Boston Flora

Tag: Radcliffe Seminars

  • Thursday, November 21, 3:00 pm – The Evolution of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall

    Join The Garden Club of the Back Bay on November 21 for a look at the history of Commonwealth Avenue presented by Past President Margaret Pokorny. Her presentation will cover the topographical developments of the creation of the Back Bay and how this design solution to the new land came about. It also covers some of the historical precedents for the “Mall” form, the changes in the Mall over time and the interesting controversies about the design and species choice.

    Margaret will bring us up to date with a “State of the Mall” report, including current maintenance needs, additional species selections, statue lighting and conservation programs. She will also tell us about the extraordinary care of the turf and trees provided by the Friends of the Public Garden.

    Margaret is a longtime advocate for Boston green spaces, particularly trees.  She attended the Radcliffe Seminars Program in Landscape Design in the 1990s. Her thesis was entitled, “A History and Master Plan for the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.“  Margaret’s historical documentation and hands-on skills helped the City of Boston move forward with much of the revitalization of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall over the past 30 years.  

    Refreshments will be served. This is a members only event, but if you are not already a member you have time to join at https://bostonflora.com. If you are already a member click HERE. The talk will take place November 21 at the Chilton Club, which has a dress code. Women shall wear dresses, skirts, tailored pants, dress pants, or suits. Dresses and skirts must be longer than fingertip length. Leggings are acceptable but only if worn with an appropriate top of mid-thigh length such as a jacket, tunic, or elegant sweater.  Denim of any color is not acceptable. Hiking sandals, crocs, sneakers, including designer sneakers, are only permitted if required for a medical condition. Gentlemen shall wear a jacket with a collared shirt or turtleneck. 

  • Friday, April 12, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Garden Design: Color, Texture, Shapes, and Layers, Online

    The excitement and wonder of a colorful garden grab our attention and imprints its beauty on our memory. While color attracts us and stimulates our imagination, it also confounds many of us. We will explore our relationship to color, the garden dynamics that affect it, and how creating successful color combinations is strengthened by incorporating texture and shape throughout the layers of our gardens. This American Horticultural Society online talk will take place April 12 from 1 – 3. $30 AHS members, $40 nonmembers. Register at ahsgardening.org

    Cheryl Salatino is a New England based landscape designer, educator, and native plant enthusiast.  She started Dancing Shadows Garden Design twenty years ago to offer clients a more thoughtful and purposeful design aesthetic.  What continues to inspire this designer is how the beauty and value of nature endlessly challenge, surprise, and teach us. Salatino received her certificate in landscape design from the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program of Harvard University.  She has earned the status of Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist by the MA Nursery & Landscape Association and completed the UMASS Green School program in Landscape Management.  She has also earned an Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and Design as part of the Native Plant Trust educational certificate program. 

  • Thursday, October 28, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Top 10 Native Plants for Residential Landscapes Webinar

    Native plants are an important part of establishing a sustainable environment. In this October 28 Tower Hill Botanic Garden session from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, we’ll learn about the tried and true natives that can complement your garden, attract pollinators and withstand our New England weather. Successful herbaceous and woody plants will be included.

    Cheryl Salatino is the principal designer and owner of Dancing Shadows Garden Design, a residential landscape design and services firm. She has been designing gardens across Massachusetts since 2002. Cheryl is a Certified Landscape Designer and a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH). She received her certificate in landscape design from the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program of Harvard University. She was awarded the status of Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) as evidence of achieving the industry’s highest standards in nursery and landscape professionalism. Cheryl has also earned an Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and Design as part of the New England Wildflower Society’s Native Plant Studies Program. This program will be held virtually. Once you register you will receive a zoom link in the confirmation. This webinar will also be RECORDED and available for 2 months to all registrants. $10 for Tower Hill members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.


  • Wednesday, September 30, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Oh, Deer! Making Landscapes Deer Tolerable Live Webinar

    Many New England gardeners find shade a challenge to make appealing. It seems color, diversity and interest are lacking in those spaces. We’ll take a look at how the mood, plants, conditions, and a few design principles can act as our guide to stimulate new ideas. This September 30 Tower Hill program from 6:30 – 7:30 will be held virtually. Once you register you will receive a zoom link in the confirmation. This webinar will also be RECORDED and available for 2 months to all registrants. $7 for Tower Hill members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org


    Instructor Cheryl Salatino is the principal designer and owner of Dancing Shadows Garden Design, a residential landscape design and services firm. She has been designing gardens across Massachusetts since 2002. Cheryl is a Certified Landscape Designer and a Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH). She received her certificate in landscape design from the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program of Harvard University. She was awarded the status of Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist by the Massachusetts Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) as evidence of achieving the industry’s highest standards in nursery and landscape professionalism. Cheryl has also earned an Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and Design as part of the New England Wildflower Society’s Native Plant Studies Program.

  • Saturday, August 22, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Shade Gardens: Embracing the Dark Side

    Creating lush and vibrant gardens in the shade tends to frustrate even the best gardeners. How do we infuse more color, adventure, and intrigue into those spaces? The mood, plants, and conditions act as our guide. This workshop on August 22 from 1 – 4 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham blends site-specific assessment, design strategies, and plant options to help enliven your imagination. Bring your project to participate in a flash design collaboration.

    Co-sponsored by The Native Plant Trust and the Ecological Landscape Alliance. $45 for sponsor members, $54 general admission, limited to eight participants in compliance with State COVID-19 guidelines. Advance registration required at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/shade-gardens-embracing-the-dark-side/ or at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/shade-gardens-embracing-dark-side/?highlight=Embracing%20the%20Dark%20Side

    Instructor: Cheryl Salatino is a Landscape Designer, with a Certificate in Landscape Design from Radcliffe Seminars of Harvard University and a Certified Massachusetts Horticulturist. Cheryl is the owner of Dancing Shadows Garden Design and specializes in landscape design and installation that emphasizes manageable maintenance.

  • Wednesday, March 27, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Copley Square: History Through Architecture

    Copley Square is one of Boston’s most architecturally significant and instantly recognizable public locations. This urban square is home to Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library, Old South Church and the Hancock Tower, among other important landmarks. The square defines the city, as well as the evolution of American architecture and urban design, from colony toward the sophistication of global European squares, moving creatively from Beaux-Arts style to International Style and Modernism. On March 27 at 6 pm in the First Floor Commonwealth Salon at the Boston Public Library, architectural historian Leslie Humm Cormier explores this contemporary place from its origins as an estuary to its vital significance as a stylistic link between old-world style and new-world design.

    Leslie Humm Cormier, PhD, writes on the history and theory of art, architecture and urban design in Europe and America. She received her doctorate from Brown University as a Kress Fellow, affording her study in London and Paris. She is the author of a book on the Early Modern era in American architecture, as well as many articles on modern architecture and urban design in architectural encyclopedias. Previously a faculty member of Harvard University Extension and Radcliffe Seminars, Cormier is currently affiliated with the Boston Architectural College. For more information email ask@bpl.org

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  • Wednesdays, July 13 – July 27, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Color Gardens: Learn to Create Three Season Flower Gardens with Winter Appeal

    In this three-session Massachusetts Horticultural Society tutorial course to be held Wednesdays, July 13, 20 and 27 from 10 – 2 in the Parkman Room of the Education Building at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, Maria von Brincken, landscape designer, will teach you how to use color and plants to design gardens filled with color from flowers and foliage. You’ll learn how to create beautiful plant combinations that flower from spring to frost for sun and shade. Through hands-on practice sessions, participants make a landscape/garden color palette, and then learn the system to design plant combinations in color sequences through the seasons. Finally, take tutorial walks in the Bressingham Garden illustrate class lectures and exercises.

    Maria von Brincken, principle of Maria von Brincken Landscape Garden Design, is an award-winning certified designer (APLD and LI) celebrating her 21st year in professional practice. Maria specializes in custom beautiful spaces and colorful flower gardens using native and ornamental plants.

    Trained as a fine artist, color theorist, and organic gardener Maria brings years of critical design thinking to her landscape solutions. Her design has been featured in Fine Gardening Magazine, Landscape Ideas You Can Use and others. A former contributing editor to Land Shapes Magazine, her writing has also been published in NELDHA’s Perspectives, APLD’s The Designer, and GardenDrum.org.

    Her lectures and workshops have been featured at the MHS, Boston  Flower Show, Radcliffe Seminars and the LI, Connecticut Master Gardener’s Conference, Perennial Plant Conference, ELA– just to name a few. Her lectures, classes, and workshops teach successful ways of thinking and techniques.  Learn more about Maria and her work at www.mariavonbrincken.com.

    Preregistration is required at www.masshort.org. Mass Hort members $240, nonmembers $265.