Boston Flora

Tag: South Africa

  • Saturday, November 7 – Saturday, November 14 – Great Houses and Gardens of South Africa

    Join Berkshire Botanical Garden on an exceptional journey to South Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, where one of the world’s great centers of biodiversity has inspired centuries of garden design. South Africa is recognized as a global hotspot for plant diversity, with a rich garden history shaped by indigenous flora, colonial influence and evolving horticultural traditions spanning more than 300 years.

    This carefully curated tour explores how that legacy unfolded, from early Dutch East India Company gardens to today’s celebrated estates. Highlghts include the world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, internationally admired for its focus on indigenous plants, as well as extraordinary private and historic gardens at Babylonstoren, Vergelegen, Morgenster, Rustenberg, Stellenberg, and the celebrated rose garden at Fresh Woods.

    Art and architecture enrich the journey with visits to the Michaelis Collection, Koopmans-de Wet House, Groote Schuur, the Irma Stern Museum, and Groot Constantia, South Africa’s oldest wine estate.

    Guests enjoy four nights at the iconic Mount Nelson Hotel beneath Table Mountain, followed by three nights in the heart of Stellenbosch’s wine country on a garden-surrounded estate. Visits to private wine estates, Table Mountain National Park and the famous Penguin Beach complete a journey shaped by history, horticulture and extraordinary landscapes.

    Discover a living landscape where history, horticulture and beauty meet.

    For details and registration, email Olivia@ClassicalExcursions.com or call 413-446-8728 or visit Classical Excursions.

  • Monday, February 23, 6:00 pm – Globalization in a Glass: The Rise of Pilsner Beer Through Technology, Taste and Empire

    Join Malcom Purrinton on February 23 as he discusses his book, Globalization in a Glass:The Rise of Pilsner Beer through Technology, Taste and Empire.

    Malcolm F. Purinton is a Food and World historian whose work focuses primarily on the sociocultural relationships of empire, trade, and technology in the history of beer and brewing. His first book Globalization in a Glass: The Rise of Pilsner Beer through Technology, Taste, and Empire (Bloomsbury Academic Press, Food History Series, 2023) examines the development and spread of this light golden lager beer and how it became the only truly global style of beer.

    He is also the author of a chapter on the history of European beer in nineteenth century South Africa in “Alcohol Flows Across Cultures: Drinking Cultures in Transnational and Comparative Perspective” (Routledge) and has a regular column on the Boston beer scene with the northeast beer periodical, Yankee Brew News.

    In highlighting the evolution of consumer tastes through changing hierarchical relationships between the British metropole and colonies, as well as the evolution of business organizations and practices, Globalization in a Glass contributes to ongoing debates about globalization, empire, and trade. It argues that, despite the might and power of the British Empire as a colonizing force, the effects of globalization, imperial trade networks, and colonial migration led to the domination of the most popular Continental European style of beer, the Pilsner, over British-style ales.

    The Boston University Food & Wine talk will begin at 6 pm at 808 Commonwealth Avenue , Room 124, in Boston. Reserve your free tickets through Eventbrite

  • Wednesday, November 12, 1:00 pm Eastern – Craze for Collecting: Dispatches from the Cape, Online

    Were they intrepid explorers and suppliers of beauty and scientific advancement, or imperialist plunderers and destroyers of fragile environments? The reputation of plant-hunters as brave adventurers tracking down botanical wonders has taken something of a battering in recent years. Make your own mind up about their role and continuing importance as The Gardens Trust shares some plant-hunter stories in this new five part series. Learn about the exploits of the late-18th century ‘father’ of modern plant-hunting and the adventures of a once-celebrated woman who led botanical expeditions to the Andes. Hear tales from those who’ve followed in the footsteps of famous collectors, revisiting the native habitats of exotic plants which are now staples in the British garden, and ponder on ideas about the very different role of collectors today in plant conservation and public education. This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Register through Eventbrite HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    Proteas are iconic wildflowers from Africa (most diverse and prominent in the fynbos region) and globally beloved as cut flowers, but what are the social and environmental contexts of this trade in the Cape? In this November 12 Gardens Trust talk, Rupert will explore some of the issues in his article with Prof Dave Bek in Protean Routes: Following the Commodification Chain of the Protea Flower between South Africa and the Netherlands (Dwaalstêr Editions, 2025).

    Plus, as English gardens embrace more naturalistic planting and meadows are trendy, what are the consequences in places where the more formal style of gardening and landscaping is still entrenched?

    Rupert Koopman is a fynbos-obsessed botanist based in Cape Town, South Africa who uses the flexibility of freelance work to protect and increase the appreciation of South Africa’s flora. Previous roles in both government and the NGO sector focussing on the protection of South Africa’s plants, especially fynbos of the Cape, give him a good overview of the country’s green wealth. Rupert’s interests include SA’s threatened plant species, citizen science, food plants, making plant conservation more relevant and accessible to a broader audience and participating in multidisciplinary projects. Being a qualified tour guide gives him a further platform to weave history, science and current affairs into a single narrative.

  • Sunday, August 24 – Saturday, September 6, 2025 – South Africa’s Blooming Landscapes: Wildflowers, Nature Reserves, and Gardens

    Experience the breathtaking landscapes of South Africa on our immersive American Horticultural Society’s program designed to showcase the country’s rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and natural wonders. Set against the backdrop of wildflower season, explore the vibrant city of Cape Town and the Cape Floral Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its exceptional array of plant species and wildlife. Highlights include visits to the iconic Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, the lush oasis of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and a delightful visit with members of the Cape Horticultural Society at the enchanting Arderne Gardens. Discover the pristine landscapes of the Weylands Wildflower Reserve, Nieuwoudtville, and the majestic Kagga Kamma Reserve, where ancient rock formations and awe-inspiring vistas await. In the picturesque wine country surrounding Stellenbosch, enjoy the tranquility of its vineyards and gardens, including a guided tour of the renowned Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, the oldest university botanic garden in South Africa. At the Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden, delight in the harmonious interplay between art and the natural world. Extend your adventure with an optional program to Blyde River Canyon and Kruger National Park, or tailor your experience with personalized program extensions, ensuring your South African adventure is truly unforgettable.Your AHS hosts are David and Janice Ellis. For complete information visit https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-programs/travel-study/2024-travel-study-programs/south-africas-blooming-landscapes-wildflowers-nature-reserves-and-gardens/

    Red Protea in Kirstenbosch, Cape Town against the backdrop of Table mountain, South Africa. Pincushion flower in Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

  • Saturday, January 9 – Wednesday, January 20 – Gardens of the Cape, South Africa, with Optional Safari

    Experience firsthand one of most diverse botanical regions of the world. Visit private gardens that reflect the history and culture of the region, and tour world-renowned Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. Be captivated by a land of extraordinary scenic beauty.

    This American Horticultural Society study tour has been specially created for AHS. In addition to the historic seaport of Cape Town, our travels will take us to the Cape Winelands, Western Cape, and Coast regions. See African wildlife as well, when you stay another three days for the optional safari.

    This is an intimate tour for only 18 travelers, so places are going quickly. Prices and forms may be found at http://www.ahs.org/uploads/pdfs/AHS_Travel_Reserv_Int_2016_SoAfrica_rev.pdf. Please register as soon as possible. View full brochure at http://www.ahs.org/uploads/pdfs/South-Africa_2016_WEB.pdf

  • Thursday, April 26, 10:30 am – Boston Committee Spring Meeting and Luncheon – Living on Earth

    The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America invites members of its constituent fourteen clubs to its Spring Meeting and Luncheon on Thursday, April 26, beginning with registration at 10:30 am at The Country Club, 191 Clyde Street in Brookline. The featured speaker will be Steve Curwood.

    In 1970, as a writer for the Boston Phoenix just out of Harvard University, Steve broke the story that Polaroid’s instant photo system was key to apartheid pass system in South Africa. Steve moved on to the Boston Globe as an investigative reporter and columnist and shared the 1975 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service as part of the Boston Globe’s education team.  His production credits in public broadcasting include reporter and host for NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered, host of NPR’s World of Opera, producer for the PBS series The Advocates with Mike Dukakis, and creator, host and executive producer of Living on Earth, the prize-winning weekly environmental radio program heard for more than 20 years on public radio stations  and distributed by Public Radio International (PRI) since 2006.

    The cost of the lecture and luncheon is $50, lecture only $25. Please make your check payable to The Boston Committee of the GCA and mail to Jensie Shipley, 40 Dunster Road, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467 before April 19, 2012, and note on the memo portion of your check your Garden Club affiliation. All reservations will be held at the door. Garden Club of the Back Bay members will receive written invitations and a car pool notice in the mail.