Boston Flora

Tag: Wellesley

  • Monday, January 4, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Taster Day

    The Friends of Wellesley Botanic Gardens will host Ann Swan on Monday, January 4 from 9:30 – 3:30 for a one day workshop in colored pencil for beginners.  This class is a whistle stop introduction to the materials and techniques Ann uses to produce her vibrant, contemporary illustrations with colored pencils.  She will guide you through the minefield of materials and their uses and will demonstrate the basic techniques of layering, burnishing and underpainting, and with some individual attention, will launch you into the exciting world of colored pencil.  Be warned, it is addictive!  WCBG Friend price $125, nonmembers $150.  Register by calling 781-283-3094.  Image copyright Ann Swan.

  • Tuesday, April 28, 4:15 pm – Growing Behind Prison Walls

    Wellesley Research Technician Mia Howard and Lab Instructor Marcy Thomas are volunteers in the newly created Horticulture Program at the Framingham Women’s Correctional Facility, where the mission of “Women Helping Women” is advanced through a shared goal to have inmates learn new skills and grow food to donate to women’s shelters.  Come to the Wellesley College Botanic Garden on Tuesday, April 28 at 4:15 and hear about Mia and Marcy’s experiences working alongside women prisoners, helping with the planting and transplanting, and contributing to the program’s growth.  Free for members of WCBG, nommembers $10.  Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

  • Thursday, April 23, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Nature Journals: Small & Simple Handmade Books

    In this Friends of Wellesley Botanic Garden workshop on Thursday, April 23, from 9:30 – 3:30 with Suzanne Lee, create a book great for a diary, recipe book, special memories, or travel journal.  Choose to also make a small notepad or sketchbook holder.  Use hand-made papers, beautiful combinations of natural dried leaves, fabric collage, or combinations of old sketches and paintings.  Use tiny sketches or natural scraps you’ve collected, if you wish, but the workshop includes all materials for either project.  No previous experience needed.  Friends: $85, nonmembers $100.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

  • Monday, April 13, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – The Versatility of Black and White: A History of Pen and Ink

    Carol Govan discusses the centuries-old tradition of creating pen and ink illustrations, which are valued for their rich detail and ability to be reproduced for scientific as well as artistic purposes.  Examples of drawings from artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt in addition to many botanical artists from the past and present will reveal the beauty of using ink.  Carol will also discuss the materials used as well as techniques such as weighted line, cross-hatch and stipple, which enhance the simple contrast of black and white.  The Wellesley College Botanic Garden lecture will take place Monday, April 13 from 1 – 3, and is free to members of the WCBG, $10 for non members.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.  Image by Ruth deMonchaux.

  • Monday, February 16, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Cloudy With a Chance of Pepos

    The popular book and movie Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs makes us hungry!  Giant food doesn’t fall from the sky at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden, but we’ll experiment with rafting options to be prepared for a getaway just in case.  We’ll think about where our food really comes from and explore the different ways that botanists and chefs think of fruits and vegetables. Do an imaginative craft and enjoy a botanical fruit tasting with a “pepo”, a “drupe,” a “pome,” and a “hesperidum.”  The free event takes place Monday, February 16, between 1 – 4 (drop in anytime.)  For more information call 781-283-3094.

  • Monday, January 19, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – The Plantastic World of Harry Potter

    The Friends of the Wellesley College Botanic Garden had so much fun last spring with the plants mentioned in the Harry Potter books that they’re doing it again, with some different activities. While whomping willow and puffapod sprang from the imagination of author J.K. Rowling, other plants used by Harry Potter and his wizardly friends are quite real and have stories of their own to tell.  Meet a mandrake and see if it screams.  Explore the Wellesley College Botanic Garden’s selection of wand woods and potion ingredients.   Make an owl craft and learn about these amazing creatures.  Create a “plunging potion pouch” to take home. Come dressed as your favorite character from the Harry Potter books if you wish.  The free, family friendly event will take place Monday, January 19, from 1 – 4 (drop in anytime.) For directions visit www.wellesley.edu.

  • Tuesday, January 6 – Thursday, January 8, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Drawing the Market: Fruits and Veggies in Graphite

    Explore creative ways to arrange the abundance of produce contained in grocery store aisles to make intriguing compositions of fruit, berries, and foliage.  Focus on graphite techniques under the guidance of Carol Ann Morley at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden in a three day class to be held Tuesday, January 6 – Thursday, January 8, from 9:30 – 3:30 (snow date Friday, January 9.)  Discover how to analyze shapes and negative spaces to create three dimensional forms and bring your art to life.  This is a workshop suitable for all levels.  WCBG members $250, nonmembers $300.  Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu. Image below by Evan Lovejoy.

  • Tuesday, January 13 – Thursday, January 15, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – From the Market: Colorful Fruits and Veggies

    You’ve taken the graphite course, now explore color with Carol Ann Morley at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden on Tuesday, January 13 – Thursday, January 15 from 9:30 – 3:30 (snow date Friday, January 16.)  Learn to capture the vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables. Find out how many multiple overlays of colors it can take to give depth, shie and texture to one berry.  Draw from the abundance of produce available in the middle of winter to make intriguing compositions of fruit, berries and foliage.  Explore creative possibilities, whether traditional or whimsical, to enhance your artwork.  This is a workshop suitable for all levels.  WCBG members $250, nonmembers $300.  Call 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu to sign up. Illustration courtesy of Sue Woodfine.

  • Monday, December 1, 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Nature Journals: Small and Simple Handmade Books

    In this one-day Wellesley College Botanic Garden workshop on Monday, December 1 with Suzanne Lee, make a special book – great to give for a diary, recipe book, special memories or travel journal.  Choose, also, to make a small notepad or sketchbook holder,.  Both are fun and easy to make.  Use hand-made papers, beautiful combinations of natural dried leaves, your own hand-printed ginkgo and Japanese lace leaf leaves, a unique form of fabric collage, or combinations of old sketches and paintings.  A great way to use tiny sketches or natural scraps you’ve collected, but the workshop includes all materials for either project.  One will not be enough, but easy to do more on your own after the first.  No previous experience is necessary.  The class runs from 9:30 – 3:30 in the Visitors Center of the Botanic Garden, and the cost for WCBG Friends is $85, nonmembers $100.  Register by calling 781-283-3094, or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu. Image from www.sanctuaryarts.org.

  • Saturdays, November 1 – November 22, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – Fruits of Fall: Painting Acorns and Chestnuts on Vellum

    Esther Klahne guides you in capturing autumn fruits’ shapes and highlights as well as achieving a balanced composition.  Working on vellum, choose your subject from an assortment of acorn or chestnut specimens, either your own or those provided.  This Class, sponsored by the Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens, will take place on four successive Saturdays, November 1 – 22, from 9:30 – 12:30, on campus.  The cost is $200 for Friends, $250 for non-members.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.  The tuition includes the cost of the provided vellum.