Boston Flora

Tag: The British Society

  • Thursday, March 26, 6:00 pm – British Society’s Inaugural Founders’ Medal Dinner

    The British Society invites you to its Inaugural Founders’ Medal Dinner on Thursday, March 26 at 6 pm at the Royal Sonesta Hotel, honoring Dr. Paul Smith for his exceptional achievements as head of the Millennium Seed Bank and leadership in the conservation of healthy, biologically diverse landscapes at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.  The program is cosponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society.

    The Founders’ Medal honors exceptional leadership and achievement in the conservation and promotion of healthy, biologically diverse landscapes. It recognizes the group of women who, in 1900, founded the Society for the Protection of Native Plants to stop the large-scale harvesting of wild plants for the florist trade and seasonal decoration.

    The Millenium Seed Bank aims to conserve seed from all plant species as insurance against the risk of extinction in their native habitats and for research, forest and habitat restoration, food security, and sustainable livelihoods. During Dr. Smith’s tenure, the MSB conserved seeds from more than 25,000 plant species, achieved the first milestone of securing seed from 10 percent of the world’s plants, and was on track to bank seeds of 25 percent of the world’s flora by 2020. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership, the MSB expanded the partnership network to 170 institutions in 80 countries; trained 2,000 seed biologists around the world; and established important initiatives to adapt agriculture to climate change and to increase the capacity of local communities, primarily in Africa, to conserve their natural resources and to store, propagate, and sustainably grow plant species to meet human needs.

    The hotel is located at 40 Edwin H. Land Boulevard in Cambridge.  Single tickets are $250. For more information, and to order tickets online, visit www.newenglandwild.org/medal.

  • Thursday, February 20, 6:00 pm – English Heraldry

    Again, another announcement not strictly horticultural, but which may appeal to our readers.  On Thursday, February 20, the British Society will hold another evening of “Britishness” with a talk on English Heraldry with John Shannon, President of The College of Arms Foundation (see its coat of arms below).  Mr. Shannon’s presentation will cover the evolution of English heraldry, the history of The College of Arms and the origins of several of the current Royal Arms including those of Elizabeth II – The Queen, Prince Philip – Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles – Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay and Prince William – Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, Baron Carrickfergus.

    During the optional dinner, Mr. Shannon will discuss how Americans may apply to The College of Arms for proving a right to arms or for the granting of honorary arms.The talk will take place at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue, by courtesy of Hope Baker.  Cocktail reception will begin at 6 with the presentation at 6:30.  An optional dinner with the speaker will begin at 7:45.  Reception and presentation – $50.  Reception, presentation and optional dinner – $150.  If you wish to be seated at the speaker’s table, the cost will rise to $200.  RSVP no later than February 17.  To reserve, click here and follow the directions.

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Coat_of_Arms_of_the_College_of_Arms.svg/794px-Coat_of_Arms_of_the_College_of_Arms.svg.png

  • Wednesday, November 13, 6:00 pm – The Castle of Mey

    The British Society invites you to another evening of “Britishness”.  On Wednesday, November 13, hear The Castle of Mey & Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother with Lt. Col. and Mrs. James Murray.  The presentation will take place at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, (entrance on Dartmouth Street) by courtesy of Hope Baker.  The Cocktail Reception begins at 6 pm, the presentation at 6:30, and an optional dinner with the speaker begins at 7:30.  Reception and presentation: $50; with optional dinner: $150.  If you choose the reception, presentation and seating at the speaker’s table: $200.  Respond no later than November 8 at www.TheBritishSociety.org/events/.  Valet parking at the door, $20 payable upon arrival.  Please note The Chilton Club does not permit the use of cellular telephones and requires business attire.  Please respect these rules.

    http://www.castleofmey.org.uk/clientimages/meygardens.jpg

  • Wednesday, October 2, 6:00 pm – 8:00 0m – David Austin Roses

    The British Society and The Garden Club of the Back Bay are pleased to present a lecture at The Union Club, 8 Park Street, Boston, on October 2nd featuring Michael Marriott, senior rose breeder at David Austin Roses.  There will be a cocktail reception beginning at 6 pm followed by a one hour presentation by Mr. Marriott.  The cost of $40 per person will include wines and hor d’oeuvre.  A cash bar will be available for spirits.

    David Austin is a rose breeder, specialist grower and author.  His first rose, the fragrant Constance Spry, was released in 1961.  Since then he has released nearly two hundred English roses.  David Austin Roses was established in 1969 and remains a family business.  Today his English roses are grown in every rose-loving nation in the world, and win awards in many different countries.  In 1999, the company opened an office in Tyler, Texas, and all roses for the American market are grown in the USA.

    After fifty years of intensive breeding, David Austin’s English roses combine the forms and fragrances of old roses with the repeat-flowering of modern roses. Michael Marriott has worked with David Austin Roses for over 25 years.  During this time he has designed private rose gardens and prestigious public gardens in many different countries.  His own garden is run on organic principles and has never been sprayed in the last 22 years.

    The British Society was founded in Boston in 1816 as a nonprofit charity to raise funds to furnish emergency relief to British Nationals and their children in the Boston area.  As an all-volunteer organization, almost all of every dollar raised goes to help individuals and families. The net proceeds of this lecture will go exclusively to The British Society.

    Please reply no later than September 27.  Reservations, and payment by check (made payable to The British Society) together with your contact details and a list of attending guests may be sent to Mr. Anthony Revis, Treasurer, The British Society, 501 Maple Meadows, 35 Maple Avenue, Sudbury, MA 01776.

    For reservations, and payment by credit card:
    E-mail treasurer@thebritishsociety.org with a list of attending guests, and then go to www.thebritishsociety.org/events.

    If you are unable to attend and would like to make a tax-deductible donation, or would like to make a contribution in excess of the subscription amount, it would be gratefully accepted. Please follow either the payment by check or payment by credit card instructions above.

    PLEASE NOTE:
    The Union Club does not permit the use of cellular telephones and requires business attire. Please respect these rules. Valet parking is available, payable at the door upon arrival. We thank www.online.wsj.com for the photo below.

    http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OD-AS212_ROSES_OZ_20120620162032.jpg