Boston Flora

Tag: Olmsted Brothers

  • Wednesday, August 5, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Virtual Exploration of The Planting Fields Estate & Coe Hall Mansion

    If you recently got married and had a nice bit of change to spend, what would you spend it on? For William & Mai Coe in 1913, the answer was simple: purchase a 400-acre estate on Long Island’s “Gold Coast,” have the grounds designed by world-famous landscape architects, fill it with rare species of trees and plants, and then build a 65-room mansion for the cherry-on-top. Fortunately, it’s still all preserved over a century later, and ready to be explored.

    Join New York Adventure Club for a virtual exploration of Planting Fields, a sprawling Gilded Age estate in Oyster Bay built between 1918 and 1924 for insurance magnate William Robertson Coe, and his wife, Standard Oil heiress Mai Rogers Coe.

    Led by ​docent Elizabeth Abrams, our unique experience around the historic 409-acre estate will include:

    • The history and story of the Coe Family, from their accumulation of vast sums of wealth to the ambitious transformation of their grounds into a botanical marvel
    • A discussion around the Planting Fields grounds (designed by Guy Lowell, A. Robeson Sargent, and the Olmsted Brothers Firm), teeming with historic formal gardens, greenhouses, and rare species of trees & plants
    • A digital walkthrough of Coe Hall, a 65-room Tudor Revival mansion featuring evidence of Mai’s patronage of living artists including commissioned murals by American artists Robert Winthrop Chanler and Everett Shinn, ironwork by Samuel Yellin, and interior design by famed tastemaker Elsie De Wolf
    • Rare archival photos by Mattie Edwards Hewitt that reveal the evolution of the buildings and gardens of the estate

    Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with Elizabeth — any and all questions about Planting Fields are welcomed and encouraged!

    Can’t make it live? Don’t worry, you’ll have access to the full replay for one week! $10. Register at www.AdventureClub.com

  • Wednesday, May 30, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Historic Estates and Gardens Landscape Tour

    Historic New England and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society team up to present a spring landscape tour of historic estates and gardens on Wednesday, May 30 from 9 – 3. The schedule is as follows:

    9:00 a.m: Explore the grounds of the 1793 Lyman Estate and the history of its greenhouses in a tour led by plant expert and Greenhouses Manager Lynn Ackerman. Dating to 1804, the Lyman Estate Greenhouses are among the oldest surviving in the United States. Explore them on your own after the tour.

    11:30 a.m. Enjoy the landscape of the Eustis Estate, an 1878 Aesthetic Movement masterpiece next to the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Mass. Take a guided tour exploring the fields, woodland, and gardens as you learn about the landscape and history of the property. The tour also examines the exterior architecture of the house and other original buildings built between 1878 and 1902.

    12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Enjoy lunch on the porch or within the main hall of the Eustis Estate mansion. The first floor of the house will be open to explore.

    End the day by joining Massachusetts Horticultural Society (Mass Hort) staff for a tour of their thirty-six-acre garden property, The Gardens at Elm Bank. See the historic and contemporary gardens, which display new plant varieties, diverse design concepts, and solutions to many home landscape challenges. The Elm Bank property is on the National Register of Historic Places and includes gardens designed by the Olmsted Brothers firm, and the Cheney-Baltzell Manor House designed by Carrère and Hastings of New York.

    Lunch is included in the price. No transportation will be provided. $40 Historic New England and Mass Hort members; $55 Nonmembers

    Please call 617-994-5959 or buy online at http://masshort.org. Mass Hort members must call to receive discount. (Rain date: Thursday, May 31)

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  • Wednesday, May 30, 7:00 pm – Renewal of the Blue Garden in Newport, Rhode Island

    Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., with the Olmsted Brothers firm, designed the Blue Garden from 1912 – 1918 for the Newport, Rhode Island estate of Arthur Curtiss James and his wife, Harriet. The garden room featured a unique planting palette of blues and purples “with some whites”, and shades of green foliage, and was surrounded by an evergreen enclosure to screen the garden from view. The garden was opened to friends in August 1913 with a celebration called “The Blue Masque”, and was heralded with numerous magazine articles and photographs depicting its architectural and horticultural riches. By 2012 the garden was almost forgotten, subsumed under a thick covering of weeds and invasive trees. This Arnold Arboretum lecture on Wednesday, May 30 at 7 pm in the Hunnewell Building will present the story of the people who originally created the Blue Garden and how the restoration team used original plans, drawings, and photographs from the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site Archives to reinterpret the design and rebuild the garden in all its glory, while meeting contemporary sustainable standards. Free, but registration required; Reception to follow.

    Offered with Friends of Fairsted. Featured speakers are Sarah Vance, MLA, Director, The Blue Garden, and Arleyn A. Levee, Landscape Historian, Hon. ASLA

    Arleyn A. Levee is a landscape historian and preservation consultant, specializing in the work of the Olmsted firm. For many years, she has worked with various non-profit preservation groups and landscape architecture firms doing the research and evaluations needed for rehabilitation and protection of Olmsted-designed historic landscapes, both public and private. She is the author of The Blue Garden: Recapturing an Iconic Newport Landscape, published in 2016, and many articles about Olmsted firm commissions and the various firm designers responsible for this work. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College, Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University, and a Certificate from the Radcliffe Seminars Program in Landscape Design.

    Before assuming the position as Director of the Blue Garden, Sarah Vance was a senior associate with Reed Hilderbrand Landscape Architecture, part of the team that developed the rehabilitation plan for the garden and supervised its construction. Her role included analyzing the original drawings and developing planting plans for the garden and surrounding planted enclosure. As Director, she now works with a dedicated group of gardeners to ensure the design intent of the garden’s plan and to maintain it as an accessible and sustainable landscape. She takes special pleasure in sharing the story of this once-forgotten landscape and experiencing the appreciation, surprise and delight of its many visitors. Sarah received a Master in Landscape Architecture with Distinction from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

    Register at http://my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

    Image result for The Blue Garden: Recapturing an Iconic Newport Landscape

  • Sunday, September 22, 10:00 am – 8:00 pm – Mass Hort’s 15th Anniversary at the Gardens at Elm Bank

    The Massachusetts Horticultural Society invites you to join them for a community day at the Elm Bank Reservation, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, on Sunday, September 22. Free Admission all day.

    10:00: Nature Walk Through Trails with a DCR Ranger

    10:00-noon: Mass Dairy Council

    11:00-2:00: Follow the Honey – Honey Tasting and Live Bee Exhibit

    12:00, 3:00, & 5:00:Garden Tours:

    Take a guided tour of the 12 gardens on the Elm Bank reservation, lead by one of our staff members or trained tour guides. Please meet in the Maple Grove by the membership table.

    12:00-6:00: Wellesley Society of Artists Art Show and Sale – paintings from around Elm Bank

    The Wellesley Society of Artists have been spending their summer around the property gaining inspiration for their own work. The Hunnewell Carriage house will feature an exhibit of their works as well as many that are for sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to support Mass Hort.

    1:00: Cake and Ice Cream Celebration: The moment we have all been waiting for! Come join us in the Crockett Garden for a cake and ice cream celebration to commemorate the 15 years the Massachusetts Horticultural Society has taken residence at Elm Bank. A welcome from DCR representatives, Mass Hort President and more.

    All Day:

    Mass Hort Historical Exhibit, Information Booth and Membership Table

    In the Maple Grove you will find an exhibit about the history of the Elm Bank Reservation and the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, information about the programs and activities going on daily, how to become a member, and ways support Mass Hort!

    Food Vendors – Concessions and Catering by Kiss. Bring a blanket, grab your lunch, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and gardens

    Farmers Market Exhibit – Did you know that Mass Hort sponsors the Wellesley Farmers Market located at Whole Foods? Come visit their information table and learn more about the booth, produce from one of the vendors, and even see a live demonstration.

    Youth Activities

    10:00-4:00: Kids Mural Activity in the Gardens

    10:00-4:00: Elm Bank Scavenger Hunt

    10:00-12:00: Build a Fairy Garden in Weezie’s Garden

    10:00-12:00: Linx Camp – Discovery Grove Field

    Game and Nature Arts and Crafts station

    Adult Activities

    10:00-12:00: Floral Design Workshop with Marisa McCoy– Create a Fall Basket centerpiece with Marisa McCoy. Join Mass Hort and Marisa McCoy in creating a Fall Basket centerpiece on our 15th Anniversary Day of Celebration. Hands on workshops are one of our most popular education events and as we celebrate what we do at Elm Bank we are offering this opportunity to create a floral design. Marisa’s depth of experience and gentle direction help to provide the perfect atmosphere for beginner to expert to release the creative juices and take home a design to be proud of. Participants will have their choice of fresh and dried materials including seed pods, seed heads, and berries, as well as flowers and foliage chosen from a bright fall color palette.

    Marisa McCoy is a Trustee of Mass Hort, a Nationally Accredited Master Flower Show Judge, and the current President Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. Currently, Marisa is a floral design instructor, garden club speaker, active member of the MFA Senior Associates, and a custom wedding and special occasion floral designer.Program fee: $30 MEMBERS AND $35 NON MEMBERS- all materials included.  Registration required. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

    11:00-12:00: Extending Your Growing Season – Lecture.

    2:00-4:00: Succulent Container Workshop with Art Scarpa – Hands on workshops are one of our most popular education events and as we celebrate what we do at Elm Bank we are offering this opportunity to plant a succulent dish garden with guidance from Art Scarpa. Participants will plant a twelve inch Italian terra cotta container with South African winter growing succulents. Workshop fee includes plants, soil, container, top-dressing, and hand selected decorative stones.

    Known for his expertise in growing succulents and for his love for unusual plants, Art is certified as a judge by the Cactus and Succulent Society of America and has competed and judged at numerous major shows, including Boston, Newport and Philadelphia and many regional cactus and succulent shows.Program fee and registration required. $40.00 MEMBERS, $45 NON MEMBERS. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

    2:00-3:00: History of Elm Bank Lecture

    4:00-6:00: Champagne and Strings in the Italianate Garden: $20.00 MEMBERS, $25.00 NON MEMBERS. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

    Wrap up the evening with light appetizers and bubbly in the beautiful Italianate Garden, designed by the Olmsted Brothers Firm. While taking in the view, enjoy the music provided by the Fensgate Chamber Players. Tickets can also be purchased during the day at the membership table (Program fee and registration required).

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  • Thursday, May 19, 7:00 am – 7:00 pm – Planting Fields Arboretum and Old Westbury Gardens

    This year’s annual Berkshire Botanical Garden benefit garden tour on Thursday, May 19 will explore two extraordinary estate gardens on Long Island’s “Gold Coast:” Planting Fields Arboretum Historic State Park, Oyster Bay, NY, and Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury, NY.

    The day will begin with a tour led by Vincent Simeone, Director at Planting Fields Arboretum (pictured below), a premier public arboretum and historic site. A former Gold Coast estate of over four hundred acres, it contains greenhouses, gardens, woodland paths, and outstanding woody plant collections. The grounds, landscaped by the Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, Massachusetts, are spectacularly beautiful at this time of the year. Following the tour enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds of the Arboretum.

    The afternoon will include a tour of Old Westbury Gardens. Completed in 1906 by the English designer, George A. Crawley, the magnificent Charles II-style mansion is nestled amid 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. Although the guided tour will focus on the horticulture of the gardens and grounds, history and architecture will be included. Tours of the house will be possible only if time permits.

    A mid-morning refreshment and late afternoon wine & cheese snack will be provided. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and bring a bagged picnic lunch. (Lunch can also be purchased at the Arboretum’s café.) Due to travel time and traffic the coach will leave promptly at7 am from the Garden’s main parking area, and return at 7 pm.Tickets: $125 Members / $150 non members.  You may register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org. For more information, call 413-298-3926.

  • Wednesday, June 23, 7:30 am – 7:00 pm – Gardens of Lake Sunapee, New Hampshire

    Go on the road with the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture on Wednesday, June 23, leaving the Gray Lot with a car pool at 7:30 am, returning at approximately 7:00 pm.  Rain or shine you will drive to Newbury, New Hampshire, to begin the day in the Lake Sunapee region with a visit to the grounds of The Fells, one of New England’s finest examples of an early 20th century summer estate (see picture below).  At The Fells your guide is Thelma Hewitt, horticulturist with a specialty in native plants and wildflowers.  The estate grounds feature a 100 foot perennial border, the Old Garden hidden behind masses of rhododendrons, a formal Rose Terrace, and a world class Rock Garden.

    From the Fells, drive just up the road to the Hewitt’s for a garden tour and lunch.  The next stop is the Community Garden at Tracy Library in the center of New London.  Working with the Olmsted Brothers firm’s 1926 original plans and plant lists, the garden was recreated and replanted in 2002 by local volunteers, one of whom will be your next hostess, Carolyn Hager.  Traveling to her garden near Pleasant Lake, you will find an unexpected surprise in a woodland setting.

    You’ll end the day with a visit to the garden of Ann Loeffler in Elkins, at the far end of Pleasant Lake.  Ann is a volunteer at The Fells, who says perennials are her ongoing great love, and her current craze is dwarf conifers.  WCFH members $48, non members $60, includes lunch and snacks and garden admissions.  To register, call 781-283-3094, or email horticulture@wellesley.edu.

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  • Thursday, July 16, 10 a.m. – Castle Hill Landscape Tour

    On Thursday, July 16, beginning at 10 a.m., join the Trustees of Reservation. Take a guided walking tour of this grand, early 20th-century estate by the sea, and learn how landscape architects Arthur Shurcliff and the Olmsted Brothers transformed a bare, sandy drumlin into a beautiful, country retreat. Explore the farmstead, vegetable garden, formal garden areas, and outbuildings. See website www.thetrustees.org for other dates and times. Recommended for children 8 years and older. Full (90-minute) and half (45- minute) tours.  Members of the Trustees: free, Non-Members $5.  For more information call 978-921-1944 x 4009, or email needucation@ttor.org.