Boston Flora

Tag: Massachusetts Horticultural Society

  • Thursday, October 29 – Massachusetts Horticultural Society Honorary Medals Dinner

    Massachusetts Horticultural Society (MHS) will celebrate their 2026 Honorary Medal winners at the 122nd Honorary Medals Dinner in the Hunnewell Building at the Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley, MA on October 29, 2026.

    This ceremony celebrates a 195-year tradition of awarding medals to individuals and organizations for their contributions to horticulture for the public good, while marking the introduction of the R. Wayne Mezitt Medal – the first new medal established since 1927.

    Tickets for the awards ceremony including dinner and drinks are now on sale. Proceeds benefit excellence in horticulture at MHS. For a list of award winners and to register, visit https://www.masshort.org/honorary-medals

  • Update: Now Through August 23, 2026 – Sunflower Spectacular

    Experience a stunning field of thousands of blooming sunflowers available for display and pick-your-own. Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at the Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley to be a part of one of the newest and closest sunflower fields to Boston. Admission includes pick-your-own sunflower stems, access to the 1.3 acre display area, and access to the 36-acre Garden at Elm Bank. Entries are from 10 – 5 Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 – 4 Fridays and Saturdays. $5 for MHS members, $20 for nonmembers, $10 for kids 3- 17, children two and under free.

    Tickets are on sale now. Sign up for updates to visit Sunflower Spectacular this August! https://www.masshort.org/sunflower-spectacular#signup

  • Tuesday, Thursday & Friday, June 9, 11 & 12, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Building Color & Form: Spring Flowers in Colored Pencil

    In this three-day Massachusetts Horticultural Society workshop on June 9, 11, & 12 from 10 – 2 with award-winning botanical artist, Alice Rosa, students will learn how to approach botanical subjects using colored pencils. We will begin with observation and drawing, focusing on how to study a plant and translate its structure onto paper. From there, we will work through the process of adding color, studying color layering and building it gradually while paying attention to subtle shifts in tone and hue. The course is designed to be an accessible introduction, allowing students to experiment, slow down, and become familiar with the medium. Some experience with drawing and the basics of botanical art will be helpful, though no prior experience with colored pencil is required.

    Alice Rosa is a Fellow of the Society of Botanical Artists in London and a Professional Member of the Copley Society of Art in Boston, MA. She graduated with distinction from the Distance Learning Diploma Course of the Society of Botanical Artists. She is a studio artist at the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA.

    Alice was born and raised in Italy. She has a degree in foreign languages and literature from the University of Verona. She also holds a degree in art conservation from IVBC in Venice, where she specialized in the restoration of polychrome wood sculptures and paintings on panel. She currently lives in Concord, Massachusetts.

    $250 for MHS members, $290 for nonmembers. For complete supply list, and to register, visit https://www.cognitoforms.com/MassachusettsHorticulturalSociety/_26060926BAC143BuildingColorAndFormSpringFlowersInColoredPencil

  • Friday, September 18 – Sunday, September 20 – New England Fall Flower Show : Growing Together

    The New England Fall Flower Show reflects on the rich history of MHS’s flower shows and embraces the future of how we continue to grow.

    In partnership with New England Home, the 3-day event will feature curated vendors, food trucks, workshops and programs, and floral installations on Friday, Sept. 18 – Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. Curated vendors will offer horticulture and gardening products, arts & crafts, home décor, and health & beauty.

    The event represents how MHS, and we as members of many communities throughout the region, can use the knowledge from the roots of our heritage and the aspirations of future growth to create, change, and inspire in the present. Exhibitions, displays, vendors, and demonstrations will draw inspiration from global plants, styles, themes, and designs. We celebrate the importance of plants around the world and the impact that cultivating and exhibiting plants can have on well being, health, and community.

    The 2026 New England Fall Flower Show will take place on Friday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21, 2025 at the Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley, MA. For more information visit https://www.masshort.org/fall-flower-show

  • Monday, January 12, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Native Perennials from Seed, Online

    Learn when and how to collect seeds from native perennials, identify reputable seed sources, and understand the best methods for sowing seeds at the right time. This virtual Massachusetts Horticultural Society online class on January 12 from 6 – 8 will also cover nurturing seedlings to ensure healthy growth and techniques for properly storing seeds for future planting. Just in time to start your plans for the coming spring! Register with https://www.masshort.org/upcoming-classes

  • Monday, January 5, Wednesday, January 7, Friday, January 9, & Monday, January 12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Eastern – A Graphite Adventure: How to Solve Botanical Drawing Problems, Online

    Drawing plants isn’t always easy, especially when you’re faced with foreshortened petals, tricky tonal values, or overlapping shapes. In this four-session Massachusetts Horticultural Society online class in January, 2026, Carol Ann Morley will explore numerous ways to approach these visual problems and how to solve them with confidence. Learn how to build spatial depth and show space using techniques like atmospheric perspective. With step-by-step guidance, you’ll gain skills to simplify what you see and conquer the curves of a curled leaf, the surface pattern of a gourd, or the layered shapes of a flower.. Register at https://www.masshort.org/upcoming-classes

  • Tuesday, October 7, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Native Groundcovers for Beauty, Function, and Ecology, Online

    Explore the many native groundcovers that bring beauty and ecological function to your landscape. Whether you have a shady, moist garden or a sunny, dry hillside, learn which native groundcovers are your best choices. This Massachusetts Horticultural Society webinar takes place October 7 from 6 – 8 Eastern. $45 for Mass Hort members, $55 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.masshort.org/upcoming-classes

  • Tuesday, September 30, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Native Landscaping Strategies for the Climate Crisis, Online

    By selecting climate-resilient plants and landscape management practices, you can mitigate the impact of prolonged droughts, intensified weather events, extended growing seasons, rising temperatures, and ecological mismatches. Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society online on September 30 from 6 – 8. $45 for Mass Hort members, $55 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.masshort.org/upcoming-classes

  • Sunday, September 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – The Native Garden in Fall and Winter

    This Massachusetts Horticultural Society lecture on September 28 explores how native plants can provide color, texture, and structure throughout fall and winter. Learn how to incorporate striking foliage, architectural forms, and the vibrant hues of branches, berries, and seed pods to create visual interest while also supporting birds, pollinators, and other wildlife during the colder months. Weather permitting, the session will conclude with a walk in the garden. $48 for Mass Hort members, $56 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.masshort.org/upcoming-classes

  • Mondays, September 29 – November 3, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Foundations of Botanical Drawing and Painting, Online & In-Person

    Through demonstrations and tutorials, celebrate the colors of seasonal leaves while learning how to realistically depict your subject matter in pencil, and then in watercolor, with Sarah Roche, on six Mondays, September 29 – November 3, from 10 – 1, online except for two classes which will be held at the Putnam classroom at The Gardens at Elm Bank. All abilities are welcome! The winter topic: Fall topic: Orchids in Watercolor. In fall, we will be studying the Phalaenopsis orchid. With a limited palette and simple techniques, we will work together, step by step, to capture their exotic and vibrant beauty. Using live plant specimens, Sarah will lead you through the processes of accurate drawing and painting in watercolor. Members $385, nonmembers $460. Register at www.masshort.org