If you have come to Holly Days at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in the past, you know that volunteers come up with some clever, creative displays. The emphasis is on natural materials.  The 2014 theme is Winter Reimagined, a wonderfully free and open-ended concept sure to inspire and entertain. Wander through glittering indoor displays and illuminated trees and shrubs in the Orchard, Entry, Lawn and Winter Gardens. A giant Bromeliad tree, hundreds of poinsettias, more than 1,500 hand-crafted ornaments and over six miles of lights make this a unique holiday experience for all ages. The Garden is making it even easier to experience the winter magic with special extended hours during Holly Days. Buildings, grounds, The Shop at Tower Hill, and TWIGS Cafe will be open Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 9 pm, and all other days from 9 – 6. Tower Hill is open seven days a week during Holly Days, including Mondays. Tower Hill Botanic Garden is located at 11 French Drive in Boylston, Massachusetts. For directions, and a complete list of activities including live music and children’s events, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.
Stämbandet’s cultural contributions have rarely been placed in perspective, for even within Scandinavia there are few vocal ensembles solely dedicated to the preservation and performance of traditional Nordic song. American-influenced “pop” styles have taken over and continue to dominate not just Scandinavia, but virtually the world. So it is especially significant that in the United States Stämbandet exists at all, where it is the only group of its kind — not only striving for performances of high artistic merit, but carefully researching the music’s origin and history, thereby introducing to the public many other facets of Scandinavian culture.