We are so encouraged that our friends and families may be able to gather together more safely this year than last, and hope you will all have a memorable Thanksgiving. Please be mindful of safety protocols, however, so we don’t have another surge in December. The photo of an outdoor table, complete with blankets, makes perfect sense to us.
Create a glorious autumnal centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table, crafted from store-bought seasonal flowers and herbs-including roses, Chinese lanterns, celosia, chrysanthemums, mini pumpkins and lady apples. Set your plant materials in a cluster of repurposed containers and vases for a personalized holiday presentation. Learn tips to showcase an eclectic tabletop of flowers, textures, tableware, props and linens that complete the harvest ambience. This online New York Botanical Garden class will take place November 20 from 10 – 12:30, and is led by Trish Sullivan.
Flowers should be purchased in advance from your local grocery store. Please refer to the materials list for all supplies needed for this class. $75 for NYBG members, $85 for nonmembers. Register HERE.
Join the Trustees on November 9 at The FARM Institute kitchen in Martha’s Vineyard as we show you how to prepare three quintessential Thanksgiving sides. Make your table stand out by learning from the pros at Morrice Florist on how to create a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape by incorporating seasonal flowers and vegetables. Session runs from 4 – 6, Trustees member price $60, nonmembers $75. Register at http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/cape-cod-islands/event-49345.html
Please contact Lindsay with any allergy or food restriction questions at lbrown@thetrustees.org
On Sunday, November 19, 1:30-3pm at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, join instructor Laura Jean Pecci, LJ Floral & Event Design (Cambridge) for a workshop on Thanksgiving centerpieces. Create a lush, loose, natural autumn arrangement- perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday table. Focal flowers will be accented with unique textures, and seasonal elements of interest. All Materials included in fee ($90 for Tower Hill members, $100 for nonmembers).
For the past decade, Laura Jean Pecci has been a creative force in floral design in Boston and beyond. As head designer at the most esteemed shops in the city, Laura Jean was responsible for creating and filling orders for their most prestigious clients. Three years ago, Pecci headed out on her own and founded LJ Floral and Design. Quickly growing out of her studio space, her business blossomed and she moved to a storefront location in Cambridge complete with boutique and in-house design studio, and a rock star design crew, made up of floral enthusiasts, avid gardeners, and artists. Register online at www.towerhillbg.org.
We wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving, filled with love, companionship, good food and a Patriot’s victory over the Jets tonight. Our deadline for holiday wreath ordering is a week away, so if you have a moment after washing dishes and putting away leftovers, click on to https://bostonflora.com/products-page/ and place your order before time slips away!
Pumpkins, squash, peas, beans, turnips, carrots, potatoes, parsnip, spinach, corn, apples, pecans, cabbage, and more are common components of a Thanksgiving feast. But have you considered these fruits, tubers, nuts, and vegetables from a botanical perspective? In a novel analysis of this traditional meal, Professor Pamela Diggle, Evolutionary Biologist at University of Colorado and Harvard University, will open your eyes to the plant anatomy and physiology that preceded the creation of, say, your grandmother’s sweet potato-marshmallow casserole or your uncle’s savory succotash. This Arnold Arboretum class will be held Wednesday, November 16, from 7 – 8:30 in the Weld Hill Research Building at the Arboretum. Free, but registration requested. Visit www.arboretum.harvard.edu for registration and more information.
Make your own beautiful, long-lasting centerpiece of fresh fall flowers, preserved autumn leaves, fruits, vegetables, fragrant herbs and seasonal berries to celebrate our day of thanks. Betsy Williams of The Proper Season instructs at Tower Hill Botanic Garden Saturday, November 20, from 9:30 am – 12:00 noon. $60 for THBG members, $65 for non-members. To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.
The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay will hold its Annual Christmas Tree Sale at the Clarendon Street Playground on Saturday, December 5 through Sunday, December 6, from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. NABB Director Chris Mitchell will once again bring in fresh-cut balsam fir trees from the State of Maine, with all proceeds benefiting The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. Local deliveries are available. If you would like an extra tall tree, please call Lois Harvey at the NABB office (617-247-3961) before Thanksgiving to put in a special order. For more information, log on to www.nabbonline.com.
The Millis Garden Club invites you to a Holiday Floral and Decor Demonstration this Saturday, November 7, from 2 – 4 pm, at the St. Thomas Large Hall/Rectory, Route 109, Millis, Massachusetts (between 972 and 984 Main Street). Master Floral Designer Barbara Wysk of Wysk Designs will create beautiful arrangements suitable for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and all arrangements will be raffled off.
Festive holiday savories and sweets will be served. $5 donation at the door suggested.
The Woods of the World permanent exhibit consists of 178 unique woods from all parts of the globe and hangs from the walls and ceiling near the north entrance of Lyman Plant House, 15 College Lane, Northampton, Massachusetts.
The wood samples on display have a clear protective finish but are not stained. Aging will change the colors over time.
Deforestation, poaching and global warming are placing many tree species at risk. It is only through sustainable harvesting, reforestation and habitat preservation that many useful and beautiful woods will be available for future generations. The hours are 8:30 – 4:00 daily, closed Thanksgiving Day and December 23 – January 2.
