cuttings and
cl a sses
Spring/Summer 2012
Garden on Fire page 3
Real life faRm and gaRden expeRiences page 8
a succulent epiphany page 5
DIrector’S corner
Spring/Summer 2012
by Molly Boxer, Executive Director
I am looking out my office window at a landscape brimming with potential. Snowdrops are in full bloom, and perennials are just beginning to poke through. I love this time of year, when all is fresh and new and the miracle of life hits me like a ton of bricks! I see the promise of warm summer afternoons, the Garden teeming with visitors and the children’s pump being primed to water the nearby flowerbeds. I see possibility, optimism, and a whole new season of color and excitement about to burst open.
BOaRd Of tRustees Matthew Larkin, Chairman Madeline Hooper, Vice-Chairman Gloria McMahon, Secretary Ellen Greendale, Treasurer Jeannene Booher David Carls Mary Copeland Jeanine Coyne Mary Harrison Ian Hooper Robert Hyland Janet Johnson Janet Laudenslager Wendy Linscott Jo Dare Mitchell Skippy Nixon Judie Owens Martha Piper Jack Sprano Ingrid Taylor Robert William
staff Molly Boxer, Executive Director Elisabeth Cary, Director of Education Dorthe Hviid, Director of Horticulture Sharon Hulett-Shepherd, Membership and Development Will Maston, Buildings and Grounds Manager Lynne Perry-Urbain, Office Manager
I was asked recently if the Berkshire Botanical Garden is relevant today. Yes, I answered immediately, and began with a litany of all the ways in which we are. There are many answers to that question, as our members well know, but I am curious to know what aspect of the Garden is relevant to each of you. People who take classes here, be it Intro to Gardening or Horticulture Certification, may have one answer in mind. Families and children who come here to build fairy houses in the woods, start seedlings and learn about the environment may find something different. As I talk with other people around the Berkshires I have learned that for some the Plant Sale is their one Garden event, and it is a tradition that they set their calendars by. For others it is Harvest Festival that brings them to the Garden for a treasured family and community event that makes up the whole of their Garden experience. We are proud to be a part of the memories that families have built up over decades. We are delighted to offer these important experiences and landmark events – and will continue to fill this important role and welcome these special visitors. The Garden is many things to many people. As we continue to grow, we strive to introduce new elements to our programming that will intrigue, educate and inspire. Seasonal exhibitions and new classes on
Christine Caccamo, Head Gardener Allison Crane, Gift Shop Manager Bill Cummings, Seasonal Gardner Lou Kratt, Seasonal Gardener Margot Sharp, Seasonal Gardener Richard Demick, Seasonal Gardener Amy Cotler, Harvest Festival and Plant Sale Producer editor Molly Boxer Associate editor Roxanne Gawthrop design, imaging studiotwo.com
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cutting-edge subjects like sustainable horticulture, as well as workshops and programs covering hundreds of topics are offered year-round. In addition, the Garden is a beautiful oasis where visitors can enjoy a picnic, meander through the display areas, or celebrate a special day. I encourage all members to try something new at the Garden, you might be surprised by what you find! This year’s theme: Garden on Fire, will abound with inspirational exhibitions throughout the Garden. We open the season with Gimme Shelter (opening reception April 28), where architects play with the concept of bringing shade into the garden - followed by Garden Time (opening reception June 23), a curated look at armillaries and sundials from ancient times through the present. Throughout the season there will be other surprises—an artist’s rendition of fire, creative wood stacking, even a s’more or two. The Garden’s rich heritage and tradition of classes, exhibitions and events ensure that there is something relevant for everyone who stops in. We are constantly evolving to embrace the new, while respecting the traditions of yore. From the Mai Bowle on May 6 to the Farm in the Garden Camp in July and August, our aim is to continue to make the Garden relevant for gardeners, garden lovers, and gardeners-to-be everywhere. I look forward to seeing each of you at the Garden this year! O Best,
Molly Boxer
New aNd differeNt! You’ll find time-tested tools, books, totes and baskets, contemporary garden containers, gifts for home and garden and many surprises at the Shop. Stop by and see our new, fresh selection designed with you in mind!
Open daily, 9–5 starting april 28.
special events and pROgRams
gaRden On fiRe by ian hooper, Trustee With attendance and membership continuing to increase, despite the difficult times we’re living through, it could be said that the Garden is, indeed, on fire. However, in choosing this theme for 2012, we are more particularly recognizing how inherently connected gardening is with all four elements—Fire, Earth, Wind and Water. This season’s exhibitions and events will be inspired by the element of Fire, which will be interpreted in a number of ways. The display gardens and the Shop open officially on the weekend of April 28. The launch event of the season at the Garden will be a cocktail party on Saturday, April 28, marking the opening of our first exhibition, Gimme Shelter: Architects Design for Shade. Following the successful Sheds and tree house exhibitions in 2010 and 2011, this year’s theme has us exploring structures that provide shelter from the sun and will feature architects and designers tasked with the challenge of creating spaces that perform this function in the garden. Jamie Odegaard will be returning as an exhibitor, employing the ancient Japanese building technique of Sho-sugi-ban, literally charred timber, as construction material to create an environment of seclusion complete with furnishings. Making an appearance for the first time will be Jimmy Crisp of Crisp Architecture in Millbrook, New York, and our friend and neighbor, Kristine Sprague of Lenox. The Berkshires’ own Burr & McCallum Architects, who have been described as “Frank Gehry meets the Shakers” will also join us in what we anticipate will be a fabulous exhibition. Our second annual Roy Boutard day will be Sunday, May 6. Join us as we recognize the enormous contribution to the Garden of our influential and much-loved Horticultural Director from 1955 to 1985. Events will include a tour of the Garden by David Burdick, sprinkled with quotes from his mentor and illustrating Roy’s colorful, insightful and charming way with words, visitors and gardens! The Herb Associates will host a reception with their
annual Mai Bowle. This day is our gift to the community, and admission will be free. So please come, and bring your friends. Our 35th annual Plant Sale takes place on Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12, and once again is generously sponsored by Ed Herrington, Inc. This year’s theme is Happy in their Habitats – choosing the right Plant for the right Place and, as last year, will include a variety of regional vendors with antiques and other fabulous finds for your garden, patio, porch or home. New this year is a Container Design Station where you can bring your planters or window boxes (or purchase them at the Plant Sale) and let us design a container garden just for you! Additionally, we will have experts on hand offering free advice to help gardeners select the best plants for each habitat. The popular “Not Your Mother’s Tag Sale” will be back bigger than ever. Remember: “Early Buying” privileges – for members only – on Friday from 8-11 a.m. On June 23, we will open our second exhibition: Garden time: objects employing the Sun. Curated by Greg and Natalie Randall of R. T. Facts in Kent, CT, this exhibition will occupy five areas in the Garden and display armillaries, spheres and sundials made of stone, iron, bronze and other materials. Many of the objects will be antiques, and all will be for sale. Greg and Natalie have built a strong reputation for fashionable garden and architectural objects over the past 18 years, and recently they have extended their range to include furniture and lighting. Their shop has been featured in numerous magazines, including Architectural Digest, Elle Décor and Vogue, and is well known to many Garden members. Oscar de la Renta was recently quoted as saying that it was one of his favorite places to visit. cocktails in Great Gardens will again give garden-lovers the opportunity to enjoy three wonderful gardens in the warm evening continued on the next page
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special events and pROgRams continued from the previous page
light. What better way to start the weekend! Rachel and Adam Albright will be our first hosts, on Friday, June 15, at their garden in Richmond. On Friday, July 20, Dr. Suzanne Yale will welcome us to her garden in Stockbridge, and on Friday, August 17, Jane Iredale and Bob Montgomery will share with us their garden in Great Barrington. fête des fleurs will take place this year on Saturday, July 28, at the Garden. Check the Garden’s website for more information about this sparkling summer event that is sure to be a fanciful and festive occasion. On Saturday and Sunday, August 4 and 5, the annual gROW shOW will give gardeners at every level the opportunity to celebrate the height of the season. We look forward to fabulous flower design entries, a juried exhibition of garden photography, and of course, the stars of the show, flowers and vegetables from your garden. Our container exhibition, contained exuberance, has proved so popular an inspiration that it has become a fixture in the calendar. We are once again pleased to feature regional designers who will grace the Garden with unique displays. Don’t miss the tour at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 4, when the designers will walk us round the exhibition and share their thoughts and insights—a fascinating “master class.” Rounding out the year’s activities will be the annual favorites, Harvest Festival over the first weekend of October and Holiday Marketplace over the first weekend of December. All in all, we hope we will be creating another year of exhibitions and events that will engage and inspire our visitors and, coupled with our extensive education program, provide the gardeners among us with the inspiration and enthusiasm to create their very own gardens on fire! O
seed dOnORs the following seed companies have generously donated vegetable and annual seed to the Garden this spring. this will enable us to grow a wider and more interesting selection of plants for the enjoyment and education of our visitors. Please help us thank them by giving them your business.
Baker creek heirloom seeds www.rareseeds.com • (417) 924-8917
John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds www.kitchengardenseeds.com • (860) 567-6086
Select Seeds
www.selectseeds.com • (800) 684-0395
Stokes Seeds, Inc.
www.stokeseeds.com • (800) 263-7233
thompson & Morgan
www.tmseeds.com • (800) 274-7333
twilley Seed company
www.twilleyseed.com • (800) 622-7333
need Gardening Advice? The Master Gardeners are here to help!
• Call the Master Gardeners Hotline at 413-298-5355 • Stop by for advice, soil testing and gardening know-how • Visit the Master Gardener website: wmassmastergardeners.org the Master Gardeners are at the Garden Mondays, April through october; 9am–noon
puBlic tOuRs at the gaRden
10am every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday starting June 20 A guided tour is one of the best ways to fully enjoy your visit at the Berkshire Botanical Garden. our guided tours are lead by knowledgeable tour guides who will provide information about the Garden and our plant collection, that you may otherwise miss. It is a great way to learn about what is in bloom throughout the season. Guided tours are at 10am every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday starting on June 20. tours are included with admission and free for members.
tours meet at the Visitor center; no reservations are needed.
to schedule a private group tour (minimum 10 people) please call
413-298-3926. Lunches are available for an additional fee and advance notice. 4
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a succulent epiphany Echeveria 'Black Prince' by Rob gennari We all have busy and hectic lives these days. As some of you may know, I manage a landscape and horticulture business. Because of the unrelenting demands on my time, I am always looking for ways to simplify plant-related responsibilities. Thank goodness for succulents! Before I describe the cultural benefits succulents offer the busy gardener, let me share how I came to appreciate and admire this amazing group of plants. I was first drawn to a small pup of Agave americana at a specialty plant show 15 years ago. It was steel blue, had imposing yet graceful structure, and grew at a pace that was both satisfying and manageable. Although I had greenhouse space, my agave spent its winters in the living room and, after a short acclimation period, flourished outdoors in the summer sun and breezes. After several years, my small pup turned into a handsome specimen and worthy focal point in a prominent estate container. Soon after that, it yielded new pups which were easy to establish and grow, allowing me to increase my stock. I soon had more than I
needed so I did the only rational thing a plant enthusiast can do in such a situation: I began to acquire every type of succulent I could find, soon expanding to different genera. Aloe, Sanseveiria, Dracenea, Kalanchoe, Echeveria, Euphorbia, and many more. After the thrill wore off, I realized exactly how many succulents needed my care. Fortunately I learned that what succulents most want—beyond the usual approach of right plant, right place—is benign neglect. It was a welcome relief to find that I wouldn’t have to add succulents to my compost pile. This group of plants fit my busy lifestyle. Now for the cultural aspects. In a world of finicky flowering plants that resent the Berkshires’ cool, wet June; fall prey to July’s Japanese beetles; and succumb to August’s powdery mildew, succulents sail through stable and sturdy with dependable foliage color that improves in the heat of the summer. As they grow, succulents need little grooming other than the removal of spent lower leaves and the trimming of old flower spikes. continued on the next page
We welcome rob Gennari of Glendale Botanicals as our Guest gardener for our 2012 season Garden On Fire! the newly refurbished Rice Greenhouse will house Rob’s oasis and heat loving genera including Agave, Dracenea, Kalanchoe, Sanseveiria, Echeveria, Euphorbia, Aloe and much more. This desert and tropical exhibition is on display
June 15 – october 31 5
Around the GArden continued from the previous page Many succulents can tolerate half-day sun or bright indirect light for many months. Thin-leaf agaves and aloes actually prefer a break from the afternoon sun and they all appreciate a slight breeze to keep foliage from burning during the heat of the day. As always, check the specific cultural recommendations for the any particular plant you’re working with. A well-drained potting mix is essential, but most succulents can tolerate more water in higher temperatures and will respond with faster growth rate. Water lightly in June, and by mid-July be sure to water when the soil approaches dryness. During the growing season use a balanced fertilizer including micronutrients to ensure good growth. Many succulents can withstand a slight frost without significant damage. Nonetheless, as the nights approach the lower 30s, bring your plants in and find a bright window where your succulents can spend the winter. Reduce watering as the daylight diminishes. Let your plants dry thoroughly between waterings, but do not to the point where lower leaves show signs of shriveling. As always, scout for pests and treat accordingly. (Thank you, online agave forums!) Enjoy a break from the norm. Try succulents. O
Agave desmettiana 'Variegata'
fAMiLy fridAys
Join some animal friends this August and meet the feathered and scaly creatures that live in Berkshire County. these family friday programs are for children and adults, open to all, and free with paid admission to the garden. these popular programs meet in the exhibit hall at 11am.
Birds of Prey tom ricardi Wildlife rehabilitator Friday, August 10, 11am
snAkes And froGs tom tyning reptile expert
Lecture/Demonstration free with admission to the Garden
Friday, August 24, 11am
Lecture/Demonstration free with admission to the Garden
Join wildlife rehabilitator Tom Here’s an introduction to local Ricardi for his ever-popular amphibians and reptiles, animals presentation on birds of prey. Tom that are both fascinating and will share the natural history of these elusive. More than thirty different magnificent birds, demonstrate some of their unique behaviors and frogs, salamanders, turtles and snakes inhabit Berkshire County will inspire people of all ages to appreciate, respect and conserve and we know little, if anything, about many of them. Professor these important members of our wild kingdom. Tom Tyning, will encourage families to get to know these animals Tom Ricardi is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and biologist. He better, from tadpoles and turtles to salamanders and snakes. A is retired after 40 years of service as a Massachusetts Environmental small collection of local live animals, including snakes, will be Conservation police officer and now runs the Massachusetts Birds available for close examination. of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway, Massachusetts. Tom Tyning is Professor of Environmental Science at Berkshire Community College. He specializes in reptiles and amphibians in his research and actively researches local rattlesnake populations.
to register call 413-298-3926 6
plant sale gets a face lift by Dorthe B. Hviid, Director of Horticulture The theme for this year’s Plant Sale is Happy in their Habitats: Choosing the Right Plant for the Right Place. Once again, we welcome regional vendors featuring antiques and other fabulous finds for your garden, patio, porch and home. This year the Plant Sale perennials and woody plants will be organized into sections based on the type of habitat they thrive in, the conditions where you will find them growing in the wild. The conditions of a specific habitat that we are most concerned about for healthy plant growth are determined by the amount of light, the type of soil and the amount of soil moisture available. This should make it easier for gardeners to head for the section that corresponds to the part of their garden that they want to improve. If you are unsure how to accomplish what you have in mind, help will be close at hand. I will be available along with Berkshire Botanical Garden staff and other local plant professionals to assist you in designing and selecting the best plants to add a special touch to a shady corner, a woodland garden or a perennial border. About 500 pots of the perennials in the sale are divisions taken from the Berkshire Garden or donated from the gardens of local members and potted up at the Botanical Garden by volunteers. Savvy gardeners have come to recognize that these homegrown divisions taken from mature clumps usually have a more developed root system than nursery-grown plants and will fill in faster when planted. For those of you who like to grow annuals and tropicals we have some news as well. This section will be stocked with more
plant sale hours friday, may 11, 11am–5pm saturday, may 12, 9am–5pm Early Buying for Members only Friday, May 11, 8am –11am. not a Member? Sign up today and receive your discount and early buying privileges at the Plant Sale. To join or renew, call Sharon Hulett-Shepherd at 413-298-3926 or visit the Garden’s website, berkshirebotanical.org. than 50 varieties of annuals and tropicals grown from seed, plugs or cuttings in the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s production greenhouse. New this year will be a Container Design Station, where expert designers will help you design and pot up your selection of container plants. You can bring your own pots to the Plant Sale or purchase them from the Garden. The Plant Sale is generously sponsored by Herrington’s and is an important fund-raiser for the Berkshire Botanical Garden. This is also a real community event, which requires hundreds of volunteers hours and the generosity of over 60 area nurseries donate plants to the sale to benefit the Garden. The 400 varieties of perennials and 70 cultivars of woody plants in the sale are grown at local nurseries within a 100-mile radius and hardy to our zone 5. Join us on Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 for some gardening and shopping therapy. It will benefit your garden as well as the Berkshire Botanical Garden. O
Garden conservancy tours of Private Gardens the Garden conservancy’s open Days Program
invites you to explore two exceptional private gardens on Sunday, July 22, 2012. The gardens will be open to the public for self-guided tours from 10am to 4pm, rain or shine, no reservations required. Apple Hill, 12 red rock road, West Stockbridge, Massachusetts: This garden features a series of small ponds
flowing down a hillside into the main pond, which is surrounded by willows, planted with water lilies, and flanked by a borrowed landscape of blue hills.
rockland Farm, 180 Stony Kill road, canaan, new York:
A gardener’s delight featuring ten acres of gardens that have evolved over twenty years. Highlights include a 450-foot-long rock ledge with mature plantings, a lavender garden contained within hedged hornbeams, broad sweeps of perennials, raised vegetable beds and a three acre pond off in the distance. admission is just $5 per garden (children 12 and under free) and benefits The Garden Conservancy and Berkshire Botanical Garden. See opendaysprogram.org or call The Garden Conservancy toll-free weekdays, 9am to 5pm, 1-888-842-2442. 7
educatiOn
Real life faRm and gaRden expeRiences
nurture A cHILD’S BoDY, MInD, AnD SPIrIt by meg taylor Most likely, you can reflect back on a transformative childhood experience in nature that influenced your interest and passion for plants and the natural world. Perhaps it was time spent hiking in sun-dappled woods at a summer camp, or helping a parent pick red, juicy strawberries in the kitchen garden, or waking up early on a grandparent’s farm to feed the cow fresh hay while filling a pail with her warm, creamy milk.
when nourishing our own bodies with the fruits (and vegetables) of our labor. In addition, working with animals and plants can give a child a greater sense of self while improving self-esteem and confidence. Virtues like patience, responsibility, compassion, and teamwork are practiced daily on the farm and in the garden. Children are forced to slow down, observe, listen, and act with intention.
Farms and gardens have long been a place of hands-on authentic learning, personal challenge and growth, meaningful community interaction, and spiritual wonder. The need for creative and flexible thinking is a necessity in the garden and on the farm. A child experiences the elements and learns what to do when hail threatens the nearly ripe tomato plants or how to create shade when the hot noonday sun is beating down on the chicken run. These kinds of real-life problems provide both personal relevance and a motivational context for a child’s learning.
The intimacy formed with the plants, animals, and people that make up a farm or garden community provides a child with a lasting impression and helps transform his or her relationship with food. To interact with a place over a period of time allows one to know a place, its daily rhythms, sounds, smells, and flavors. The distinctive scent of basil crushed with mortar and pestle while making pesto or the rich taste of a quiche made with eggs collected that morning from happy, free range-hens—these are sensory experiences that become lifelong memories. On a farm, children learn their role is integral to the processes of life: the chickens are waiting to be let out of their coop so they can forage for their morning protein, the wilting garden plants are waiting for a long, cool drink from the hose, and humans are waiting with growling
A farm or garden is a place of personal growth as well. There are no shortcuts. Plant and animal health and productivity are dependent on how well we care for them. We later come full circle
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Education bellies for their community-made meal to be shared. Food and the act of eating take on new meaning. Food is a basic need, life perpetuating, and essential for all living beings. When a child becomes part of the collective whole in the growing, raising, harvesting, preparing, and eating of food, he or she becomes part of something much larger. Food nourishes our bodies, minds, and spirits—thus the farm/garden environment provides the perfect backdrop for teaching a community of children and caring adults humility, gratitude, and a shared sense of universal purpose. Nurturing children through garden experiences has always been vital to the mission at Berkshire Botanical Garden, and this year we build upon that mission with Farm in the Garden Camp—a wonderfully exciting opportunity for children ages 5– 10. This unique partnership between Berkshire Botanical Garden and The Farm Education Collaborative creates a farm and garden community brimming with expertise and a low staff-to-camper ratio. With the beautiful Garden as our classroom, we will tend
resident animals, garden, cook and bake the food we grow, create beautiful arts and crafts, sing, play games and much more. A weekly farm stand run by the children for their families and a Friday Farm Feast for Families will allow us to celebrate the harvest and our farm and garden experiences. Enrollment is limited and some financial assistance is available. For more information, visit the Garden’s website, berkshirebotanical.org, or call the Garden at 413-298-3926. Meg Taylor co-founded and co-directs The Farm Education Collaborative, an educational organization which designs and delivers authentic agricultural experiences at area farms and gardens. She has worked in the fields of environmental and agricultural education for nearly 20 years, working with all ages, preschool through adult. She has coordinated school and community garden programs, developed garden and farm education curriculum, and taught in the classroom for several years. Meg and her family operate a NSA (neighborhood supported agriculture) garden and care for chickens, goats, and Shetland sheep at their home, North Wind Farm, in Williamsburg, MA. O
aBout Farm in thE GardEn camp Open to 5 – 10 year olds • One-week sessions camp runs monday through Friday, 9am–3pm Drop-off at 8:45am • A maximum of 18 campers per session Low staff-to-camper ratios. cost: $300 members; $325 nonmembers
a typical day at Farm in the Garden camp
collect eggs • pull carrots • sing songs • dig potatoes • hear stories care for sheep and goats • build a bean trellis • make (and eat!) ice cream play water games • feed the bunnies • card and felt wool camp Sessions eat snacks that we grew ourselves • sell flowers at our farm stand July 9 – 13 • July 16 – 20 make new friends July 23 – 27 • July 30 – August 3 Register by calling 413-298-3926 or online at berkshirebotanical.org
Garden on Fire!
We are delighted to exhibit a stunning fire feature by Elena Colombo at the Garden this season. Elena is a New York-based classically trained sculptor and architectural designer specializing in creating custom fire, water, and wind features, memorials, markers and environmental sculpture. Elena creates works in bronze, steel, stone, concrete and bone that address our primal need for the elements earth, fire, water and wind that are at once ancient and modern, simple and elegant. "For nearly 700,000 years we have shared food, stories and experiences around the fire; during the last hundred, we seem to have abandoned the hearth as the focus of community. I would like to restore the hearth as a ceremonial place and as a point of convergence," she said. Her fire feature at the Garden, a mild steel firebowl made of industrial grade carbon steel and measuring nearly six feet in diameter, was nominated as 'Best Outdoor Product' by the 2004 Design and Decoration Awards and will be available for sale. 9
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gimme shelteR aRchitects design fOR shade Experimenting with fire: Sho-sugi-ban, an ancient Japanese wood charring technique, is used to create a siding that naturally repels rain, rot and insects. text and photos by robin Parow On Saturday, April 28, the Garden opens its 2012 season with Gimme Shelter: Architects Design for Shade—an exhibition of four distinctly unique shelters that will be on display through October. We welcome to the Garden four design groups: New England Modern & Co, Crisp Architects, Burr & McCallum Architects, and Kristine Sprague. Revisiting high design in small spaces comes on the heels of last year’s popular tree house exhibition and the 2010 “Shed Show”—both featured in national media and viewed by thousands of visitors. What sets Gimme Shelter apart, though, is a double challenge—not only to create beautifully distinctive structures, but to provide shelter from the sun, appropriate to our 2012 theme, Garden on Fire. Fire is on the minds of Jamie Odegaard and Peter Murkett of New England Modern & Co, who use flame as an artistic tool. Their structure incorporates sho-sugi-ban, an ancient Japanese method of charring wood to create a dramatic, almost reptilian texture. Their Southfield, Massachusetts furniture studio in an old buggy whip factory is where experimentation in creative pyromania began, inspired by an article in Dwell magazine and an interest in pairing woodworking with history. The two have spent hours researching different burning, charring and oiling techniques to bring out the wood’s personality and distinctive characteristics. The technique serves several practical as well as aesthetic purposes: in addition to creating beautifully dynamic siding, it also protects
Jamie Odegaard and Peter Murkett apply a variety of oils and waxes to samples of charred wood samples in an effort to find the right finishing touch after the sho-sugi-ban process. 10
the wood against rain, rot and insects. Coaxing the fire up the boards is a painstakingly slow process, but highly rewarding as the wood is doused with water or allowed to progress to its natural completion—short of compromising the wood’s structural integrity. Sun shelters take on different styles and meanings at the Garden this season. Jimmy Crisp of Crisp Architects in Millbrook, New York, brings the essence of his practice to the exhibition, incorporating traditional New England styles that will blend into the Garden environment. His classically inspired structure is omni-directional and light-filled, with interior benches and a contemplative mood. Williamstown-based architects Andrus Burr and Ann McCallum of Burr & McCallum Architects present a surprise fire element as they merge nature with industrial elements. Kristine Sprague of Lenox designed her structure based on an inspiration for a shelter to literally grow out of the earth as a solid green roof supported by curved rafters. As the land falls toward the pond side site, the roof extends toward the sky. Inside, a sky light incorporated into the green roof allows visitors to recline and contemplate the treetops. The exhibition opens with a reception on April 28, 5-7pm. Join the designers, builders, Garden staff and trustees for a festive opening to this very exciting season. Tickets are $25 and can be reserved online at berkshirebotanical.org or by calling the Garden at 413-298-3926. O
After the fire: samples of cedar, pine and white oak illustrate the reptilian textures created by the charring process.
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gaRden time SunDIAL exHIBItIon oPenS June 23
Greg and Natalie Randall will exhibit a collection of sundials, spheres and armillaries at the Garden June 23-October 16. Photo by Robin Parow Natalie and Greg Randall have a reputation for matching the perfect garden ornament to the right place at the right time. Thanks to them, we’ll be enjoying a very special exhibition at a perfect time—garden time, that is—with their display of sundials, spheres and armillaries opening Saturday, June 23. The Randall’s own and operate R.T. Facts in Kent, Connecticut, a partnership matching the sensitivity of a sculptor (Greg) with the style of a fashion designer (Natalie) to create a 20-year-old business specializing in rare antique garden ornaments. Their exhibition Garden Time: Objects Employing the Sun combines both antique and recently-constructed pieces, some scholarly and serious, some whimsical, all carefully sited throughout the Garden. Used mainly as “focals” in modern gardens, sundials and armillaries (described as a type of sundial or time-keeping device) are arguably the oldest scientific instruments known to mankind.
“Their beauty is often a reflection of great craftsmanship, as well as a design statement which is highly ordered and rational, and to an extent out of the hands of the designer, who must always find a solution that both obeys the rules and satisfies the eye,” wrote Mark Lennox-Boyd in Sundials: History, Art, People, Science (Francis Lincoln Limited, 2006). Beyond their usefulness to gardeners to tell time, some of these devices go beyond the moment, informing on the cyclical progress of the seasons and the approach of the equinox. Starting with an opening reception on Saturday, June 23, expect to see a collection that will inspire and intrigue: sculptural, architectural, rustic and utilitarian by virtue by those who designed and built them. Tickets to the opening festivities, which begin at 5 pm, are $25. Reserve by calling the Garden, 413-298-3926, or online at berkshirebotanical.org. O
SeeDS on FIre! by elisabeth cary, Director of Education
Did you know that seed germination is often the result of specific adaptation to the environment in which the plant grows naturally? Consider plants that grow in areas of the world where fire is a naturally occurring ecological event. Certain plants growing under these conditions have evolved a germinating strategy known as serotinous. These plants require exposure to high temperatures to encourage their seed pods and cones to release seeds for germination. They often have resinous woody cone structures protecting their seeds. When fire occurs, the resin melts, releasing seeds for germination. Germination following the fire gives these seeds the best conditions for survival: limited competition for light, water and nutrients due to the charring of the surrounding plants. Examples can be found in the pine family including pitch pine (Pinus rigida) of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, and lodge pole pine (Pinus contorta) of the western United States. Locations in the southern hemisphere subjected to periodic fires (Australia and South Africa), have plant genuses, such as Protea, Banksia and Eucalyptus, that are also strongly serotinous. Plants sure are SMART! O
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Big, BOld AnD Hot: summeR BulB standOuts
Colocasia ‘Mojito’ by Barb pierson Would you like to have the exotic look of a tropical paradise in your garden? Try summer bulbs! Summer bulbs range from true bulbs, such as lilies and hippeastrum, to bulbous plants, from Agapanthus to Zantedeschia. Don’t let the tropical nature of some of the best varieties fool you— their underground storage parts are built to withstand poor soil, heat and drought. Start with a bright red canna with dark chocolate foliage or a large, chartreuse colocasia, and you’ll be hooked! Potted for the patio or tucked into a border, they add riotous color in the heat of the summer and well into fall. The tender varieties can be stored in your cellar and carried over from year to year. Here are just a few of my favorites: Agapanthus ‘White Heaven’ (Lily of the nile) This pure white exotic is elegant and easy. Agapanthus flowers, with their slender stalks and huge 10” heads, come from South Africa but can make their home anywhere. I like to grow them in plastic pots set into decorative containers. Their large size and silhouette make a perfect focal point and statement. Best flowering is achieved when they are pot-bound, and be sure to use blossom-boosting fertilizer during the growing season. Bring them indoors for the winter (a cellar is fine). 12
Caladium ‘Florida cardinal’ (Angel-Wings) The Florida series of caladium was bred for disease resistance and heat tolerance. The result is a tougher caladium with spectacular heartshaped leaves, red tinged with green. ‘Florida Cardinal’ screams red in a mixed container, and is a must-have for a partial shade-toshade garden or patio. In our climate, give them a little bit of sun for best performance. The best way to start is to pot them indoors in early spring and keep them warm to sprout. After danger of frost, place them in their pots into the ground. Colocasia esculenta ‘Mojito’ (Imperial taro, elephant’sear) Abstract splotches of dark purple-black on bright chartreuse with reddish purple stems—this may be the most hip colocasia to date. Its leaves are 14” long and arrowhead-shaped, demanding attention wherever it is planted. Even though the leaves are large, it doesn’t require voluminous amounts of soil. It thrives in a container with Solenostemon (aka coleus) ‘Dipt in Wine’. Canna ‘Australia’ Deep burgundy-black foliage with a satinlike sheen and blazing racemes of stunning, bright red flowers! One of the most dramatic cannas available and the best for introducing 4-5’ spikes of color. I like this variety because it looks great before and after bloom, providing a wonderful, dark backdrop to shrubs and perennials.
Dahlia ‘Karma Sangria’ (sister to ‘Karma Corona’) The Karma series can’t be beat for vibrant colors and great cut flowers, and ‘Sangria’ shows its Mexican heritage in fine form. The combination of fuchsia, salmon and yellow with perfect semi-cactus flowers is outstanding. Prolific and strong, this is one the best dahlias for the summer and fall border. Plant this with Agastache ‘Acapulco Salmon and Pink’ at its feet. Don’t miss out on the tropical heat wave this summer. . . plant bulbs! O
Barb Pierson is the nursery manager for the prestigious White Flower Farm located in Litchfield, Connecticut. She is quoted widely in the print media and was the lead horticultural resource for a 2010 New York Times garden series.
Caladium Florida Cardinal
Agapanthus White Heaven
The CommemoraTive Tree Program aT BerKShire BoTaniCal garden Shawn Samuelson Henry and her family gathered at the Garden last summer to visit two very special trees planted in honor of her grandparents in 1996. Pictured with Director of Horticulture Dorthe Hviid are three generations of family members who traveled from throughout the country to see the beautiful trees: a Cornus kousa (Korean dogwood) and Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ (fernleaf beech). “That they are thriving trees means a great deal to us, as our grandparents were such special people. I like to think that they were smiling down on us as we admired the trees and danced through the gardens,” wrote Shawn of her visit. Established in the mid-1970s, the Garden’s Commemorative Gift Program honors the lives and achievements of family and friends. Currently more than 30 individuals are honored with trees or memorial benches which grace the Garden for all to enjoy. For more information about honoring a friend or family member with a tree or bench at the Garden, contact Dorthe Hviid, 413-298-4505. O
CoCKTailS in greaT gardenS What a great way to begin the weekend!
Once again, the Garden has arranged for a series of Friday evening visits to spectacular gardens. Enjoy this rare opportunity to roam these private spaces with the gardeners themselves, while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres in the beautiful waning light of a summer day. The dates: June 15, July 20 and August 17, Tickets are limited and reservations are required. Individual garden price: Member $20, nonmember $25 All three gardens: Member $50, nonmember $65 To reserve, call 413-298-3926 or visit the Garden’s website, berkshirebotanical.org. O
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easy and DeLIcIouS! A kid-friendly recipe from our friends at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace
BOla gRanOla BaRs With Old chatham sheepheRding gingeR yOguRt makes 16 bars ingredients 16 oz. bag Bola Granola (chop the whole almonds if they are too big for your liking) 2 tbs. unsalted butter, plus extra for pan 1/3 c. honey 1/4 c. dark brown sugar, packed 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 c. chopped pitted dates* 1/2 c. Guido’s tart dried cherries* old chatham Ginger Sheep’s Milk Yogurt** notes *You can use any combination of dried fruits, such as cranberries, raisins, apricots, blueberries, etc. **Use the yogurt as a dipping sauce for the bars. Fantastic! Instructions Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Butter a 9 x 9-inch glass baking dish and line with parchment paper. Combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.
Pour Bola Granola into a mixing bowl and add the dates and cherries (or dried fruit of your choice). Toss with the warm butter mixture. Stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish. Place pan in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool. Let rest at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares.
invest in gReen spOnsOR a vegetaBle BOx Alicanthe Bean • Rouge d’Alger Cardoon • Chiogga Beet • Purple Flash Pepper • Red Dynasty Cabbage and many more… Link your name or that of your friend or grandchild to this illustrious list of vegetable royalty by sponsoring a raised bed in our Vegetable Garden! The names of the sponsors will be hand-lettered on rustic wooden sign and displayed in the individual raised vegetable beds. Call the Garden for more information
413-298-3926
Keep us growing…..sponsor a box today! Don’t let Red Dynasty Cabbage go it alone! Sponsorships are $100. All proceeds go to keeping these vegetable stars in tip-top shape.
Edible Gardens sponsored by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace.
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Fête des Fleurs 2011 Pictured are Michael Beck, Elaine Grant, Molly Boxer, Naomi Blumenthal and Abigail Elwood. Photo by Kevin Sprague.
ROy BOutaRd day sunday, may 6, 9am-5pm
Join us as we commemorate Roy Boutard Day on May 6. The festivities begin at 12:30pm with a Garden tour led by David Burdick highlighting spring blooms and favorite plantings of the late Roy Boutard, the Garden’s beloved director from 1955-1985. We celebrate the accomplishments of our Horticulture Certificate Program students with a graduation ceremony at 1:30pm, followed by a traditional Mai Bowle punch and cookies provided by the Garden’s Herb Associates, a volunteer group producing delectable products from our Herb Garden since 1957. Free admission for all on this very special day!
fête des fleuRs
fOuR gaRden events yOu Won’t WAnt tO miss cOntained exuBeRance WALKABout
saturday, august 4, 11am Contained Exuberance is our everpopular exhibition bringing together the region’s most talented designers for a unique and intriguing display of container gardens. These containers are tucked in spaces throughout the Garden with designs ranging from traditional to whimsical. A highlight of this show is the Designer Walkabout at 11am on Saturday, August 4, when we learn the back stories behind the designs—a fascinating “master class.” For more information on these and other Garden events, visit berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-298-3926.
July 28, 5-7:30pm
Fête des Fleurs is THE summer garden party of the year, accented with magical merriment and many surprises. This is an event not to miss, as we celebrate our 2012 theme: Garden on Fire!
the gROW shOW
saturday, august 4, 1-5pm sunday, august 5, 10am-5pm The Grow Show embodies a rich 43-year Berkshire tradition with opportunities for all ages and experience to showcase their talents in a juried exhibition. This community event features gardeners, floral designers and photographers as they showcase their creative juices and backyard harvest, and swap horticultural tips while celebrating the height of the season. All are welcome to enter in the Flower Show (advance registration required), the Hort division (bring us your home-grown vegetables and flowers picked at the peak of perfection) and Garden Photography Competition. Please join us and marvel at the variety of specimens and creativity in the Berkshires!
Madeline and Ian Hooper at 2011 Fête des Fleurs. Photo by Kevin Sprague. 15
memBeRship
neW memBeRs
Welcome new members! Below is a list of new members who have joined Since October 2011 and prior to the press deadline for this issue of Cuttings. Welcome aboard! Karen Advokaat , Pittsfield, MA Kate Barton, Hinsdale, MA Deborah Benoit, North Adams, MA Sandra and Bruce Blair, Stockbridge, MA Lisa Bouchard and Edward Hoe, Richmond, MA Ryette Byrnes and Tom McMann, Blandford, MA Sonya and Glenn Camp, West Stockbridge, MA Sally and Rick Carlson, Richmond, MA Constance Casey, New York, NY Diana Chute, Wilton, CT Amy Cotler and Thomas Powers, West Stockbridge, MA Lisa and Bradley Danyluk, Stockbridge, MA Katherine Frisina, Pittsfield, MA
Jane Garmey, New York, NY Annette Grant, Brooklyn, NY Mr. and Mrs. Robert Harris, Brooklyn, NY Ellen Hochberger, Summit, NJ Jenny Lee Hughes, Stoddard, NH Donna W. Jacobs, New York, NY Roxana Laughlin, West Cornwall, CT Linda Lis, South Egremont, MA Karen and Shelby Marshall, Stockbridge, MA Pamela Mead, Pittsfield, MA Michael van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc., Brooklyn, NY Marcia and Jack Middleton , Averill Park, NY Susan O’Connor, Loudonville, NY
Frances Owles, New Preston, CT Bonnie and Ernie Rowen, Hillsdale, NY Eric Ruquist, Falls Village, CT Secret Gardener, Mary Ellen and Benjamin Eaton, Hudson, NY Margaret Snowden, Voorheesville, NY Marian Sole and Pasquale Russo, Valatie, NY Meghan Taylor, Williamsburg, MA Mary Thibeault , West Stockbridge, MA Cynthia Valles and George Hebard, Old Chatham, NY Barbara Yake, Loudonville, NY Joanne Yurman and Thomas Walsh, West Stockbridge, MA Dan Zima, Williamsburg, MA
eMBrAce tHe BeneFItS oF MeMBerSHIP! by Sharon Hulett-Shepherd
In times when thinking globally can be a bit overwhelming, membership at Berkshire Botanical Garden brings immediacy. Our mission to fulfill the community’s need for information, education and inspiration concerning the art and science of gardening, is reflected in all of in our educational programming. Taking classes or volunteering at the Garden makes for new friendships, ideas and sound contemplation found at our beautiful Garden. And Membership helps create these bonds. Information is exchanged and shared between gardeners of every level presented in our many classes and workshops for children, young families and adults. Inspiration comes from experiencing the sounds, sights, color and changes found in the display gardens daily. It is here where we watch things grow and learn about the interdependence of life…from the worms crawling in the compost pile to the slight breeze helping unfurl the tender fern leaf! And support through Garden Membership is vital to the development of year-round programming for both the young and the seasoned gardener and everyone in between. It is here where wonder and science bring excitement and understanding - leading to a greater respect for our wonderful environment, our Berkshire bounty and Mother Nature. And in this grand scheme one discovers the immediate majesty found in buds, berries, vegetables and flowers. A day at the Garden can be very rewarding. Membership brings all of this together!
Here At BerKSHIre BotAnIcAL GArDen, our MeMBerS enJoY A HoSt oF BeneFItS ALL YeAr rounD, IncLuDInG: • Unlimited free admission to the Garden • 10% discount at the Garden’s Shop • 10% off all BBG plant purchases at the Garden’s annual Plant Sale held this May 11 and 12 with early buying privileges on Friday, May 11 from 8–11am • Free subscription to Cuttings, the Garden’s magazine, complete with class listings • Discounts on classes, lectures and workshops Give a gift of membership and help spread the bounty of possibilities the Garden offers. Garden club and corporate memberships are also available. Please contact Sharon Hulett-Shepherd at 413-298-3926, ex. 14 for more information, or join online at berkshirebotanical.org. 16
Classes
5 West Stockbridge Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 413-298-3926
berkshirebotanical.org
at The Berkshire Botanical Garden from April to August 2012
LectureS, WorKSHoPS
gROWing a gReat laWn ORganically Saturday, April 28, 10am–noon
Slide-illustrated lecture Members $22; Nonmembers $27 All levels Tired of crabgrass? Spring is a great time to develop a new lawn or rejuvenate an old one. Learn how to grow and maintain a beautiful, healthy lawn that accommodates the needs of the homeowner. Consider whether to plant seed or invest in sod. Cultivation issues such as pH, fertilizing, cutting, and watering will be covered. Discussion will include which species to choose, based on the site and usage. Take a realistic look at management of pests including insects, weeds, diseases, and moss. David Chinery is an extension educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County in Troy, New York. He is currently researching alternatives to pesticides for insect and disease problems in turf grass, as well as improving and expanding the county’s Master Gardener Program.
tAKInG tHe MAGIc out oF fORecasting the WeatheR May 5, 10am–noon
Lecture/demonstration Members $22; Nonmembers $27 All levels, please bring a clear plastic 2-liter bottle with the cap, but with the label removed. Learn what drives all weather systems and how an understanding of the term “dew point” will put most weather processes into perspective. We’ll look at the large weather players (air masses, fronts and storm systems) and see how the dew point results in the formation of clouds and precipitation, including frost and dew. All this should help make you a less frantic gardener (weather-wise, at least). John Hoffman is a retired teacher of earth science (astronomy, geology, and weather) and physical science with over 35 years of experience. He has been a vegetable gardener for 40 years. Geology is his first love, but weather and astronomy are close seconds.
setting up a Beehive Saturday, April 28, 2–4pm
Demonstration Members $35; Nonmembers $45 Beginners, off-site location. Join beekeeper Jan Johnson for a step-by-step demonstration on how to set up a beehive. This demonstration will take place off-site and begin indoors with a close-up look at how bees arrive for installation. Safety equipment, how to stay protected, structural components, and assembly and siting of the hive will be discussed. Jan will then demonstrate how to introduce bees into a new hive. Participants will be able to observe from a safe distance. Following the demonstration Jan will be on hand to answer questions.
PLEASE NOTE: This program is tentatively scheduled for
Saturday, April 28 at 2 pm. This date is subject to weather conditions and bee delivery. Once you sign up for the workshop, we will keep you posted about the actual time and day and directions to the location. It will take place on a weekend. A list of suggested safety equipment is listed below although these items are not mandatory. Jan Johnson is a beekeeper and owner of Berkshire Wildflower Honey, an apiary located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. She practices natural beekeeping and produces and sells raw honey, beeswax skin care products and beeswax candles. She is certified through Cornell’s Master Beekeeping Program and studied with Nick Calderone, professor of entomology and head of Cornell’s Dyce Laboratory for Honeybee Studies.
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413-298-3926 berkshirebotanical.org
spRing/summeR classes unDerStAnDInG DrInKInG WAter In BerKSHIre countY Saturday, May 5, 1–3pm
Saturday, May 19, 10am–noon
Lecture/discussion
Lecture/field study
Members $22; Nonmembers $27 All levels
Members $22; Nonmembers $27 Beginners, rain or shine: dress in outdoor clothes with waterproof footwear. Bring hand pruners.
Learn about water, the earth’s most precious resource, with a special focus on understanding what makes a great drinking water and how to protect this most important resource. Topics covered will include private wells, water quality, public water supplies, where our water comes from, and cross-connections--what are they and how to prevent them to protect the water supply. Bring questions concerning your water supply for an expert to answer. Catherine V. Skiba is a licensed professional geologist specializing in hydrogeology. She has worked with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in the Western Massachusetts office since 1999, and specializes in water supplies.
Build a cOB Oven Saturday and Sunday, May 19–20 9am–4pm
Demonstration/hands-on Workshop Members $80; Nonmembers $90 All levels, dress for outdoor work with gloves and heavy work shoes. Bring bagged lunch. Come learn the ancient art of making cob! Known as adobe in the American west and daub in Europe, cob is a versatile building material made of clay, sand, and straw. Protected from the weather, cob can last a lifetime. There are cob houses in Britain that are 700 years old and still standing! Cob can build houses, benches, walls, hearths, ovens, and more! It can be shaped into any form, from simple and utilitarian to complex, functional sculptures. In this weekend workshop, we’ll build a cob oven from the ground up using locally sourced stone, clay, hay, sand, wood chips, and gravel. We’ll learn the simple, intuitive engineering behind it, then get down to mixing (with bare feet!) a big batch of cob, and building an outdoor bake oven. All aspects of construction will be covered including siting, design, and building. After curing for a month or so, the oven will be unveiled on the 9th of July! Participants are not required to attend the entire workshop but should attend at least four hours each day to understand the entire process. Felix Lufkin teaches nature awareness, wild edibles, and permaculture to adults in the Pioneer Valley. He is developing a number of school and community gardens and perennial food plantings in public spaces. He works with Ape and Ape, Inc., offering on-site, conscientious butchering and instruction throughout New England, and has been building cob ovens for five years. 18
the essentials Of spRing gaRden maintenance
As spring unfolds, perennial garden chores can become an overwhelming task. This program will walk you through a basic maintenance schedule helping you to identify what to do and when. This is a hands-on workshop and students will learn by demonstration and practice. Students will develop an easy garden maintenance regimen including how to shape perennials to produce more flowers, stimulate new growth, stagger bloom times, discourage pests, and encourage vigorous plant health. Dividing, replanting, and staking perennials will be demonstrated. Weed control, edging, and mulching will also be covered. Elisabeth Cary is the Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden and has been gardening for over 20 years. She specializes in perennial, vegetable and mixed-border gardens. She teaches woody plant identification for the Horticulture Certificate Program and perennial and vegetable gardening for beginners.
mad fOR lilacs Saturday, May 19, 1–3pm
Lecture/demonstration/plant sale Members $27; Nonmembers $37 All levels, unusual lilacs for sale following the program. Who doesn’t love lilacs? Consider the lilacs, how they bloom… Ever wonder “Why doesn’t my lilac bloom?” or “When should I prune my lilacs?” A bit of botany, history, personal opinion, and hands-on horticulture, “Lilac Jack” Alexander, Arnold Arboretum’s Plant Propagator and resident lilac aficionado, will discuss lilacs. Not just the best in bloom, but the best for fragrance, disease resistance, flower form, and color, and the best for your garden. Jack is bringing liners (small newly rooted plants) of his favorites for sale. Jack Alexander is plant propagator for the Dana Greenhouse at the Arnold Arboretum since 1976. Lilacs are his passion, and he is an active member of the International Lilac Society and the Lilac Society’s New England Regional Vice President. Syringa × chinensis ‘Lilac Sunday’ and Syringa ‘Purple Haze’ are two of his cultivar selections. He is a fellow of the Eastern Region of the International Plant Propagator’s Society and in 2004 was awarded their prestigious Award of Merit.
413-298-3926 berkshirebotanical.org
spRing/summeR classes annual gaRden tOuR tO plant oBSeSSIonS—BerKSHIre BotAnIcAL GArDen’S AnnuAL GArDen tour Hunnewell Arboretum, Blanchette Gardens, Joe Pye Weed’s Garden
BOnsai fOR BeginneRs Wednesday, June 6, 5–7pm
Thursday, May 24, 8am–6:30pm
Demonstration/lecture
Field study
Members $25; Nonmembers $30 Beginner/intermediate
Members $95; Nonmembers $120 Dress for the weather, bring a bagged lunch, and wear comfortable, sturdy footwear. Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden staff for a day-long adventure to gardens and nurseries for the “plant obsessed.” Visit an eclectic selection of gardens, private and public, with the unifying theme of “obsession.” Fee includes transportation and guided tours—leave all the arrangements to us! Travel first to the Walter Hunnewell Arboretum, a privately owned, 22-acre arboretum in Wellesley, Massachusetts, containing over 500 species of woody plants. This estate also contains a renowned and distinctive topiary garden, called the “Italian Garden” by creator Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, with 140-year-old fanciful groups of intricate, geometrically pruned, native eastern white pine and eastern arborvitae. A collection of specialty greenhouses, including a grape house and peach house, feature over 1,000 plant species and have been cared for by five generations of the Hunnewell family. Today’s pinetum, established in 1866, includes rare, mature specimens like Torreya nucifera, a massive, weeping European beech in front of the 19th century Italianate mansion, and one of the oldest dawn redwood trees in the United States. The collection of specimen trees and shrubs includes towering American white and English oaks, lindens, tulip trees, bald cypress, Chinese golden larch, and different species and cultivars of azaleas, lilacs, viburnums, hollies, weeping cherries, and rhododendrons. From Wellesley we will travel to Carlisle, Massachusetts to visit two spectacular specialty nurseries to satisfy our own plant obsessions. We will visit Blanchette Gardens, renowned for its extensive and unusual perennial collection. Nursery owner Leo Blanchette will lead a guided tour and discuss some of his favorite plant genera including Arisaemas, species peonies, Anemonellas, and many more. The final stop is the nano-nursery Joe Pye Weed’s Garden, also in Carlisle. Join owner-horticulturists Jan Shaffer and Marty Sax for a tour of their garden. Their special obsession is hybridizing Siberian irises but their garden includes much, much more. The irises will be at the top of their bloom and you will be treated to a feast of color. An added bonus will be the beautiful display gardens and a large cutting garden that serves the Boston Flower Market. Plants will be available for purchase at Blanchette Gardens. A morning snack and late afternoon refreshments will be provided, compliments of the Berkshire Botanical Garden staff.
Bonsai is the art of dwarfing trees and developing them into aesthetically appealing shapes by growing, pruning, and training in containers according to prescribed techniques. Observe how a bonsai is created and discuss the basics of horticulture that allow these small trees to survive in a pot environment. During this demonstration the instructor will create a bonsai from nursery stock and teach participants how to continue growing it throughout the year. Pauline Muth is a past President of the American Bonsai Society and currently sits on the executive board of Bonsai Clubs International. She has won many awards, published many articles in journals, and maintains an extensive collection of hardy and nonhardy bonsai. Her bonsai teaching and supply studio is in its 22nd year of operation in West Charlton, New York.
feRns fOR inside and Out Saturday, June 9, 10am–noon
Lecture/demonstration and a spectacular fern sale Members $22; Nonmembers $27 All levels, a fabulous assortment of ferns will be available for purchase. Learn about hardy and tender ferns for the New England landscape. Ferns have been fixtures in nature’s design plan for millions of years, in temperate as well as tropical climates. Increasingly they are finding their way into the garden setting, not just for shady corners but also to add architectural structure, color, and texture to shade borders, containers, and woodland gardens. View a wide variety of live fern specimens including the hardy Athyriums (lady and painted ferns), Dryopteris (evergreen shield fern), tropical tree ferns, and Platyceriums (staghorn ferns). Cultivation, site selection, and maintenance will be covered. David Burdick is owner of Daffodils and More, a retail bulb and plant nursery located in Dalton, Massachusetts. He is a plantsman extraordinaire and is well versed in a diverse range of plant groups. He has instructed for the Berkshire Botanical Garden for many years.
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413-298-3926 berkshirebotanical.org
spRing/summeR classes summeR gaRden maintenance clinic Saturday, June 9, 2–4pm
Lecture/field study/ hands-on workshop Members $25; Nonmembers $35 Beginners, held rain or shine. Dress in outdoor clothes and waterproof footwear; bring hand pruners. As summer advances, the perennial border can lose its lovely appearance. Learn how to keep the perennial border looking its best all season long by shaping perennials to produce more flowers, encourage new growth, stagger bloom times, discourage pests, and encourage vigorous plant health. Simple techniques for pruning, shaping, pinching, thinning, deadheading, and staking perennials will be discussed and demonstrated. Weed control and mulching will be covered. Jenna O’Brien owns Viridissima, a garden design and maintenance business. Her specialties include perennial gardening and design, container culture and design, and indoor gardening. She teaches for area horticultural organizations and has completed the Horticulture Certificate Program at Berkshire Botanical Garden.
IPM WorKSHoP For GArDenerS Scouting for Pests and Problems of ornamentals in the Landscape—Walkabout on the Grounds of Berkshire Botanical garden Thursday, June 14, 5–7pm Members $25; Nonmembers $35 All levels, held rain or shine. Dress for walking and bring a clipboard, pencil, and hand lens. ceu’s available. Learn how to put Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to work efficiently in a workshop designed for gardeners, landscapers, and grounds managers. Join Ron Kujawski for a walk and talk to identify pests and diseases and discuss plant health care with a focus on IPM. Walk through the landscape for demonstrations of IPM tools and techniques, as well as a close look at some of the most common insect, disease, and weed problems of woody ornamentals. Cultural problems and environmental stresses will also be discussed. Topics will include using plant phenology and monitoring techniques to effectively manage pest problems. Ron Kujawski, Ph.D. is the former Landscape and Nursery Specialist for UMass Cooperative Extension. He is a garden writer, educator, and researcher in IPM, plant nutrition, and soil science. He teaches for the horticultural industry throughout New England. 20
one WeeK FroM SeeD to SALAD Grow Micro-Greens and Baby Greens in Your Kitchen Garden—no Soil! Saturday, June 16, 10am–noon
Lecture/demonstration Members $25; Nonmembers $30 All levels Join Steve Meyerowitz for a demonstration and discussion on growing micro-greens and sprouts indoors throughout the year. This kind of soil-free gardening includes more than bean sprouts: ten-inchtall micro-greens such as baby sunflowers, buckwheat lettuce, pea shoots, Daikon radish, broccoli, and garlic chives, to name a few. Class includes demonstration of the growing units, seed quality, storage, shortcuts, and space-saving tips. Learn how to make a mini-garden on the kitchen counter. These greens can also be used in breads, cookies and crackers, all from sprouted seed! Sample this fresh, living food in all varieties, textures, and flavors. Come see, sample, and learn how to grow micro-greens and sprouts all year round. Steve Meyerowitz has authored some of the most popular books on sprouts, including Sprouts, the Miracle Food, Sproutman’s Kitchen Garden Cookbook, and Wheatgrass, Nature’s Finest Medicine. He advocates growing micro-greens and sprouts in the kitchen as an alternative to conventional agriculture, and teaches kitchen gardening skills so gardeners can grow a high quality, affordable, self-sufficient food supply.
Art’S trAVeLInG cActuS AnD succulent plant shOW Saturday, June 16, 1–3pm
Discussion/demonstration/ live plant display Members $25; Nonmembers $35 All levels Not just spines! Learn about a fascinating group of plants and consider these HOT-loving, tough, drought resistant workhorses for the patio or garden. Cacti and succulents are unusual, fascinating, and easy to grow. Art Scarpa will bring hundreds of different varieties of tropical and hardy succulents, including the rare and bizarre. Learn about cultural requirements and how to care for them in the winter months. Art Scarpa is an expert gardener and grower of all types of indoor and outdoor plants, maintains a greenhouse, and specializes in cacti, succulents, bromeliads, orchids, ferns, and citrus. He is a certified judge at the New England Flower Show, Philadelphia Flower Show and many other regional flower shows. Additionally, he lectures extensively for cactus and succulent societies throughout the northeast.
413-298-3926 berkshirebotanical.org
spRing/summeR classes MAKInG More WooDY PLAntS— tAKInG cuttInGS Saturday, June 23, 10am–noon
Hands-on workshop Members $40; Nonmembers $45 All levels, materials fee $15. Bring hand pruners and a box to carry plants home in. Longing for that special hydrangea? Learn how to propagate easy-to-grow shrubs and trees with woody plant specialist and plant propagator guru Adam Wheeler. He will cover how to collect, prepare, and propagate shrubs and trees from softwood cuttings. Set at a good time of the year, participants will take cuttings, make a simple propagator, and learn techniques needed for ensuring successful rooting. Easily propagated shrub varieties, cultivation requirements, timing, and care will be the focus of this program. Participants will go home with some great plant material. Adam Wheeler is the Propagation and New Plant Development Manager for Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, Connecticut, a specialty nursery with a focus on woody plants, especially Kalmias. He has an M.S. in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Vermont and teaches woody plant propagation workshops throughout New England.
Behind-the-scenes tOuR Of White flOWeR faRm With nursery Manager Barbara Pierson Thursday June 28, 10am–noon
Offsite: Meet in parking lot of White Flower Farm, Litchfield, CT. Directions available upon registration (limited car pool available from parking lot of BBG) Members $30; Non-members $35 All levels Join nursery manager of White Flower Farm, Barb Pierson, for a “Behind the Scenes” tour, of this renowned nursery located in Litchfield, CT. One of our most popular instructors, Barb will lead participants through the production greenhouses where she grows hundreds of varieties of plants. Learn how she propagates, cultivates, evaluates, and produces some of the best plants available. Following the greenhouse tour, Tom Bodnar, the Retail Store Manager, will tour participants through the display gardens, highlighting some of the best varieties in bloom. (From BBG to White Flower Farm, approximate driving time 1 ½ hours)
phOtOgRaphing BOtanicals Saturday & Sunday June 30 & July 1 1–6pm
Workshop Members $195; Nonmembers $225 All levels Capture the magic and beauty of the garden and landscape at Berkshire Botanical Garden. Learn photographic techniques and tips to help create unique images. Exercises in composition, light, depth of field, and exposure will give participants the skills and confidence to approach subjects with new and original points of view. Instructor Cassandra Sohn, the curator of Botanophilia, the current exhibition on display in the Center House at the Berkshire Botanical Garden, will use the exhibition as inspiration for this workshop. Sohn will lead participants through discussions, demonstrations, and focused assignments, to find new ways to explore flora and landscapes. All levels of ability are welcome. Bring your camera, either SLR, digital, film, or point-and-shoot camera. Instructor Cassandra Sohn is a freelance photographer. She is the main contributing photographer in the book, Window On The Park New York's Most Prestigious Properties On Central Park, and exhibits with galleries throughout the United States and Europe. She teaches photography at IS183 Art School and Berkshire Community College.
the gaRden in WateRcOlOR en Plein Air—Watercolor Painting in the summer garden Session I: Tuesdays, July 10–31 10am–1pm Members $145; Nonmembers $175 Individual classes $45 All levels, materials list available upon registration. Seeing and painting the garden en plein air is the subject of this class, and students of all levels are welcome in either or both sessions. The first session will focus on drawing forms, finding compositions and simple, direct color schemes. Composition will be stressed. Each class will begin with an introduction and demonstration by the instructor. We will then move into the garden to paint, with the instructor circulating among the students to provide input and answer questions. No experience is necessary, and beginners are welcome. You may attend the whole series or pick and choose individual classes; however, everyone is encouraged to come to the first meeting, in which the basics of watercolor, paint, brushes, and paper will be explained. Ann Kremers is an artist and calligrapher. Her work is currently focused on watercolor and drawing media. She has received commissions for paintings and drawings, has illustrated books, and has calligraphed citations and awards. Ann lives in Bennington, Vermont and teaches throughout Berkshire County. Examples of her work can be viewed at annkremers.com.
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413-298-3926 berkshirebotanical.org
spRing/summeR classes pReseRving the haRvest - putting fOOd By Wednesdays, July 11–25, 2–5pm
Hands-on workshop series Members $120, Nonmembers $130, Individual classes $40 ea. Beginners, all materials included; bring an apron. Consider simple methods of preserving the summer’s bounty of fruits and vegetables for use during the long Berkshire winters. Using wonderful local produce, learn how to freeze, can, and preserve a wide array of foods including vegetables such as sweet corn and tomatoes, and fruits and berries such as cherries, peaches strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Topics will include fruit and vegetable selection, preparation, methods and procedures, food safety, and practical tips for successfully putting food by. Each technique will be demonstrated during the series. Students will learn wonderful recipes and be able to take home samples.
July 18
Learn how to make bread-and-butter pickles, old fashioned catsup, and herbal vinegars. These specialty relishes, pickles, and vinegars make great additions to the winter pantry and can be given at holiday time as special homemade treats.
dRied fRuit, fROzen BlueBeRRies, and cHerrY PIe! July 25
July 11
Drying and freezing fruits and vegetables, from cherries to tomatoes, is the way to go for fixing favor and nutrients from the summer’s bounty. Practice these simple techniques for preserving the harvest, and learn how to use the results for baking. Make a cherry pie or a plum crumble.
Making jams and jellies from wild and home-grown fruits is fun and easier that you might think. Spend a few hours learning the secrets of this craft. Sample a variety of jams and jellies; learn favorite recipes and helpful hints on how to make them. Help prepare a jam, jelly, and chutney and practice a hot-water-bath preserving technique. Students will take home samples of their handiwork.
Kathy Harrison has been preserving food for over 30 years. She has taught classes on food preservation for many organizations including NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) and Mother Earth News. She is the author of several books, including Just in Case: How to Be Self Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens, released in 2008 by Storey Publishing.
JAMS, JeLLIeS, AnD cHutneYS
Right plant, Right pOt How to Successfully Grow Plants in Pots
cuttInG-eDGe DeSIGn: not Your MotHer’S FLoWer ArrAnGeMent
Friday, July 13, 10am–noon
Friday, July 20, 10am–1pm
Demonstration/discussion
Hands-on workshop
Members $22, Nonmembers $27 All levels, off-site location (greenhouse at campo de’ Fiori, route 7, Sheffield, MA).
Members $40; Nonmembers $45 All levels, materials fee $55, paid to instructor, covers flowers, foliage, vegetables, fruit, container, oasis, and mechanics for securing designs. Bring clippers or floral shears and a shallow box.
Learn about pots of all sizes and shapes with a focus on matching the right plant to the right pot. Consider aesthetics when selecting pots, and learn how to keep your containers and potted plants happy year round. This class will focus on cultural techniques and information for aquatics and a variety of annuals and tender perennials. Watch a planting demonstration and discuss different soil mixes suitable for a variety of plant types. Discussion will include long-term maintenance issues and tips for keeping your plants thriving. Barbara Bockbrader is a floral designer and co-owner of Campo de’ Fiori, a home and garden furnishing store in Sheffield, MA.
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PIcKLInG, PreSerVInG, AnD HerBAL vinegaR
Learn skills necessary to create fantastic flower arrangements. This workshop will focus on bending the rules and stretching your knowledge, whether you are a beginner or an advanced floral arranger. Consider vase selection, design, plant materials, mechanics, and resources. Students will use a variety of flowers, foliage, vegetables, and fruit to create an unexpected design on two levels, perfect for summer tables. Arrangers should bring clippers or floral shears and a shallow box to take their arrangement home; everything else will be provided. All levels welcome. Susan Detjens, a former landscape painter, is a Garden Club of America judge and prize-winning exhibitor. A past president of the Millbrook Garden Club, she lectures and leads workshops for garden clubs, museums, and horticultural institutions across the United States.
spRing/summeR classes hemeROcallis Daylilies—the Practically Perfect perennial for sun Thursday, July 19, 11am–1pm Members $22; Nonmembers $27 All levels, plants will available for sale following the program. Where to begin with daylilies? Suitable for sun and part shade, these low maintenance, drought tolerant plants offer much for both the beginner and advanced gardener. Learn all about these rugged and important garden stalwarts. Consider varieties, siting, cultivation, health care, diseases, design possibilities, and companion plants for these popular and well-loved classics. Barbara Provest manages the New England Daylily Society Display Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and takes care of more than 650 daylilies there. Her own garden is an official American Hemerocallis Society Display Garden with 1,136 cultivars.
hOstas the Practically Perfect Perennial for Shade Thursday, July 19, 1–3pm
Demonstration/discussion Members $22; Nonmembers $27 All levels, plants will be for sale following the lecture. This program will introduce you to some of the American Hosta Society’s top 25 hostas, as well as a wide variety of newer (and older) cultivars that are truly garden worthy and often sun tolerant. Information on pests, predators, planting, and purchasing will also be provided in a casual and hands-on format. Hostas will be available for purchase. Kathie Sission is a devout hosta collector and hobbyist turned hybridizer. Her Avon, Connecticut garden was featured at the 2011 American Hosta Society Convention as well as being on tour for the CT Horticulture Society. She is on the board for the American Hosta Society, serves as the Judges Training Chair, and is a Master Judge for cut leaf shows and a Garden Performance Judge.
20% discount for students signed up for both programs the gaRden in WateRcOlOR en Plein Air—Watercolor Painting in the summer garden
painting the landscape intensive With oils or Acrylics Thursday–Friday, July 26–27 10am–4pm Members $200; Nonmembers $240 All levels, materials list available upon registration. This two-day intensive painting workshop will focus on using the essentials of painting—composition, value, color, and edges—to create strong landscapes. We’ll look at different approaches and painting styles with the goal of finding your authentic voice. The class will work en plein air, weather permitting, or in the studio using photo references. All levels of ability are welcome. John Macdonald has worked for 30 years as both a full-time freelance illustrator and landscape painter. He has won awards from Print magazine and his work has appeared in the Society of Illustrators annual show. He is now concentrating solely on painting and teaching. His paintings can be found in private, corporate, and museum collections throughout North America.
Session II: Tuesdays, August 7–28, 10am–1pm Members $145; Nonmembers $175 Individual classes $45 All levels, materials list available upon registration. Seeing and painting the garden en plein air is the subject of this class, and students of all levels are welcome. This session will explore mixing and layering color, brush work, and light and shadow in the landscape. Composition will continue to be stressed. Each class will begin with an introduction and demonstration by the instructor. We will then move into the garden to paint, with the instructor circulating among the students to provide input and answer questions. No experience is necessary, and beginners are welcome. You may attend the whole series or pick and choose individual classes; however, everyone is encouraged to come to the first meeting, in which the basics of watercolor, paint, brushes, and paper will be explained. Ann Kremers is an artist and calligrapher. Her work is currently focused on watercolor and drawing media. She has received commissions for paintings and drawings, has illustrated books, and has calligraphed citations and awards. Ann lives in Bennington, Vermont and teaches throughout Berkshire County. Examples of her work can be viewed at annkremers.com. 23
tHrouGH tHe PHotoGrAPHer’S eYe Wednesday, August 8, 2–7pm
Saturday, August 11, 11am–1pm
Hands-on workshop
Hands-on workshop
Members $75; Non-member $85 Beginners /intermediate, see materials needed below.
Members $50; Nonmembers $60 All levels, materials fee $15 paid to instructor. Dress in comfortable clothes that can get messy. Bring one or two plastic dish pans for forms, and a pair of heavy rubber gloves.
With so much technically advanced equipment available, it’s easy to forget that vphy is about seeing and communicating. Learn how to overcome common mistakes, work with light, recognize compelling scenes in garden and nature, tell a story, and sharpen your powers of observation for more meaningful, beautiful photographs. Students should bring a camera and tripod plus 15-20 photographs for critique (prints, slides, or on laptop). Additional lenses are helpful. Wear good walking shoes and be prepared for whatever the weather, as we will be moving between classroom and garden, rain or shine. Karen Bussolini is a garden photographer, writer, and lecturer whose work has been published in books and magazines throughout the world. Her most recent book, The Homeowner’s Complete Tree and Shrub Handbook contains more than 600 of her photographs.
roSeMArY VereY: tHe LIFe AnD LeSSonS Of a legendaRy gaRdeneR Thursday, August 9, 5–7pm
Lecture/book sale and signing Members $22; Nonmember $27 All levels Rosemary Verey was the last of the great English garden legends to penetrate this century. Although she embraced gardening late in life, she quickly achieved international renown. She was the acknowledged apostle of the “English style” on display at her home at Barnsley House, the “must-have” advisor to the rich and famous, including Prince Charles and Elton John, and a beloved and wildly popular lecturer in America. Join Barbara Paul Robinson for an intimate look into the life and gardens of this iconic gardener. A book sale and signing of Barbara’s newly published Rosemary Verey: The Life and Lessons of a Legendary Gardener, will follow the talk. During a sabbatical from the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton, where she was the first woman partner, Barbara Paul Robinson worked as a gardener for Rosemary Verey at Barnsley House. A hands-in-the-dirt gardener herself, she and her husband created their own gardens at Brush Hill in northwest Connecticut, featured in articles, books, and television. A frequent speaker, Barbara has published articles in The New York Times, Horticulture, Fine Gardening, and Hortus.
RegistRatiOn infORmatiOn Advance registration is required for all classes, workshops and field trips. We recommend registering early to ensure a place in the desired class. You may register: 24
Build a stOne tROugh planteR
Learn how to make planters that look like old stone troughs out of a mixture called hypertufa. In Europe, plants are often grown in stone troughs, ancient vessels once used for watering livestock. The craggy look of the hewn stone perfectly complements herbs, flowers, and most especially, rock garden and drought-tolerant plants. Planting in troughs also raises the height of plants in the garden and segregates them from their larger neighbors. Learn how to design and produce unique hypertufa troughs for your garden. Students will be guided through the process and will take home several troughs of their own creation. Debra Pope is an artisan working with hypertufa medium to construct artistic custom troughs which are sold throughout the northeast, including at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Berkshire Botanical Garden, and Stonecrop. Her popular workshops are offered at botanical gardens and for garden clubs throughout New England
BOtanical illustRatiOn Drawing Flowers with colored Pencil Wednesday, Thursday and Friday August 15, 16 and 17, 10am–4pm Members $225; Nonmembers $250 All levels, bring a bagged lunch. Materials list available upon registration. This intensive workshop will focus on colored pencil techniques for botanical illustration. Learn ways to create textured backgrounds with the brilliant hues of colored pencils. This versatile color medium can create colors smooth as glass or rough as sandpaper, and by changing technique can mimic oil painting, pastel or watercolor. Discover which colors glow together and others that harmonize in a composition. Explore a full range of techniques for creating both bold and subtle effects that will bring a botanical drawing alive. Participants should bring a pear and other fruits or flowers to include in their illustrations. Carol Ann Morley is an illustrator and dedicated teacher of botanical illustration working in Dover, New Hampshire. She founded the Botanical Art Illustration Certificate Program at the New York Botanical Garden and teaches illustration there and for other botanical gardens. This is Ms. Morley’s only summer workshop in the Berkshires for 2012. online: berkshirebotanical.org By phone: call 413-298-3926 By fax: at 413-298-4897 In person: at our office in the Euston Visitor‘s Center Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. confirmation and cancellation policies can be found online at berkshirebotanical.org
WHo’S WHo At tHe GArDen
staff allison crane, Shop Manager As native of Berkshire County, my first memories of the Berkshire Botanical Garden were of the Harvest Festival and eating candied apples. Today, my world encompasses all things local. Serving on the boards of Berkshire Grown and Berkshire Creative Economy, and an active member of the Berkshire Garden Club, I’m so pleased that my involvements are reaching back to include the Botanical Garden. As a stylist, avid gardener, knitter and former chef, taking on a new role as Shop Manager is a natural extension for me. In addition to my work at the Garden I am continuing my design work. I am the owner and founder of three businesses – Allison Crane Interiors; Places + Spaces; and Willowbrook Designs - interior design, home staging and estate liquidation companies. I look forward to an exciting season at the Shop, bringing new and wonderful home, garden and gift items to the Garden. I hope to see you there!
vOlunteeR paulette feit In 1997, my husband Marty and I bought a house in Sherwood Forest in Becket. Marty’s childhood memories as a camper, waiter and counselor at Camp Tamarack on Yokem Pond brought us there. We commuted from our home in Stamford, Connecticut for the next eight years. In those days I visited the Berkshire Botanical Garden many times, loving the grounds and taking classes. We finally sold our Stamford house and made Becket our permanent home. It was around this time that I met Dorthe Hviid, Director of Horticulture– she was judging a garden tour in Sherwood Forest. She told me about the volunteer program and I gladly signed on, with a disclaimer that I really didn’t
know a lot about gardening. She replied, “We will teach you!” Indeed they did. I started working Tuesday mornings with a group of volunteers and a Master Gardener doing tasks like weeding and planting. Afterwards, I went home and duplicated the project in my own garden. The next year, Director of Education Elizabeth Cary asked me to join the Tour Guide Team, and I eagerly agreed. Showing the Garden to grateful visitors from all over the world is so rewarding. I had an elderly couple applaud and say “Bravo!”at the end of their tour. How wonderful is that! The best thing about being a part of this wonderful community is the special relationship I’ve formed with the staff and other volunteers. I even named my dog after longtime volunteer Violet Switzer! I encourage everyone to volunteer.
memBeR Ron majdalany, v.m.d. My association with the Berkshire Botanical Garden goes back many years to the 1950s when I was a little boy and my grandfather, H. Emerson Comings, was its president. It was he who brought C. Roy Boutard, long-term director, to the Garden, and the lovely gardens at his home, “The Downs,” in Seekonk, just down the road from my present home and veterinary hospital on Alford Road, stimulated in me a life-long interest in gardening and landscaping. I use the Garden as a source for ideas in designing my own gardens and have found the Garden’s trips and workshops to be not only stimulating but much fun as well. This past summer’s trip to the estates of Long Island, including Planting Fields and Westbury Gardens, was an expedition to Long Island’s glorious past and provided me with an excellent opportunity for some landscape photography. The workshop on making planters not only taught me a new skill but served as a source of ideas for gifts for fellow garden lovers. The Harvest Festival is a celebration my family looks forward to each fall, as we have for over 50 years. Thus the Garden to me is both a connection to my past and a wonderful resource for current and future use.
we’re at Zema’s come join us!
ZEMA’S NURSERY, INC.
Where growing is the specialty and Garden and Landscaping is the art
154 Presbyterian Hill Rd., Stephentown, NY 518-733-5868 zemasnursery.com 25
TRADE SECRETS A TWO DAY EVENT
Cricket Hill Garden
TO
BENEFIT WOMEN’S SUPPORT SERVICES
WWW. WSSDV. ORG
MAY 19 & 20, 2012
Saturday, May 19, rare plant and garden antique sale at LionRock Farm, Route 41, Sharon, CT Early buying 8am - 10am $100 (with breakfast)
Regular admission 10am - 3pm $35 Use code bb1010 on our website or bring this coupon to the nursery for 10% off your peony purchase. Visit us for our annual Peony Festival from May 1st- June 17th
See our website for details. 670 Walnut Hill Rd. Thomaston, CT 860.283.1042 www.treepeony.com
Sunday, May 20, tour four splendid gardens including Trade Secret’s signature garden of Bunny Williams! All four gardens 10am - 4pm $70 (Advance tickets $60)
Tickets & further information: www.tradesecretsct.com or (860) 364-1080 We regret that we cannot welcome pets to this event on either day.
June 25 to August 17
ar t camps for ages 3 to 14
visit IS183.org
13 Willard Hill Rd. Stockbridge, MA (413) 298-5252 26
Millerton co-op Inc. with four Agway locations to serve you: Route 23, great Barrington, ma 413-528-2390 route 9H, claverack, nY 518-851-5391 route 66, chatham, nY 518-392-3241 route 22, Millerton, nY 518-789-4471 check out our stores for competitive prices, knowledgable staff and carry out service.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR MEMBER BENEFITS
TRIPLEX CINEMA
GREAT BARRINGTON MAY 31-JUNE 3
BEACON CINEMA
PITTSFIELD JUNE 1-3
Ward’s Where Gardeners Grow Ward’s Nursery & Garden Center 600 S. Main Street - Gt. Barrington Open Daily 8 AM - 5:30 PM 413-528-0166 www.wardsnursery.com
HAND-PAINTED HAND-SILKSCREENED FABRICS Custom Overruns, Discontinued Patterns & Slightly Flawed Yardages in Cotton, Linen, Cotton/Linen Blends, Silks & Velvets
Priced by the piece, deeply discounted Hemmed 2-3 yard panels, 48-54” wide, $20 each
GET YOUR BIFF PASS! PREMIERE SPONSORS Triplex Cinema • The Beacon Cinema GWFF • Studio Two • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Red Lion Inn • Jacqueline and Albert Togut • Berkshire Bank • Max Ultimate Food • Karen Allen Fiber Arts
HOW TO BUY PASSES
online biffma.org call 866.811.4111
Great Barrington Antiques Center 964 South Main Street Great Barrington, MA 413.644.8848 Open Daily 10am-5pm
Why you should insure your business with Toole: o Comprehensive risk assessment o Proven risk reduction o 5-star rated customer service
If it matters to you, it matters to us.
800-958-6653
tooleinsurance.com 27
ANDREW Z E M A’S
LANDSCAPING INC. Andrew Zema has launched his own landscaping business. Andrew’s works have been praised for their high quality and artistry. Visit web page for a complete list of services and pictures.
www.andrewzema.com azemaslandscaping@yahoo.com WORK 518 359 6002 CELL 413 329 5207 ■
JACOB’S PILLOW D A N C E 80TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL
June 20–August 26
Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet; photo David Cooper
Tickets start at $22!
300 events • 50 dance companies • free talks & shows • onsite dining
413.243.0745 • jacobspillow.org 28
Spirit of Place
wild and tamed gardens
Gardens & Stewardship
Fine Gardens Native Landscapes
Maintain Install Design in partnership with Nature Organic & Biodynamic practices
Reya de Castro
860.601.1751 Sheffield, MA
www.gardens-wildplaces.com
1815 N. Main St., Rte. 7, Sheffield, MA 413-528-1857
Shop and garden open daily Shop online at campodefiori.com
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Get Fresh With Us!
Pick up your copy of Fresh American Spaces, visionary designer Annie Selke’s must-have decorating book, at the Berkshire Botanical Garden or at freshamerican.com.
facebook.com/freshamerican
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UPCOMING
EVENTS:
04.17 04.20
| The Magic of Bill Blagg Live!
| Carrie Newcomer
THE UNICORN THEATRE
04.27
| Bronx Wanderers 05.05
05.12 05.22
| Dark Star Orchestra 05.26
PICTURED: Bettye LaVette
| Colin Hay
| Rhythmic Circus | Bettye LaVette
ALL PERFORMANCES AT THE COLONIAL THEATRE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
COMING SUMMER 2012
A Chorus Line www.BerkshireTheatreGroup.org 413.997.4444 STOCKBRIDGE, MA | PITTSFIELD, MA
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special gaRden dates and events Gimme Shelter: Architects Design for Shade April 28 Roy Boutard day May 6 35th Annual Plant Sale: Happy in their Habitats May 11–12
berkshirebotanical.org 5 West Stockbridge Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 413-298-3926
Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.36 PITTSFIELD, MA 01201
Change Service Requested
Garden time: objects employing the Sun June 23 Farm in the Garden camp 4 week-long sessions beginning July 9 cocktails in Great Gardens June 15, July 20, August 17 fête des fleurs July 28 the Grow Show August 4–5 contained exuberance: tour with Designers August 4 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner September 6 Harvest Festival October 6–7 Holiday Marketplace December 1–2 Public tours starting June 20 10am on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays - free with admission
35th annual
plant sale Happy in their Habitats:
choosing the right plant for the right place – Featuring vendors with fabulous garden items –
May 11-12, 2012 Friday
8-11am: Members-only early buying privileges 11am-5pm: Open to the general public
Saturday
9am-5pm: Open to the general public 32
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Williamstown Massachusetts 413 458 2303
clarkart.edu