Boston Flora

Tag: Holly Shimizu

  • Thursday, February 25 – Wednesday, March 10 – AHS Sojourns: New Zealand

    Explore New Zealand’s extraordinary gardens and wild coastlines on a 14-day journey from Queenstown to Auckland, timed for late summer when landscapes are vibrant and inviting. After an overnight in Queenstown, sail aboard the 140-passenger Heritage Adventurer, cruising through the dramatic fjords of Fiordland National Park. Along the way, discover celebrated botanic gardens, rare wildlife, and the powerful natural settings that shape the country’s horticultural traditions.

    Visits to Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington—including Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, dedicated exclusively to native plants—are paired with guided nature walks, expert lectures, and a private Māori welcome in Rotorua. Hosted by renowned horticulturists Holly and Osamu Shimizu, this expedition offers meaningful insight into New Zealand’s living landscapes and cultural heritage.

    This custom trip is part of the American Horticultural Society Sojourns travel program collection. More information and complete itinerary may be found at https://ahsgardening.org/travel-study-program/new-zealand2027/

  • Monday, May 26 – Friday, June 11 – Highlands, Islands, and Fjords: Scotland, Orkney Islands, and Norway

    Travel with the American Horticultural Society about the Exploris One with AHS Hosts Holly and Osamu Shimizu in May and June, 2025. Embark on an in-depth exploration of the magnificent landscapes, remote islands, blooming gardens, ancient settlements, and idyllic villages of Scotland and Norway. Discover the charm of Inverness, the heart of the Scottish Highlands, where you can wander through its picturesque Old Town and peruse the Victorian market filled with local specialties and crafts. Experience a variety of gardens, from the historic grounds of Cawdor Castle to an award-winning coastal garden, a garden steeped in mythology, an herb garden, and a bio-dynamic farm, each offering unique and enriching visits. Explore the Orkney Islands, where you can uncover the enduring Viking influence that shaped centuries of strategic presence. Delight in exploring remarkable Stone Age landmarks such as the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae, an ancient village of stone slabs dating back 5,000 years, both honored as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Cruise along Norway’s iconic fjords, discovering UNESCO World Heritage sites and unique cultural experiences. For those seeking to extend their journey, enjoy enriching optional pre-trip and post-trip extensions to explore the captivating Scottish Highlands and the cultural and garden delights of Oslo. For complete details visit https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/travel-study/highlands-islands-fjords-scotland-orkney-islands-norway/

  • Monday, August 19 – Friday, August 23 – Oregon: The Gardens of Portland & the Farm-to-Table Bounty of the Willamette Valley

    Embark on a unique American Horticultural Society journey to Portland and the Willamette Valley on August 19 – 23, celebrating magnificent gardens, sustainable farming, and farm-to-table traditions. Discover the distinctive beauty of the Portland Japanese Garden, Lan Su Chinese Garden, and Oregon Garden. Learn about holistic land management at a Willamette Valley farm and enjoy a tasting and tour at a picturesque winery. Timed with the Swan Island Dahlia Festival, witness thousands of dahlias in peak bloom. Engage with local experts, including farmers, chefs, and a winemaker. Throughout, enjoy meals at hand-picked restaurants committed to sustainability and locally sourced, seasonal ingredients. Reserve your place now. Click here for program brochure and registration details.

    Trip Highlights:

    – Explore the lush beauty of Portland and the Willamette Valley with AHS Hosts Holly and Osamu Shimizu.

    – Visit the renowned Portland Japanese Garden, the tranquil Lan Su Chinese Garden, and the fascinating Oregon Garden.

    – Discover sustainable farming practices at a pasture-based farm in the Willamette Valley, showcasing holistic land management and the farm-to-table movement.

    – Savor the fruits of the region’s vineyards with a tasting and tour at a picturesque winery in the Willamette Valley.

    – At the Swan Island Dahlia Festival, enjoy a spectacular display of thousands of dahlias in peak bloom.

    – Interact with knowledgeable local experts, including farmers, farm-to-table chefs, a winemaker, and the owner of one of Portland’s top nurseries, gaining insights into the area’s agriculture and horticulture.

    – Indulge in delectable meals at restaurants known for their commitment to sustainable practices and use of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

    Learn more about this program in a Q&A with trip leader Holly Shimizu and AHS’s Director of Travel Studies, Mercedes Bryant.

  • Saturday, May 11 – Tuesday, May 21 – Treasures of Japan

    Join the American Horticultural Society May 11-21, 2024 for a trip of a lifetime, Treasures of Japan: Gardens, Art, and Architecture, aboard the deluxe, five-star Le Soléal small ship, with AHS Host Holly H. Shimizu.

    Brochure with pricing and registration information available here. At its core, Japan is a place of tranquility and spirituality, where nature’s beauty remains abundant and unspoiled. Tour the Land of the Rising Sun via a beautifully appointed small ship and experience some of the most serene and breathtaking gardens in the world. Find inspiration in majestic gardens including Sengan-en Garden, a fine example of a feudal lord’s garden; Yushien Garden and its collection of over 250 different types of peonies (below); Daejeon Hanbat Arboretum in South Korea, featuring 600 species of trees and other plants; and Glover Garden, with sweeping views of the port of Nagasaki. Explore Itsukushima Shrine on the island of Miyajima, a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times.  Travel by ferry to Naoshima Island’s “Art Island,” a whimsical and curious destination sprinkled with surrealist art, sculptures, and architecture.  

  • Wednesday, June 14, 7:00 pm Eastern – Conversations with Great American Gardeners: Ira Wallace, Online

    Ira Wallace is a worker/owner of the cooperatively managed Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (www.SouthernExposure.com) which offers over 700 varieties of open-pollinated heirloom and organic seeds selected for flavor and regional adaptability. Ira serves on the boards of the Organic Seed Alliance, and the Virginia Association for Biological Farming.

    She is a member of Acorn Community which farms over 60 acres of certified organic land in Central Virginia. Ira is a cofounder of the Heritage Harvest Festival at Monticello, (www.HeritageHarvestFestival.com) a fun, family-friendly event featuring an old-time seed swap, local food, hands-on workshops and demos, and more. She also writes about heirloom vegetables and seed saving for magazines and blogs including Mother Earth News, Fine Gardening and Southern Exposure.

    She was named a 2019 Great American Gardener by the American Horticultural Society and is a 2023 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award Finalist. She is author of the Timber Press Guide to Vegetable Gardening in the Southeast. Her new state specific book series including, Grow Great Vegetables in Virginia, are available online and at booksellers everywhere. Ira is currently working on creating an African Diasporic Seed Collection. 

    On June 14, join the American Horticultural Society for this live program hosted by Holly Shimizu, former executive director of the United States Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. and an AHS board member, who will lead a lively and engaging conversation with speakers that will tap into their knowledge and experience. The interactive webinar format will allow audience members to ask questions of the guests. 

    Registration is free. RSVP is required HERE.

  • Thursday, April 21, 7:00 pm – Conversations with Great American Gardeners: Shane Smith, Online

    The American Horticultural Society is excited to launch a new speaker series featuring current and past Great American Gardeners Award Winners and Book Award Winners. Since 1953, the AHS has been recognizing and celebrating horticultural champions that represent the best in American gardening and we are thrilled to have a dedicated webinar series to highlight the work of these outstanding individuals.

    In a lively and engaging conversational format, speakers will share their knowledge and experience with our event host, Holly Shimizu, gardener to gardener. Holly is a nationally recognized horticulturist with a rich background in public gardens and garden communication. On Thursday, April 21, Holly will speak with Shane Smith.

    Since its inception in 1977 until 2018, Shane Smith was the director (and a founder) of the award-winning Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, Wyoming’s only public botanic garden. Currently, Smith is the Director Emeritus. In addition to the AHS award, Smith has received the Wyoming Governor’s Community Hero award; the Wyoming Business Council Award of Excellence for starting the State of Wyoming’s first modern farmer’s market; the 2011 Award of Merit from the American Public Garden Association; and the 2012 National Garden Clubs Award of Excellence for his contributions to gardening and horticulture. He continues to mentor other botanic gardens and continues to garden in his state-of-the-art greenhouse in western Colorado. In 1982 Smith wrote the first ever manual on building and operating a 100% solar heated, walk-in high tunnel/quonset greenhouse. He also authored the “The Bountiful Solar Greenhouse,” and the bestselling garden book “Greenhouse Gardener’s Companion.” 

    Register to view the webinar taking place Thursday, April 21 at 7:00PM (eastern). AHS members $10 (must log in to access discounted rate); nonmembers $20.

  • Saturday, April 30 – Sunday, May 8 – Treasures of Japan

    The American Horticultural Society is sponsoring a Ponant Cruise with AHS hosts Holly and Osamu Shimizu on April 30 – May 8, having been rescheduled from 2021. At its core, Japan is a place of tranquility and spirituality, where nature’s beauty remains abundant and unspoiled. Tour the Land of the Rising Sun via a beautifully appointed small ship and experience some of the most serene and breathtaking gardens in the world.

    Highlights include a visit to the Korakuen Garden, considered one of the three best landscape gardens in Japan, a special performance of the Kagura dance at Itsukushima Shrine, a tour of Matsue Castle made entirely of pine and built in 1611, and the opportunity to be a guest of the Abbot at Kofukuji Temple in the heart of Nagasaki. You will also see an old sake brewery, the Amazake Chaya Teahouse, the Uchikoza Theater, and the Kami Hagitei, the former home and workshop of one of Uchiko’s most influential families. There will also be an exploration of scenic tea plantations en route to Chiran, a small town known for its fine collection of samurai houses and their enclosed gardens.

    For more information and to make reservations, please contact Susan Klejst, Director of Development & Engagement at (703) 768-5700 ext. 127, or email development@ahsgardening.org. Itinerary may be found at www.ahsgardening.org.

  • Friday, October 9, 4:00 pm – Conversations with Great American Gardeners: Karen Washington, Online

    The American Horticultural Society is pleased to announce our new speaker series featuring current and past Great American Gardeners Award Winners and Book Award Winners. Since 1953, the AHS has been recognizing and celebrating horticultural champions that represent the best in American gardening and we are thrilled to soon launch a new dedicated webinar series to highlight these outstanding individuals.  

    The first conversation in the series will launch Friday, October 8, with Karen Washington, an award-winning urban farmer and food justice activist who was the recipient of the 2018 Urban Beautification Award. Karen has been a community gardener and activist in New York City since 1985. As a New York Botanical Garden trustee, she currently works with Bronx neighborhoods to turn empty lots into gardens. In her earlier role as an advocate and former president of the New York City Community Garden Coalition, she championed garden protection and preservation. She’s also active with the La Familia Verde Garden Coalition, helping to launch a City Farms Market to bring fresh vegetables to the community. She serves as a board member of organizations such as Why Hunger and Just Food, often leading workshops on food justice and growing food. Washington is also a co-owner and farmer at Rise & Root Farm. In 2012, Ebony magazine voted her one of the 100 most influential African Americans in the country. In 2014, she was the recipient of the James Beard Leadership Award.

    Host Holly Shimizu, former executive director of the United States Botanic Garden and an AHS board member, will lead the conversation, which you won’t want to miss!

    To register, access the member and non-memberrates. Sponsorship opportunities are available to support the speaker series.

  • Sunday, June 10 – Monday, June 18 – England, Gardens of the West Country

    Cornwall, Devon, Somerset & Wiltshire — Come explore the enchanting West Country of England, with rich gardening traditions that have influenced Western horticulture, on June 10 – 18 with the American Horticultural Society. Our trip starts in coastal Cornwall, where the mild, maritime climate supports both subtropical and Mediterranean-style plantings. From there, we will continue on through equally lush and diverse garden settings in Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire. Your AHS Hosts will be Holly and Osamu Shimizu, horticultural professionals who trained in England. Holly is an AHS Board member and is currently the Interim Executive Director of the AHS.

    Our itinerary begins on the picturesque Cornish coast with walks through the Lost Gardens of Heligan (pictured below), the Eden Project, Trelissick, and Glendurgan Garden. Crossing into Devon we will visit the Antony House and its gardens, the thatched cottages of Mothecombe, the gardens and interiors at Mothecombe House with its architectural additions by Sir Edward Lutyens, and the Garden House with a famed two-acre walled garden.More historic houses and gardens await us in Devon, including the Elizabethan manor, Cadhay, and Killerton House, where the landscape was created by Capability Brown and Scottish horticulturist John Veitch. In Somerset and Wiltshire we will see Wells Cathedral and nearby Milton Lodge, then the next day visit Bath, Bradford on Avon, and Iford Manor with its hillside garden by Harold Ainsworth Peto. At Claverton Manor we will tour the American Museum and its Mount Vernon Garden, a replica of the flower garden at George Washington’s home. Our tour organizer is Susie Orso, a native of Britain, who has arranged and led dozens of AHS Travel Study programs. Susie has created this special tour, offered exclusively to our AHS travelers. For complete itinerary and information visit http://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/travel-study/england-gardens-of-the-west-country2018

  • Wednesday, April 4 – Monday, April 17 – Springtime in Japan: Inspiring Gardens and Landscapes

    Wednesday, April 4 – Monday, April 17 – Springtime in Japan: Inspiring Gardens and Landscapes

    See iconic vistas, experience gardens that capture the essence of Japanese culture, witness rare and exclusive cultural events, marvel at bonsai masterpieces, see 1,000-year-old trees, and get an insight into the intricate landscape and design philosophies of this ancient culture this spring, April 4 – 17, with the American Horticultural Society.

    Our AHS hosts will be Holly and Osamu Shimizu. Holly is recently retired from her position as Executive Director of the U.S. Botanic Garden. Osamu is an accomplished landscape architect who spent the early years of his career in Japan. Both have traveled extensively, visiting gardens around the world.

    Frances Roxburgh, a founding partner of Specialtours, will be our tour leader. She has worked closely with Holly and Osamu over the past year to craft an exceptional itinerary exclusively for this AHS tour.

    Highlights

    Explore Tokyo’s Imperial Palace Gardens.
    Admire living masterpieces in the Shunka-en bonsai garden and museum.
    Behold the world’s largest bronze statue of the Buddha.
    Experience Kenroku-en, one of Japan’s finest landscape gardens.
    Be entertained by geisha in the ancient city of Kyoto — a rare opportunity.
    Learn about traditional Japanese philosophies and landscape design sensibilities.

    Our accommodations range from highly-rated hotels like the Ana Intercontinental Hotel in Tokyo, the Nikko Hotel in Kanazawa, the Hyatt Hotel in Kyoto, the Swissotel in Osaka, and the Benesse House Hotel in Naoshima, to distinctive ryokan inns in Hakone and Takayama, where we will have the opportunity to relax and enjoy traditional Japanese hospitality and culture. For complete itinerary and registration information visit http://www.ahs.org/gardening-programs/travel-study/springtime-in-japan2017

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