Boston Flora

Tag: Massachusetts Horticultural Society

  • Thursday, September 17, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Cooking from the Garden

    How do we help our children become more confident, able, and independent in the kitchen?  Join cookbook author Alana Chernila at Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Putnam Building on Thursday, September 17 at 7 for an evening of exciting ideas, strategies, tastings, and simple ways to empower kids in the kitchen.  This night will be useful for parents, caregivers, and educators of children of all ages.  Alana’s new book will be available for sale and signing.  $20 for Mass Hort members, $25 for non-members.  Register at www.masshort.org.

  • Thursday, September 10, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Northeast Region Perennial Plant Symposium

    Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Perennial Plant Association at their annual symposium, this year’s topic will be “Perennial Inspirations and Concepts.” The symposium is open to all levels of gardeners and professionals. This year’s symposium includes six presentations led by some of the perennial industry’s best focusing on plant selection, native perennials and container plantings.

    Featured Presentations:

    Native Perennials and Nativars for the Pocket Prairie Garden
    Jennifer Brennan of Chalet Nursery and Garden Shop, Wilmette, IL

    Jennifer Brennan will highlight the native plants and also native plant cultivars that can be used in various sites including shade, full sun, and half & half shade/sun. Many of these selections are quite useful for nectar and pollen for hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.

    The New American Garden: Modeling the Regional Landscape: An Anarchist Primer
    Donald Pell of Donald Pell Gardens, Phoenixville, PA

    Donald Pell calls his gardens impressionistic models of regional landscapes. Understanding specific plants and how they may integrate into any given landscape is the key to programming these gardens. He will look at how cool and warm season plants are accessed for performance to stabilize soils and create desirable compositions. Donald will discuss the role of ephemeral plants to build desirable seed banks while a garden is evolving and look at the role of aggressive and invasive plants. He will discuss the successes and failures of projects as well as what inspires these gardens. This is a presentation to inspire you to tear out that front lawn and boring boxwood hedges and to create a dynamic and experiential landscape.

    Tropical Flair
    Jason Reeves of the University of Tennessee Gardens, Jackson, TN

    Tropicals work beautifully with perennials, and make a big impact in any garden. The bold foliage stands out whether in large landscape displays or everyday back yard gardens and containers. Get a refresher on tried and true varieties as well as some hot new selections that will make any perennial purist think twice.

    Successful Gardening in Deer Country
    Ruth Rogers Clausen of Easton, MD

    Keeping your beautiful garden safe from deer is as simple as choosing the right plants. Ruth will discuss plants that do not require us to fence the deer out or the gardener in.

    Perennials in Pots: Creative Combinations for Jaw-Dropping Containers
    Deborah Trickett, MCH MCLP of Westwood, MA

    The container gardening craze, which began over ten years ago, shows no sign of slowing down. More than ever these perfectly sized “gardens” are the answer for time-pressed gardeners, down-sizing gardeners, city-dwelling gardeners, aging gardeners and more. The good news is the container gardens of yesterday (think geranium and vinca) have evolved. Today’s containers showcase many types of plants, including perennials. Join Deborah Trickett, principal and owner of The Captured Garden, and learn how to use perennials to transform your containers from “blah” to “aah”. She will share fundamentals of container gardening, “out of the box” design tips, as well as some of her favorite tried and true perennial performers.

    Are They Better or Just New??
    Paul Westervelt of Saunders Brothers, Inc. Piney River, VA

    With so many new perennials released every year, it can be difficult to distinguish legitimately better cultivars from those that are simply marketable. Through production trials, garden visits, vendor visits, and conversations with other growers, Paul works to select the true winners for our region.

    Register at http://goo.gl/EDWmtn

    $99 Early Bird, $109 after September 2

  • Saturdays, September 12 and September 26, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon, and Tuesdays, September 8 – September 29, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Fundamentals of Landscape Design

    This Massachusetts Horticultural Society six session course in landscape design is directed to the do-it-yourself home gardener who would like to design their own garden space. Mark Ahronian of Ahronian Landscaping and Design will lead you through all the steps of designing your chosen space. The goal is for participants to leave the class with a complete design of their own making. Course is $275 for members, $300 for non-members. The class meets at Elm Bank Tuesday evenings, September 8 – September 29 6:30-8:30pm, and two Saturday mornings, Sept 12 and Sept 26 10am-Noon. Registration is limited and pre-registration is required. Register online at http://www.masshort.org/eventdetail/162/422|427|433/fundamentals-of-landscape-design?filter_reset=1

  • Saturday, September 12, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Introduction to Italianate Gardens

    Massachusetts Horticultural Society Garden Keeper Beth Gray-Nix will discuss the basics of Italianate Gardens on Saturday, September 12 in the Parkman Room of Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley – their history and their composition. Get your hands dirty as you work in the garden along with Beth. Ask your questions and discover why this garden is a destination.

    Beth Gray-Nix is a retired Occupational Therapist. A favorite retirement gift was registration for the Master Gardener class of 2009. Her first volunteer role at Mass Hort was in Weezie’s Children’s Garden. In 2010, Beth became the first Garden Keeper for Mass Hort’s Italianate Garden, site of many family celebrations. Beth’s work in the garden maintains the Italianate as a picturesque destination garden. Beth recently received her WEED certification from Randy Protask.

    Please attend dressed to get your hands a little dirty in the garden. Lecture Fee: Mass Hort Members $5, Non-Members $8. Register online at http://www.masshort.org/eventdetail/180/422|427|430|433/introduction-to-italianate-gardens?filter_reset=1

  • Saturday, August 29, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Bressingham Basics

    Join Suzanne Higham on Saturday, August 29 at 10 am for an introduction to the Bressingham Garden of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. She will identify different plants and the inspired design concepts that make this a gem of The Gardens at Elm Bank.

    Garden Keeper Suzanne Higham has had the opportunity to spend time in the Bressingham Garden with renowned designer Adrian Bloom. Working beside him, and speaking with him through several seasons, she has a deep understanding of this beautiful garden and Bloom’s vision for its development and future. Work with Suzanne to get a hands-on lesson on how you can grow these plants in your own landscape. Come with questions!

    Owner and principal designer of Frog Hollow Landscapes, Suzanne is an award winning designer, and has worked on a team of designers with Mass Hort to create our award winning gardens at the Boston Flower and Garden Shows in 2014 and 2015. Learn more at www.froghollowlandscapes.com.

    Please attend dressed to get your hands a little dirty in the garden. Fee: Mass Hort Members $5, Non-Members $8. Register online at www.masshort.org.

  • Tuesdays, September 8 – September 29, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm, and Saturdays, September 12 and September 26, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Fundamentals of Landscape Design

    This Massachusetts Horticultural Society six session course in landscape design is directed to the do-it-yourself home gardener who would like to design their own garden space. Mark Ahronian of Ahronian Landscaping and Design will lead you through all the steps of designing your chosen space. The goal is for participants to leave the class with a complete design of their own making. Course is $275 for members, $300 for non-members. The class meets at Elm Bank Tuesday evenings, September 8 – September 29 6:30-8:30pm, and two Saturday mornings, Sept 12 and Sept 26 10am-Noon. Registration is limited and pre-registration is required. Register online at http://www.masshort.org/eventdetail/162/422|427|433/fundamentals-of-landscape-design?filter_reset=1

  • Thursday, August 27, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Tour the Trial Garden

    Join Mass Hort’s Garden Curator David Fiske on Thursday, August 27 at 7 pm for a tour of our unique Trial Garden, one of three in New England. Breeding companies from all over the world contribute the latest and greatest varieties of annuals to the New England Trial Garden for viewing by amateur and professional gardeners. The event will begin in the Parkman Room at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley. Sip wine and follow David as he shows off this year’s highlights, and vote for your favorite varieties!

    Lecture Fee: Mass Hort Members $10, Non-Members $15 Register on line at www.masshort.org.

  • Thursday, August 20, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – The Art of Growing Food

    The Art of Growing Food presentation at Elm Bank on Thursday, August 20 from 7 – 8:30 will inspire you to elevate an ordinary vegetable garden to an extraordinary European inspired potager. Discover new techniques to grow food in elegant and artful ways. With gorgeous color photographs from her book, The Complete Kitchen Garden, Ellen will share six steps to easily creating a beautiful kitchen garden.

    This lecture is ideal for new and experienced gardeners or anyone interested in innovative ideas and classic design. The ultimate goal is to learn new ways to design and plant a kitchen garden for productivity, low maintenance and pure pleasure, turning work into play!

    Ellen Ecker Ogden is the author of five books, including her most recent, The Complete Kitchen Garden, and co-founder of The Cook’s Garden seed catalog. She writes many articles regularly featured in Garden Design, Eating Well, Organic Gardening, Country Gardens, The Boston Globe, The New York Times and Martha Stewart Living to name a few. She is also maintains an active website and blog. For more information about Ellen and her work, visit her website here: http://www.ellenogden.com.

    Sign up here today to reserve your space! http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ebal4dcu014e540b&llr=kzaorjcab  Mass Hort Members $15, Non-Members $20.

  • Thursday, August 13, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Pomona Festival

    Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society on Thursday, August 13 from 6 – 8:30 at Elm Bank for its free summer music and art series sponsored by Wellesley Bank Charitable Foundation.  August 13 is the traditional day for the Festival of Pomona, the Roman goddess of abundance.  Come to the gardens for an evening of music and tours.  Awards will be given for the most creative costumes.  Bring your own picnic!  For more information visit www.masshort.org.

  • Wednesday, August 12, 5:30 pm – Summer Walk at Forest Hills Cemetery with Anthony Sammarco

    Forest Hills’ founder, Henry A.S. Dearborn, was a civic leader with expertise in law and politics, as well as in landscape design and horticulture. The first president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Dearborn, along with others, helped shape the rural garden cemetery movement in the United States. Join Anthony Sammarco for a walking tour celebrating Dearborn and other prominent 19th century horticulturists buried at Forest Hills Cemetery including Samuel Downer, John Richardson and Thaddeus Clapp.

    Meet on Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 at Main Gate, 95 Forest Hills Avenue in Jamaica Plain. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water; this is a ninety (90) minute walk (with frequent stops) over varied terrain. $10 per person, sponsored by Forest Hills Cemetery and the Forest Hills Educational Trust. For more information call 617-524-0128.