The Garden Club of the Back Bay

The October meeting of The Garden Club of the Back Bay will be held Thursday, October 14, beginning at 10 am at The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.  The Club begins its year long examination of Water with a lecture on hurricanes, quite appropriate for the season, we believe.

Dr. Kerry Emanuel is a Professor of Atmospheric Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he has been on the faculty since 1981, after spending three years as a faculty member at UCLA. Professor Emanuel’s research interests focus on tropical meteorology and climate, with a specialty in hurricane physics. His interests also include cumulus convection, and advanced methods of sampling the atmosphere in aid of numerical weather prediction. He is the author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers, and two books, including Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes, released by Oxford University Press and aimed at a general audience, and What We Know about Climate Change, published by the MIT Press.

“Imagine standing at the center of a Roman coliseum that is 20 miles across, with walls that soar 10 miles into the sky, towering walls with cascades of ice crystals falling along its brilliantly white surface. That’s what it’s like to stand in the eye of a hurricane.”

Kerry Emanuel, one of the world’s leading authorities on hurricanes, gives us an engaging account of these awe-inspiring meteorological events, revealing how hurricanes and typhoons have literally altered human history, thwarting military incursions and changing the course of explorations. Offering an account of the physics of the tropical atmosphere, the author explains how such benign climates give rise to the most powerful storms in the world and tells what modern science has learned about them. Interwoven with this scientific account are descriptions of some of the most important hurricanes in history and relevant works of art and literature.  The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are essential.  There will also be a luncheon following the meeting, for which we must charge $20 per person.  To reserve, or for more information, email info@gardenclubbackbay.org. Members of The Garden Club of the Back Bay will receive written notification of the meeting.

Travel Unlimited is preparing now for its 2011 Chelsea Flower Show and English Gardens Tour, to take place May 21 – 28.  The trip includes such highlights as the 465 country estate of Wakehurst Place, an afternoon in Brighton, Arundel Castle in Norfolk, Borde Hill Gardens‘ annual “Sculpture in the Garden” exhibition (below), the Chelsea Flower Show, and the RHS Gardens at Wisley.  For complete itinerary, call Fred Blumenfeld at 800-645-6969.  The cost per person, including round trip airfare from New York, six nights accommodations with breakfast, 3 dinners, sightseeing, admissions, tour escort, taxes, transfers and baggage handling, is $2,799, double occupancy, with a single supplement of $595.

Come to the fall edition of Art In The Garden and start your holiday shopping early!  50 local artisans will exhibit their wares on the grounds of Weston Nurseries, 93 East Main Street in Hopkinton, on Sunday, October 10, from 10 – 4.

Pottery, jewelry, stained glass, photography, handbags, hair accessories, clothes, furniture, toys, American Girl doll clothes, woodcrafts, Austrian Cookies, and other food vendors, face painting, and much more will be on sale!  $1 admission to benefit the John Andrew Mazie Memorial Foundation – www.mazie.org. A portion of exhibitor fees are being donated to The Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition- www.mbcc.org.  Sponsored by Holistic Treasures and Weston Nurseries – for more information log on to www.westonnurseries.com, or email buffy@holistic-treasures.com.

Birds love the Arboretum’s many fall fruiting trees and shrubs, but how about us folks? Come and identify trees and shrubs with edible fruits, suitable for growing and harvesting at home. Maggie Redfern, Visitor Education Assistant at the Arnold Arboretum, will lead the walk on Tuesday, October 19, beginning at 10 am. Meet at the Hunnewell Building. Free. No registration required.

Assess the year’s gardening successes and failures, review the gardening events of the spring and summer and begin planning for next season at this Berkshire Botanical Garden lecture/workshop, to be held Saturday, October 9 from 1 – 3. Consider winter interest in the garden and understand when to prune perennials. Learn how to prepare gardens for the coming winter season including soil amending, mulching, cutting back, and fall division of perennials. Seed saving for the coming spring, division of plants that require fall planting, and bulb planting techniques will be covered. Take home a variety of seeds, cuttings and perennials for next season’s garden.

Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over twenty years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed border gardens. She will share some favorite perennials from her own garden. $20 BBG members, $25 non-members. To register, log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call 413-298-3926. Dress for outdoors.

Jackie Anza, Henry Schmidt, and Laurie Sullivan of Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton will present Bulb Day on Saturday, October 9, from 9 am – 11:30 am.

Fall Planted Bulb Basics – 9:00 – 9:30 am

Fall-planted bulbs can’t be beat for terrific color in the early months of spring. Learn about the wide variety of carefree bulbs available. Henry Schmidt will have great tips on how select, plant and care for your bulbs.

Layered Bulb Container Demonstration and Workshop – 9:30 -10:15 am

Learn how to assemble and plant a fabulous layered bulb container that will bloom next spring. Plant your own container. Our designers will be on hand to assist you.

Jackie Anza will demonstrate planting methods and explain about winter storage. Select bulbs from our Garden Center to design your own look. Purchase a container in our Garden Center or bring one from home. You can plant your container on the spot, or bring your bulbs home with you.

Designing with Bulbs – 10:30 – 11:30 am

Spring flowering bulbs look spectacular in home landscapes serving as the earliest blooms in perennial beds and focal accents for entranceways or hidden corners. They can highlight natural landscape spaces or create a beautifully formal mass planting. Whatever your style, Laurie Sullivan show you the design concepts behind creating a gorgeous spring flower display at your home.

For directions or more information, log on to www.westonnurseries.com.

Asa Gray’s central role in establishing Harvard as the botanical center of North America can be appreciated through the impressive landscape, history, and flora of the Mount Auburn Cemetery. Join Donald Pfister, Asa Gray Professor of Botany and Director of the Harvard Herbaria, for a Saturday, October 9 tour of Mount Auburn Cemetery, site of Gray’s grave and the Asa Gray Garden, and other sites of interest, including the monument to the lost members of the United States Exploring Expedition, Louis Agassiz’s grave, and numerous horticultural gems. Space is limited for this Harvard Museum of Natural History member tour. Pre-registration required. RSVP to members@oeb.harvard.edu, or call 617.496.6972 to learn more about membership in the museum.  The tour begins at 9 am, and there is a raindate of Sunday, October 10.  Part of the Asa Gray Bicentennial series. Photo below by KarenMarleneLarsen.

Joe Biagioni of Arbor Alliance leads this two session pruning workshop that covers the five basic steps in pruning confidently.  The classes will take place at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, on Wednesday evening, October 20, from 6 – 9, and on Saturday morning, October 23, from 9 – 12.  Tower Hill member cost is $54, non-members $60.  To register, or for more information, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

Hundreds of orchid plants are for sale, including many hard-to-find varieties. Visit these antique greenhouses and enjoy gorgeous floral colors, shapes, and scents. Among the many varieties on display and for sale are cattleyas, laelias, oncidiums (below), Paphiopedilum, and Phalaenopsis. Their long lasting and showy blooms make orchids a dramatic addition to any indoor environment and this adaptable species can be grown in a variety of home conditions. The sale will take place October 8 – 10 from 10 – 4 at the Lyman Estate Greenhouses in Waltham, Massachusetts, and is sponsored by Historic New England.  For more information and directions, log on to www.historicnewengland.org, or call 781-891-1985.

On Saturday, October 2 at 4 pm authors Leslie Brunetta and Catherine L. Craig will speak at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street in Cambridge, giving a lecture and book signing of their recently released book Spider Silk: Evolution and 400 Million Years of Spinning, Waiting, Snagging and Mating. Spider webs didn’t just suddenly appear, they evolved step by step over hundreds of millions of years. Join science writer Leslie Brunetta and Catherine L. Craig, evolutionary biologist and research associate at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology, to learn about the many different ways spiders use silk and why they can help us understand how evolution really works. Whether you’re a gardener, Charlotte’s Web or Spider-Man fan, or an amateur arachnologist of any age–you’ll find much to appreciate in the amazing story of spider silk. Free with museum admission.  For more information log on to www.hmnh.harvard.edu.

Betsy Williams, a popular speaker at garden clubs and herb festivals, will demonstrate how to grow and use garlic, how to select from the many beautiful alliums available for the garden, and how to use garlic and the “bodacious” alliums in seasonal flower decorating. The program, sponsored by the Medford Garden Club, will be held Thursday, October 7, from 7 – 9 at the Medford Public Library, 111 High Street in Medford, and is free and open to the public.  For more information, email sbcummer@msn.com.

Tower Hill’s gardens contain many beautiful native plants that are the most glorious in the fall.  Discover why these plants are great choices for your home garden on this walk with Dori Smith, M.Ed., Gardens for Life in Acton, on Sunday, October 17, from 1 – 3, rain or shine.  Tower Hill Members: $22, non-Members: $25.  To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.  Photo below taken during a Garden Club of the Back Bay field trip in September, 2008.

Get ready for another exciting and informative weekend, this year in Hull, Massachusetts.  Welcome back some instructors you may have enjoyed before, and meet new ones.  Learn about weather and discuss global warming with a local meteorologist.  Trade in your toxic household products for healthy, non-toxic alternatives.  Explore pollution and develop a value system which respects the interdependence of all nature.  Explore the rain forest and discover new ways to protect endangered plants and wildlife.  Last, but not least, visit Hull’s wind turbines and learn about their development, construction, and how Hull benefits from clean, free energy.  This National Garden Clubs, Inc. program November 6 – 7 is entitled The Living Earth – Air and Related Issues.  The event will be held at the Nantasket Beach Hotel and Conference Center, 45 Hull Shore Drive in Hull, and the course fee is $110. Marc Fournier, Debbie Cook, Marie Stella, Rob Gilman, and Patrick Cannon will speak.  Required text: Living in the Environment by G. Tyler Miller, Jr., 7th Edition or later – Reference only.  For complete information, call Judy Dorner at 781-367-0626, or email her at Kayakflower@verizon.net.

A large variety of North American species actually perform better if the whole plant is transplanted from a container in the spring rather than bare root in the fall. Laura Eisener highlights some of the beautiful native plants that grow from bulbs, corms, rhizomes, and tubers, including spring and summer blooming species. These hardy, long-lasting perennials make delightful additions to your sun or shade garden. The Tuesday, October 5 class  (from 7 – 9) is co sponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society and by Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm, and the fee to participate is $22 for members of either group, or $26 for non members. To register, log on to www.newfs.org.

The Friends of the Public Garden will host a celebration to wrap up the entire 40th Anniversary year on Friday, November 5, beginning at 6:30 pm at the Taj Boston, 15 Arlington Street in Boston.  To participate in this benefit event, call 617-723-8144, or email friends@harronandassociates.com.

Broaden your photographic vision beyond traditional landscape shots and explore your surroundings with new eyes with photographer Robin Radin at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. We will supplement weekly assignments by looking at the work of some extraordinary landscape photographers to see what makes them great. Bring your own camera (any kind) and prepare to bring in 4” x 6” prints each week. (Classes begin October 6. No class meeting on Nov 24.)  Fee $235 Arnold Arboretum member, $260 nonmember.   Offered in collaboration with The Eliot School. Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

As you survey your garden, do you have only one of each plant? Do you see other gardens that seem to be in bloom throughout the seasons and then come home to your unexciting garden? Does planting design seem to be an innate sense that you just don’t have? Come and learn to think about plants in terms of their form and function first, and then learn some strategies to best lay out your planting plan. The four session class, taught by designer Christie Dustman, will consist of classroom exercises, lectures, and a visit to a nearby nursery or garden. Students should bring the following to the first class: enlarged photo of the front of their house, roll of trace paper, mechanical pencil and eraser, landscape plan from previous class or a landscape plan with planting beds shown. The offsite class will begin 1 hour earlier at 5:30pm.  First session will be held Thursday, September 30.
Fee $95 Arnold Arboretum member, $115 nonmember. To register, log on to www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

The Chestnut Hill Garden Club will present a luncheon talk by Julie Moir Messervy on September 30 at noon in the clubhouse of the Putterham Meadows Golf Course, 1281 West Roxbury Parkway, Brookline.

Ms. Messervy is an innovative leader in landscape and garden design theory and practice, the author of six books, and the principal of Julie Moir Messervy Design Studios in Saxtons River, Vermont. Her studio is currently working with the Arnold Arboretum in the redesign of the Bradley Rosaceous Collection. The title of her talk is “Home Outside: Creating the Landscape You Love.”

Tickets for the luncheon and lecture are $75.00, a portion of which will be contributed to the GCA’s Corliss Knapp Engle Scholarship. For more information, please contact Jean Mongan at 617.731.9092 or email jmongan1@partners.org.

Instructor Bruce Lucier of Homebrew Emporium in West Boylston will introduce you to the history, cultural significance and biochemistry of beer, while providing the hands-on experience of making your own, in this two session class at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, on Wednesdays, October 13 and 27, from 7 – 9 pm.  THBG members will pay $20, and non-members $25.  To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org. Painting by Morgen Chandomba.

When fading sunlight and perhaps a frost have shriveled the undergrowth and turned it brown, evergreen ferns and club-mosses stand out in dramatic contrast. On a Sunday, October 3 walk with New England Wild Flower Society’s Don Lubin and Raymond Abair through the Blue Hills Reservation, visit a dozen evergreen species and other pteridiphyte taxa, including polypody, Christmas and grape ferns, five wood ferns and maybe a spleenwort, four club-mosses and a horsetail. Travel about two miles on mostly flat trails with a few hills. A hand lens is suggested. $28 for NEWFS members, $32 for non-members. Meet at Blue Hills at noon. To register, log on to www.newfs.org.