Boston Flora

Tag: Tower Hill Botanic Garden

  • Saturday, October 13, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm – Apples, Apples, Apples

    It’s fall, time to celebrate all things Apple! Apples are an ancient, mysterious and remarkable fruit. Grown for over 10,000 years, apples appear in myths, legends, songs and folk traditions. Apple trees can live for over 100 years and no two apple seeds will produce the same fruit. Instructor Betsy Williams will hold a food and design class at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on Saturday, October 13 from 10:30 – 1.

    The shape, flavor and fragrance of apples play starring roles in fall and winter celebrations. We’ll discuss apple history and traditions, learn how to use apples decoratively for the upcoming holidays and enjoy an apple tasting. The class will sample apple cider syrup, nibble dried apple slices, enjoy a sip of apple infused vodka, try a savory apple soup and classic apple salad then make a small table arrangement to celebrate Autumn with apples, greens, berries and other seasonal touches. Recipe handouts included. All materials included.

    Betsy Williams teaches, lectures and writes about living with herbs and flowers. A gardener and herb grower since 1972, Betsy trained as a florist in Boston and England. She combines her floral and gardening skills with an extensive knowledge of history, plant lore and seasonal celebrations. Betsy is the author of several books on the uses and stories of herbs and flowers. She has appeared on the Discovery Channel and greater Boston cable stations as well as local and national radio talk shows. Betsy lectures and teaches locally and nationally. $70 for Tower Hill members, $80 for nonmembers. Register online at www.towerhillbg.org.

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  • Sunday, October 7, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – The Art and Science of Growing Giant Pumpkins

    Sunday, October 7, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – The Art and Science of Growing Giant Pumpkins

    On Sunday, October 7, at 2 pm at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, giant pumpkin grower Steve Connolly will discuss how he grew the state record holding 2075 lb. pumpkin in 2016. His free talk will focus on how 30+ years of selective breeding of an isolated species of Giant Pumpkins has led to fruits that are bigger and heavier than ever. The genetic bundle inside the seeds know what to do. Provide optimum conditions and monster pumpkins result!

    Steve Connolly grew the first 1000 pound pumpkin in New England in 2000 and currently holds the record for the largest pumpkin grown in Massachusetts at 2075 pounds (2016). In his 24 years of growing giant pumpkins, he has won numerous awards and has been featured on radio, television and in print, including the Today Show, NPR, Martha Stewart, David Letterman, National Geographic, Yankee Magazine, and more. He is an active Board member of the Southern New England Giant Pumpkin Growers Club.

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  • Saturday, October 6, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – The Joy of Making Homemade Wines

    This introductory class at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on October 6 from 1:30 – 3:30 will cover the basics of making various styles of wine in your own home. Learn how to make red and white wines, dessert wines, seasonal wines such as Nouveau and spring wines, hard cider, and fruit wines. The class will cover the biology behind the fermentation process; and how to crush, process, and turn grapes, grape juice, apples or apple cider, and other fruits into quality wines. An emphasis will be placed on using small and inexpensive wine making equipment to minimize expenses and fuss. In addition, it will detail how to rack and bottle wines for home consumption. Further, the class will delve into how to blend and barrel age wines, and how to correct problem wines so that they can still be enjoyed. As the class progresses, there will be wines to sample so that the students can learn about various styles of wine and the different flavor profiles of different grape varieties. With the the growing popularity of hard ciders, a portion of the class will cover hard cider production and fruit wines. This presentation will be very lively and interactive. Participation and questions about a student’s own winemaking experiences is welcome. Afterwards, there will be a book signing of Grapes of the Hudson Valley which has two chapters on how to make wine, in addition to how to establish a vineyard. Must be 21 and over to participate.

    Instructor J. Stephen Casscles is an accomplished author, grape grower, winemaker, horticultural historian, and lawyer. Stephen has been a winemaker at the Hudson-Chatham Winery, in the Hudson Valley for the past 10 years, but has been making wines from grapes, apples, and other fruits for the past 40 years. In addition, he has a 12 acre fruit farm, Cedar Cliff, in Athens, NY. At Cedar Cliff, he grows over 75 different grape varieties which he evaluates for their prowess in the field and potential to make quality wines. For the past 15 years, Mr. Casscles has been concentrating on growing and evaluating 19th century Heirloom grape varieties that were developed in the Hudson Valley and on Cape Ann and Boston’s North Shore.  Further, he writes wine and grape growing articles for regional and national horticultural and wine industry journals. His research and interest has recently expanded to include the study of grape culture and wine making activities in Korea. $30 for THBG members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

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  • Thursday, October 11 – Saturday, October 13, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, October 14, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Show – An American Icon: The Apple

    Thursday, October 11 – Saturday, October 13, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, October 14, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Show – An American Icon: The Apple

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden and the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts will sponsor a flower show and exhibit on October 11 – 14, free with admission to the garden, entitled An American Icon: The Apple.

    Celebrate the harvest season and the beauty of plants and flowers. From horticulture exhibitions to daring floral designs, this show features the best from the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. In keeping with Tower Hill’s historic apple orchard, each design will center of the theme of apples.

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  • Tuesdays, October 2 – October 30, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Master Tree Steward Training

    Learn the skills essential to urban and community forestry and become tree stewards in your community at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on Tuesday nights, October 2 – 30, from 6 – 9. Topics covered include basic pruning techniques and safety, tree identification and biology, proper tree planting and care, tree pests and diseases, tree health assessment, and urban soil challenges. To complete this program, participants must commit to at volunteering for at least 20 hours in the urban forest of Worcester or at Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

    Coordinated by Worcester Tree Initiative

    Session 1:
    Introduction to the program/Welcome
    Basic Pruning Techniques & Safety in the Field – Classroom Training
    The Value of Urban Trees
    Hands-on Indoor Pruning
    Field Tree ID

    Session 2:
    Hands-on Outdoor Tree Pruning
    Tree Biology
    Tree Diseases/Fungi
    Tree ID

    Session 3:
    How to Properly Plant a Tree
    Tree Establishment and Ongoing Tree Care
    Tree Health Assessment Intro
    Identifying Common Urban Trees

    Session 4:
    Community Pests/Diseases: How to Identify & What to do.
    Soil, Plant Nutrition & Urban Soil Challenges
    Tree Identification: Shapes of Leaves, Texture of Bark, Leaf Scars, etc.
    Identifying Common Urban Trees

    Session 5:
    Evolving Forest – Migration of Pests and Change in Agricultural Zones
    Tree Care Leadership in your Community
    Test
    Certificates/Volunteer Sign Up

    SKILL LEVEL: ALL LEVELS. THBG members $120, nonmembers $140. Register online at www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Saturday, September 8, or Sunday, September 9, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Bog Building Workshop

    On either Saturday, September 8 or Sunday, September 9 (your choice) from 3 – 4, build a complete miniature bog with four temperate carnivorous plants in a 10 inch bowl. Learn about the plants, how to build a bog, and how to take care of it. All materials and instruction included. Lauren Sitterly will instruct, at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston. No prior experience necessary. $30 for THBG members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—bog-building-workshop

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  • Saturday, September 8, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, September 9, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – 15th Annual Fall Carnivorous Plant Show

    Saturday, September 8, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, September 9, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – 15th Annual Fall Carnivorous Plant Show

    The 15th Annual Fall Carnivorous Plant Show, sponsored by the New England Carnivorous Plant Society, will take place Saturday, September 8 from 10 – 5 and Sunday, September 9, from 10 – 4, at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston.
    Admission to the NECPS show is FREE with the purchase of regular admission to the Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

    Admission: Adults $15.00, Seniors (65+) $10.00, Youth (6-18) $5.00
    Massachusetts EBT Cardholders (any age): $2. We admit up to four guests with one EBT card.
    Tower Hill Botanic Garden Members & Children under 5 FREE
    Military Personnel, Veterans, and Military Families: 20% off general admission year-round with a valid Military ID or Dependent ID.
    Guests must pay admission to the Garden to visit Twigs cafe and the Garden Shop.

    This is the largest collection of carnivorous plants displayed annually on the East Coast!  Plant lovers and all those who enjoy something different will be able to get up close to view hundreds of carnivorous plants exhibited by the members of the NECPS. There are over 750 currently recognized carnivorous and protocarnivorous plant species and many more hybrids. We strive to represent plants from each carnivorous plant genus.

    Visit the Venus Fly Trap Feeding Area where you can observe up close how these plants devour insects. Attend Free Seminars on the care and cultivation of carnivorous plants. Plants and growing accessories will be available for purchase for both novice and experienced growers from respected Carnivorous Plant Vendors and the NECPS and it’s members. Society members will be present both days to explain how the plants feed, what they eat, where they live, and how they can be grown and enjoyed at home. Visitors can expect to see carnivorous plants from all over the world including carnivorous plants that grow locally throughout New England.  Hundreds of plants are scheduled to be on display! Lots of opportunities for photographers. LIVE Venus Fly Trap feedings.

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  • Saturday, September 15 – Under the Harvest Moon

    Under the Harvest Moon: Cider to Sidecars, will be celebrated Saturday, September 15, from 6 pm – 11 pm. The evening benefits The Worcester County Horticultural Society and Tower Hill Botanic Garden.  The lively event features cocktails and seasonal hor d’oeuvre served amidst Tower Hill’s wild and cultivated beauty.  Guests will also enjoy seasonal farm-to-table dining, live music, unexpected auction items, and other surprises sure to delight – all under September’s spectacular Harvest Moon. For complete details, visit http://towerhillbg.org/harvestmoon.

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  • Saturday, August 18, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Pollinator Activity on Native Shrub Cultivars

    Increasingly native plants have been used to support pollinators in the landscape, but consumers and conservation groups want the best plants to support these organisms. Native plants are primarily sold as cultivated varieties (cultivars), which have been questioned for their ability to support as effectively as “straight species”, plants that have been unaltered from their natural form. Dr. Jessica Lubell-Brand and Jacob Ricker have directed research towards pursuing the answer to this question. Six native shrub species and cultivars at the University of Connecticut native shrub planting are being measured for pollinator visitation. Over ten groups of pollinators are being assessed to find potential similarities or differences among the straight species and their varieties in an attempt to encompass as much diversity as possible. This Saturday, August 18 Tower Hill Botanic Garden presentation from 1 – 2 will entail a summary of the results of two complete seasons of research at the shrub planting. Free with admission to the garden. For more information visit www.towerhillbg.org.

    Jacob earned his BS in 2016 at the University of Connecticut, where he is now in his second year of his Masters Degree in Plant Science working in the lab of Dr. Jessica Lubell-Brand.

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  • Saturday and Sunday, August 18 – 19, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – An Introduction to Impressionist Painting in Oils & Acrylics

    Join in the fun of painting with impressionist techniques using color boldly, outdoors, in the botanical setting of Tower Hill Botanic Garden. This two day painting workshop on August 18 – 19 from 10 – 4 with Marcia Wise will enhance the use of color, color placement, values, and technical skills, and provide individual attention as well as group discussions & critiques.

    Oil paints, acrylics, and water soluble oil paints can be used in this workshop. A materials list will be sent upon registration. $150 for Tower Hill members, $165 for nonmembers. Register at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—an-introduction-to-impressionist-painting-in-oils-and-acrylics

    A native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, instructor Marcia R. Wise began painting lessons as a child studying in Provincetown, Ma. with impressionist painter Henry Hensche. She received formal training at L’Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaux Arts in Paris, France; The Art Institute of Boston; and Boston University. Marcia worked as an art teacher in public and private education, and she is now a full time studio artist with gallery representation in Boston & Provincetown, MA., Santa Fe, NM, Los Angeles, CA., New York, and Milford, DE. She also continues to teach private students as well as painting workshops locally, nationally and internationally. Each year Marcia takes people to paint in the Tuscan landscape in Italy. Marcia’s work has been in local and national exhibits as well as in juried shows, publications, and collections. Please visit her website at www.marciarwise.com.  Image below courtesy of Boston Voyager Magazine.

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