In this Polly Hill Arboretum August 1 workshop, participants will learn to build the iconic Wave Hill Chair, designed in 1918 by Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld. Dan Benarcik will provide step-by-step instruction to attendees, who will leave with their own lovely garden chair. No previous experience is necessary, and lumber will be supplied. Attendees need to bring their own cordless drill.
Dan Benarcik has had one foot in the greenhouse and the other in the wood shop his entire life. Dan is a gardener, designer, woodworker, and ambassador for Chanticleer garden outside Philadelphia.
Pre-registration required. PHA Members: $350; Non-Members: $375. Click here to register.
In this Polly Hill Arboretum presentation by Dr. Koen Camelbeke on July 23, attendees will learn all about the Arboretum Wespelaar in Belgium, which holds a specialized collection of trees and shrubs from around the world. The Arboretum welcomes any woody species; giant and prostrate dwarfs, the common and the rare, the beautiful and the less glorious, and, especially, all those that are threatened in the wild.
Dr. Koen Camelbeke is known for his contributions to horticulture and dendrology. He has been executive director of Arboretum Wespelaar since 2002.
A successful dynamic landscape requires a fully expressed ground plane planting that yields benefits that extend well beyond aesthetics, from managing stormwater to supporting pollinators and more. In this Polly Hill Arboretum program on July 1 at 5:30 pm, Patrick Cullina will review essential design strategies for the design of successful herbaceous landscapes — including assessments of the ecological regions (including Martha’s Vineyard) that offer so many valuable cues, plant selection, integration, spacing, establishment, and more, often through the lens of project precedents.
Patrick Cullina is an award-winning horticulturist, landscape designer, photographer, lecturer, and planning consultant with more than thirty years of experience in landscape-related fields. Formerly, he served as the founding V.P. of Horticulture & Operations for New York City’s High Line Park, as Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s V.P. of Horticulture, Operations, & Science Research, and Associate Director of the Rutgers University Gardens in affiliation with the school’s Department of Landscape Architecture. His current consulting practice is dedicated to the design, creation, development, and management of transformational dynamic landscapes through the innovative integration of plants and management strategies — often in collaboration with some of the world’s leading landscape architects and architects.
Art in the Arboretum is an exhibit designed to showcase views and interpretations of the Polly Hill Arboretum, 795 State Road in West Tisbury, by 11 artists who are full-time residents, seasonal residents, or regular visitors to the Island. This year’s show will feature photographs, sketches, and paintings. The weatherproof replicas, along with information about each artist, will be displayed on the grounds in the location where the original piece was inspired. The exhibit will be on display through October 31, 2025. An opening reception and tour are scheduled for June 5 from 4:30 – 6 pm. The cost is included with $10 admission to the Arboretum, free for PHA members. For more information visit https://www.pollyhillarboretum.org/event/art-in-the-arboretum/?instance_id=2556
Join Polly Hill Arboretum docent Nancy Weaver for a special tour to celebrate Polly Hill’s birthday. In memory of Polly Hill and her love of plants, Nancy will tell stories of Polly and highlight some of her favorite places around the Arboretum. Please meet at 10 am at the Visitor Center. The Polly Hill Arboretum is located in West Tisbury on Martha’s Vineyard. Free for Arboretum members, $5 for nonmembers. Register HERE.
Join the Polly Hill Arboretum and Andrew Bunting, Vice President of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, as he shares the transformation of his front yard into a gravel garden. His front garden has experienced many iterations over the years, from a cottage garden, to a meadow garden, and now a gravel garden. Bunting will cover how the garden was designed; details of the installation process, as well as how he went about plant selection and follow-up care. He will discuss the success and shortcomings to date. Andrew will also share the gardens that have influenced his garden such as the works of Jeff Epping, Lisa Roper, etc.
This presentation is virtual. A Zoom link will be provided after registering. $10; FREE for PHA members. Proceeds benefit Polly Hill Arboretum. Register here: bit.ly/Gravel-Gardening
American Oaks are diverse, display complex ecological relationships, and play an important role in ecosystem stability. Join Grow Native Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 pm at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway in Cambridge, to examine this wonderful genus, with an emphasis on the oaks of eastern North America.
Tim Boland, Director of the Polly Hill Arboretum in Martha’s Vineyard, will discuss their evolutionary history, importance to flora and fauna, and challenges in a rapidly changing climate. They also have a deep connection to humanity, and are revered for their resilience, age, and multiple uses. Admission is free. Image from www.forestertreeservice.com. For more information visit www.grownativemass.org.Â
Who doesn’t love the zesty crunch of a pickle? Before refrigeration pickling (acidic preservation) was more than just a delicious addition to a meal, it was an essential strategy for safe food storage.
Judith Sumner, author of American Household Botany: A History of Useful Plants, 1620-1900, will uncover the history of pickling with “receipts†gathered from early New England cookbooks. She will explain the antimicrobial properties of herbs and spices as well as present the wide range of foods that can be pickled. Ready to pickle at home? Modern pickling recipes and methods will also be presented. The program will take place Saturday, October 13 beginning at 1 pm at The Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury. $25/$15 for PHA members. For directions and information visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org.
Herbalists, midwives, gardeners, cooks: Women have been expert practical botanists since pre-history. Many also became recognized professional botanists who contributed widely to plant science. From authoring the first botany textbooks to establishing the science of ecology, women botanists did it all! Join author Dr. Judith Sumner to explore the continuing role of women in botanical studies, conservation, landscape design, and horticulture including the significant work of the Polly Hill Arboretum’s own Polly Hill. Come celebrate the many important roles of women in practical and scientific botany on Saturday, October 13, beginning at 10 am, at the Arboretum in West Tisbury. $20/$10 for PHA members. For more information visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org.
Shopping for plants has gotten confusing. With the unending new plant varieties available, how do you distinguish real value from novelty? How do you discern great plants from the not-so-good, and does buying the best plants lead to the best gardens?
Join Patrick Cullina at the Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard, on Wednesday, August 1 beginning at 7:30 pm as he explores methods for navigating the nursery, shopping for the garden, and strategies for selecting beautiful plants one might otherwise miss. Cullina is a consultant, horticultural designer, and photographer who previously served as vice president of horticulture and park operations for Friends of the High Line in New York City as well as vice president at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. $10/$5 for PHA members. Sponsored by Middletown Nursery. To register, visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org.
