 am Eastern (but recorded) – How Can We Make Our Gardens Greener? Online

    Join the Gardens Trust for a free 30 minute talk on October 22 to help make your gardens greener. This session originally was scheduled in July but was rescheduled. Lots of us see gardens as sources of mental and physical well-being, places we can be in tune with nature. So how can we tend our own plots more sustainably – and where can we visit gardens that encourage biodiversity and show us how to make our gardens greener?

    This short session is open to all: just register through Eventbrite HERE for a free ticket. Ticketholders will receive access to the live event and a link to a recording available for two weeks afterwards. This session is hosted by the Gardens Trust, the UK national charity dedicated to protecting our heritage of designed gardens and landscapes.

    Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of each talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session (available for 2 weeks) will be sent shortly afterwards.