The Garden Club of the Back Bay

In this two session workshop at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on Wednesdays, October 6 and 13, from 7 – 8:30, artist/designer Sandra Reardon will teach you how to capture the beauty of leaves using the process and technique of sand casting.  All tools and materials will be provided.  The cost for THBG members is $50, and $55 for non-members.  To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

After a five-year hiatus, the popular Back Bay Pooch Parade will return better than ever! Join The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay for the renewed First Annual Back Bay Pooch Parade.

Where: The Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Meet at the Garrison statue at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Dartmouth Street — across from the Vendome.

When: Saturday, October 2nd. Registration begins at 9:00 am and the parade will start at 10:00 am.

Registration: NABB members may pre-register for $15 or register the day of the event for $20. Registration information will follow.

The parade route will travel from Dartmouth Street to Arlington Street. Join us for special guests and special events.

From Bischons to Borzois, from Puppy Mill Survivors to Blue Ribbon Show Dogs — all are invited to attend. All dogs must be leashed and up to date on shots. Please do not bring a dog in heat. Proceeds will go to a no-kill animal shelter in Massachusetts TBA.

The morning will combine fun and canine good citizenship. For more information, contact Paula Welte at 617.536.7897 or Linda Selzer at lselzer@usa.net.

We recently received the following letter and web site recommendation and pass it along to our readers.  Patrick Blanc came to our attention when he spoke last year at Harvard.  For all who follow green architecture, the photography is a treat, and the site may be accessed both in French and in English:

“When I created my first Vertical Garden thirty years ago, I couldn’t foresee that every city of the world would be impacted by this invention.

On this Year of  … Biodiversity, I invite you to visit my new website www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com.

All along the pages you will see all the achievements since 1986 when my first public creation was displayed at la Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris.

Each new project in the world is a way for me to answer with new shapes and new plant species.

The Vertical Garden is no longer a vertical panel; it is now possible to freely create it on various structures like columns, spirals or even vegetal ceilings.

Of course, it’s always a pleasure to work in familiar places (Museums, Hotels, Shopping Malls, …) but my still increasing experience is the best step towards places where plants are not expected like tunnels, underground parking lots and high-rise buildings.”

This is a HANDS-ON WORKSHOP. Join Weston Nurseries’ resident artists Deb Mastrangelo and Diane Lulek in creating stepping stones from hosta leaves and cement. These impressions are realistic, functional and winter hardy. All materials and instructions are included in the price of the workshop. Please wear old clothes and shoes and be prepared to get dirty! Pre-registration by Thursday, Sept. 23 is required. Please RSVP by calling Customer Care at 508-293-8091.  Cost: $15 per leaf/ 3 leaf maximum.  Log on to www.westonnurseries.com for directions.

Plant for four seasons of interest by including native trees and shrubs with dramatic color in leaves, fruit, or late-blooming flowers. Even the long months of winter can be brightened by native species that have evergreen leaves, interesting bark, striking silhouettes, or persistent fruit. Add interest to the view from your kitchen window, encourage winter birds and wildlife, and improve your home’s curb appeal in the “off season”. Recommendations for planting design and maintenance included. Laura Eisener teaches this class, co-sponsored by the New England Wild Flower Society and the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, at the Cambridge Center’s headquarters, 42 Brattle Street in Cambridge. $22 for members of either organization, $26 for nonmembers. To register, log on to www.newfs.org.

Entertainment, apples, and children’s crafts will highlight Tower Hill Botanic Garden’s Shades of Autumn, an annual celebration of the harvest season, taking place Friday, October 9 – Monday, October 11, from 10 – 5.  Arts and Crafts Vendors feature stained glass, trellises, quilting, plants, edibles, photography, pottery, jewelry, and garden accessories.  Taste testing tours of the Preservation Apple Orchard will take place at 2 pm each day.  Enjoy a hayride (weather permitting) through the trails.

Free admission for residents of Boylston and Clinton, courtesy of the event sponsors, the Boylston and Clinton Public Libraries. For directions and more information, log on to www.towerhillbg.org, or E-mail: thbg@towerhillbg.org . Phone: 508-869-6111

Eikou Sumura, a Sogetsu master instructor from Tokyo, Japan, will present a flower arranging demonstration and workshop sponsored by The Japan Society of Boston. The demonstration will take place Thursday, September 30, beginning at 10 am at New Bridge on the Charles, 5000 Great Meadow Road in Dedham.  The workshop will be held Friday, October 1 beginning at 9:30 am at Elm Bank, in the East Wing, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley, Massachusetts.  For more information, including directions, call 508-270-6759, or log on to www.ikebanaboston.org.

The Fall Plant Giveaway celebrates the Arnold Arboretum’s longstanding tradition of sharing and promoting woody plants for temperate climates.  In addition to making plant material available to researchers and other botanical institutions, the arboretum has distributed plants to members of the Friends of the Arnold Arboretum in recognition of their support.  This year’s event gives members the opportunity to receive free Arboretum-grown plants as a part of their membership benefits, gain first-hand expert knowledge from the staff, and enjoy the beauty of the landscape in autumn.  The event will be held at 10 am on Saturday, September 25 on the Arboretum grounds.  If you are not a member, you may join or renew your membership at the Plant Giveaway to attend and receive the free plant benefit that day.  This is a rain or shine event.  Questions?  Contact Wendy Krauss at 617-384-5766 or email membership@arnarb.harvard.edu.

Come to the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Wednesday, September 29 at 6 pm to hear a panel discussion entitled Persuasion in a Climate of Uncertainty. Climate change, stem-cell research, and environmental toxins are some of the most hotly contested issues society today. Yet we often see a disconnect among scientists, policy makers, and the public when the evidence is enough to persuade experts, but is unconvincing to others. How can we foster productive discussion and resolution of critical issues when scientific knowledge is not complete? How much evidence is “enough” to support policy? What are the roles of scientists and the press in addressing these questions?

Explore this topic with: Sheila Jasanoff, Pforzheimer Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the Harvard Kennedy School; James J. McCarthy, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography at Harvard University and past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; and Bruce Gellerman, award-winning reporter and producer, Public Radio’s Living on Earth. Moderated by Allan Brandt, Kass Professor of the History of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Free and open to the public, Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street. For more information, log on to www.hmnh.harvard.edu.

For gardeners of all levels, this program, taking place Saturday, October 9 from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, provides a comprehensive foundation for garden design using regionally native plants.  Carolyn Summers will present topics including wildlife benefits, sustainable design and maintenance, and strategies for “safe sex in the garden” to reduce the spread of non-native invasive plants.  Participants will learn how to apply basic ecological and design principles in all their gardening endeavors.

Carolyn Summers is the author of the recently published Designing Gardens with the Flora of the American East and is an adjunct professor for continuing education at Westchester Community College.  She provides technical assistance to the Native Plant Center, an affiliate of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  Please bring your own lunch.  A book sale and author signing will follow the class.  This program is offered by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the New England Wild Flower Society, and the Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture.  $60 for members of one of the affiliated sponsors, or $70 for non-members.  You may register at www.wellesley.edu/WCFH.

Visit Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, Massachusetts on Saturday, September 25 or Sunday, September 26 for the annual plant show sponsored by the Buxton Begonia Society and the New England Gesneriad Society.   The Gesneriad family consists of over 3,000 species and over 133 genera.  It was named after 16th century Swiss naturalist Konrad von Gesner.  Most Gesneriads are from tropical parts of the world.  Some of the most common plants in this genera are the Cupid’s Bower (Achimenes), Lipstick Plant (Aeschynanthus), Flame Violet (Episcia), Goldfish Plant (Nematanthus), African Violet (Saintpaulia), Florist Gloxinia (Sinningia – below), and Cape Primrose (Streptocarpus). See beautiful displays of rare and unusual houseplants, take a guided tour of the show, hear lectures on begonia and gesneriad care, and visit vendors selling an incredible selection of begonias and gesneriads..  For more information, directions, and hours, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

To celebrate the recent publication of Shaping the American Landscape: New Profiles from the Pioneers of American Landscape Design Project, a series of regional symposia will be held. Each venue in this national series will spotlight specific designers, projects, and trends that collectively celebrate our unique and historically significant designed landscape heritage. Speakers will include leading historians, designers, and practitioners.  One such event will be held Friday, October 8 at the Lyman Estate, 185 Lyman Street in Waltham, Massachusetts.  The event is sponsored by The Cultural Landscape Foundation.  A complete list of participants and registration information can be found at www.tclf.org.

Cold-process soap is made from scratch using vegetable oils and lye.  Learn the basics while making a batch of honey-oatmeal soap, then experiment with colors and fragrances.  Soap made in class can be picked up the next day or next week.  Glycerin soap is already made, but can be personalized with scents, colors, pearlescent powders, flowers or embedded items.  Soap will be ready by the end of class.  Both classes, taught by instructor Kymberlee Keckler at the Eliot School  of Fine and Applied Arts, 24 Eliot Street in Jamaica Plain, include written instructions and resource guides for venturing out on your own.  Take one workshop or both – all materials are supplied.  Easy Glycerin Soap will take place Saturday, October 9 from 3:30 – 6:30, and Cold-process Soap will be held Sunday, October 10, from 1 – 6:30.  The cost for Easy Glycerin Soap is $30 plus $10 materials fee payable in class, and for Cold-process Soap, $50 plus $10 materials fee payable in class.  Take both sessions for $70.  To register, and for complete information and directions, log on to www.eliotschool.org.

Join Donald Pfister, Asa Gray Professor of Botany, and Kathleen Frith of Harvard’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, for Grow, Eat, Learn, a family program sponsored by The Harvard Museum of Natural History at the Harvard Community Garden on Saturday, September 25, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Hear growing tips from students and harvest your crops. Bring a bag lunch.  Location: 27 Holyoke Place in Harvard Square. A few spots are available for non-museum members. To register, call 617-496-6972.

Fall is the time to plant spring bulbs.  Join Joann Vieira, Horticulture Director of Tower Hill Botanic Garden, to explore a range of easily cultivated bulbs and suitable companion plants to help make your spring gardens breathtaking.  The class will be held at Tower Hill on Wednesday, October 6, from 7 – 8:30, and the fee is $10 for THBG members, $12 for non-members.  Register on line at www.towerhillbg.org.

This annual sale sponsored by the Somerville Garden Club is a must for gardeners hunting for locally grown plants. An interesting variety of perennials, houseplants, small shrubs and trees will be available, all at very reasonable prices. Horticultural information and a table for children make the day even more enjoyable. The event helps support Somerville’s non profit garden club’s many outreach, education and planting programs.The event takes place Saturday, September 18, from 9 – 1, rain or shine, at Statue Park in Davis Square, on the intersection of Holland St. and College Avenue, across from the Somerville Theatre in Somerville.  Free admission. For more information, email swilkins@mit.edu, or log on to www.somervillegardenclub.org.

On Wednesday, October 6, beginning at 4:30 pm, The Friends of the Public Garden, along with Boston College Citizen Seminars and The Colonnade Boston Hotel, host a panel, moderated by former Governor Michael Dukakis, with speakers from around the country.  They will discuss the importance of urban parks and the necessity of public-private partnerships to preserve and support them in this time of fiscal challenges.  The event will take place at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston Street, and is free and open to the public.  For more information log on to www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org.

Wednesday Evenings at Elm Bank will resume in October. The series has proven so popular that the Massachusetts Horticultural Society is putting the finishing touches on a four-topic fall session to be held October 6 through 27. Three of the four topics are: Preparing the Garden for Winter (cleaning up, when to water and mulch, when to prune, when to divide), Fall Lawn Care (to rake or not to rake? Renewing, re-doing and rejuvenating a lawn after a long, hot New England summer), and Everything You Need to Know About Bulbs (how to select, when and how to plant, and how to design with spring bulbs). Each session begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m. or when the last question has been answered. Sessions are $8 for members, $10 for non-members. Refreshments are served. Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, is the home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in Wellesley. For more information, log on to www.masshort.org.

The highlight of the harvest season is the 31st Annual Lenox Apple Squeeze, a family weekend running from 10 to – 6 on Saturday and on Sunday the 25th and 26th. Painters, sculptors, crafters, jewelry and textile makers display their wares throughout the village. Foods from around the world are available, and hayrides and children’s activities and entertainment fill the streets.  For complete information, log on to www.lenox.org.

The Deepening Roots two-day workshop is a fun and comprehensive educational program that introduces the general public to healthy nutrition, sustainable agriculture and community. People of all backgrounds and experience levels will benefit from the dynamic and innovative nature of this program.

High energy foods…
In this portion of the workshop, you will learn to prepare tasty foods that will boost your energy, strengthen your immune system and give you complete nutrition. With handy food preparation tips, simple recipes and informative discussions we will demystify how to eat well and bust the hype of fad diets.

Growing your own food…
…even if you don’t have a garden! There is no better way to access fresh foods than to grow them yourself. From kitchen gardens to herb spirals, from balcony grown tomatoes to backyard forest gardens, we will teach all the basic principles you need to start growing fresh, high energy foods. No green thumb required!

Building healthy communities
Imagine a community where people are happy, connected and supportive of one another. A community with clean air, abundant food and green space to explore. A community that is exciting, dynamic and peaceful. Every community is built on individuals. By exploring innovative breathing and meditation practices will you will learn how we can all be the building blocks for such vibrant communities.

The participation fee for the two day workshop September 18 and 19, 12 – 5 each day, is $95 ($75 with student ID), and will take place at the Hilles Building at Harvard University.  The building is in the Radcliffe quad, walking distance from Harvard Square.  For more information, or to register, log on to www.deepeningroots.org, or email Andrew Korza at andrew@deepeningroots.org.