Boston Flora

Tag: Tower Hill

  • Heirloom Orchard Endowment at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

    New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is thrilled to announce a transformative $500,000 gift from George and Diantha Harrington of Kennebunk, Maine, in support of the Garden’s Frank L. Harrington Orchard. This extraordinary contribution will add to the Harrington Orchard endowment to ensure the preservation, care, and educational impact of this heirloom apple orchard for generations to come.

    Located along the botanic garden’s entry drive, the Harrington Orchard is a cherished feature that celebrates the region’s rich agricultural history. It preserves a collection of 119 heirloom apple varieties in an orchard of 268 trees. Also known as heritage apples, heirloom varieties have been passed down over generations and are celebrated for their diversity of taste, color, texture, and size. The Garden’s collection was founded during the Great Depression by Stearns Lothrop Davenport (1885–1973), a trustee of the Worcester County Horticultural Society (WCHS), the organization that operates New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. Representing a range of rare and historic apple varieties, the Harrington Orchard is both a living museum and an educational resource, connecting visitors to the art, science, and history of heirloom fruit cultivation.

    “The Harrington Orchard has been a long-term family interest for our family,” said George Harrington. Frank L. Harrington, for whom the orchard is named, was George Harrington’s father and a long-time WCHS supporter. The Harrington family has a connection to Worcester County that dates back generations, with members serving in leadership roles within local government and cultural institutions. George Harrington’s uncle, H. Waite Hurlburt, served as WCHS president from 1979 to 1984. “With this gift, we hope to ensure the Orchard’s vitality and to inspire others to appreciate the deep history and scientific importance of heirloom fruit trees,” Harrington says.

    The endowment supports long-term orchard care, including pruning, pest management, tree replacement, and interpretive programming. As apples cannot be preserved in a seedbank, maintaining living collections like the Harrington Orchard protects uncommon varieties from being lost. Thanks to recent collaborations with academic partners and other experts, the Harrington Orchard is emerging as a resource for advancing scientific knowledge of rare heirloom apple varieties and expanding public awareness about the importance of agricultural biodiversity.

    “George and DD Harrington’s generosity is a testament to their dedication to the preservation of the living collection of this heirloom orchard,” said Grace Elton, CEO of New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. “Their gift ensures that the Harrington Orchard will continue to flourish, delight, and educate our community for decades to come.”

    The Frank L. Harrington Orchard is a vital part of the Garden’s commitment to environmental stewardship and the protection of natural resources. To learn more, visit https://nebg.org/orchard/.

    Photo Caption/Credit: Apple blossom blooms in the Frank L. Harrington Orchard at New England Botanic Garden / New England Botanic Garden, Megan Stouffer

  • Sunday, January 19, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Plants for the Winter Garden with Warren Leach

    If you missed Warren Leach at the Arnold Arboretum, you have a second chance at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill on January 19 at 2 pm. The winter garden is truly a low maintenance affair and a time to enjoy – no weeding, no watering and no dead-heading! The winter landscape may be quiescent, but the garden need not be bleak. Plants with brightly colored berries, twigs, stems, foliage and even winter-blooming flowers shrug off the snow and cold. They bring cheer, even as the sun enters Capricorn. Landscape horticulturist Warren Leach, and author of the new book from Timber Press Plants for the Winter Garden, will showcase gardens he has designed that celebrate the winter season as well as planting design ideas for your own garden.

    Warren will be available for book signings after the lecture. Free for NEBG members, $10 for nonmembers. If you wish to purchase a book, $38.25 for members and $52.50 for nonmembers. Register HERE.

  • Wednesday, January 15, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Watercolors in the Conservatory with Linda

    Painting outdoors can be lovely and wonderful but that’s not always possible when the weather gets cooler. Fortunately for us, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill has beautiful indoor conservatories with an array of plants to enjoy year-round! Walk together through the Orangery and sit with a watercolor journal, water brushes, and watercolor paints to create your own depiction of the amazing flora NEBG has to share. 

    Learn the basics of watercolor painting by experimenting with different brushes and water amounts. Discover how watercolors mix with materials like salt and ink, and see how these techniques affect your artwork. Create your own piece in the subtropical conservatory while exploring how watercolors behave and how to control their flow.

    All materials are included in this January 15 class.  No experience needed.

    Meet Your Instructor: Linda Snay

    Linda Snay was born in Connecticut and has always been drawn to the world of art.  She discovered watercolors at a young age and was encouraged by art teachers.  She studied art in college and went on to graduate from Eastern Connecticut State University with a BA, double major in Studio Art and Art History.  After moving to Massachusetts, her career led to positions in education in museums and art centers, and she is currently a teaching artist leading engaging art classes for both children and adults.  She works in various media, including watercolor, acrylic, oil, and pastel.  She is a member of Arts Worcester and participates regularly in exhibitions in Central Massachusetts.

    $55 Member Adult | $66 Adult (includes admission to the Garden on the same day of the event) Register HERE.

  • Sunday, January 12, 10:30 am – 2:00 pm – Beginner’s Guide to Orchard & Winter Plant Pruning

    One January 12 at 10:30 am at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, learn the basics of pruning in this hands-on workshop, focusing on shaping fruit trees, caring for non-flowering evergreens and ornamentals. This engaging session is perfect for beginners and will build your skills in pruning with confidence to maintain healthy, beautiful plants. $40 NEBG members, $55 nonmembers. Tickets are limited. Register at www.nebg.org

  • Fridays and Saturdays, January 10 – 25, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Killer in the Conservatory

    Join the New England Botanical Garden at Tower Hill for an immersive and interactive murder mystery experience in collaboration with Escapism Productions. Each ticket includes one free beverage, an open popcorn bar, and a killer evening of murder mystery fun. Guests are welcome to come dressed for the occasion. Must be 21+ to attend. The event takes place Fridays and Saturdays, January 10 – 25, from 7 – 10 at NEBG in Boylston, Massachusetts. NEBG adult members $60, nonmember adults $75. Visit www.nebg.org to purchase tickets – link will take you to January 10 performance but navigate through the calendar for the date of your choice.

    Back by popular demand, our Killer in the Conservatory series continues with an all-new murder mystery. We invite you to enter into the realm of mystery and intrigue in a second chronicle featuring the tireless Inspector Leopold Lapis. Get transported to the Victorian era as you find yourself invited to the somber yet peculiar will reading of Dr. Vivian Verdant, a renowned herbologist with a passion for the alchemical arts. But as the evening unfolds, it becomes clear that this gathering is no ordinary affair. Lapis soon discovers that Dr. Verdant’s death may not be as straightforward as it seems, and the real mystery lies in uncovering the secrets she left behind. Who among the gathered suspects holds the key to the truth?

    Use your detective skills to assist Lapis with unraveling the tangled web of motives and deception. Solve puzzles, interrogate suspects, and gather clues to crack the case and bring the elusive culprit to justice–if you can.

    Ticket Refund and Exchange Policy: Tickets are non-refundable and are only valid for the date selected. Tickets can be rescheduled to a different evening of Killer in the Conservatory for a $10 fee but may only be rescheduled if tickets are still available for a different evening. Ticketholders must call 508-869-6111 x174 to reschedule by 5pm the day before the date on their original ticket.

    Please note: Tickets will not be available to purchase onsite during the event. Pre-registration is required. General Admission discounts and passes do not apply to this special event. Pets should remain at home. Service animals are welcome throughout the property at all times.

  • Friday, February 7 – Urban Tree Symposium Save the Date

    Save the date, February 7, 2025 for the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill’s Urban Tree Symposium. Details will be available soon at https://nebg.org/urbantreesymposium.

  • Saturday, November 9, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm & Sunday, November 10, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill Holiday Marketplace

    Enjoy The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill’s expanded Holiday Marketplace featuring favorite local artists and makers offering handmade wares for sale for holiday shopping. Find special, unique and handcrafted gifts from a host of guest artisans and vendors as well as from our own well-stocked Garden Shop.

    This event is a two-day event, November 9th and 10th, and is included with General Admission. We recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your preferred date. You can also buy tickets in person at the Garden.  Buy tickets here.

    Members will enjoy a double discount on Garden Shop purchases.  You must be the named cardholder to receive the member discounts.  No additional discounts on artwork or sale items. To learn more about the Holiday Marketplace click here. 

  • Saturday, October 19, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, & Sunday, October 20, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – American Craft Fair at New England Botanic Garden

    Celebrate the artistry of craftsmanship. Mark your calendar and be prepared to immerse yourself in the finest handcrafted ceramics, prints, jewelry, weaving, and more. Entry to the fair is included with general admission. Your admission also gives you access to New England Botanic Garden’s gardens, trails, and Enchanted Forest exhibit. This event will be held indoors, rain or shine. For a list of participating artists visit https://nebg.org/american-craft-fair/ Pictured below – a customized fabric floorcloth from Kelly Fabric Creations.

  • Saturday, October 5, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, & Sunday, October 6, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – New England Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale

    The award-winning New England Carnivorous Plant Society (NECPS) returns to the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill on October 5 and 6 to showcase a fascinating group of plants sure to captivate and amaze. Featured plants include pitcher plants from Malaysia with traps the size of softballs that are capable of eating lizards and mice. There will also be sundews from Australia ranging from the size of a dime to 12+ inches high and the ever-popular Venus Fly trap. For all native plant lovers, NECPS will also display carnivorous plants that grow locally in Massachusetts and throughout New England.

    Over 300 plants are scheduled to be on display and seminars will be offered on growing and feeding carnivorous plants. Visit the Venus Fly Trap feeding station where you can observe up close how these plants devour insects. Plants and growing accessories will be available for purchase for both novice and experienced growers from carnivorous plant vendors and the NECPS. 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.

    Saturday, October 5, 2024
    Show & Sale: 10am-5pm (while supplies last)
    Presentations: 11am-4pm
    Workshop: Bog Building | 11am-12pm ($ – pre-registration required)
    Workshop: Bog Building | 2-3pm ($ – pre-registration required)

    Sunday, October 6, 2024
    Show & Sale: 10am-4pm (while supplies last)
    Presentations: 11am-3pm
    Workshop: Bog Building | 11am-12pm ($ – pre-registration required)
    Workshop: Bog Building | 2-3pm ($ – pre-registration required)

  • Saturday, September 14, 9:30 am – 11:30 am – Buzzing into Autumn with Bees!

    Buzz into autumn on September 14 at 9:30 am with New England Botanic Garden as we guide you in planning a bee-utiful garden full of the best pollinator plants. Peek inside our resident honeybee hive and sweeten your experience with a honey tasting featuring local varieties and honey straight from the source. It is beekeeping with no “stings’ attached.

    Buzz into autumn with New England Botanic Garden as we guide you to planning a bee-utiful garden, a visit to our hives, and a honey tasting.

    Instructor Hunter Blanchard is a horticulturist at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, MA. He has been with the organization since 2018, serving in roles that allow him to share his passion for making plants accessible to people and for nurturing growing things. Today, Hunter leads a three-person team responsible for 10 acres of naturalistic garden spaces that foster plant biodiversity and support pollinator populations through a focus on North American native plant species. He enjoys interpreting these garden spaces for visitors through tours and talks, hoping that these learning opportunities inspire people to engage more with plants at home or in other areas of their lives. A community builder, Hunter serves on the board of directors for F.E.R.N., a nonprofit that supports conservation by promoting synergy between individuals, communities, and organizations, and on the Conference Planning and Education Committees for the Ecological Landscape Alliance. Hunter holds an A.S. in sustainable horticulture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and a B.S. in plant soil science from Umass Amherst.

    Alyson Prokop serves as the Manager of Adult Education at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylton, MA. She joined NEBG in May 2024 after a decade at the Royal Botanical Gardens Canada, where she worked as a botanical horticulturist overseeing the Teaching and Community Food Gardens, in addition to her roles as Public Programs Coordinator and Horticultural Societies Liaison. She is passionate about leading and expanding garden programs, with a particular interest in initiatives that connect people with plants. Alyson is especially interested in food security and strives to make programming accessible to diverse audiences.

    Alyson’s background as an educator, field botanist, horticulturist, and market gardener informs her dedication to promoting biodiversity and sustainable practices. She prioritizes integrating community engagement and botanical stewardship in program development. Guided by her values of continuous learning, collaborative leadership, and sustainability, Alyson aims to contribute to plant conservation and educational projects in a managerial or curatorial role within botanical gardens.

    $35 member adult, $45 nonmembers. Register at www.nebg.org