Boston Flora

Tag: John Wiley & Sons

  • Saturday, April 11, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Naming Flora: An Etymological Romp Through the Berkshire Botanical Garden

    Sure, Carl Linnaeus had a technical name for each of the flora, but where did we get all our common words for them, from aster to zinnia? This interactive and entertaining lecture on April 11, from 10:30 – 12:30 will enlighten you on the varied sources of our words for the flowers, trees and veggies that grow at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, giving you a fresh perspective as you enjoy nature’s bounty. We’ll explore the sources of names of the flora in our own little Garden of Eden – myths, metaphors, monikers, and more. BBG members $5, nonmembers $10. Register online at http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/event/naming-flora-an-etymological-romp-through-the-berkshire-botanical-garden/?instance_id=3265

    Stewart Edelstein, a resident of Stockbridge, is the author of Dubious Doublets: A Delightful Compendium of Unlikely Word Pairs of Common Origin, from Aardvark/Porcelain to Zodiac/Whiskey (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.).

  • Friday, January 21, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm – Walls and Steps, Garden Structures and Decks

    The Arnold Arboretum, in conjunction with the Landscape Institute of the Boston Architectural College, will hold a morning and an afternoon class on Friday, January 21, with Landscape Architect Scott Scarfone, principal and founder of Oasis Design Group, a landscape and architectural design firm in Baltimore, Maryland.  He is the author of Professional Planting Design – An Architectural and Horticultural Approach for Creating Mixed Bed Plantings, published by John Wiley & Sons.

    In the first session, held from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm, you will learn about Walls and Steps – Design and Construction. In this class you will consider the various design opportunities that walls and steps provide and the proper construction techniques that ensure that the resulting structures are safe, secure, and built to withstand the effects of time. Structural issues and consideration for safety as it relates to wall foundations, earth retention, risers, treads, and landings will be discussed. The fee for this session is $45.

    In the second session, Garden Structures and Decks – Design and Construction, beginning at 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm, more construction issues will be addressed.  Building principles for trellises, pergolas, arbors, small buildings, and decks are fundamentally similar. You will learn about basic and detailed construction techniques for footings, post and beam construction, treillage and roofs, as well as railings as applied to decks and garden pavilions. Scott will show a variety of examples and lead discussion of design and construction techniques. The fee for this session is also $45.  You may sign up for either or both sessions.  The classes will be held at Boston Architectural College, and you may sign up on line at www.arboretum.harvard.edu, or by calling 617-384-5277.