Boston Flora

Tag: Mass Hort

  • Sunday, August 8, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Hypertufa Planters

    Containers made from hypertufa are wonderful for displaying rock-garden plants or succulents. Over time, the hypertufa ages gracefully, collecting a patina of mosses and lichens.

    This August 8 Massachusetts Horticulture Society live and in person at The Gardens at Elm Bank class will be led by Garden Educator, Melissa Pace. Participants will learn how to make their own hypertufa pots. Each participant will receive one completed pot ready to be planted along with three succulent plants of their choice. Together, we will discuss best practices and how to’s when creating hypertufa pots, the best soil mix for succulents, the use of top dressing with succulent, and the best places to purchase plants. 

    Each participant will plant their own pot to take home. Materials provided will be:

    ·      One approximately 6 inch hypertufa pot

    ·      Recipe and instructions on how to make more pots

    ·      Three succulent plants in approximately 2.5 inch pots

    ·      Succulent soil mix enough to fill a 6-inch pot     

    ·      Care instructions

    Melissa Pace is an award-winning horticulturalist who competes in numerous garden and flower shows, from Philadelphia Flower Show to the Bolton Fair. She has been a University of Rhode Island Master Gardener since 2003. Melissa has been a presenter for numerous garden clubs and civic organizations throughout New England since 1995. Melissa holds a master’s degree in teaching from Bridgewater University, is an artist and art teacher and is currently employed as a Garden Educator for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

    The fee is $40/Mass Hort member
    $57/general admission. Register at www.masshort.org.

  • Thursday, July 15, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Big Beautiful Summer Arrangement Workshop

    Melissa Pace is an award-winning horticulturalist who competes in numerous garden and flower shows, from Philadelphia Flower Show to the Bolton Fair. She has been a University of Rhode Island Master Gardener since 2003. Melissa has been a presenter for numerous garden clubs and civic organizations throughout New England since 1995. Melissa holds a master’s degree in teaching from Bridgewater University, is an artist and art teacher. On July 15 at 7 pm, Melissa will conduct a flower arranging workshop at The Gardens at Elm Bank. Do you throw away prunings from your woody trees and shrubs? Learn how to put them to work in bold indoor and outdoor arrangements! Participants will leave with their own beautiful, seasonal arrangement. Materials provided will be a decorative pot or container, fresh greens, interesting woody materials, seasonal accent materials such as berries, foliage, etc., a list of ideal woody arrangement materials, and a pruning trimmer, although feel free to bring your own if you have one. $48 for Mass Hort members, $70 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org

  • Thursday, June 10, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Creating the Quiet Inner Garden Room

    Thursday, June 10, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Creating the Quiet Inner Garden Room

    With her background as an artist/sculptor and garden designer, a graduate of the Landscape Design and History Program of Radcliffe at Harvard University, Karin Stanley will share some of her process and practical ‘how to’ ideas intended to access new and deeper elements that will help you create a meaningful garden within your garden.This Massachusetts Horticultural Society will take place on June 10 at 7 pm at The Gardens at Elm Bank. In her instructional lecture, she draws inspiration from art and poetry, Ancient Ireland, Scotland and other places from her journeys. Learn how to capture a different experience in your garden, whether a new space or a new place. Come away with thought provoking ideas using mindfully selected, plants and shrubs, materials, lighting, sculpture, water, and other embellishments – while sharing the road map she developed on how to gather and create a ‘quiet and meaningful garden room’. Register at www.masshort.org

    Karin Stanley is an Irish born artist and garden designer.  A passionate observer of the changing landscape in Ireland and Scotland; Karin spends time there annually, drawing her inspiration from the language of the land, the light, the stone, the air. Along with her interest in Celtic archaeology, Megalithic art, the influence of the Arts and Crafts Period and also the incredible wide range of history of Irish and Scottish Gardens.  These are the influences and precedents for work in her garden sculpture and garden design and poetry.

    Ms Stanley has lived in the United States for over thirty years. Originally a knitwear designer interested in textures, fibers, patterns and symbolism – Art wear in knit form. Over the years her work has evolved from knitwear to costume in theatre, film, and video. Later she shifted her interest to garden design and history.  Always working in a three dimensional world started creating her sculpture in 1995 Karin went back to study Landscape design and history and graduated  from the Landscape design program at Radcliffe college in 2000.

    Her most recent commissions included an installation in Perth Australia last march,  a series of installations in Virginia . The Celtic Goddess of the seasons, created in Limestone and granite which was dedicated the Lower multi-faith Chapel At Wellesley College,, in Massachusetts, In June  the installation of new six foot Celtic Stela ‘Swirling Life’ in a Washington DC residence Most recently a commemorative ten foot sculpture ‘Stela – Nurture’ at the front of the new Carroll School campus in Lincoln, where she also designed the garden.  Also local: the Celtic Sundial at Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

  • Friday, May 28 – Tuesday, September 7 – Ribbit the Exhibit

    Everything will start hopping at Massachusetts Horticultural Society when Ribbit the Exhibit makes its debut at The Gardens at Elm Bank on May 28.
    Twenty whimsical copper sculptures by artist J.A. Cobb will be placed throughout the Gardens. Ranging from 4 – 7ft tall, these frogs will bring wonder and curiosity to The Gardens at Elm Bank.
    This exhibit is included with daily admission to The Gardens at Elm Bank, $10 for Adults, free for ages 12 and under. Free for Massachusetts Horticultural Society members. For more information visit www.masshort.org

  • Tuesday, May 18, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – No-Dig Gardening and Raised Beds, Online

    Charlie Nardozzi will speak online on May 18 at 7 pm on No-Dig Gardening and Raised beds. Here is what he says about the session:

    Based on my latest book, I’ll talk about what is No-Dig Gardening and the benefits for you and your garden, including less work, healthier soil and plants and a way to sequester carbon. I’ll talk about different ways to build a no-dig bed, various planting techniques including polyculture, how to maintain and troubleshoot the bed for weeds and pests and ways to keep your soil protected and healthy year round. I’ll discuss raised beds and the various materials you can use to make raised beds for no-dig gardening. I’ll also expand on no-dig gardening by talking about variations such as straw bale gardening, hugelkultur and keyhole gardening.

    $13 for Mass Hort members, $22 for general admission. Full biographical details on Charlie, plus registration link, may be found at www.masshort.org.

  • Tuesdays, May 6 & 11, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm (Online), and Saturday, May 8, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon (at Elm Bank)- Taking Better Pictures with Your Digital Camera

    Join Massachusetts Horticultural Society for this blended workshop, featuring two virtual classes (May 6 & 11, 5 – 8) and one onsite practice day (May 8, 10 – noon) shooting at The Gardens at Elm Bank. Are you still getting to know your digital camera and its features> Here’s an opportunity to learn from the experts in this course for beginers. Bring your camera and learn when and how to use its special features, such as program mode, manual mode, aperture priority, and shutter priority. Also covered will be basic composition and best use of light for different situations, such as plant, people, macro, and landscape photography, instructed by Steve McGrath. $70 for Mass Hort members, $95 for nonmembers. For more information and to register visit www.masshort.org.

  • Wednesday, May 5, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – A Collector’s Guide to Hostas, Online

    Wednesday, May 5, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – A Collector’s Guide to Hostas, Online

    With more than 7,000 named varieties, there is a hosta to suit every taste and garden. With photos from award-winning gardens and Joan’s collection of 300 cultivars, The Massachusetts Horticultural Society will show you how to design a beautiful garden based on the interplays of color, texture and placement of incredible hostas and companion plants. This virtual class takes place May 5th at 7 pm, and is $18 for Mass Hort membes, $25 for the general public. Register at www.masshort.org.
    Joan Butler has been an enthusiastic gardener and plant collector for over 35 years, and believes gardens should invite you to linger in the world outside your door. The gardens on her half-acre suburban property have been included on several garden tours and feature exciting plant combinations, dramatic horticultural specimens, and extensive collections of native plants, hosta and epimedium. Joan has a deep and fundamental interest in the natural world. She holds a BA in Geology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Certificate in Landscape Management from UMass Extension Green School. She is a Master Gardener, a horticulturist at Weston Nurseries, and is a past Chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council. She is a member of the Garden Consultants Council, the New England Hosta Society and is an accredited Flower Show Judge. Joan has presented programs at flower shows in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and at numerous garden clubs, horticultural societies and professional organizations.

  • Tuesday, April 6, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Dive into Composting, Online

    There is a biology to composting, and understanding it will lead to healthy compost. The speaker for this Massachusetts Horticultural Society online session on April 6 at 7 pm will review the different types of compost systems you can set at home and offer guidelines for compost maintenance.

    This class is part of our spring Introduction to Gardening series, register for all six sessions and save $$$! Click here to learn more about the full series.  This session is $20 for Mass Hort members, $30 general admission. Register at www.masshort.org.

    Instructor: Gretel Anspach is a Lifetime Master Gardener with the Massachusetts Master Gardener Association, a Trustee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and a recently-retired systems engineer for Raytheon. Gretel helped to establish and maintain two food production gardens that have provided fresh produce to the Marlboro Food Pantry for the last eight years. 

  • Thursday, April 1, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm – Opening Day at Elm Bank

    Morning walks, lunch dates, and weekend meetups just got a whole lot better! The Gardens at Elm Bank will open for visitors on April 1 at 10am. Watch the bulbs pop, soak up the sun, and enjoy the new life in the garden. Please check the website, www.masshort.org, for specific guidelines as the time draws near. COVID restrictions may apply, mask wearing is required, and social distancing will be enforced.

  • Thursday, March 25, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Stunning Spring Perennials, Online

    Whether you garden in sun or shade, there are many lovely spring perennials that will add colorful flowers and interesting foliage to the early season garden. Learn about our favorites and how to combine them for best effect in the garden, in this Massachusetts Horticultural Society webinar on March 25 at 10 am. ! Instructed by Joan Butler. $15 MHS members, $22 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org.

     Joan Butler has been an enthusiastic gardener and plant collector for over 35 years, and believes gardens should invite you to linger in the world outside your door. The gardens on her half-acre suburban property have been included on several garden tours and feature exciting plant combinations, dramatic horticultural specimens, and extensive collections of native plants, hosta and epimedium. Joan has a deep and fundamental interest in the natural world. She holds a BA in Geology from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Certificate in Landscape Management from UMass Extension Green School. She is a Master Gardener, a horticulturist at Weston Nurseries, and is a past Chairman of the Massachusetts Landscape Design Council. She is a member of the Garden Consultants Council, the New England Hosta Society and is an accredited Flower Show Judge. Joan has presented programs at flower shows in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and at numerous garden clubs, horticultural societies and professional organizations.