Create a beautiful, functional willow basket while learning the foundational techniques of stake-and-strand weaving on Saturday, March 7, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Berkshire Botanical Garden. Designed for beginner and intermediate weavers, this hands-on class is taught by Heleny Cook, a Williamstown-based basketmaker who grows her own willow and forages wild materials for her work. Alongside guided instruction, Heleny will share insights into the joys and challenges of cultivating willow and working with natural materials. A wonderful introduction to the art of traditional basketry and a chance to create something beautiful and useful. Perfect for holding bread rolls, chips or everyday odds and ends, your finished basket will measure approximately 8 inches in diameter and 5 inches tall. All materials will be provided for an additional fee of $25 per person. Bring lunch to have during a break in the day.
Heleny Cook learned willow weaving by studying with experienced makers in Ireland, England, Canada, and across the United States. Her work is grounded in traditional techniques, shaped by years of practice, and informed by the material itself. She teaches because sharing skills keeps the craft alive. Heleny has led workshops at Hancock Shaker Village and Bon Dimanche Studio in Great Barrington, where students learn by working directly with willow and building a solid foundation through hands-on making.
Participants in this Hancock Shaker Village workshop on November 12 from 10 – 1 will make three holiday-inspired ornaments: An eight pointed snowflake and a puffy heart, woven in thin maple strips, and a reindeer woven in dyed reed. Suitable for ages 14 and up. No prior weaving experience need. Note: some finger strength and dexterity is necessary.
Instructor: Sandy Salada. A basket maker since 1995, Sandy weaves a variety of baskets, including patterns of her own design, patterns by other teachers, and reproductions of cultural and historical baskets. Sandy teaches in her home studio as well as at Shaker Heritage Society in Watervliet, New York, and at Hancock Shaker Village.
Register here. $27 for HSV members, $30 for non members, plus a $20 materials fee (cash only) payable directly to the instructor. Hancock Shaker Village is located at 1843 West Housatonic Stret in Pittsfield.
This December, the oldest Shaker Village in New England will sparkle in a new multi-sensory month-long experience called Hancock Holiday Nights. Enjoy five stunning art light projections that immerse you in wonder. Stroll through the 19th-century village transformed with festive decorations. Hancock Shaker Village is located at 1843 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. For ticketing and more information visit https://hancockshakervillage.org/
New England’s dramatic explosion of color each autumn is truly a sight to behold. The brilliantly colored maple trees attract visitors from around the world. From traveling on a country road to walking through the woods, any outing is certain to be spectacular.
The Berkshires of Massachusetts is noted as a center for the visual and performing arts and is home to an impressive collection of cultural and historic sights. The region was a summer retreat for the newly rich during the Gilded Age. It was also a peaceful, inspiring haven for literary artists such as Herman Melville and Edith Wharton and America’s foremost sculptor of public monuments, Daniel Chester French.
Come along and discover this historic, scenic and inspiring region in Northwestern Massachusetts. Learn from the masters, savor local flavors and let your own creativity come to the surface.
Day One, Sunday, September 12:
Plan to arrive early afternoon at the Albany International Airport. Board your private coach and travel a short distance across the border into Massachusetts. For those not from upstate New York, contact the tour organizer to determine where to meet the group in Stockbridge. Immediately upon the early afternoon arrival in Stockbridge, you’ll feel the vibes of creative energy for which this region is renowned. Your soul will be soothed by the pristine beauty and warmed by the charm that seeps in around every corner. Welcome to the Berkshires! Your first visit is at the Norman Rockwell Museum. The museum is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell’s work and his contributions to society, popular culture and social commentary. The Museum is the most popular year-round cultural attraction in the Berkshires and houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell’s work, including 998 original paintings and drawings. The exhibit traces the origins and legacy of the Four Freedoms from the Great Depression and World War II to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.
Depart the Museum late afternoon and travel just down the road to the historic Red Lion Inn, your full-service home for 4 nights. The Inn is an iconic landmark whose warmth and character express timeless tradition while its vibrant personality brings the best of the Berkshires to life.
It is one of the few American Inns that have operated continuously since before 1800. Among noted guests are five presidents: Cleveland, McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Coolidge and Franklin Roosevelt. Other guests have included Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Thornton Wilder and more modern legends from John Wayne to Bob Dylan.
Accommodations offer a wide variety of individually decorated rooms each with its own character and charm. Upon arrival, watch for Norman, their feline lobby ambassador. He’s usually hanging out in the side parlor, people watching and soaking up rays.
Once you have checked in, there will be time to enjoy a refreshing beverage served on the expansive veranda or in Widow Bingham’s Tavern.
Gather in the lovely dining room for an included welcome dinner. Surrounded by soft candlelight, crystal chandeliers, antique china and colonial pewter, dining in the Main Dining Room is like taking a step back in history to the Gilded Age. The menu features a blend of traditional favorites and contemporary interpretations of classic New England cuisine.
Day Two, Monday, September 13:
Following breakfast at the Inn, board the coach and set out for a day immersed in art, history and natural beauty. Your first stop is at Chesterwood, the summer home, studio and gardens of America’s foremost public sculptor, Daniel Chester French, sculptor of the Minuteman Statue and the Lincoln Memorial. Explore this hidden Berkshire gem on a tour of the nine-bedroom residence and wander through the trails studded with his fabulous sculptures throughout this 122-acre estate.
Completed in 1901, the nine-bedroom residence incorporates several architectural styles and contains antique furnishings that were either family heirlooms or bought by the sculptor at local antique auctions.
The Chesterwood landscape perfectly reflects Daniel Chester French and his interests; it is a combination of New England agricultural heritage and the influence of classical European ideals and culture.
The Studio Garden, designed in 1898, was created to be an integral part of the French family’s social and recreational life at Chesterwood. Here the Frenches held tableaux vivants, costume balls and parties at which the artist might display a work-in-progress.
French developed the Woodland Walk designed as a classroom of nature, instilling a love of the outdoors in his young daughter. Contrasting with the charming order of the garden, the woodland trails were the sculptor’s celebration of the estate’s wild beauty.
Your visit includes tours of the buildings, grounds and collections. You will also witness final works in bronze and marble. There will be time to visit the gift shop at the end of your visit.
Depart Chesterwood and travel back into downtown Stockbridge. Have lunch on your own at one of the local eateries.
Board the coach and travel along a scenic country road to the Ashintully Gardens, a 120-acre estate. The gardens blend several natural features into an ordered arrangement with both formal and informal beauty. Garden features include the Fountain Pond, Pine Park, Rams Head Terrace, Bowling Green, Regency Bridge and Trellis Triptych. Urns, columns and statuary provide ornamentation. Footpaths, bridges, stone stairs and grassy terraces connect various parts of the garden.
Ashintully Gardens came about through the efforts of two men: Robb de Peyster Tytus and John S. McLennan Jr. In the early 20th century, Tutus built a white, Georgian-style mansion that came to be known as the Marble Palace. The mansion’s main façade featured four Doric columns and was spanned by thirteen bay windows. Though the Marble Palace was destroyed by fire in 1952, the front terrace, foundation and four Doric columns remain today.
A year after Tytus’ death, his widow married John Stewart McLennan and she gave birth to John McLennan Jr. He later moved into the farmhouse at the bottom of the hill, and renovated the nearby barn into a music studio. McLennan was an accomplished composer of contemporary classical music and he designed the elegant gardens as a parallel creative effort to his musical work,
During your visit you will follow a woodland trail to the ruins of the Marble Palace. Find a moment of serenity amidst the natural features and stunning constructed elements like urns, columns and statuary.
“I love nature, I love the landscape, because it is so sincere. It never cheats me. It never jests. It is cheerfully, musically earnest.” Henry David Thoreau, 1850.
Your last stop of the day is at Naumkeag, an architectural masterpiece built by Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney. Caroline Choate was a trained artist interested in women’s education, co-founding Barnard College.
Their daughter, Mabel Choate, inherited Naumkeag in 1929, and for the next 30 years worked with landscape architect Fletcher Steele to create the magnificent gardens for which Naumkeag is now known, including the world-famous Blue Steps.
The 44-room “cottage,” is filled with original furniture, ceramics and artwork. The entire estate was designated a National Historic Landmark District in 2007. Its designation was made for the architecture and content of the house, which are well-preserved examples of a Gilded Age country estate, and for the innovative landscape design work of Fletcher Steele. Your visit includes a guided tour of the house and gardens.
Return to the Inn late afternoon. There will be time to relax and refresh. Dinner is on your own. Stroll down Main Street and find your new favorite local restaurant or gather at the Inn’s casual Widow Bingham’s Tavern or Lion’s Den Pub.
Day Three, Tuesday, September 14:
Today’s adventure takes you deep into the Berkshires as you travel north to Pittsfield, the largest city in Berkshire County. The City of Pittsfield was chosen to receive a Commonwealth Award, Massachusetts’ highest award in the arts, humanities and sciences.
Your first stop is at the Hebert Arboretum at Springside Park. This new arboretum, established in 1999, displays a diverse collection of trees and other plants in formal landscapes in a natural setting. It is a living laboratory with diverse habitats of rolling hills, meadows, woodlands, streams, marshes and ponds. It is home for over 50 species of native trees, 338 species of plant life and a tremendous wildflower variety of over 135 species.
The Arboretum is host to a migratory bird ‘migration funnel’ where migrating warblers, vireos and songbirds come for sanctuary and rest. As you will visit the Arboretum during the fall migration, you are certain to witness a variety of feathered friends.
Depart the Park and continue north to Williamstown, home of Williams College. Williams is a private, liberal arts college, and one of the best, non-ivy league colleges in the nation.
Upon arrival, visit the Clark Art Institute, home to the world-renowned Sterling and Francine Clark collection of American and European Art. The Clark is one of only a handful of institutions globally with a dual mission as an art museum and a distinguished center for research and higher education.
Embark on a one-hour, docent-led tour of this extensive collection, followed by time to explore on your own and to visit the gift shop. Most notably, witness the French Impressionist masterworks by artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renior, Edgar Degas, Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot and Camille Pissarro.
Depart the Clark and head into “downtown” Williamstown. Enjoy time on your own for lunch and to visit the charming shops and boutiques.
Following lunch, arrive at Williams College and embark on a student-led tour. Williams College was founded in 1791 when Colonel Ephraim Williams, a colonel in the French and Indian War, bequeathed $9,297.00 to Massachusetts to start a free school to educate the sons of farmers. He had three stipulations: 1) the school had to be in Massachusetts, 2) the school had to be named after him, and 3) the town that the school was in had to be named after him. At the time Harvard was the only other institution of higher learning in Massachusetts.
During your tour, you will learn of the college’s rich past and witness historic buildings such as the Sloan House, Sage Hall, Williams Hall and Hopkins Hall.
Depart Williamstown mid afternoon and travel back to Stockbridge. The remainder of the afternoon is yours to experience at your leisure. Climb into one of the substantial rockers on the Inn’s veranda and watch the small-town-world pass you by. Browse through the locally owned shops or stop for a refreshing beverage at a “locals’ hangout.”
Gather in the lobby and walk just around the corner to your dinner destination. Your included dinner will be served at a quaint, casual eatery offering classic American dishes.
Day Four Wednesday, September 15:
Today’s outing features travel along scenic roads that lead to extraordinary experiences. Board the coach after breakfast at the Inn and travel north to Lenox, home of Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount. Edith Wharton (1862-1937) was born into a tightly controlled society at a time when women were discouraged from achieving anything beyond a proper marriage. Wharton broke through these strictures to become one of America’s greatest writers. Author of The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome and The House of Mirth, she wrote over 40 books in 40 years, including authoritative works on architecture, gardens, interior design and travel. She was the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Yale University and a full membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Edith Wharton designed this spacious turn-of-the century home that was built in 1902. It is a National Landmark and a cultural center that celebrates her intellectual, artistic and humanitarian legacy.
Upon arrival, embark on a docent-lead tour of this magnificent home and learn of Edith’s achievements and her literary legacy. A guided garden tour follows. The tour recounts the history of the estate’s structures and plantings, and reflects Wharton’s passion for gardens and beauty.
Following the tours, gather for an included lunch served at the Terrace Café and visit the gift shop and bookstore.
Depart The Mount and travel a short distance to Pittsfield where you will arrive at The Herman Melville House, a historic house museum. It was here, between 1850 and 1863, that Melville wrote some of his major work: the novels Moby-Dick, Pierre (dedicated to nearby Mount Greylock), The Confidence-Man, Israel Potter and The Piazza Tales (a short story collection named for Arrowhead’s porch).
The house was built in the 1780’s as a farmhouse and inn and was sold to Melville in 1850. Melville called his new home Arrowhead because of the arrowheads that were dug up around the property during planting season.
“I rise at eight—thereabouts—& go to my barn—say good-morning to the horse, & give him his breakfast. (It goes to my heart to give him a cold one, but it can’t be helped.) Then, pay a visit to my cow—cut up a pumpkin or two for her, & stand by to see her eat it—for it’s a pleasant sight to see a cow move her jaws—she does it so mildly and with such a sanctity.” Herman Melville
It was at Arrowhead that Melville finished his novel, Moby-Dick; though the work was not recognized during the author’s lifetime, it has since become known as one of the greatest American literary masterpieces.
Your visit includes a guided tour of the house, barn and grounds. After the tour you may watch Moby-Dick or another film, visit exhibits in the historic barn or stroll on the nature trail.
Depart Arrowhead and travel back in time to a much simpler and unadorned way of life at the Hancock Shaker Village. This living history museum, with 20 authentic Shaker buildings, brings the Shaker story to life and preserves it for future generations.
The Shakers are one of the most intriguing religious movements in American history and considered among the most successful utopian societies ever to have flourished in this country. A religious order whose members believe in pacifism, celibacy and communal living, Shaker religious expression took the form of singing and ecstatic dance, which is why they were called the “Shaking Quakers,” or “Shakers.” The Shakers have made important contributions to American culture in their art, architecture, craftsmanship, music, government, agriculture and commerce. They are renowned today for their plain architecture and furniture.
Hancock Shaker Village began in the late 1780s, when nearly 100 Believers consolidated a community on land donated by local farmers who had converted to the Shaker movement. The Hancock Shakers erected communal dwelling houses, barns, workshops and other buildings, and developed a large and successful farm. Today they operate a vibrant working farm that continues the Shaker tradition by practicing a distinctive kind of farming, based in both historic Shaker farming principles and modern regenerative agriculture.
The Shakers were avid gardeners who saved the best seeds to cultivate the following year. They followed the path of the Shaker Seed Company including distributing, packaging and cataloging seeds, all of which changed the horticultural business model forever.
Upon arrival, you will be joined by a local guide and head out on a Historic Shaker Garden Tour. The Shakers invested great thought, time and labor in their gardens. They were the first to package seeds and well known for their fine herbal remedies, as the tour reveals.
After the tour, you will have time to visit the buildings, exhibits and amazing the Shaker Mercantile.
For the ideal ending to your day in the Village, gather for a Shaker Supper and Song.
They make you “kindly welcome” in true Shaker fashion with this unique dining experience. Begin with a cider and cheese reception, followed by a bountiful four-course Shaker-inspired supper. Dinner begins with the singing of a Shaker grace and closes with music that illuminates Shaker beliefs and spirituality.
Day Five, Thursday, September 16:
Check out of your rooms after breakfast at the Inn. Before you say goodbye to the Berkshires, there is one more destination that you simply can’t miss.
Within minutes from the Inn, sits the Berkshire Botanical Garden, one of New England’s oldest public gardens. A showcase of horticulture and garden design and a “museum of living things,” Berkshire Botanical Garden features dozens of display areas that are educational, functional and highly ornamental, with plant collections emphasizing plants that are native to the Northeast. The gardens have evolved and expanded over the years in breadth and variety, with its newest, “Lucy’s Garden,” featuring topiary animals and other ‘live’ sculptures.
Embark on a self-guided tour and make certain to save time to visit Center House Art Gallery.
Board the coach mid morning and travel to the Albany International Airport for your early afternoon flight home, or depart in your own car. A souvenir gift will remind you of the days when you “fell in love with the Berkshires.”
Your Package Includes:
4 Nights accommodation at the historic Red Lion Inn
4 Breakfasts
1 Lunch
3 Dinners-including Shaker Supper and Song dinner
Admission to the Norman Rockwell Museum
Guided house and garden tour at Chesterwood
Visit to Ashintully Gardens
Guided house and garden tour at Naumkeag
Time to explore the Arboretum at Springside Park.
Docent-led tour of the Clark Art Institute
Student-guided tour of Williams College
Free time in Stockbridge
Guided house and garden tour of The Mount
Docent-let tour of Arrowhead
Admission to the Hancock Shaker Village
Guided garden tour at Hancock Shaker Village
Admission to the Berkshire Botanical Garden
Baggage handling for one piece of luggage per traveler
Full-time tour manager and knowledgeable horticulturist
Private motor coach service round trip Albany International Airport
Accommodations, admissions, group meals and baggage for the coach driver
Taxes and gratuities (NOTE: Gratuities for the tour manager, coach driver and local guides are not included and are at your discretion based on service.)
Note: This trip is for small groups of a maximum of 22 travelers.
Pricing Information:
Per person double occupancy: 1,649.00
Per person triple occupancy: 1,534.00
Per person quad occupancy: 1,477.00
Per person single occupancy: 2,132.00
Prices and itinerary are subject to change. Custom quotes are available upon request. Call 802-850-7601.
Cast your mind back to the time when Farm-to-Table meals were from your farm and on your table. You would be familiar with terroir because it was all over the knees of your britches. Come to Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Teaching Kitchen on November 16 at 10 am to learn the simple but tasty approach to farmhouse cuisine of 150 or more years ago. Participants will experience such dishes as stewed soup, Johnnie Cake, herbed farmers’ cheese and more. Learn the secrets of selecting and caring for cast iron cookware and its health benefits. Hands-on participation is encouraged so bring a sense of curiosity and adventure and be willing to help with the process. Local ingredients will be sourced. History can definitely be fun, when you eat it!
Instructor Dennis Picard has 42 years’ experience in Public History at such museums as Old Sturbridge Village and Hancock Shaker Village. He has taught fireplace and cast iron cooking for many years and is the author of three cookbooks. He is also president of the Board of Directors of the Pioneer Valley History Network and a member of the editorial board of the Country School Journal and grants committee of the Country School Association of America.
This year marks the 21st year of Hancock Shaker Village’s heritage Country Fair, a heritage fall celebration featuring regional artisans, local farmers, and local food. Explore some of the best that the Berkshires have to offer in a magical historical setting. Take part in workshops, sit in on demonstrations, and compete in our hot sauce contest! Kid-friendly activities range from face painting and crazy balloon creations to egg tosses and chicken races. Country Fair is a convergence of historical enthusiasts, nature lovers, artisans, chefs, and so much more. There’s truly something for everyone.The event takes place Saturday, September 29 – Sunday, September 30, 2018 from 10am-5pm. The Village is located at 1843 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. $20 for adults, $18 Seniors, $8 ages 13 – 17, and kids 12 and under are free. For details visit https://hancockshakervillage.org/whats-new/country-fair-2018/
Please join the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield on Saturday, August 4 from 5:30 – 9 for its Summer Gala, Utopia. Cocktails in the garden begin at 5:30, followed by a farm-to-table dinner (truly!) in the Round Stone Barn, catered by Brian Alberg. Then there will be a short live auction, followed by fireworks in the garden. $250. Call 413-443-0188, or visit www.hancockshakervillage.org.
Wreath-making at Hancock Shaker Village, 34 Lebanon Mountain Road in Hancock on Thursday, November 16, from 7 – 9. Be inspired. No experience necessary. Join them for a relaxing evening as you design and create a wreath to take home. Grab a drink, take a seat, and the staff will guide you step-by-step in making a beautiful holiday wreath using natural elements. Explore your inner creativity. Registration of $90 includes materials and wine. Sign up online at https://shop.hancockshakervillage.org/product/wreath-n-sip/
In case you can’t make it out to the Berkshires, don’t forget our own Garden Club of the Back Bay wreaths, such as the one pictured below, available to order at https://bostonflora.com/shop/ .
The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s What’s Out There Weekend, scheduled for September 21 and 22, features free, expert-led tours at more than two-dozen significant examples of cultural landscapes in the Berkshires region, including important historical sites along the African American Heritage Trail, historic farmsteads and town commons, and iconic landscape design at places like Naumkeag and the Mount. The weekend also highlights the Berkshires’ golf history, with tee times at significant courses all over the region. The tours offer people opportunities to learn about landscape architecture and the design and cultural history of places they may pass every day but don’t necessarily know about. This event is coming to the Berkshires through a collaborative effort with Berkshire Synergy Project (BSP).
Complete details can be found at http://tclf.org/event/wotw-berkshires, but below are a few of the optional tours scheduled to take place. Each participant is limited to five tours:
Freight Yard Historic District
NORTH BERKSHIRES/NORTH ADAMS
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:30am to Noon
Guide: Judy Grinnell; Robert Campanile; Paul Marino; Justyna Carlson; Gene Carlson
Meet: Western Gateway Heritage State Park, Building 5A, State Street, North Adams
Bascom Lodge & Mt. Greylock
N. BERKSHIRES/LANESBOROUGH
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:00 to 2pm
Guide: Alec Gillman; Paul Dudek
Meet: Summit of Mt. Greylock
In front of Bascom Lodge, 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
Pittsfield Park Square
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 to 11:30am
Guide: Pittsfield Guide
Meet: The Athenaeum Public Library
1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield
Wahconah Ball Park
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, Noon to 1:00pm
Guide: Jim McGrath
Meet: 105 Wahconah Street, Pittsfield
Hebert Arboretum, Springside Park
NORTH BERKSHIRES/PITTSFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 2:00 to 3:30pm
Guide: Bob Presutti
Meet: Elmhurst Parking Lot
874 North Street, Pittsfield
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 to 11:00am
Guide: Tsaja Sprague
Meet: Covered Driveway, 104 Walker Street, Lenox
Tanglewood
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Saturday, Sept. 21, 11:30am to 12:30pm
Guide: Tanglewood Staff
Meet: Main Gate at Tanglewood, 297 West St, Lenox
Tub Parade
CENTRAL BERKSHIRES/LENOX
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:15 to 2:15pm
Guide: N/A
Meet: Main Street, Lenox
Ice Glen (pictured below)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 8:30 to 9:30am
Guide: Jess Toro; Jim Murray
Meet: End of Park Street, by the bridge
Berkshire Botanical Garden
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:00 to 11:00am
Guide: Berkshire Botanical Garden Guides
Meet: Visitor Center, 5 West Stockbridge Road, Stockbridge
Naumkeag (Tour I)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 11:00am to Noon
Guide: Naumkeag Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, 5 Prospect Hill Road, Stockbridge
Chesterwood
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/STOCKBRIDGE
Saturday, Sept. 21, 12:30 to 1:30pm
Guide: Anne Cathcart
Meet: Barn Gallery, Chesterwood
4 Williamsville Road, Stockbridge
Bartholomew’s Cobble (Hawk Watch)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/SHEFFIELD
Saturday, Sept. 21, 11:00am to 1:00pm
Guide: Rene Wendell
Meet: Main Entrance, 105 Weatogue Rd
Ashley Falls, Sheffield
Bidwell House
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/MONTEREY
Saturday, Sept. 21, 1:00 to 2:30pm
Guide: Rob Hoogs
Meet: 100 Art School Road, Monterey
Ashintully Gardens (Tour I)
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/TYRINGHAM
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:00 to 4:00pm
Guide: Ashintully Staff
Meet: Main Entrance, Sodom Road, Tyringham
Housatonic River Walk
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/GREAT BARRINGTON
Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:00 to 4:00pm
Guide: Rachel Fletcher; Will Conkin
Meet: Du Bois River Garden Park
Church & River Streets, Great Barrington
W.E.B. Du Bois Historic Site
SOUTH BERKSHIRES/GREAT BARRINGTON
Saturday, Sept. 21, 4:00 to 5:00pm
Guide: Emily Oswald; Wray Gunn
Meet: Parking Lot, 612 South Egremont Road, Great Barrington
Gain insight into the unique design styles and objects that add to the pleasure of Boston, English, and Chinese gardens with this Museum of Fine Arts Boston three-session course, Thursday mornings July 11–25, 10:30 am–12:30 pm.
On July 11, Keith Morgan, director, Architectural Studies and professor, American and European Architecture, Boston University, will speak on Frederick Law Olmsted’s Public Landscape. Hear the fascinating story of how a saltwater marsh was transformed into a park of winding walking paths and gentle streams that comprises today’s iconic Emerald Necklace. Following the talk, enjoy a one-hour guided walking tour of the Back Bay Fens adjacent to the Museum, and learn about the area’s landscape elements and community gardens. A scholar of nineteenth and twentieth century American and European architecture, Professor Morgan is interested in the relationships between architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture. Professor Morgan has taught at Boston University since 1980. He has served as the director of the Preservation Studies Program and of the American and New England Studies Program and as the chairman of the Art History Department on two occasions. He is a former national president of the Society of Architectural Historians. His recent publications include Shaping a New American Landscape: The Art and Architecture of Charles A. Platt, Boston Architecture, 1975-1990, which he coauthored with Professor Naomi Miller, and a new introduction for the republication of Charles Eliot, Landscape Architect. He is the editor and one of the principal authors for Buildings of Massachusetts: Metropolitan Boston, and serves as the architecture editor for The Encyclopedia of New England. He has received research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Buildings of the United States project, several committees for the restoration of historic landmarks and is a trustee of the Hancock Shaker Village.
On July 18, Curt DiCamillo, fellow, Royal Society of Arts and President of The DiCamillo Companion Ltd. will discuss The English Garden: Perfection on Earth. Whether stately and formal or natural and romantic, English gardens have been called Britain’s single most important contribution to world culture. Learn about the history of these gardens and why their influence remains with us to this day. A guided tour of the MFA’s exceptional collection of garden paintings and country-house objects follows the lecture. Curt DiCamillo is an American architectural historian. Between 2004 and 2012, he was the Executive Director of the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA (he is currently Executive Director Emeritus). Previously, he worked for 13 years for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Since May 2012, Mr. DiCamillo, in his role as president of The DiCamillo Companion, Ltd., has focused full-time on lecturing, writing, and leading tours about the architectural and artistic heritage of Britain and its influence around the world.
Finally, on July 25, Nancy Berliner, Wu Tung Curator of Chinese Art, will present The Chinese Home and Garden. The Chinese home, its architecture, gardens, and contents are created to reflect the values and ideals of its residents. Dig into the world of Chinese gardening to learn how these landscapes combine artistic elements and nature in perfect harmony. Following the discussion, visit Chinese galleries that touch on house and garden themes, including “Beyond the Screen,†a gallery that evokes the home and gardens of a 16th- and 17th-century Chinese household. She is the author of The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City.
Three-Session Course Tickets
$90 MFA members, seniors, and students; $108 nonmembers
Order at 1-800-440-6975 or in person at any MFA ticketing desk
Individual Session Tickets
$35 MFA members, seniors, and students; $42 nonmembers
Online: http://www.mfa.org/programs/series/gardens-around-world
By phone: call the MFA Ticket line at 1-800-440-6975
In person: at any MFA ticketing desk
Ticketing desk hours: Mon, Tue, Sat, and Sun, 10 am–4:15 pm; and Wed–Fri, 10 am–9:15 pm. Capacity is limited.
