The Garden Club of the Back Bay

The Beacon Hill Garden Club invites you to its 83rd Annual Tour of the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill on Thursday, May 17, from 9 – 5, rain or shine.  Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 on the day of the tour.  You may purchase tickets online at www.BeaconHillGardenClub.org, or by mail (check payable to Beacon Hill Garden Club, no later than May 8 along with a self-addressed stamped envelope) to Beacon Hill Garden Club 2012 Tour, Box 302, Charles Street Station, Boston, MA 02114.  Tickets will also be available for purchase at several retailers on Beacon Hill – a complete list will be found on the Beacon Hill Garden Club website.

On the day of the tour, there will be three hostess booth locations, one on the corner of Charles and Chestnut Streets, one on the corner of Charles and Mt. Vernon Streets, and the third at the Church of the Advent’s garden entrance off Mt. Vernon Square.  Cash or checks only – credit cards cannot be accepted on tour day.  No refunds or exchanges, no group discounts, no baby strollers.  If you have questions, email info@BeaconHillGardenClub.org, or leave a message at 617-227-4392.

The ability to make observations is fundamental to success as a landscape designer.  Like the statue hidden within a block of marble, a landscape design will emerge through your observations of client and site.  Every observation should lead you to a conclusion.  If done well, there should be no need for “selling.”  Everything should fit.  This on-site seminar introduces you to the skill of observation through a walking analysis of two properties in progress in the vicinity of Garden in the Woods.  The instructor is Tom Strangfeld, a landscape designer and builder.  Fee is $36 for members of either the Ecological Landscaping Association or the New England Wild Flower Society, and $43 for non-members.  Register at www.ecolandscaping.org.  Image from www.bostondesignblog.com.

The Ecological Landscaping Association and the Newton Parks and Recreation Department are sponsoring a free program on Wednesday, April 25, from 6 – 8, on Invasive Plants: Understanding the Threat to Our Parks and Backyards, at Cold Spring Park, 1200 Beacon Street in Newton.  Invasive plant species damage the lands and waters that native plants and animals need to survive.  What are invasive plant species and what harm to they to to an ecosystem?  Newton native and ELA Board Member Bruce Wenning is an invasive plant specialist.  During visits to Cold Spring Park, Bruce discovered that several types of invasive plants are present and spreading along the trails.  Join Bruce for a walking tour at Cold Spring Park to learn how to identify several types of invasive plants and learn what you can do in your own landscape to safely remove them.  Bruce will explain how different types of invasive plants spread and what removal methods are effective on each.  He will also discuss the important topic of how to safely dispose of the invasive plants once removed from the landscape.  Registrations are limited. Call 617-436-5838, or email ela.info@comcast.net.

Perkins School for the Blind broke ground for two large new buildings in the fall of 2009, involving the removal and replacement of over 100 trees.  Two years later, the new trees are planted, the new design is done, but at what cost to the trees, the soil, the other plantings, and the environment?  Tour the site on Saturday, April 14, from 10 – 2, to see firsthand how issues like tree protection, soil compaction, and remediation actually worked out.  Visit the state of the art greenhouse and other new buildings on this historic and beautiful campus with Sonia Baerhuk, Lead Groundsperson at Perkins School for the Blind.  Please bring a bag lunch.  Fee is $44 for members of the Ecological Landscaping Association or the New England Wildflower Society, and $50 for nonmembers.  Register on line at www.ecolandscaping.org.  Image courtesy of www.boston.com.

See Blithewold Mansion’s gardens come to life on Sunday, April 15 beginning at 1 pm as tens of thousands of daffodils and other early blooming bulbs and shrubs are coaxed from winter slumber to delight you with their quiet beauty and subtle scents.  Led by Horticulturist Gail Read, this special walk for the whole family will highlight stars of the early spring garden.  Blithewold Mansion is located at 101 Ferry Road in Bristol, Rhode Island.  Be prepared, however – spring has been so warm, you may be seeing tulips instead!  For directions, visit www.blithewold.org.  Free with regular admission.

Did you know that almost all of the new plants in the Arboretum begin their lives in the Dana Greenhouses? Get a behind-the-scenes look of the greenhouse growing process, from seed to sprout to seedling to tree, on Tuesday, April 3, beginning at 1 pm. Meet at the Bonsai Collection. There is a 15-person maximum. There is no fee, but registration is required by emailing arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu, or by calling 617-384-5209. The address for the Dana Greenhouse is 1050 Centre Street, Boston.

Join Organic Gardening magazine editor in chief Ethne Clarke for an exclusive tour to enjoy the tastes and beauty of Sonoma and Napa Valley, California, from Sunday, October 7 – Thursday, October 11, 2012.  Experience farm-to-table dining, organic wines, artisanal pairings and gorgeous gardens at DeLoach (below) and other select boutique vineyards.  Sample prize-winning California olive oils and cheeses as well, and share in nature’s bounty on a fungi forage led by mycologist Dr. Christopher Hobbs.  Visit www.organicgardening.com/getaways for complete itinerary and reservation information.

The long, warm days of midsummer are perfect for enjoying the beautiful natural landscape and unpretentious gardens of Sweden.  American Horticultural Society host John Floyd, along with Tour Escort Antonia Lloyd Owen of Specialtours, will take you on a journey from Uppsala – home of botanist Carl Linneaus – to Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Lund, taking in the formal gardens of historic castles as well as a variety of contemporary gardens.  For complete itinerary and information, call 866-627-6621, or visit www.ahs.org.  Picture below of Uppsala University Botanical Garden.

For the past few years, Wellesley College Friends of Horticulture docent Vivi Leavy has recorded the blooming of greenhouse flowers—showstoppers as well as those easily overlooked, in her task of updating the “What’s in Bloom” board in the Visitor Center. Come for a great photo tour of the greenhouses in bloom on Monday, February 27 and to hear Vivi’s stories of her favorites from the collection. Tea will be served at 2 pm, followed by the tour and talk. WCFH members $10, non-members $15. Register at www.wellesley.edu/WCFH.

Join Charley Eiseman from Northern Naturalists for an afternoon of tracking at Rocky Woods in Medfield, Massachusetts on Saturday, January 14 from 12 – 3. Participants will search for signs of local mammal species, from mink to moose. Immersion in the tracking experience will allow both beginners and experienced trackers to expand their skills. By looking at the footprints and other traces that animals leave behind, we will investigate the interactions taking place across the landscape. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn from each other about mammals, insects, winter plant identification, bird vocalizations, and other natural history tidbits.  Pre-registration required – call 508-785-0339, or email charlesrivervalley@ttor.org. Photo from www.myworldwithaview@blogspot.com.

A trip to the Mediterranean is planned by the Pacific Horticulture Society and the Northwest Horticultural Society April 14 – 24, led by Sofia Barroso, and escorted by Katherine Greenberg. Join them for a spring tour of Mallorca, where you have invitations to visit spectacular private gardens and art collections.
The tour will take you from the lovely patios of Palma to elegant country estates and charming seaside villages. You will also explore the island of Menorca, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with fascinating archaeological sites and distinctive architecture. Along the way, experience the generous hospitality, regional cuisine, and scenic beauty of the Balearic Islands.

Tour escort Katherine Greenberg is a garden designer with a special interest in Mediterranean gardens. She is a past president of Pacific Horticulture Society and the Mediterranean Garden Society (MGS). Katherine studied at the University of Madrid, and she has led a number of tours to Spain with a focus on gardens, culture, and cuisine. During her term as president of the MGS, she started a branch of the Society in Mallorca.  This tour is planned for a small group. Early reservations are encouraged.  Image of a garden in Palma shown below is from the excellent website www.onbotanicalphotography.blogspot.com. The complete trip itinerary is available online: http://www.sterlingtoursltd.com/Mallorca2012.html.

Step back in time to a world of colonial mansions, antebellum homes, and peaceful public squares shaded by ancient live oaks. Experience the beauty and charm of America’s only tea garden and taste freshly-brewed American Classic Tea. This Pacific Horticulture Tour escorted by Greg Graves, President of the Pacific Horticulture Society, is timed for peak bloom of magnolias, daffodils, iris, camellias, early azaleas, and roses…and so much more. The Savannah walking tour features the home and garden featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.  You will have exclusive access to many private gardens not open to the public in both Charleston and Savannah.  For a complete brochure, call Sterling Tours at 800-976-9497, or visit www.sterlingtoursltd.com/Charleston2012.html.  Image below by Gina from www.antique-art-garden.blogspot.com.

Peggy Coonley invites you to join her annual tour of  The Gardens of England and the Chelsea Flower Show 2012, a thoughtful itinerary  created for savvy women travelers who appreciate the culture of classic Britain.  You will visit notable beloved English gardens and The Royal Horticultural Society’s famous Chelsea Flower Show on RHS Member’s only day.  The itinerary is artfully arranged to include Sissinghurst in Kent and Hidcote in The Cotswolds, two of the world’s beloved gardens.  You will visit The Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew, take a docent led tour at Wisley, and relish your visit to Scotney Castle and Great Dixter.  We take Tea at The Ritz in London and attend the theatre.  Women who love to garden will be inspired by England’s pastoral beauty, history and the pure pleasure of taking time for tea.  Whether yours is a secret garden behind a wall, a wildflower meadow open to the sea or a courtyard plot in the urban landscape, you will be enchanted.  Serendipity Traveler takes time to savour classic British country living, the history and diverse landscapes of London, Kent, Bath and The Cotswolds. This trip is for women who appreciate the fine art of traveling well with a smaller group. For complete details please call Serendipity Traveler’s President, Peggy Coonley in Rockport, Mass. 978 879 7464 or reserve easily online at  www.serendipitytraveler.com.

Garden Club of the Back Bay featured speaker Rich Pomerantz is teaming up with past Garden Club of the Back Bay member Peggy Connors for a trip to Costa Rica February 18 – 26, with an optional extension February 26 – 29 to Tortuguero.  See and photograph rainforests, cloud forests, beaches, the central market in San Jose, tropical gardens at Dota, the Wilson Botanical Gardens in San Vito, pictured below, and you’ll take a motorboat ride in Golfito.

Rich lectures about photography and teaches photography workshops at the NY Botanical Gardens, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and at Botanical Gardens around the country for trade organizations and private groups, and at his studio.  His photography has appeared in many books and gardening, travel and shelter magazines, including National Geographic for Kids, Traditional Home, Horticulture, Organic Gardening, Travel Holiday, and White Flower Farm catalogues.  His blog on richpomerantz.com was named by Horticulture Magazine as one of 2011′s best gardening blogs.

Peggy Connors has been leading groups to Costa Rica since 1994 when she founded Costa Rica Naturally!  She is the co-founder and past president of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers and founder of Connors Landscape Design, Inc.. a landscape consulting and design firm.

The price per person starts at $2,190, and if you book before December 18 you will receive $100 off – call 800-230-3826, or visit www.costaricanaturally.com for more information.

Join the American Horticultural Society, with host Evelyn Alemanni, on Wednesday, March 21 through Sunday, March 25 for a tour of exciting public landscapes and spectacular private gradens during one of the most colorful months in southern coastal California.  You will stay at the  historic Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in the foothills of Northern San Diego County, pictured below.  Trip highlights include a sneak preview of new plants being introduced to the horticultural trade at the California Spring Trials, a stop at the world-famous Flower Fields to view a stunning display of ranunculus, and a private tour of both the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the San Diego Botanic Garden.  For more information, contact MacNair Travel by emailing ahs@macnairtravel.com, or call 866-627-6621.

Every year, Beacon Hill attracts the likes of many with its rich history, beauty and culture. As winter fast approaches, the “Hill” will transform into a winter wonderland, with a fresh layer of snow to overlay and brighten the cobblestone sidewalks and antique lamps. On Thursday, December 8th, 2011, the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) is offering guests an intimate look into the exclusive neighborhood with a tour of the historic Nichols House, followed by appetizers and wine at 75 Chestnut.

The Nichols House is a perfect replica of what domestic life would have looked like in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in this historic neighborhood. It was constructed in 1804 and is one of the earliest structures on Beacon Hill. As one of the most monumental homes in the area, The Nichols House is filled with precious items, accumulated over generations, and on this particular night, it will be beautifully adorned for the holidays!

Following the tour, students will head over to 75 Chestnut, a premier restaurant in Beacon Hill, where they will enjoy the warm and inviting ambiance along with appetizers and paired wine from executive chef Marcus Ripperger. For more information please visit www.BCAE.org, or call 617-267-4430. Tickets are $55 each, and registration is necessary.

The Community Garden Club of Cohasset invites you to its Yuletide 2011 House Tour on Thursday, December 8, from 10 – 4.  Five fully decorated homes will be on display, with a holiday marketplace, complimentary refreshments, celebrations of Christmases past, and new holiday ideas.  Advance tickets $30, day of tour $35.  To reserve, visit www.communitygardenclubofcohasset.org.

Pilgrim Hall Museum’s fifth annual Holiday House Tour on December 3rd and 4th will share some of Plymouth’s finest – and sometimes hidden – architectural gems all dressed up for the holidays. Your tour ranges from private residences in North Plymouth, to the center of town, to wonderful homes down in South Plymouth. Feel the warmth of the holiday season while helping preserve the museum’s superb collection of 17th century artifacts and support its educational programs. Your ticket includes a light lunch at Plymouth Country Club.

Exact locations of houses on the tour are kept confidential until the day of the tour. You MUST pick up the booklet and map that will serve as your ticket (and which reveal the locations of the houses) AT PILGRIM HALL MUSEUM (75 Court Street, Plymouth, MA). The books may be picked up after 9:30 am on the days of the tour. (The houses themselves will NOT open before 10:00 am).  Tickets will NOT be sold at the houses or at Plymouth Country Club.

Lunch at Plymouth Country Club is included with the ticket. Lunch will be served between 11:00 and 2:00 each day (ticket holders are entitled to ONE lunch).  Space is limited, so purchase your tickets early! A discount is also available with advance purchases. Advance ticket orders must arrive at Pilgrim Hall Museum by 3:00 pm Friday, November 19.  Tickets are $40 in advance (November 19 or before) and $45 if purchased after November 19. Tickets are nonrefundable.

Tickets to the House Tour may be purchased by mail. An order form may be printed at www.pilgrimhall.org/HolidayouseTour.htm.

OR
Stop by Pilgrim Hall Museum and pick up a Holiday House Tour brochure!
Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court Street, Plymouth, MA 02360.

This Saturday, November 12, join Polly Hill Arboretum Executive Director Tim Boland for a guided walk through the grounds.  Right now there is much to see, including witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), pictured below, which has begun to bloom.  This Martha’s Vineyard native plant has spidery flowers and a soft fragrance.  The walk begins at 10 am.  This is the first of a winter walk series, which will be held the second Saturday of the month, through March.  Tours run about an hour and begin at the Visitor Center.  Tours are free, although a donation is always appreciated.  For more information, visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org.

The glitter of gold and the sparkle of silver will dazzle you as you tour three magnificent mansions decked out in Yuletide finery. Music, tours, and spectacular decorations highlight the celebration of Christmas at the Newport Mansions. The Preservation Society of Newport County invites you to make holiday memories with your family by visiting The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House this holiday season. For complete information, call 401-847-1000, email info@newportmansions.org, or visit www.newportmansions.org.