Boston Flora

Tag: Late Spring

  • Saturday, January 30, 9 am – 4 pm – Grafting Techniques for Ornamental Trees

    Join Plant Propagator Jack Alexander at the Dana Greenhouses at the Arnold Arboretum on Saturday, January 30 at 9 am for this day long workshop sponsored by the Arnold Arboretum. Grafting is the technique of joining parts of plants in such a manner that they unite and continue their growth as one plant. It is sometimes the most practical propagation method for the hobbyist, since it does not require special conditions or equipment. This workshop will teach methods of grafting and offer practice in making graft unions from actual plant material. You will graft both deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs. The plants may include two- or five-needled pines and crabapples. (Simple aftercare will be required until planting out in late spring.) If you own pruning shears or a grafting knife, please bring them to class. You must sign an assumption-of-risk-and-release form in order to practice the techniques taught in class (yes, you can cut yourself if you’re not careful!)
    Fee $90  Arboretum member, $110 nonmember.  To register, log on to www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

    http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/images/bud-grafting.jpg

  • Sunday, October 4, 10 – 5 – NRT Harvest & Crafts Fair

    The Natural Resources Trust of Easton (NRT) is a member-supported, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to educate about significant natural and cultural resources and to acquire and preserve land of special character for the benefit of the public. The NRT promotes a land ethic in the community through educational programming. The NRT provides leadership, cooperation and networking to others with a similar mission.  The Easton Garden Club (www.eastongardenclub.org) participates each year in the Annual NRT Harvest & Crafts Fair.  The Fair draws thousands of people from around New England who come to shop the many juried crafts booths.

    The Easton Garden Club’s civic role in the Harvest Fair is one of education, providing informational handouts on topics such as composting, attracting butterflies to your garden, and tips on native plants and trees.  There are many club members, knowledgeable about gardening, at its booth available to answer questions from the public throughout the day.  Club members harvest flowers from their gardens and pick (non-endangered!) native flowers, grasses, and vines growing along the roadsides.  They start in the late spring and continue through the fall.  The flowers are dried and stored until the week before the fair when many of the club members gather together to make wreaths, dried arrangements, and bouquets of flowers to sell. On Fair day they have ongoing demonstrations on subjects such as grapevine wreath making and flower arranging.  For directions to the Fair, log on to www.nrtofeaston.org.