In Not Your Mother’s Garden, Deborah Chud takes her audience on a photo tour of her dramatic Piet-Oudolf-style New Perennial Garden and describes the design principles underlying it. Many of the plants are unfamiliar – even to experienced and knowledgeable gardeners. These “New Perennials” constitute a special canon of plants that exhibit qualities valued by members of the New Perennial Movement – pioneers in the shift toward naturalist landscape design. What’s new about New Perennials and what can they do for you? Walk through her garden with her to find out. This online presentation sponsored by New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill takes place Thursday, January 25 at 7 pm Eastern, and is $10 for NEBG members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.nebg.org.
Deborah Chud is a retired Massachusetts physician turned garden maker, consultant, and educator, who specializes in coaching home gardeners (in-person and virtually). Her years of research on the world’s most famous New Perennial gardens (including New York’s High Line, Chicago’s Lurie Garden, the Oudolf Meadow at Delaware Botanic Garden, and Oudolf Garden Detroit) have generated a unique database of New Perennial plant combinations and fostered the creation of her own highly unusual New Perennial garden.
If you’re not into forest bathing in the snow, try an indoor equivalent at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill on January 14. Relax and refresh through mindfulness practices, sensory awareness, and nature. A guided experience in the Orangerie where you will walk around the conservatory and stop and sit together. We will focus on our senses to develop an immediate connection with the plants. This is a very relaxed, slow, and mindful way of walking. The walk should last about 1.5 hours and we will finish with a Shinrin Yoku tea and a small snack. The conservatories are warm so you can dress in comfortable clothing. Instructor Nadine Mazzola is an award winning author, Certified Forest Therapy Guide and founder/director of New England Nature and Forest Therapy Consulting based in Massachusetts. She is also a trainer, mentor and advisor for the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs (ANFT). Nadine’s training includes special knowledge in guiding people of all ages in Shinrin-Yoku, “Forest Bathing,” walks and the body of scientific knowledge demonstrating the benefits of spending time in nature as a wellness practice and an effective way to manage stress. She has come to know the healing and support that nature can offer us through her own personal wellness journey.
Also an artist, she facilitates Expressive Arts classes at the Virginia Thurston Healing Garden, often incorporating elements of forest therapy throughout. She works with a wide variety of populations including the corporate business world, wellness professionals, people affected by cancer, students, special needs and seniors. Nadine is available for consulting, private or group forest bathing half-day and full-day workshops, and speaking engagements.
$30 for NEBG members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at www.nebg.org
New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill will present an online program on October 21 at 4 pm with Laura Ziman.
Meatballs (or non-meat) can be made of most anything and are enjoyed by people everywhere. We can use chicken or turkey with unexpected flavors, beef or lamb seasoned with international flavors and simmered in a tomato-based sauce and finally, a vegetarian ball that any meat-eater would find a delight. An ingredients list and recipes will be provided beforehand so you can cook along with the rest of the class.
Laura Ziman is a greatly experienced cooking instructor who hails from New York City, where she grew up eating the plethora of foods available. After graduating from college, she attended cooking school in Paris. On her return to New York, she started her life as a professional cook, which includes years of teaching, catering, owning a restaurant, and food styling for television. More recently she has added teaching and lecturing on topics of food history. Even without a restaurant, she cooks every day.
$20 Member Adult; $30.00 Adult (Online Workshop)The webinar will be recorded, and a link to the video will be available until December 21, 2023.
Come learn the basics of UV Resin and make beautiful, trendy, one-of-a-kind pendants with dried flowers and other elements. In this class you will learn how UV Resin works, basic step by step instructions for the best results, and leave with the skills to confidently continue working with resin on your own. You will leave with finished pendants, which can be used for necklaces, jewelry, or keychains. Instructor Linda Snay was born in Connecticut and has always been drawn to the world of art. She discovered watercolors at a young age and was encouraged by art teachers. She studied art in college and went on to graduate from Eastern Connecticut State University with a BA, double major in Studio Art and Art History. After moving to Massachusetts, her career led to positions in education in museums and art centers, and she is currently a teaching artist leading engaging art classes for both children and adults. She works in various media, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, and pastel. She is a member of Arts Worcester and participates regularly in exhibitions in Central Massachusetts. NEBG members $60, nonmembers $75, includes admission to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Register at www.nebg.org
Take deep breaths, slow down and leave your “to do” list behind. Experience the therapeutic benefits of horticulture while creating an everlasting arrangement with natural dried floral materials. You can choose to design your arrangement from a rich variety of plant materials including colorful roses, fragrant lavender, eucalyptus, yarrow, feathery grasses, statice, lotus pods and woodland moss. Feel calm and refreshed with positive energy by focusing on being in the moment and engaging each of your five senses one at a time – sight, touch, sound, smell and taste – while interacting with sensory rich plant materials.
Our New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill class on October 14 from 1 – 3 will include an overview of the therapeutic benefits and power of horticulture to understand why and how it can be used personally, and for people of all ages and abilities. We will discuss the difference between therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy. You will learn about benefits including increased relaxation, decreased anxiety, stress relief, sensory stimulation, hope, improved cognitive abilities, engagement in life, connectedness, and physical exercise. It will be clear how plants and the natural world give you support when life gets overwhelmingly busy or stressful. We will spend approximately 40 minutes delving into this.
You will spend approximately 80 minutes designing and making a unique medium size arrangement that will last for years, in a container with antique-like design. When you bring it home, you can place in your kitchen, dining room, family or living room, hallway, or any other welcoming space. It can also make a lovely gift. Join Deborah Krause, Horticultural Therapist, in these relaxing sessions where you may leave with a smile, feeling of calm and peace, and pride in your creation.
Deborah Krause is a Registered Horticultural Therapist. She is passionate about wellness and the therapeutic benefits of horticulture for people of all ages and abilities. She has served in various capacities in the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) and the Northeast Horticultural Therapy Network (NEHTN), which she co-founded, and currently is on the Board of Directors. Deborah developed the horticultural therapy program at Perkins School for the Blind and was the horticultural therapist and coordinator of the horticulture center there for 40 years. She is currently a Program Coordinator at The Nature Connection whose mission is to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities through the therapeutic use of nature. Deborah is the horticulture educator at the Memorial Spaulding School Garden where students grow produce to donate to food pantries. She presents webinars for AARP on adaptive gardening as we age. Deborah consults with non-profit organizations to design and facilitate therapeutic and educational horticulture and nature programs. Deborah’s popular classes for adults creating sensory rich seasonal flower and plant arrangements have focused on relaxation, stress reduction and positive thinking and she is honored and happy to continue to bring this to Tower Hill.
$ 85 Member Adult; $ 100 Adult (Registration includes admission to the Garden. All materials will be provided. Register at www.nebg.org
Join the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill for a weekend full of legends and lore this autumn as our mythical guests transform the Garden into a realm of imagination, wonder, and magic. Enjoy brews and local fare at our Beer Garden, browse our magical marketplace, and discover hidden mythical creatures along the way. This weekend will feature enchanting crafts, workshops, and entertainment for all ages. Come dressed up as your favorite fantasy being! This event is scheduled for Saturday, October 7, Sunday, October 8, and Monday, October 9. This event is included with General Admission. We recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your preferred date. You can also buy tickets in person at the Garden. Reserve at www.nebg.org
Create beautiful, original monotype artwork with the Gelli Plate Printing method. No experience necessary. Learn simple techniques to create beautiful nature prints without a press. Explore using flowers, leaves, and other natural elements to make unique impressions and explore additional techniques such as layering, stenciling, and masking. Once prints have dried, enhance prints with drawing, collages, and other media. The possibilities are endless with this fun and simple printmaking method.
In this playful workshop you will:
Learn the basics of Gelli Plate Printing.
Techniques to enhance the artwork will be introduced.
Leave with several pieces of artwork/papers to be used in endless creative ways!
Instructor: Linda Snay
Linda Snay was born in Connecticut and has always been drawn to the world of art. She discovered watercolors at a young age and was encouraged by art teachers. She studied art in college and went on to graduate from Eastern Connecticut State University with a BA, double major in Studio Art and Art History. After moving to Massachusetts, her career led to positions in education in museums and art centers, and she is currently a teaching artist leading engaging art classes for both children and adults. She works in various media, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, and pastel. She is a member of Arts Worcester and participates regularly in exhibitions in Central MA.
This class is sponsored by New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill on September 8 from 10:30 – 1. $50 Member Adult; $65 Adult (includes admission to the Garden) Register HERE.
This full-day New England Botanic Garden class on July 8 is a systematic approach to identifying mosses in the field. Through activities both indoors and out, you will learn how and what to observe in the field, filtering what might be possible, how to make a guess and confirming that guess. Please bring a 7-10x hand lens and a notebook for drawing.
Instructor: Susan Williams
Sue Williams is an independent naturalist and bryologist instructor with more than 30 years of experience. She is the author of Ecological Guide to the Mosses and Common Liverworts of the Northeast, an essential introduction to identifying mosses and common liverworts found in the northeastern United States and Canada.
$80 Member Adult; $95 Adult (includes admission to the Garden). Register at nebg.org.
This New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill course on June 25 from 9:30 – 11:30 introduces you to “the four treasures” of Chinese brush painting—ink stone, ink sticks, brush, and paper—allows you to explore a variety of techniques. Through demonstration and hands-on practice, you will learn the Chinese brush methods of painting poppies and butterflies, as well as compositional development. Take this two hours class to relax, create, and meditate with Chinese brush painting inspired by the beautiful garden at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Instructor is Sau-Mei Leung.
Required Materials (Not included with registration):
Two containers (one for clean water and the other for cleaning brushes, minimum size: 2 cups)
Two flat white 6-8 inches plates (small dinner plate is ok)
Sau-Mei Leung is a graduate with the Natural Science Illustration Certificate from Rhode Island School of Design Continuing Education. She also has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Connecticut. Her interest in art was sparked by studying Chinese calligraphy in primary school in Hong Kong. Mei has exhibited in many shows including Davis Art Gallery, Tower Hill Botanical Garden, and Art Providence. One of her watercolor paintings was also featured in Scenes and Seasons of a Small New England Village published by Leonard A. Haug. Mei is passionate about teaching and sharing her love of art, nature, and science. $55 Member Adult; $70 Adult (Registration includes admission to the Garden) Register at www.nebg.org
French Blooms, the first book by Sandra Sigman, award-winning floral designer and owner of Les Fleurs in Andover, presents arranging flowers in the French style—bouquets that are chic and romantic.
As Sandra Sigman learned while living in Paris in her twenties, the French consider each floral arrangement a unique work of art filled with passion, movement, texture, and surprise. In French Blooms, Sigman shares the distinct design principles she learned from her favorite Parisian florist, and offers tutorials, with images and instructions for creating French-inspired arrangements for different areas of the home.
Projects include a mantle display in ironstone gravy boats, compote-style dining room arrangements, powder room posies and beribboned hand-tied bouquets. With chapters on choosing the right containers, and flower care and tools, along with lush photographs, many taken in Paris, Normandy and Provence, this book is both inspirational and practical. It’s also a love letter to France—from Parisian sophistication to the simple grace of provincial life.
The New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill program on June 11 from 2 – 5 will include a talk and a demonstration, followed by a book-signing.
$15 Member Adult; $25 Adult (includes admission to the Garden) Register at www.nebg.org
