Winter/Spring 2018

B E R K S H I R E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N

OUR GARDEN AMBASSADORS:

THOSE WHO MAKE THE GARDEN GROW

WINTER/SPRING 2018

WINTER/SPRING 2018

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Matt Larkin, Chairman Madeline Hooper, Vice Chairman Janet Laudenslager, Secretary Ellen Greendale, Treasurer Jeannene Booher David Carls Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Mary Copeland Adaline Frelinghuysen Lauretta Harris Ian Hooper Tom Ingersoll

Daniel Kasper Wendy Philbrick Martha Piper Ramelle Pulitzer Kip Towl Mark Walker Rob Williams KK Zutter

S TA F F Michael Beck Executive Director Christine Caccamo Senior Gardener Bill Cummings Buildings and Grounds Manager

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13 Winter Lecture: Ken Druse The New Shade Garden: Creating a Lush Oasis in the Age of Climate Change Lenox Memorial High School

Robin Parow Director of Marketing Communications Jamie Samowitz Youth Education Coordinator Julie Schwartz Director of Development

Duke Douillet Senior Gardener

Bridgette Stone Education Coordinator

Alex Fylypovych Camp Director

Elizabeth Veraldi Office Manager

Cynthia Grippaldi Membership and Volunteer Manager

Chris Wellens Director of Education

Dorthe Hviid Director of Horticulture Lou Kratt Gardener

Baleville Garden, Ken Druse’s “island in a river” in the northwest corner of New Jersey.

A Wondrous Season Ahead . . .

DECEMBER 8–29

BEGINS JAN 6

BEGINS JAN 27

FEB 26–MAR 16

M AY 5 – 6

M AY 1 1 – 1 2

In the Leonhardt Galleries:

In the Leonhardt Galleries:

Bulb Show

Daffodil Show

Landscapes by the RichmondWest Stockbridge Artists’ Guild

Anastasia Traina’s Fairytale Botanical World

Responsible Backyard Beekeeping Series

Featuring New England favorites and a growing collection of South African bulbs

A judged flower design and horticulture show hosted by the Lenox Garden Club

41st Annual Be-a-Better-Gardener Plant Sale

Last Saturday of each month

Dan Mullen Buildings and Grounds Assistant

CUTTINGS Robin Parow, Editor Julie Hammill, Hammill Design, Design On the cover: Jaclyn Boateng, a member of the Summer of 2017 Roots Rising farm crew. Photo by Christina Lane

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Cuttings For advertising opportunities, please call 413-298-3926.

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People Power at the Garden What makes a public garden great? Is it the size of its plant collection or the amount of acreage under intensive cultivation? Is it the colorful abundance of its flowers in summer or the stark geometry of its trees and shrubs in the middle of January? That rare succulent being pampered inside a historic greenhouse or the champion tree that has towered over the grounds for decades?

Yes, all of these are factors that make a botanical garden such as ours worth visiting, worth supporting as a member, worth just talking about. But what I’ve come to realize after working at BBG for more than four years is that the most important gauge of a garden’s success is its people. It is measured in the number of visitors that tour our grounds, whether for the first time because they are driving through the Berkshires on holiday, or for the fourth time in a month because their kids are enjoying themselves so much in our collection of play houses. It is measured in the dedication and enthusiasm of our staff, who constantly create and maintain new garden areas, provide stimulating education to our adult and youth learners, engage with our volunteers and visitors, promote the Garden in our local community, and come to work every day knowing they are doing their part to make the Garden grow and prosper.

It is measured in the curiosity of our members, who are learning about the natural world, its beauty and its sustainability, by stopping in for a two-hour lecture about native plant communities on a rainy Saturday, or by participating in an intensive work skill development program hosted by local farmers, or by marveling at the intricacy of an exploding seed head photograph exhibited in our art galleries, or by committing to becoming expert garden designers through our nine month-long horticulture certificate program. And it is measured in the varied interests and skills our hundreds of volunteers bring to the Garden, whether they are weeding a perennial border or cataloging our historic book collection.

In this winter issue of Cuttings, as we all collectively move indoors after a satisfying outdoor season of horticulture, we wanted to take a step back from showcasing flowers and shrubs and focus on some of the people who make BBG such a special place. I hope you will get a sense of the passion these people bring to the Garden, and of the community we foster here. If you are an existing member, perhaps you will hear about volunteer opportunities that you didn’t even know existed at BBG. And if you are new to us, you may feel empowered to take a first step towards volunteering or becoming a lifelong gardening learner. We would love to have you be part of our Garden!

The Two Beating Hearts of Roots Rising: Meaningful Work and Real Talk

By Jamie Samowitz, Director of Youth Outreach Education

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“The city and the farm belong to each other,” says farmer and educator Ward Cheney. This is the founding belief of Roots Rising, an agriculture-based youth development program that is a collaboration between Berkshire Botanical Garden and Alchemy Initiative.

We hire urban teenagers from Pittsfield, MA to work on farms, in community gardens, and in food pantries, and provide them with education workshops on essential life skills. Our first farm crew began working over five exhilarating weeks this past summer.

We say there are two “beating hearts” of Roots Rising: meaningful work and Real Talk. Each of these methods provide our core for youth development work.

MEANINGFUL WORK

Roots Rising is not just a job. It’s an opportunity for teens to engage in meaningful work—work that needs to be done and that contributes to a larger social good. We believe that meaningful work is transformational.

It leaves youth feeling purposeful, capable, and connected. This differs greatly from the typical job opportunities available to teenagers.

At Roots Rising, our chosen path of meaningful work is farming. We take youth from all walks of life and bring them together as a Farm Crew, working side by side towards a common goal.

We have seen how working in the farm fields teaches teens what they need to know to be successful adults.

While transplanting lettuce seedlings, 4

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mulching potatoes, harvesting garlic scapes, or weeding endless rows of crops, teens learn how to pay attention, how to problem-solve when things don’t go as planned, and to persevere when the going gets tough. As Farm Crew member Julianna Martinez, age 16, says: “Getting your hands in the soil is one of the best feelings in the world. So much has changed for me since being a member of the Farm Crew. I’m no longer a girlygirl who is afraid of dirt. My eating habits have changed completely - I now eat really healthily, love to cook with vegetables and edible weeds, and make myself herbal teas with plants from outside my door. And I’m no longer afraid of hard work.”

Roots Rising also believes in the power of group work. It is not by chance that we have chosen to have

our youth work together as a Farm Crew. Groups are the foundation of our society, whether it be in the context of family, school, employment, or community. Learning to function successfully in groups is key to positive youth development: group work teaches communication, conflict resolution, and leadership skills, as well as the development of compassion and respect. Whether we’re coming together to build raised beds in a community garden, or attempting to finish weeding a large field of peppers before the end of the day, we have seen how overcoming challenges as a group fosters individual growth and development.

At Roots Rising, our Farm Crew may be assisting clients in a food pantry one

day and planting a cover crop the next.

What ties it all together is that the work is meaningful - it is necessary, it brings us closer to the earth, and it is done in the spirit of serving our community.

REAL TALK

Our youth development approach does not stop at meaningful work.

The second “heart” of our program is Real Talk.

Real Talk is a powerful method of giving and receiving feedback that contributes to the growth of each crew member. The Real Talk motto is “selfknowledge equals power”: the more we know about ourselves, the more power we gain to become the person we want to be and live the life we desire. With that in mind, we say that it is a gift to offer someone kind and insightful feedback.

In a Real Talk session, we all sit in a circle. One crew member at a time is selected to receive feedback. The rest of the crew takes turns facing the selected member and giving their honest opinion of that person’s behavior—what

might be helping this crew member meet his or her goals, and what might be hindering the crew member. It’s not a dialogue; when crew members receive Real Talk, they do not respond.

They stay open, listen, and take it all in. At the end of the day, they decide what parts of what they heard resonated with them and what didn’t. But in the moment their job is to stay quiet, to pay attention, and to take advantage of the opportunity to see themselves through someone else’s eyes.

Real Talk is completely democratic.

Just as youth and staff work together in the fields, each to the best of their ability, they also come together in this mutual pursuit of self-growth.

Continued on next page

Come visit and see what makes Bay State special!

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The power of group work: learning to function successfully in groups is key to positive youth development

Staff give Real Talk to youth, youth give Real Talk to each other, and youth give Real Talk back to staff. It’s an opportunity for the entire Farm Crew to learn how to communicate about difficult things clearly and compassionately, and to receive feedback without becoming defensive.

As you might guess, Real Talk is an intense and powerful process. At Roots Rising, we say that giving feedback is an act of love. It’s our chance to support each other in reaching our goals and being the best person we can be. Tears are common in Real Talk, but it’s almost always happy tears; many youth cry when they hear positive things said about themselves, sometimes for the first time.

LESSONS LEARNED

What have we learned from our first season of Roots Rising? One is that this generation of adolescents, like every generation before them, is seeking meaning and a sense of belonging.

Joining a Farm Crew means being a part of something bigger than themselves.

It’s about going beyond their individual preferences and comfort zones and giving their all to accomplish larger group and community goals.

We’ve learned that our Farm Crew is made up of every day teens, like the ones walking the halls of every high school in this country, and yet they are also extraordinary. These are teens who willingly (for the most part) hand over their cell phones each day and put

their hands to work in the farm fields of Berkshire County and beyond. These are teens who are brave enough to not just hear feedback from their peers and mentors, but also to put those insights to work and strive to make positive changes in their lives. These are teens who spend an entire summer or school year as a Farm Crew, working together in the sun, the rain, the heat, and the cold.

What we’ve learned is that it’s not just about the seedlings that are planted, or the crops that are weeded and mulched.

Don’t get us wrong - we do love to grow food. But what we are really interested in growing are strong, capable, and happy youth. It’s the Roots Rising way, and we’re just getting started.

We are indebted to The Food Project, a 25-year old, Boston-based teen farming program on which we have modeled Roots Rising. We want to express our gratitude for the training we received at The Food Project’s Institute and for their generosity in sharing their methods and wisdom with organizations around the country, including ours.

Jamie Samowitz is the Co-Director of Roots Rising and Director of Youth Outreach Education at Berkshire Botanical Garden. She can be reached at jsamowitz@berkshirebotanical.org.

To learn more about Roots Rising, check out our website at www.rootsrising.org and follow us on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RootsRising.

CREATING BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES 413-448-2215 churchillgardens.com 6

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The Helping Hands of Our Amazing Volunteers

By Lauretta Harris, President, BBG Volunteer Association

If flowers, plants and trees are the heart and soul of our Garden, and if our talented staff and board are the head, then volunteers are surely the hands of the Garden – and what busy hands they are!

Volunteers are involved in just about every aspect of BBG you can think of, from weeding, planting and pruning … to welcoming guests at the Visitor Center and providing lively Garden tours … to creating helpful signage that describes our plants in detail … to making events like the Plant Sale and Harvest Festival the huge success they always are. And then of course there are the Herb Associates, a group of gardeners and cooks who cultivate our herbal “kitchen garden” and transform the produce into delicious, small batch and freshas-can-be condiments that sell out quickly in the Visitor Center and add much-appreciated revenue to support the Garden’s mission.

Some of our dedicated Volunteers are here every week, while others show up once a year to help at a special event. Each and every one of their contributions is essential to the life of the Garden. Last year, BBG was empowered by 4,256 hours donated by more than 300 active Volunteers.

In this article you will meet a few of the wonderful Volunteers who make our Garden possible. If you are inspired, I invite you to learn more about volunteering at BBG.

Lauretta Harris “I have been a BBG Volunteer for close to 10 years and just seem to dig in deeper and deeper! This Garden was founded on volunteerism and community spirit, and that spirit brings out the best in people. I started by working in the Visitor Center, then also a Tour Guide, a helper at special events, and eventually became president of the Volunteer Association. In an age when our environment is under siege, BBG does such important work, not only in creating a place of beauty but also by educating the broader public about our natural world. I feel proud and privileged to be a BBG Volunteer.”

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Mary Trev Thomas

Charlotte Fairweather

As a native of western South Dakota I’ve always felt the pull of plants and gardens, fields and woods.

When I came to this area after a decades-long attachment to western Massachusetts, I sought out the Garden and became a member.

My public library career and family connections kept me focused more towards the Albany area, but upon retirement I felt the attraction. I love to learn and am curious about almost everything. I wanted to be a good steward for our rural property in Rensselaer County, New York.

Long ago, I volunteered to help with the Harvest Festival. A short four hours on a sunny autumn day, and I was hooked, though for a long time this was all I could give of my time. Since then a lot has changed in my life, and as I have shed work responsibilities, I have added more time to work where I love most, with the people and in the garden at BBG.

Harriet Wetstone Over the years, I enjoyed scattered visits to Berkshire Botanical Garden, but it has only been about 5 years since I have been a volunteer. I was at the beginning of a new stage in life, and had just bought a garden in Lenox (the house, the realtors were calling it the ‘Botanical Cottage,’ came with it). This garden was different than others I’d had, no sunny perennial borders here; it was a woodland garden with a little stream running through, paths, bridges, not a blade of grass in sight, all groundcover and ornamental trees and shrubs, only some of which I could identify. My kids told me I had bought a fairyland! True, but keeping it anywhere near how I found it was going to be a huge challenge.

When I found out about BBG’s Horticultural Certificate Program, I knew it was exactly what I needed, and it was.

I loved the courses and the like-minded students I was meeting, and certainly the dedicated and steeped in horticulture faculty—Elisabeth Cary became my role model!

Gradually, I began to get a sense of the closeness of the BBG community, dedicated to and focused on supporting the Garden as well as traditional events—Harvest Festival, Roy Boutard Day, the Grow Show, and my favorite, the Plant Sale. Joining the Herbies was a homecoming; becoming a tour guide was simply sharing a place I loved with people who also loved gardens. Discovering photography and figuring out how to use a real camera came next, and why not, with the beauty of the Berkshires and gardens offering endless variety and inspiration.

Time was when my family and my work as a psychologist came first, and playing amateur chamber music was my most important entertainment. Now I am retired, and family, while just as important, takes far less time. There are lots of things I love doing; playing with my garden, mistakes and all, time with friends, practicing and playing music, lots of different kinds of volunteer work—but Berkshire Botanical Garden is very special to me!

There are tasks to suit all talents and skills, and no obligation as to the amount of hours required. For almost a decade I have been part of the weeding crew. Then each winter I am part of the team to create the plant signs for the Plant Sale in May. This keeps me busy through the cold months, and year-round I assist with event listings on numerous web sites to get the word out about all BBG has to offer. In this way, I am able to use my computer skills to help out. I continue to volunteer at the Harvest Festival and help with other ‘once a year’ events. Recently, I assisted with creating the weekly ‘Plant Bloom’ lists, a very enjoyable and creative task.

These are just a tiny sampling of the ways in which to be involved.

The Garden is indeed a community resource. The staff, and my fellow volunteers, are endlessly cheerful and helpful, always willing to answer questions about plants and growing techniques.

As a graduate of the Horticulture Certificate Program, and by taking tours of other gardens organized by BBG, I have learned how to manage my own large garden. I am certain anyone thinking of volunteering would quickly find their own niche.

Dan Kasper My wife Sherry and I are both committed gardeners, and started coming to BBG about ten years ago while our Berkshire home was under construction. Before moving to the Berkshires, our Wellesley gardens had been featured on several garden tours, including ones sponsored by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and Tower Hill Botanical Garden. But after gardening in the rich, acidic soil of eastern Mass., we needed to find out what would prosper in the gravelly, basic soil of West Stockbridge, so we became BBG members and began taking classes and field trips. Our good experience with the Garden’s educational offerings led us to patronize, host, donate to and eventually volunteer at various Garden events. Because we are now in the midst of developing our own gardens – largely from scratch – on the site of a former summer camp and gravel quarry, our hands-on gardening efforts are spent working in our own “back yard.” But several years ago, I was invited to join the BBG Board, an offer I gladly accepted since it gives me the opportunity to help one of my two favorite non-profit organizations in the Berkshires. I am also on the Board of The Mount, where I currently chair the Board of Trustees.

When I learned about the Horticulture Certificate Program through Cuttings, I suddenly knew that this was what I wanted to do. I wasn’t sure I belonged there, since many fellow participants were young, energetic folk intent on a career path. I found myself part of a supportive like-spirited group of people with diverse backgrounds and experiences who were passionate about plants, just like me!

I ate up all the courses, completing my Level III Certificate in Sustainable Horticulture and Native Plant Garden Design. I made new friends, proving Elisabeth Cary’s remark that at the Garden, you often learned from the person sitting next to you in a class or program as well as the instructor. My first steps in volunteering were tentative (would I know enough?), but my experiences with Potting Day, the Plant Sale, Harvest Festival, and the Grow Show were wonderful. Garden staff and other volunteers are always helpful, and that generous, welcoming feeling reflects the heart of the Garden to me.

When I was approached about participating in the book project, I hesitated only because I wanted to “keep my hands in the dirt” and be outside working with plants and the environment. As a former public librarian, I know that access to books and information is important for all people in our community. I couldn’t resist joining a remarkable group of volunteers who for over a year have been working on the book project to create a comprehensive library that will be housed in the new Center House. You could interview any one of them and hear a fascinating and inspiring story. It is a delight to be a part of such a stimulating and committed group.

I would also like to note that the women who cataloged books for the Berkshire Garden Center-era library many decades ago, were also volunteers who did an amazing amount of work. We are handling many of those books today, and it is a reminder of the many members who have helped make the Garden what it is. I think it’s an honor to be a part of the ongoing parade.

To find out more about volunteering at BBG, please visit berkshirebotanical.org or contact us directly at volunteer@berkshirebotanical.org, or 413-2983926, extension 14.

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VE S A D AT E E

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THE NEW SHADE GARDEN: CREATING A LUSH OASIS IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE WINTER LECTURE WITH KEN DRUSE Saturday, January 13, 2:00 p.m.

Lenox Memorial High School Celebrated lecturer, photographer and author Ken

THE HO RTI C ULTUR E C E RTI F I CATE P R O G R A M :

Druse plumbs the depths of shade once again – 20 years after the publication of his best seller, The Natural Shade Garden. This time, it’s to tackle the challenges that have arisen due to our changing climate. The low-stress environment of shade (lower temperatures, fewer water demands, carbon sequestration) is extremely beneficial for our plants, our planet, and us. Ken details new ways of looking at all aspects of the gardening process, in topics such as designing your garden, choosing and planting trees, preparing soil, solving the deer problem, and the vast array of flowers and foliage – all within the challenges of a changing climate, shrinking resources, and new weather patterns. Ken knows that the best defense

Dealing with unusual weather: Ken's garden in June of 2011 (1). In late August, Hurricane Irene swept up the East Coast and turned left moving west over fifty miles. It is rare that the full force of wind and water come this far inland.

A flood this bad had never been recorded. The garden was under four feet of water (2). We cleaned up, and a week later, Tropical Storm Lee brought more rain. Some land and plenty of plants were lost. Several big old trees drowned.

It's taken quite a while and plenty of work to get things in shape. The view from an upper story window of the area where some trees no longer stand (3). The house, left, and the "Gravel Garden", right (4). The garden is back, and better.

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is to create a cool, verdant retreat – he says, “The garden of the future will be in the shade.”

Tickets are $35 for members/ $45 non-members and can be be obtained online at berkshirebotanical.org or by calling 413-320-4794.

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Living the Mission

By Robin Parow, Director of Marketing Communications

Twenty-two years ago, Berkshire Botanical Garden launched a Horticulture Certificate Program designed to meet the needs of aspiring professionals and avid home gardeners. Taught by seasoned, practicing horticulturists and landscape designers, the curriculum was built on a three-tiered method focusing on foundation work, garden design, and horticulture. Today, that curriculum is as popular as ever, attracting students from the Berkshires and beyond. More than 500 students have participated in the program since its inception—some taking just a few courses and others graduating with the highly respected BBG Horticulture Certificate. That the program continues to flourish after all these years is a testament to its excellence and a sign of the times.

Looking back, the 2008 recession caused many adults to transition into the horticulture industry, while young professionals already working in horticulture saw an opportunity to upgrade their skill set through advanced education. With Level I classes averaging 20 students and more advanced levels averaging four to six, approximately 80% are already working in the industry, while 20% are avid home gardeners wishing to expand their general knowledge of gardening. Students have come from across town and across the northeast to capture the essence of what the Horticulture Certificate Program provides: a strong foundation for all horticultural pursuits— whether one is exploring or advancing career goals, or simply acquiring or expanding knowledge, skills and enjoyment of gardening.

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enjoy the Benefits of your memBership while earning garDen rewarDs

PEG ALOI

“I’m definitely applying my new knowledge about design and maintenance to the work I’m doing for clients.” – Peg Aloi

TIM STEWART

ROSE CALDWELL

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Everyone enrolled in the Horticulture Certificate Program has a unique story to tell. PEG ALOI had no idea that a gardening career would sprout from tending a small garden plot in Boston’s Fenway Victory Garden. After relocating from Boston to upstate New York, this self-taught organic gardener saw potential wherever she went, and she began approaching businesses and communities about enhancing their landscapes. She took on a variety of gardening jobs while working as an adjunct media studies professor at SUNY New Paltz. “My business took off when a professional landscaper asked me to help her with an overflow of clients,” she said, “and from there, word of mouth and customer referrals helped my business grow.” In 2015, she applied for a position as a BBG seasonal gardener, working with the horticulture staff three days a week. “I learned a lot, even on the first day, and loved the place so much, I decided I really wanted to start the Horticulture Certificate Program.” She enrolled in the spring of last year and is now completing Level I. “I’m definitely applying my new knowledge about design and maintenance to the work I’m doing for clients,” she said, adding that she now feels comfortable raising her rates, given her newly acquired skills. Peg is impressed with the scope of the course offerings, and enjoys the different teaching styles and personal experiences shared by the instructors. “I’m interested in community gardening, orchards and organic methods,” she said, “and this program is a great fit for my interests.” Peg’s business, Albion Gardens, is located in Troy, New York.

bring to the classes and practicums have really inspired me.

I’m looking forward to learning all the basics that will help me with my home orchard and its surrounding environment—it’s truly serving as a test lab for what could come next.”

“The passion that the instructors bring to the classes and practicums have really inspired me.” – Tim Stewart ROSE CALDWELL was ten years old when she began her gardening journey with a few tomato plants in the family’s San Diego garden. Over the years, she explored gardening with friends who shared her interest, but on a deeper level knew she wanted to go one step further with her gardening education. “The time was now,” she said, describing the trifecta of availability, proximity and passion that led her to begin the Horticulture Certificate Program in September.

Once enrolled at the Garden, she was eager to get started and put into practice what she learned on her two-acre property located outside Hudson, New York. She finds it especially fun and interesting to “rub shoulders with other avid gardeners and pros” who inspire her and expand her thinking. “Everything is relevant and interesting to my garden work,” she said, “but I must be careful—I’ve been introduced to so many new plants that can impact a home garden, I have to remember my space limitations and the motto taught in the Herbaceous Plants program: The Right Plant for the Right Location!”

TIM STEWART’ s motivation for enrolling in the program is

hazelnut trees. He recently planted 20 of them on a two-acre gentleman’s farm that he and his wife purchased in Stuyvesant, New York. “I worked as a buyer for Tierra Farm (in Valatie, NY) and maintained and developed new supply relationships with west coast nut and dried fruit growers,” he said. “Coming from a financial background, I saw the commercial potential for a business, and wanted to try growing hazelnuts myself. At this point, it’s a serious hobby and hopefully will turn professional.” Along the way, Tim realized that although he brought financial know-how to the fledgling business, he felt he lacked the horticulture background needed to move forward. After researching several programs, last January Tim enrolled in BBG’s Horticulture Certificate Program. What has interested him is the dynamic approach to the curriculum and the level of practical knowledge he’s received. “There’s a world around us that we take for granted,” he said. “The passion that the instructors

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A New Era for the Garden’s Center House The restoration and expansion of the Garden’s Center House has been a transformative project that began in November 2016 and concluded with a ribbon cutting ceremony on the eve of Holiday Marketplace, December 1, 2017. In between, countless hours of fundraising, planning, design meetings, demolition and construction filled the weeks and months as staff, board members and crew worked tirelessly to convert the venerable diamond in the rough into a community center that will once again become the hub of the Garden. The late 18th century building, reportedly one of the oldest structures in Stockbridge, has received a striking makeover, retaining its original charm while being catapulted into the 21st century with a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, a new classroom featuring advanced audio/visual equipment, a botanical library overlooking a reconfigured herb production garden, three art galleries, and office space for BBG’s growing Education and Horticulture departments. This pictorial timeline maps out the project from demolition through the opening of the first art exhibition in the Leonhardt Galleries held last October 6.

Weekly jobsite meetings began three months prior to groundbreaking. Clockwise from left, Gregg Schnopp, Mark Smith, Matt Larkin, Mike Beck, and Ariel Smith.

November 15, 2016: Demolition begins on the east side of the building, previously a 1940s kitchen and attached shed that were used for decades by the Herb Associates.

Exposed original board construction revealing red oak, chestnut and hemlock boards most likely harvested from trees planted in the 17th century. The boards were repurposed as classroom tables.

Mark Bienvenue making a new library door from reclaimed wood originally located on the second floor of the Center House.

The new bones of the building – looking north at what would eventually become the pantry, kitchen, and classroom.

September, 2017 aerial shot of the progress showing new cedar shingled roof and standing seam metal roof in progress, dry laid stone walls, stairs and terrace prior to bluestone cladding.

Dorthe Hviid and Mark Prescott assemble one of two living walls in the new Center House entryway.

The new classroom tables constructed from repurposed boards.

Custom lighting by Grant Larkin.

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The Leonhardt Galleries’ debut exhibition, Wonder World: Three Artists Define Nature’s Magic, opened on October 6, 2017.

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Out and About in the Garden

By Duke Douillet, Senior Gardener

The 2017 gardening season has drawn to a close.

Climate change being what it is, we might all be walking around in shirtsleeves come January! For most of us, though, the trowels and digging spades have been put away for the winter, and knees and backs are receiving a much-needed reprieve.

As with every season, there were disappointments and success stories both. Here at the Garden, the daylilies bloomed for a really long time, the tomatoes took forever to ripen, and a prize Korean fir suffered an epic infestation of bow-legged fir aphids.

Precipitation came in fairly regular and moderate doses, easing the burden on watering. As always with gardening, learning opportunities abounded.

No doubt our savvy readership has already completed fall clean-up, protected woodies from vole and deer damage, and mounded dirt around the crowns of rose bushes. So, how to pass the time until the first crocuses appear?

One possibility would be to spend time observing the bark and form of trees in the area. Since there are no flowers and little foliage to be distracted by, now is a perfect time to note the solemn dignity of an old wolf pine, or the beautifully blotched bark of a sycamore. It’s also satisfying to be able to identify trees by their bark. A book that can help hone your skills in this regard is Bark—A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast by Michael Wojtech.

The subject of soil has a way of making people’s eyes glaze over. Though we all readily acknowledge the importance of healthy soil, few want to delve very deeply into the subject. In fact, soil is an astonishingly rich medium, host to untold billions of organisms from bacteria and fungi to mammals, all vying for

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survival. A sense of the variety of life underground and the drama therein, is conveyed by the books Life in the Soil by James Nardi and Dirt, The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth by William Logan.

In the midst of all the reading you’re doing, take time to occasionally check those cannas and dahlias you’re overwintering (hopefully at 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit) and discard any that are rotting.

In addition, most of us have houseplants that we’re nursing through the winter. With less daylight, their growth has slowed and their need for water and nutrients has followed suit. I tend to keep plants a bit on the drier side in winter and withhold fertilizer until new growth begins to flush out toward the end of February, gradually resuming feeding at about half strength.

Judging from visitor comments, the annual poppies we grow have been very popular.If you’re fortunate enough to have some seeds of California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) or Opium poppy (Papaver Somniferum) sitting around, late March/early April (depending on soil workability) would be a good time to scatter some in the garden. Lightly scratch an area you will remember not to disturb, thinly sow the seeds, then gently press into the soil (say, with the back of a hoe) to ensure good contact. Thin the seedlings when they appear, and in two months or so you’ll be basking in the praise of admiring friends and neighbors.

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention the BBG bulb show, scheduled for February 26 through March 16, 2018. As in the past, our show will include South African bulbs as well as New England favorites, and will give visitors a chance to savor an early dose of springtime.

C u s to m H o m e s – A r t i s a n a l D e t a i l s Crafting Beautiful, Energy-Efficient Spaces using Micro-local Materials.

Zero net energy homes • Passive House

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A Very Special Tree for a Very Special Person

By Robin Parow, Director of Marketing Communications Recent visitors to the Garden have been puzzled by the the sight of a small sapling surrounded by a meticulously crafted dry stone wall. Located near the Visitor Center, the little tree stands tall—all six feet of it, and all potential, for this “Tree of 40 Fruit” will eventually grow up to produce 40 varieties of heirloom and antique stone fruit including peaches, plums, apricots, nectarines, and cherries.

This unusual tree was donated to

the Garden and planted in honor of Dorothea (Dolly) Leonhardt, a familiar volunteer at the iconic New York City Flower Show and an avid grower and hybridizer of African violets. Her love for plants and trees was evidenced by a home apple orchard she planted at her family’s Oyster Bay, Long Island property in the early 1960s. The orchard had Golden Delicious, Rome and McIntosh varieties, and was located near a horse pasture where a

Sam Van Aken puts the finishing touches on the newly planted Tree of 40 Fruit located near the Visitor Center.

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DECEMBER 2017 – MAY 2018

retired NYC police horse and a pony indulged on the fallen ones. “This tree is such a terrific and wonderful way to remember my mother because her passion for nature was a gift to my sister and me,” says BBG board member Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo.

She brought the idea of donating the tree to the Garden’s collection after learning about it while attending a Creative Time board meeting in New York City several years ago.

“Our mother would take us on long walks through the woods where she taught us, by example, to slow down, take notice, and stand in awe,” adds Cassullo. “I hope the “Tree of 40 Fruit” will have that same effect on visitors to the Garden.”

The Tree of 40 Fruit is an artwork, research project, and form of conservation by contemporary artist Sam Van Aken. Over the course of the next several years, visiting in spring and late summer, the artist will collect fruit varieties from local homes and orchards that will then be grafted to this tree. For those varieties originating and/or traditionally grown in the area, Van Aken will be working with the USDA to source material to graft to the tree so that upon its completion it becomes the agricultural history of the region and state.

If you have an unusual or historic plum, apricot, peach, or cherry tree that you would like to contribute to the artist’s project, please contact Sam Van Aken at vanakenart@gmail.com.

Education The Education Program at Berkshire Botanical Garden provides learning opportunities to the community throughout the year. Winter and early spring are ideal seasons for gardeners to increase their knowledge, whether through our Horticulture Certificate Program or by attending classes, demonstrations and workshops. Our annual Winter Lecture on January 13 features noted author Ken Druse and provides a chance to reconnect with gardening friends at the reception that follows.

For more information on classes and events happening at the Garden, visit our website at berkshirebotanical.org.

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Classes, Lectures, and Workshops Responsible Backyard Beekeeping Series Bark & Buds

Saturday, December 9, 2017, 10 am – 2 pm Members: $25/Non-members: $30

Spring Hive Management

The honey bee faces many affronts to its immune system in these days of Varroa mites and climate destabilization. The so-called “Colony Collapse Disorder” now facing beekeepers makes it all the more imperative that local beekeepers, farmers, gardeners and homeowners learn healthy ways to assist the honey bee and other pollinators. Ross Conrad, owner of Dancing Bee Gardens, will share the “how to” of numerous techniques to reduce stresses on honey bee health and keep bees alive despite the numerous challenges they face. Topics covered include: Non-toxic natural pest and disease control, habitat creation and planting for pollinators, proper bee nutrition, and more. Following this class, participants are welcome to stay to meet and discuss beekeeping with others.

Join Massachusetts state Beekeeper Ken Warchol for an in-depth lecture on spring management of honey bee hives. This lecture will focus on how to manage spring hive population build-up, feeding, dividing, pest monitoring and protection and most importantly how to prevent swarming. For beekeepers this program will provide critical information and most especially timing of important management techniques to get the honey season off to a positive start. Following this class, participants are welcome to stay to meet and discuss beekeeping with others.

Saturday, January 27, 10 am – noon Members: $5/Non-members: $10

Discover the many plants that lend bark, buds, fruit and structural interest to the garden in fall and winter. Under the expert guidance of Brad Roeller, develop your ability to identify winter trees by twig and bud anatomy, bark features and plant architecture. Students will practice their skills with winter tree dichotomous keys. This class will be primarily indoors and participants will work with collected specimens. Class size is limited. Bring a bag lunch. Dress for limited outdoor fieldwork.

Herbal Gift Making

Saturday, December 9, 2017, 1 pm – 3 pm Members: $15/Non-members: $20 (Space is limited) Materials Fee: $20 (to be paid to the instructor at the beginning of the class) Learn about the craft of homemade herbal gift making with local farmer and herbalist, Jen Salinetti of Woven Roots Farm. Participants will make and take home unique holiday gifts, including loose tea blends, sachets, air fresheners, bath salts and sugar scrubs.

Current State of Beekeeping and Organic Solutions

Organic Vegetable Gardening

Thursdays, January 11 - February 8, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm $230 (co-enrolled with Horticulture Certificate Program) Designed for those starting or caring for a vegetable garden, this course will include discussion of soil and nutrient management, no-till practices, seed selection, crop rotation schemes, bed preparation, seeding and planting, pest management, and specific plant cultivation, all in the context of the different vegetable groups. Each week, students will investigate a different vegetable family to insure all questions are answered about cultivation of these important food groups, including: Fabaceae (peas/beans/ other legumes), greens (lettuce/mustards/arugula/mache and more), herbs (perennial and annual), perennial vegetables (asparagus/rhubarb/horseradish), Chenopodiaceae (beet/ chard family), Brassicaceae (cabbage/cauliflower/kale/ brussels sprout family), Cucurbitaceae (squash/pumpkin/ cucumber/melon family), Poeaceae (corn family), Allioideae (onion/garlic/leek/shallot family), Solanaceae (tomato/ eggplant/pepper/potato/sweet potato family) and Apiaceae (carrots/parsnips). Peter Salinetti owns Woven Roots Farm, a small family farm and CSA that grows vegetables and culinary herbs using traditional and environmentally sustainable gardening practices.

Beeswax: Production, Collection, Processing, and Uses Saturday, January 27, 1 pm – 3 pm Members: $25/Non-members: $35

Beeswax is a unique substance produced within the body of the honeybee. In this workshop, Ross Conrad, owner of Dancing Bee Gardens, will explore the origins of beeswax within the hive, its properties, how the bees use it, and how we can benefit from this incredibly useful substance. Various methods of collection and processing will be discussed that are especially suited for the small-scale, hobby, or part-time beekeeper. We will also touch on household and everyday use, share beeswax recipes for salves and balms, and explore the many creative uses of beeswax in art and self-expression.

Saturday, March 31, 10 am – noon Members: $5/Non-members: $10

Installing a New Hive

Saturday, April 28, 10am - noon (lecture) Hands-on install TBD Members: $5/Non-members: $10 Installing a new hive can be both exhilarating and daunting. This workshop will discuss the preparations to take so beekeepers are ready to install a new hive when their nucs or packages arrive. Topics to be covered will include equipment needed, installation techniques, feeding, and care for the first few months. A hands-on demonstration of installing a hive will follow this talk at a later date depending on the arrival date of the bees. This date will be announced on berkshirenotanical.org and on BBG’s Facebook page. Chris Wellens is the Director of Education at BBG and the head beekeeper of the BBG apiary. He also teaches a wide variety of other topics involving the environment, gardening, and agriculture.

Increasing Your Hives without Buying Bees Saturday, February 24, 10 am – noon Members: $5/Non-members: $10

Learn how to sustainably increase the size of your apiary using your own bees without buying more packages or nucs. Some beekeeping experience is recommended. Jorik Phillips, is a beekeeper of 17 years and co-owner of Hudson Valley Bee Supply in Kingston, NY. Following this class, participants are welcome to stay to meet and discuss beekeeping with others.

Our Responsible Backyard Beekeeping Series meets the last Saturday of the month at 10 am. Following presentations by our guest speakers, participants will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with other area beekeepers. Light refreshments will be provided.

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Native Seed Starting

Saturday, February 3, 10 am – 1 pm Members: $15/Non-members: $25 (Space is limited) In this hands-on workshop, learn how to grow native perennials from seed. Dottie “Lou” Kratt, owner of Northeast Native Seeds, will discuss the benefits of using native plants in various landscape types, native plant selections best suited for our region and various growing conditions, and site requirements. Participants will learn how to prepare a site for sowing plants from seed and various low-tech techniques for starting native plants from seed. Each participant will go home with seeds to plant at their own homes.

Brewing with Botanicals

Saturday, March 3, 11 am – 2 pm Members: $35/Non-members: $45

Cheesemaking at Home

Saturday, February 3, 2 pm – 5 pm Members: $25/Non-members: $35 (Space is limited) Learn how to make a simple, delicious cheese in your own kitchen. BBG’s own Chris Wellens will cover equipment, supplies, and basic techniques used in making most types of cheese. Participants will learn to make 2-3 types of cheese, including fresh mozzarella, from start to finish.

After enjoying the fresh-made cheeses, each person will take home instructions and a set of ingredients to make a batch or two at home. This workshop is for beginners, and participants will learn by doing.

Herbal Extractions: Making Herbal-Infused Oils, Vinegars and Tinctures Wednesday, February 7, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Members: $15/Non-Members: $25 Supply Fee: $20 (to be paid to the instructor at the beginning of the class)

Join Jamie Samowitz, educator and herbalist, for a handson exploration of the world of herbal extractions. Home herbalism straddles the line between food and medicine.

By extracting herbs into oil, vinegar, and alcohol, we gain access to the herb’s nutritional and medicinal qualities.

And by making our own nourishing and delicious products with aromatic, tonic, and bitter herbs, we become empowered to take our health into our own hands. We will learn to make three categories of herbal extractions: infused oils (including culinary, fragrance, and medicinal oils), infused vinegars, and tinctures. As a class we will make a spiced bitters tincture that will serve as both a health-supporting digestive aid and a warming remedy for a cold winter’s day.

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Tree Care for Gardeners and Homeowners Saturday, February 10, 10 am – 1pm Members: $35/Non-members: $45

Whether you are a seasoned horticulturist or a dedicated home gardener, you are a steward of the landscape, and probably spend and great deal of time among the flowers, shrubs, and trees. This course is designed for those who might not necessarily be first to climb 100 feet up a Northern Red Oak or wrangle the chainsaw to fell a 36” dead American elm. The goal of this class is to empower gardeners to better understand the largest plants in the landscape.

Learn the basics of tree biology and identification, the tree’s role in the ecosystem, proper selection, siting, planting considerations, pruning of young trees, fertilization, pest identification, and when to call in the certified arborist. Tom Ingersoll is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist, and also certified by the International Society of Arborists.

Permaculture Design

Thursdays, February 15 - March 15, 6:30pm - 8:30pm Members $200/Non-members: $230 (co-enrolled with Horticulture Certificate Program) This course offers an introduction to the principles and practices of permaculture. Beginning with history, design philosophy, and permaculture ethics, topics covered will include designing natural systems and working with natural patterns, understanding climate factors, working with trees and aquaculture. Additionally, instructors will focus on practical skills such as building soil fertility, earth works and resources. This course is designed both for students getting started in permaculture or those with projects underway.

Matt Lamb and Jay Allard co-own Berkshire Earth Regenerators, a permaculture design company.

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Learn how to brew beer with botanicals! In this beginner level class, we introduce you to the art and science of homebrewing. We will lead you through a full brew day as we discuss the four main components of beer: malt, yeast, hops, and water; the brewing process; and how to avoid and troubleshoot the most common problems. You will even get to taste complimentary samples of Beerology’s home-brewed beer!

Mike Schilling and Jordana Starr are the husband­-wife team behind Beerology. They are both passionate about beer and cider and have been homebrewing for many years.

DIY Herbal Body Care: The Complete Herbal Facial

Wednesday, March 7, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Members: $15/Non-members: $25 Supply Fee: $20 (to be paid directly to the instructor at the beginning of class) Bring a small towel.

Join Jamie Samowitz, educator and herbalist, for a dive into the sensory world of herbal body care products. Working with clay, aromatic herbs, and essential oils, we will craft nourishing and soothing skin care products that are tailored to our body’s own needs. As a class we will make an herbal facial steam, a facial exfoliant, a clay mask, and an astringent toner, and will sample and go home with a recipe for a homemade face cream. We will discover the joy of working with fragrant and healing herbs and of giving ourselves the experience of a luxurious spa right in our own homes. Bring a small towel—we’re going to be applying the products during the workshop!

Vegetable and Annual Flower Seed Starting Saturday, March 10, 10 am – noon Members: $15/Non-members: $25

Learn vegetable and flower seed-starting and plant-growing techniques that result in vigorous plants.This workshop will focus on indoor sowing and growing-on practices, including preparation of an effective seed-sowing schedule, techniques for successful germination of challenging seeds, and management of plants at various stages of growth. Workshop participants will practice seed sowing and transplanting a variety of plants to take home for the spring and summer growing season. Taught by Ron Kujawski, Ph.D., a garden writer, educator and researcher of IPM, plant nutrition and soil science.

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Crepe Paper Roses

Saturday, March 17, 11 am – 1 pm Member: $5/Non-members: $15 (One adult and one child included per registration) In this Crepe Paper Rose workshop, adults and children will learn how to color, cut and assemble crepe paper to create a Full Cabaret Rose. Individuals will learn the anatomy of the rose while creating their bloom as well as basic techniques to create realistic flowers. The projects created in this class will be on display in one of the BBG art galleries for the rest of the weekend. Roses can be picked up after 4pm on Sunday, March 18.

Map Paper Roses

Saturday, March 17, 2 pm – 4 pm Members: $5/Non-members: $15 (One adult and one child included per registration) Participants will learn how to create simple roses out of maps and other recycled paper using the art of paper folding. The pattern and technique for this flower can be used with any type of paper and is quick and easy.

The projects created in this class will be on display in one of the BBG art galleries for the rest of the weekend. Projects can be picked up after 4 pm on Sunday, March 18.

Taliaferro Logan received her BFA from the Virginia Commonwealth University and an MFA in sculpture from The Art Institute of Chicago. Originally trained as a metalsmith, her current studio practice includes drawing, painting, sculpture and installation. Based in Roanoke, VA, Logan is a practicing artist and has exhibited nationally as well as internationally at venues in Holland and Germany over the last 25 years. Logan has been acting Gallery Director of Olin Hall Galleries since 2006 and has curated over 100 exhibitions for Olin and Smoyer Gallery.

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Pruning for Fruit Production: Pome and Stone Fruit Trees

Veggie Garden Remix

Saturday, April 7, 10 am – 1:30 pm Members: $45/Non-members: $55 Participants should dress warmly and bring pruners and a bag lunch.

Sunday, March 18, 11 am – 12:30 pm Members: $5/Non-members: $15 There is a world of diversity available to food gardeners, if we just take the time to look. Bestselling author Niki Jabbour invites you to shake up your vegetable garden with an intriguing array of food plants from around the world; Cucamelons, Indian cucumbers, chickpeas, Italian leaf broccoli, Chinese artichokes, zaatar, and wonderful greens like Tokyo bekana, amaranth, magenta spreen, and molokhia.

She’ll showcase a wide selection of flavorful and easy-to-grow global vegetables, and offer tips on how to grow and eat them. A book sale and signing will follow this talk.

This demonstration/workshop will focus on the specifics of pruning stone and pome fruit trees and some small fruits, including cane fruits and ribes. Unlike for ornamental woody plants, pruning for fruit is a special science that is designed to maximize fruit production.

Learn the principles of pruning for shape, size, and, most importantly, fruit production. Watch a structural pruning demonstration on newly planted fruit trees. Semi-dwarf orchard trees, including mature and newly planted trees, will be available for pruning. Steve McKay is the former Grape and Small Fruit Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension in eastern New York State. He own Micosta, a fruit nursery located in Hudson, NY, and specializes in traditional and unusual fruit trees and small fruits.

Spring Pruning of Woody Ornamental Plants

Saturday, April 14, 10 am – 1:30 pm Members: $25/Non-members: $35 Participants should dress warmly and bring pruners and a bag lunch.

Botanical Illustration – Emerging Spring: A Visual Narrative in Pen and Ink

Spring is a great time to assess woody shrubs for shape, structure, and winter damage. This workshop will focus on learning by doing.

Ron Yaple, owner of Race Mountain Tree Services in Sheffield, MA, will demonstrate how to renovate, rejuvenate, and shape shrubs and small ornamental trees for structure, health, and optimal growth.

Plants covered will include viburnums, lilacs, witch hazels, deciduous azaleas, sweetshrubs, crab apples, and ornamental cherries.

Following the demonstration, participants will work in small groups to properly assess and prune a wide selection of plants commonly found in the home landscape.

Wednesday, March 20 - Friday, March 22, 10 am – 4 pm Members: $315/Non-members: $350 Bring a bag lunch. Materials list available at www.berkshirebotanical.org Bring together the furled dry leaves of winter and newly emerging plants and flowers of spring to create a vibrant composition of contrast that tells the story of the seasonal change and the cycle of plant life. Students will choose from a selection of dried leaves, twigs and newly potted plants and flowers to develop compositional ideas in graphite pencil, and then through interactive class feedback will select the most successful design plan to execute a final illustration of Emerging Spring. This class, taught by Carol Ann Morley, is open to students without pen and ink experience who would like to complete this project in graphite.

War on Weeds: Controlling Invasive Plants Saturday, April 21, 10 – 11:30 am Members $15/Non-members $25

Learn about invasive plants and how to control them in your landscape. Weeds and invasive plants are on the minds of gardeners, landscapers, environmentalists; anyone who cares about the environment. This talk, which is geared towards the homeowner, will discuss this important problem with a focus on practical information. Teri Dunn Chace will define “weed,” and discuss the scope of the problem and what gardeners can realistically expect to achieve in their battle. She then reviews a variety of ways to fight back, both organic and non-organic options, and will save herbicides for last. Because glyphosate/ Roundup is the most well-known and widely used (and perhaps most controversial) weed killer, she spends extra time describing what it is and how it works, as well as noting its benefits and risks.

A book sale and signing with follow the talk.

Teri Dunn Chace is a writer and editor with more than 35 titles in publication, including Seeing Seeds (winner of a 2016 American Horticultural Society Book award), Seeing Flowers, How to Eradicate Invasive Plants, and The Anxious Gardener’s Book of Answers. She has also written and edited extensively for Horticulture, North American Gardener, Backyard Living, and Birds & Blooms. Raised in California and educated at Bard College in New York, Chace has gardened in a variety of climate zones and soil types, from inner city Portland, Oregon, to coastal Massachusetts. She currently resides in Little Falls, a small village in the heart of central New York’s farm country; she and her husband also have a second home on the Bay of Fundy in Freeport, Nova Scotia.

Container Gardening

Saturday, March 24, 10am – 1pm Members: $25/Non-members: $35 Jenna O’Brien, owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design, uses containers in the landscape to enhance and extend seasonal beauty, produce food and create an authentic sense of place. Learn how Jenna carries out her container designs from functional and conceptual design to pot, plant and soil selection while viewing a slideshow of her latest designs followed by a hands-on demonstration.

1815 N. Main St, Rte 7, Sheffield, MA 413.528.1857 Open Daily 10-5 www.campodefiori.com

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Give the Gift of Membership!

Membership comes with all sorts of benefits, from free admission to the garden and early buying at our Annual Plant Sale to nursery and class discounts, and depending on the level of support, members have access to other museums and gardens across the country. But many of our members say the most important benefit of membership is supporting a place that they value and love.

For a list of membership benefits, or to become a member or pass along a gift of membership to a friend, business associate, or relative, visit

berkshirebotanical.org.

Transplanting Shrubs and Planting Small Ornamental Trees

Saturday, April 28, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm Members: $15/Non-members: $25 Bring work gloves and dress for the weather.

Learn by doing in this hands-on shrub and tree planting/ transplanting workshop led by arborist Ken Gooch. All aspects of successful planting will be demonstrated, and participants will assist in transplanting a multi-stem shrub and planting a small tree. Learn how to successfully transplant shrubs by correct timing and placement and techniques designed to create minimal disturbance and ensure smooth transition to a new site. Consider the differences between bareroot, container-grown, or balled-and-burlapped trees, and understand the importance of siting.

Botanical Watercolors: Spring Bulbs

Monday, April 30 - Wednesday, May 2, 10 am – 4 pm Members: $315/Non-members: $350 In this three day Introduction to Botanical Drawing and Watercolor Painting, students will learn, through demonstrations and exercises, techniques to accurately render botanical subjects. The focus will be on traditional botanical art methods and close observation and attention to details using spring bulbs. Artist and instructor Susan Sapanara earned a certificate in Botanical Illustration with Honors from the New York Botanical Garden. She is a a cofounder of the Tri-State Botanical Artists of NYBG, a circle of the American Society of Botanical Artist.

Off-Site Field Study to Cricket Hill Garden Sunday, May 27, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm Members: $35/Non-members: $45

Cricket Hill Garden, in Litchfield, CT, has something to interest every gardener.

For nearly 30 years, the owners have propagated and sold true-to-name varieties of rare Chinese peonies in a six-acre display garden named Peony Heaven.

Combine that with a collection of unusual varieties of landscape edibles such as Asian pears, pawpaws, persimmons, heirloom apples, and medlars. Our visit will include a tour led by co-owner Dan Furman and will give participants ample time to enjoy the peonies at their peak bloom as well as time to shop the nursery.

Gardening with Mushrooms

Saturday, June 2, 10 am – 1 pm Members: $45/Non-members: $55 (all materials costs included) Dress for working outdoors; bring work gloves.

Join Alex Dorr of Fungi Ally for this hands-on workshop to turn your garden into an arena of decomposition and mushroom production! Gain the tools and knowledge to transform agricultural waste to grow your own food and medicine for your family and community. We will work with tree mushrooms in particular: wine caps, almond portobellos, and oysters.

Participants will become familiar with techniques of cultivating these mushrooms for food, medicine, or mycoremediation purposes. This workshop will include building a woodchip bed of wine cap mushrooms (Go home with myceliated chips to start your bed own mushroom bed), adding Almond Portobellos to your garden via compost, and growing oyster mushrooms in mulch. We will also discuss transferring and expanding these mushrooms without buying spawn, and using Wine Cap mushrooms in mycoremediation applications.

Withdrawals: To withdraw your registration from a class, please contact us as soon as possible so we can make your space available to others. If you give us at least 7 days’ notice prior to the event, we will offer a refund less an administrative fee equaling 25% of the program cost.

Please note: we cannot offer refunds for withdrawals less than 7 days before a class.

Native Habitat Restoration Returning Balance to Nature

Wetlands Woodlands Meadows Fields Invasive Plant Control

(organic options)

Winter Cuttings: 4.75”W x 3.5 “H

Pollinator Habitats Field Reclamation Wetland Restoration

(413) 358-7400

NativeHabitatRestoration.weebly.com Licensed in MA . CT . NY . VT

WINDY HILL FARM NURSERY • ORCHARD • GARDEN SHOP

Superb plantS, extenSive Knowledge outStanding Quality, Selection & value

We offer our own Berkshire field-gown specimens, including Kousa dogwood; American, European, Green and Copper Beech; native birch; hybrid lilacs; viburnums; hydrangea paniculata; Fringe trees; witchhazels; resistant American elms; blueberries; winterberry; espaliered fruit trees; mature apple, peach and pear trees; herbaceous and tree peonies.

Closing DeCember 24, 2017 • reopening April 1, 2018 686 Stockbridge road, great barrington, Ma 01230 www . windyhillfarMinc . coM (413) 298-3217 26

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GARDEN NEWS

ALEX FYLYPOVYCH, CAMP DIRECTOR

We’re pleased to welcome Alex Fylypovych to the position of Camp Director at the Garden. Alex jumped into her new role with energy and creativity, bringing the Farm and Garden Program, the Garden’s after school curriculum, to children in both the Pittsfield and the Berkshire Hills Regional School Districts. She will oversee the Garden’s popular Farm in the Garden Camp, its six counselors and enthusiastic campers ages 5-14, who will be enrolled in the summer program. Alex has been an outdoor instructor/educator in many settings, including on Tioman Island, Malaysia and Ventura, CA. Her interest in ecology and the environment has paired her with several educational organizations where she has played a role in their development, including the North American Marine Environment Protection Association, the University of Georgia, Costa Rica, and African Sky, an organization working to lessen the effects of extreme poverty in Mali, Africa. The BBG staff is thrilled to welcome Alex to the Garden!

BRIDGETTE STONE, EDUCATION COORDINATOR

We warmly welcome Bridgette Stone to the Garden as our Education Coordinator. Bridgette has worked in experience-based education communities including the Montessori School of the Berkshires where she was a classroom teacher and led summer camps, and at the Green Mountain and Pleasant Valley Audubon Centers where she created curricula for nature-based summer camps. In addition to her passion for teaching, she has a love of agriculture and food. This led her to work for several seasons at Woven Roots Farm, a leading no-till farm focused on community building and education. Over the last year, she has been instrumental in the management of the Great Barrington Farmers Market.

Welcome aboard, Bridgette!

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CUTTINGS

WINTER/SPRING 2018

Passing the Torch: Chris Wellens Named Director of Education

Landscape and Garden Design

Retiring Director of Education Elisabeth Cary with Chris Wellens who assumed the role on September 1.

We’re pleased to announce that Chris Wellens, known to many as the Garden’s Youth Education Coordinator, became the Director of Education at BBG effective September 1. Chris joined the Garden staff in 2014, bringing a strong commitment to environmental education and a well-rounded teaching background on topics including land sustainability, agriculture, and field ecology. A native of Winneconne, Wisconsin, Chris is passionate about maintaining the Garden’s education program as a community resource and developing programming that evolves with the needs of the community. His interest in collaboration will pair the Garden with other likeminded Berkshires organizations for enriched programming that echoes the Garden’s mission to educate and inspire on topics relating to horticulture, gardening, and the environment.

Upon retiring in late August, his predecessor, Elisabeth Cary, commented on Chris’s uncanny ability to connect with students of all ages and levels, citing his commitment to land stewardship and education as critical traits that will take the Garden to the next level to provide a wide range of educational opportunities to the community.

www.blackbarnfarm.com

Always something new to see!

The Fantastical Art of Tony DiTerlizzi This exhibition is supported in part by The Keator Group, LLC & The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank.

Rockwell’s Art for Look Magazine The Holidays Illustrated through February 4, 2018

Triple Self Portrait (detail) © SEPS 1960, Norman Rockwell Museum Collections.

Welcome New Staff!

Gloria Stoll Karn: Pulp Romance opens February 10, 2018

nrm.org Stockbridge, MA 413.298.4100 open daily

BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN

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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Qualprint 5 West Stockbridge Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 413-298-3926 • berkshirebotanical.org

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