Boston Flora

Tag: Thornton Burgess

  • Thursday, July 25, 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm – Once Upon a Time

    Join Peter Cottontail & Friends for the continuing celebration of the 150th birthday of Thornton W. Burgess. Enjoy a summer afternoon on July 25 from 3:30 – 7 filled with a Hare’s magical a-fair.

    There will be the amazing Trevor the Juggler, the Sandwich Town Band, Stories with Stu Parsons, “Hop on Rabbit, Rabbit” StoryWalk, Willow Wands, Cookie Walk, Bubble Art, Fishpond & Floating Rabbit Games, Face Painting, Spare Change Game, Game Garden, visit Peter Cottontail & Friends inside the Green Meadow Forest, and take a family fun photo on the Cape Cod Photobus!

    Then, take a break for some snacks including Local Scoop Ice Cream, Kono Pizza, Pineapple Cookie Company, plus a taste of nature with Green Briar’s famous Jam! There will be no parking at Green Briar Nature Center for this event. All parking will be at Sandwich High School. 365 Quaker Meeting House in East Sandwich, and trolleys will take you to the Center. Trolleys run every 20 minutes until 7 pm. Children and Adults $18, Children under 2 free, but ticket required. Get tickets at https://thorntonburgess.org/events/once-upon-a-time-3460

  • Wednesday, July 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Hydrangea Festival Walking Tour of Historic Homes & Gardens in Sandwich

    Join the Sandwich Arts Alliance on a fascinating walking tour of showpiece historic houses and buildings on July 10 from 10 – 4, each with a beautiful view. Start your tour by picking up your map at the Sandwich Arts Alliance at the 1834 Old Town Hall. While there, view the restored ballroom. Begin at your own pace into the yards of the featured homes where you will be greeted by costumed docents. 

    Stroll around the ancient miller’s house that was sold by John Dexter in 1699 to Seth Pope, Esq. for his son. Although the miller’s house is listed as 1699, it was extant when Pope bought it, so it is far older. Bendora, a gorgeous and fanciful Carpenter’s Gothic Victorian “Painted Lady” with beautiful gardens, was built by Ben Bartley upon his 1888 marriage to Dora Newcomb.  
    The impressive 1850 Victorian mansion built by Edward Swann is reached through beach stone arches up a slight hill to a porte-cochere where guests alighted from carriages.  Anyone who has walked past the John Jarves house knows it is surrounded by extensive plantings secreted by a hedge. You will finally get to satisfy your curiosity. If you wonder what it’s like to live directly on Shawme Pond, a 1972 house is charmingly sited with views of swans and geese. The owner illustrated the cover of Fur, Feathers, Scales, and Tails, a pet book published by SAA.


    The birthplace of renowned children’s author Thornton Burgess –  Across from the Hoxie House is School Street, the location of the birthplace of Thornton W. Burgess. This year is the 150th Birthday Anniversary of Sandwich’s renowned 20th century naturalist and author of Old Mother West Wind and many other books. Come sit a moment on this inviting front porch and buy your inscribed copy of Burgess’ biography, Nature’s Ambassador, and a new children’s book, The Last Heath Hen, both by author Christie Lowrance who lives in this charming 1835 home.
     
    Make a point to stop in at Dexter’s 1654 gristmill.  Tour the Hoxie House and gardens, built for Rev. John Smith in 1675. Tour the Sandwich Glass Museum. Visit artists painting on the green across from SAA. 

    Plan on a delightful day with family and friends that you will always remember. $30, available online or at SAA, 130 Main Street in Sandwich.

  • Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Nature’s Ambassador: The Legacy of Thornton W. Burgess

    Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Nature’s Ambassador: The Legacy of Thornton W. Burgess

    Do you recall tales of Old Mother West Wind, Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Reddy Fox, Grandfather Frog, or Jerry Muskrat? For over 100 years, the animal books and stories of beloved children’s author Thornton W. Burgess have delighted millions of children and their parents; more than of half his seventy books remain in print today.

    However, there was much more to Burgess, the man, than just a writer of children’s books: he was a dedicated naturalist who was honored by prestigious scientific institutions for his advocacy of wildlife and conservation practices that resonate today. His books, syndicated columns, and radio programs both entertained and educated children, introducing them to wildlife habitat, species extinction, and roadside litter.

    In Nature’s Ambassador, Christie Lowrance explores Burgess’s life and legacy, from his Cape Cod childhood to the present. Christie will speak on Wednesday, May 18 in the Hunnewell Building at the Arnold Arboretum beginning at 7 pm. Free for Arboretum members, $5 for nonmembers.  Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

  • Wednesday, July 15, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Annual Sandwich Garden Tour

    Visit a number of lovely private home gardens in Sandwich at your leisure anytime between 10am and 4pm.  Light refreshments will be served overlooking the Wildflower Garden at the Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road off Route 6A in East Sandwich. Tickets contain a map and directions to each garden and may be purchased in advance or on the day of the tour at Green Briar. All proceeds benefit the educational programs of the Burgess Society and its Green Briar Nature Center. Tickets are $15. Rain date is Friday, July 17. For more information you may call 508-888-6870, or visit http://www.thorntonburgess.org.

  • Wednesday, July 9, 5:00 pm – Looking at Lichens: A Journey of Discovery Beginning on Cape Cod

    Looking at Lichens-A Journey of Discovery Beginning on Cape Cod was written by naturalist Nancy Wigley with photographs by Susan W. Carr.

    Ms. Wigley will answer questions about what lichens are, where they are found, how they reproduce, why they are like the canary in the mine, which ones are poisonous, how they are used medicinally, and how they played an important role in establishing life on Earth. She will also have common specimens on hand during this drop-in program at the Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road (off Route 6A) in East Sandwich on Wednesday, July 9 beginning at 5 pm.  $5.  For more information call 508-888-6870, or email info@thorntonburgess.org.

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  • Friday, May 16 – Sunday, May 18, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – 3rd Annual Herb Festival & Plant Sale

    Select from an extensive plant sale of herbs, perennials, wildflowers, everlastings and annuals at the best prices, at the 3rd Annual Herb Festival & Plant Sale, to be held May 16 – 18 at the Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road (off Route 6A) in East Sandwich.

    Browse among the craft booths and beautiful grounds and gardens of the nature center. Enjoy a delightful herb luncheon served on Friday. Advance reservations are required. All proceeds benefit the environmental education programs of the Thornton W. Burgess Society and its Green Briar Nature Center. Free admission. To make reservations, call 508-888-6870, or email info@thorntonburgess.org.

    http://www.thorntonburgess.org/images/Centaurea-montana.jpg

  • Wednesday, July 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Sandwich Garden Tour

    Visit a number of lovely private home gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts at your leisure anytime between 10am and 4pm on Wednesday, July 10.  A new dimension is added to this year’s tour. Members of the Pen Women of Cape Cod will be painting and writing poems on site at each garden.  Light refreshments will be served overlooking the Wildflower Garden at Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road (off Route 6A) in East Sandwich.

    Tickets to the tour, with a map and directions to each garden, may be purchased in advance or on the day of the tour.  All proceeds benefit the environmental education programs of the Thornton W. Burgess Society and its Green Briar Nature Center. Visit www.thorntonburgess.org, or call 508-888-6870 for additional information.

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  • Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – 32nd Annual Herb & Plant Festival

    The Thornton W. Burgess Society will hold its 32nd Annual Herb & Plant Festival Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, from 10 – 4, at the Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road in East Sandwich.  Enjoy an extensive plant sale, an herb luncheon, garden lectures, children’s programs, wildflower garden walks, and browse the gift shop.  Reservations are required for the delightful Friday luncheon.  Call 508-888-6870, or visit www.thorntonburgess.org.

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  • Tuesday, December 7 – Tuesday, April 26, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Plants of the Season: Identification and Inspiration

    Each month on a Tuesday afternoon ethnobotanist Sharon Ackland explores wildflower and woodland paths in the gardens, hedgerows and woods of the Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill road (off Route 6A) in East Sandwich to search out wild edibles and medicinals, while pausing to inspect prominent plants of the season.

    During the winter months activity is mainly indoors. Review current research for home recipes. Can this plant be used as a cooked green or to make a cordial, throat lozenge, asthma inhalant, headache remedy, shampoo or toothpaste?

    Program includes horticultural tips for naturalizing the home landscape, native plant lore, American Indian usage, gift ideas and easy recipes to make at home. Dates are December 7, January 25, February 22, March 29, and April 26, from 1 – 2:30 pm.  Call 508-888-6870 to register each month.   $15 per monthly session.  For directions, click on to www.thorntonburgess.org. Image below from Morton Arboretum.

  • Wednesday, July 14, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Sandwich Garden Tour

    Visit lovely Sandwich homes at your leisure on Wednesday, July 14, from 11 – 3.  Light refreshments will be served at Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road in East Sandwich. This event is a benefit for The Thornton W. Burgess Society.

    The Thornton W. Burgess Society is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1976 to carry on the pioneering conservation work of author/naturalist Thornton W. Burgess (1874 – 1965). Mr. Burgess, who was born and grew up in Sandwich, Massachusetts, went on to achieve national and international recognition for his childrens stories that teach lessons of conservation and love of wildlife.

    Over 170 books and 15,000 stories by Burgess chronicle the tales of Peter Rabbit and his animal friends, including Jimmy Skunk, Grandfather Frog, Johnny Chuck, Sammy Jay, Reddy Fox, Hooty Owl and many others. Through these engaging stories, generations of young people have learned about the natural world and have developed an understanding of the importance of conservation of our natural resources.

    The Thornton W. Burgess Society operates three facilities. The Thornton W. Burgess Museum on the shores of Shawme Pond on Water Street (Rte 130) in Sandwich village and the Green Briar Nature Center, the Jam Kitchen at 6 Discovery Hill Road (off Rte. 6A) in East Sandwich and the East Sandwich Game Farm.

    Tickets are $15 each, in advance or on the day of tour, if available, and may be purchased at Green Briar.    For more information, call 508-888-6870, or log on to www.thorntonburgess.org.

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