Boston Flora

Tag: orchids

  • Monday, May 23, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – The Allure of Orchids

    Why do so many people collect and obsess about orchids?  Botanical artist and botanist Carol Govan has been researching and drawing the orchids in the Wellesley College Ferguson Greenhouse collection, and has many images to present: orchids that look like pterodactlys, cow horns, slippers, oxen yokes, and other fabulous shapes and colors.  She has stories to share about orchid mania and the wars among unscrupulous nurseries and plant hunters.  From ecology and botany to literary references and representation in botanical art, Carol will reveal an orchid’s allure.  Come to the Wellesley College Botanic Garden to hear Carol (a popular past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker) on Monday, May 23, beginning with tea at 2 and the illustrated lecture at 2:30.  $10 for WCFH members, $15 general public. To register, log on to www.wellesley.edu/WCFH.

  • Thursday, April 7, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Spring Orchid Sale

    Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses, 185 Lyman Street in Waltham, beginning Thursday, April 7, from 2 – 5 for Historic New England members, including cattleyas, laelias, paphiopedilums, and phalaenopsis. Both species and hybrid plants that are budded and blooming are available.  Historic New England members receive early access before the sale opens to the public on April 8. No RSVP is necessary. Historic New England’s Garden and Landscape members receive a 15% discount on all greenhouse purchases. Learn more about Garden and Landscape membership, or call the membership line at 617-994-5910 to upgrade. Can’t make it to the preview? Regular sale hours are April 8 – 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, open to the public.For more information, log on to www.historicnewengland.org.  Photo by Orchids by Richard.

  • Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10 – Bangor 2011 Flower Show

    The Bangor 2011 Flower Show will take place Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10 at the Bangor Auditorium  See eight garden displays as they compete for Best in Show and People’s Choice Award, while sampling from over 50 vendor booths to supply all your gardening needs.  This is the 20th anniversary of the show, general admission is a mere $5 at the door, and times are 10 am – 8 pm Friday and Saturday, 11 – 4 on Sunday.  Events will include A Taste of Local Color cooking demonstrations, Get the Honey Bee Buzz, Garden for Your Health seminars from St. Joseph Healthcare, Public Community Gardens presentation, Water Wise Gardening, Sustainable Landscape Design, Creative Container Gardening, Fruit Tree Tips for Amateurs, Kids Programs, Orchid Society Tea Party with the Eastern Maine Orchid Society, True Living Organics, a juried flower show, and more.  Contact Wendy Warren at 207-992-4255, or email wendy.warren@bangormaine.gov, or log on to www.bangorgardenshow.com. Image of flowers from the 2010 Bangor Flower Show from daliaphotography on Flickr.

  • Fridays, April 1, 8, 15 and 29, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Scientific Botanical Illustration: Orchids

    Black and white drawings have an aesthetic beauty all their own, and were long used for illustrations before color printing.  Under the guidance of Jeanne Kunze, use traditional dip and technical pens to create weighted, broken, hatch, and crosshatch line work as well as stipple to illustrate live orchids.  As many scientific illustrations are done from pressed field-collected material, Jeanne will also show you how to use dried specimens for illustration, including methods of making these samples look fresh and alive.  Dissecting microscopes and other magnification devices will aid you in accomplishing an informative, precise, and aesthetically pleasing illustration.  There are some prerequisites for this Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture course, to take place at Wellesley on four Fridays, April 1 – 29, so email horticulture@wellesley.edu, or call 781-283-3094, ext. 4, for complete details.  WCFH member price is $250, non-members $300.

  • Tuesday, February 22, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – Orchids and Bromeliads Courtyard Display Opens

    The Orchids and Bromeliads Courtyard Display at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway, Boston, opens Tuesday, February 22.  Cure your winter blues with a visit to the Gardner’s lush green courtyard, filled with yellow and red bromeliads and stunning orchids, including large colorful cymbidiums and dozens of lady’s slippers.  For more information, log on to www.gardnermuseum.org.

    mainpage_Sept10_landscape

  • Friday, November 5, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, Saturday & Sunday, November 6-7, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Massachusetts Orchid Society Annual Show and Sale

    ‘Seasoned’ orchid growers and new orchid enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the Massachusetts Orchid Society’s Annual Show and Sales,  Trident’s Treasures: In Memory of Dr. Wilford B. Neptune , at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston on Friday, November 5 through Sunday,  November 7,  is no exception.  This orchid extravaganza, featuring gorgeous displays of blooming orchids with more than 12 commercial growers selling orchid plants and supplies, plus clinics on basic orchid care, tours of the show, and more, will be held  Friday  1 – 5, Saturday and Sunday 10 – 5.  For more information, log on to www.show.massorchid.org, or email MOSOrchidShow@comcast.net.  For directions to Tower Hill, 11 French Drive, Boylston, Massachusetts, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Saturday, October 23, 10 a.m. – 3:00 pm – Orchid Growing Clinic

    Once again Historic New England will feature orchids at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses in Waltham, Massachusetts on Saturday, October 23 at 10 a.m.  Bring up to three orchid plants for evaluation by experienced horticulturists. Get advice on maintaining healthy blooming plants. Other services offered include repotting and educational handouts about orchids. Books, pots, and growing supplies are for sale. Admission fee is $10.  For more information call 781-891-1985.  For directions, log on to www.historicnewengland.org.

  • Friday, October 8 – Sunday, October 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Fall Orchid Sale

    Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale, including many hard-to-find varieties. Visit these antique greenhouses and enjoy gorgeous floral colors, shapes, and scents. Among the many varieties on display and for sale are cattleyas, laelias, oncidiums (below), Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. Their long lasting and showy blooms make orchids a dramatic addition to any indoor environment and this adaptable species can be grown in a variety of home conditions. The sale will take place October 8 – 10 from 10 – 4 at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses in Waltham, Massachusetts, and is sponsored by Historic New England.  For more information and directions, log on to www.historicnewengland.org, or call 781-891-1985.


  • Wednesday, July 28, 4:00 pm – Selecting and Caring for Orchids

    Highfield Hall, 56 Highfield Drive in Falmouth, has invited Alison Arrouet, gardener and orchid grower, to speak on Wednesday, July 28, beginning at 4 pm, on Selecting and Caring for Orchids.  Alison is a passionate, informed gardener and a member of the Cape and Islands Orchid Society.  She is a self-confessed addictive collector of orchids who now owns over 80 plants (get a grip, girl!)  Alison has presented to numerous gardening groups on growing orchids, and wants novice orchid growers to know that many varieties of orchids will thrive in your home with much less care than you fear right now.  Her presentation with live orchids will explain several varieties and she will provide practical advice on orchid selection and care, so you’ll have the confidence to buy your first, or second, or third orchid, or expand on you own budding collection.  $5 suggested donation. For information, log on to www.highfieldhall.org.

    http://www.dreamorchids.com/images/HawaiianFlowersOrchid3.jpg

  • Saturday, June 5, 11:00 am – 25th Annual Tower Hill Plant Sale

    It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since the first Plant Sale was held on the rough field and lawn in front of the Farmhouse.  That sale attracted nearly 400 visitors – pretty astonishing for the first sale at the brand new headquarters of the Worcester County Horticultural Society. At its peak, the sale has attracted as many as 3,100 visitors, expanding to become one of Tower Hill’s largest fundraisers.

    Because of the construction  at the core of the property, this year’s sale will be held in the grassy overflow parking field adjacent to the paved lots.  Some details remain the same: one of the many benefits of Tower Hill’s Plant Sale is the ability to select from the specialty offerings of more than a dozen participating Plant Societies, including Bamboo, Cactus & Succulent, Conifer, Daylily, Epimedium, Fern, Heather, Hosta, Indoor Gardeners, Lilac, Magnolia, Miniature Plants, Orchid, Rhododendron, and Rose.  These ardent devotees are wild about their specific plant interests and can offer great tips on care and growing.  Please note that a Tower Hill member discount card does not apply to sales in the plant society area, and most of the societies are able to accept only cash or checks.

    More than 12,000 plants will be available for sale:  unusual perennials, herbs and everlastings, shrubs and trees, including Cary Award Winners, natives, annuals, incredible edibles, and Tower Hill “Best Buy” plants – donated divisions from beautiful plants grown by members. Special Plant Sale T-shirts to commemorate the 25th anniversary will be sold, and there will be Plant Giveaways to our early arriving members.  Two silent auctions on the day of the Plant Sale feature a variety of choice, hard to find, specimen plants and garden ornaments.  Register first and enjoy the challenge of competing with other plant enthusiasts for the plants that spark your interest.  Tower Hill members enjoy the benefit of early admission at 9 a.m.  For more information, call 508-869-6111, or log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

    http://www.soonerplantfarm.com/_ccLib/image/plants/DETA-835.jpg