Fall 2022 Grow With Us Magazine

S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2022

Grow with us EVENT S , C L A S S E S , P RO G R A M S , & M O RE

Step into an enchanted world this fall at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. We look forward to welcoming you!

Garden programs. Thanks to relationships with local schools and youth-serving organizations, opportunities to foster the next generation of environmental stewards continue to take shape in new and innovative ways.

FORWARD TO FALL THE AIR HUMS WITH THE ENERGY OF AUTUMN. As another New England

summer shifts into fall, we wonder at the natural forces responsible for such dramatic seasonal change. Against a landscape of reddening leaves and golden meadow grasses going to seed, the Garden continues to grow.

We’re headed toward stronger community partnerships. This starts with youth.

Whether studying flowers in the Secret Garden or scanning the Wildlife Refuge Pond for aquatic life, students learn about the environment while making joyful connections in nature through a range of

Help Us Grow the Endowment

by Unlocking The McDonough Match!

We believe that access to nature is a human right. This drives us as we take our work out of the Garden and into communities. Collaborative urban beautification initiatives bring trees to Worcester neighborhoods where they are needed most. In classrooms, our Garden Educators deliver programs that explore issues of environmental justice and empower students to envision plantbased solutions to climate change. Projects that began as pilots are blossoming into programs that we couldn’t be more proud of. And as the community learns more about the role plants play in our lives, we at the Garden learn more about how our horticultural expertise can best serve the community.

Our commitment to building a garden where everyone feels at home to discover, play, celebrate, rest, learn, and grow is as strong as ever.

There is so much we hope to share with you on your next visit. We hope it will be soon!

With gratitude for your support,

Grace C. Elton chief executive officer new england botanic garden at tower hill

All gifts made to the endowment will be matched by the McDonough Foundation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $1.5 million! Gifts of cash, appreciated stock, and IRA rollovers are all welcome. Your gift will create experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world. Contact Sally Stanton at sstanton@nebg.org or 508.869.6111 x103 to learn more.

CONTENTS 2 There’s Something Growing for Everyone in The Ramble Experience the delights of our newest garden through its unique and thoughtfully selected plant collection.

4 Inspiring Young Stewards of the Environment Collaborative educational programs engage the community and create accessible opportunities for nature-based learning.

6 Classes & Programs Join us virtually or at the Garden for a class or program for adults, families, and kids. There is something for everyone!

12 Save the Date for Night Lights Celebrate the season with enchanting landscapes, fun experiences, and thousands of lights.

16 Enchanted Forest Experience the magic as you journey through our enchanted garden featuring 25 artistic fairy houses.

THERE’S SOMETHING GROWING FOR EVERYONE IN THE RAMBLE We know The Ramble is a great place for kids to be kids – for them to run, jump, climb, stack, wander, splash, and play. But this whimsical, 1.5-acre hillside garden, designed by landscape architect and artist W. Gary Smith and Tom Ryan Associates, doesn’t only delight the young.

Full of surprises, The Ramble teaches us all that gardens can be about beauty, inspiration, and playfulness at the same time. Thanks to a universally accessible design and plants chosen by the hundreds for fun, function, and botanical significance, families of all ages and abilities can follow their curiosity in our newest garden.

2

FOR NATIVE PLANT ENTHUSIASTS

Did you know a majority of plants found in The Ramble were selected because they are native to New England?

Witch hazel, an understory forest shrub in the genus Hamamelis, grows naturally on Garden grounds. Within the Ramble, nine types of witch hazel line a sweeping pathway. Represented are hybrids, species native to Asia (H. mollis and H. chinensis), and species native to the U.S. (H. virginiana and H. vernalis). Wispy blooms explode in shades of red, yellow, and purple. While some witch hazels flower in spring, others flower in fall.

Frost-tolerant, these blooms will excite visitors well into the winter season.

FOR WATERFALL CHASERS

The Ramble includes the Garden’s only waterfall feature, and it’s not to be missed. Cascading water collects in a pool alive with a seasonal aquatic display this year featuring giant Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), mosaic plant

NE W E N G L A N D B OTA N IC GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S MEAY PTEMBER/OCTOBER /JUNE 2022 2022

© DAN WILDER

witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

(Ludwigia sedoides), rose milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), and more. On your next visit, relax to the sound of the waterfall and be wowed by the ingenuity of plants that wind their roots through water.

FOR FORAGERS

Have an eye for edible plants? While you break for a snack or lunch, notice the Forage Garden encircling The Ramble Pavilion. Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), sassafras (Sassafras albidum), woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), King Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), and prickly pear (Opuntia humifusa) are just a few of the plants showcased here.

ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)

fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)

FOR SEEKERS OF THE PICTURE-PERFECT

A new accessible boardwalk up to The Ramble is the perfect place for photos. Built with a non-traditional decking made from black locust (a more sustainable option than tropical hardwoods, pressure-treated lumber, or composites), this walkway divides a garden known as Pliny’s Allée. A collection of towering oak trees (Quercus spp.) and a diverse understory of oak leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), and fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii and F. major), present a dramatic scene of plant diversity, especially when autumn brings color to the leaves.

N EB G . O R G

3

Growing Partnerships Inspire Young Stewards of the Environment “I WANT TO WORK HERE.” “BEST DAY EVER.” “I’M COMING BACK MONDAY!” When the Garden’s Education Team gets these reactions to their thoughtfully crafted educational programs, they know something special has occurred. Young people have found wonder in nature.

Inspiring excitement and curiosity are always priorities here at the Garden, especially when paired with programs that make ecological learning accessible to youth in underresourced communities. Our Education Team works closely with schools throughout Worcester County, in particular, the City of Worcester. Staff speak at libraries and lead lessons with pre-K classes. To deliver meaningful programs, our

4

team also partners with Worcester’s many youth-serving organizations. As a result, thousands of local students enjoy nature-based experiences at the Garden and in their schools each year.

Recently, one of our long-standing educational programs experienced a transformation. Known as Project Bloom, the program relies on community collaborations to engage young people in Garden visits designed around their interests. Green industry career explorations, climate change lessons, nature photography, and habitat hikes are just a few. For years, Project Bloom allowed us to partner with the Worcester Refugee Assistance Project, but with new funding from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, the program was able to expand.

NE W E N G L A N D B OTA N IC GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S E PTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022

Last year in greater Worcester, the Garden worked with:

2,500 38 6 Students

Schools

Community Partners

Participants from four more organizations, Girls Inc. of Worcester, the Regional Environmental Council, the Latino Education Institute, and Open Sky Community Services, now enjoy hands-on activities, lessons, and workshops through Project Bloom.

American Craft Fair October 15 & 16

10am–4pm

Featuring over 30 fine artisans representing ceramics, jewelry, wood, metalworking, glass, mixed metals, painting, fiber arts, and more.

In collaboration with The Worcester Center for Crafts.

Young people can be powerful stewards of the environment, especially if given opportunities to see themselves as part of nature and natural ecosystems.

Where Project Bloom expands access to learning at the Garden, another budding program is bringing tools and resources into the community. In March 2022, we piloted Growing Green, a three-session in-school program, with 45 fifth graders at Worcester’s Goddard School of Science & Technology. Lessons aligned with state curriculum standards covered the urban water cycle, the benefits of trees, and tree equity.

Through Growing Green, students learn about environmental issues and injustices, and most importantly, how people and plants can solve them.

As the new school year gears up, we look forward to expanding Growing Green and to strengthening our community partnerships even further. Together, we’ll continue to bring enriching educational experiences to young people across the region.

Visit New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill this fall and stay for a fresh, locally sourced lunch at Farmer and the Fork Café, offered 7 days a week.

N EB G . O R G

5

Accessible Gardening: Raised Beds, Containers, and More DEBORAH KRAUSE

Classes & Programs To register for programs, please visit the calendar section of our website. Advanced registration is required for all classes except as noted.

For questions about our adult programs or youth and family programs, please contact our Registrar at registrar@nebg.org.

ADULT PROGRAMS Online Learning A Bountiful Year: Six Seasons of Beauty from Brandywine Cottage DAVID CULP

David Culp has spent more than 30 years creating a sensational year-round garden that provides an abundance of joy, both indoors and out. This talk will inspire you to live a life enriched by nature every day of the year.

Thursday, September 15, 7:15–8:30pm $10 M; $10 NM | LIVE WEBINAR CO-SPONSORED BY THE CONNECTICUT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Hydrangeas 101

CHERYL SALATINO

Learn the basics of hydrangea care and discover the different types of hydrangeas you can plant in your garden.

Wednesday, September 28, 6:30–7:30pm

Discover some of the ways you can customize your garden to suit both your physical needs and your available space. This webinar will introduce you to a variety of container gardening methods, including raised bed and garden tables.

Wednesday, October 12, 7–8pm $0M; $0 NM | FREE WEBINAR SPONSORED BY AARP MASSACHUSETTS

A Song of Heat, Ice, and Water: Impact of Climate Change on Alpine Glacier and Water Resources DR. MAURI PELTO

For more than four decades Dr. Mauri Pelto has observed climate change impact on glaciers in the Pacific Northwest, and for three decades its impact on water resources in Central Massachusetts. This lecture will include visual summaries of these observations and more.

Wednesday, October 26, 6:30–7:30pm

$0 M; $0 NM | FREE WEBINAR SPONSORED BY COUNTERACT CLIMATE CHANGE

On Demand Webinars

“On-Demand” webinars can be watched at any time in the comfort of your own home. You can find these webinars on our website, on the online learning tab under adult education.

Available at all times $10 M; $15 NM | ON-DEMAND WEBINARS

Wellness Yoga in the Garden

MANDI GARRISON

Enjoy gentle-to-moderate flow yoga in a class for all levels.

Classes are held outdoors (weather permitting).

Tuesdays, 6–7:15pm Thursdays, 10:30–11:45am PER CLASS: $13 M; $20 NM I NO WALK-INS

Afternoon Stretch & Restore

MANDI GARRISON

Add an extra dose of inner calm and mindfulness to your weekly routine. Classes are held outdoors (weather permitting).

Wednesdays, 12:30–1:30pm PER CLASS: $13 M; $20 NM I NO WALK-INS

$10 M; $15 NM | LIVE WEBINAR

6

ASSORTED INSTRUCTORS

NE W E N G L A N D B OTA N IC GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S E PTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022

Chair Yoga

REBECCA REBER

Using a chair as a prop, come and have fun while enjoying the benefits of movement in this gentle yoga class. Classes are held indoors.

Tuesdays, September 4–25, 11:30am–12:30pm (4-WEEK SESSION)

Tuesdays, October 7–28, 11:30am–12:30pm (4-WEEK SESSION) $50 M; $65 NM I 4-WEEK SESSION

Qigong & Tai Chi Movement

Breathe deeply and practice gentle fluid movements mindfully to reduce stress and improve balance, coordination, flexibility, range of motion, and stamina.

Wednesdays, September 7–28, 10:15–11:30am (4-WEEK SESSION)

Wednesdays, October 5–26, 10:15–11:30am (4-WEEK SESSION) $70 M; $85 NM I 4-WEEK SESSION EMMA BARTOLINI

Start your morning with a mindful Yoga Flow. Our practice will incorporate synchronization of breath and mindful movement while we explore postures to build strength, balance, and stability and find peace within our morning.

Saturday, September 10, 9–10am Saturday, October 29, 9–10am PER CLASS: $13 M; $20 NM I NO WALK-INS

Fall Equinox Mini-Retreat

MANDI GARRISON

Immerse yourself in this mini yoga retreat. The retreat will include time with your yoga practice, a lecture, journaling, meditation, and guided relaxation.

Saturday, September 17, 9:30am–12:30pm $40 M; $55 NM I NO WALK-INS

Forest Bathing

DEBORAH KRAUSE AND DR. WISSAM DEEB

Join us for this new pilot program, which was developed specifically for Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers.

Participants will learn about some of the ways they can continue to make gardening a part of their lives and will take home a beautiful planter they can cultivate at home.

Friday, September 25, 10:30am–12pm $28 M; $35 NM

ROSE LEE

Saturday Morning Yoga Flow

Therapeutic Horticulture for Parkinson’s Patients

NADINE MAZZOLA

Relax and refresh through mindfulness practices, and sensory awareness, and experience the beauty of nature in the gardens.

Friday, September 23, 9:30am–12:30pm Saturday, October 15, 9:30am–12:30pm

Neurographic Sketching

NIKKI HOWLAND

Tap into your subconscious and relax your mind! This course will focus on the basic techniques and the meditative qualities of neurographic art. You will leave the session with a contemplative way to create something unique and beautiful that leaves you feeling calm and thoughtful.

Saturday, October 1, 9:30–11:30am Saturday, October 15, 9:30–11:30am $40 M; $55 NM

Visual Arts Perennial Flowers in Pen and Ink

CAROL SCHWARTZ

Learn the basics of working in pen and ink, or just practice your technique. In this class you will create a beautiful flower drawing by tracing a flower photo – which is provided, or you can bring your own – onto inking film called Dura-lar. Explore several inking techniques, including hatching, crosshatching, and stippling.

Saturday, September 10, 9:30–11:30am $40 M; $55 NM

Needle Felted Succulents

LISA MAGNUSON

Learn the art of needle felting and make an adorable minisucculent (which requires no watering!). In this class you will discover how fun and easy it is to work with wool roving using a special felting needle.

Saturday, September 10, 1–3:30pm $40 M; $55 NM

$40 M; $55 NM I NO WALK-INS

Celebrating Olmsted

LAURENCE COTTON

In honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of the prolific and influential landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, join historian and filmmaker Laurence Cotton as he discusses the remarkable life and career of the Renaissance man and creator of some of the most beautiful public and private parks and gardens in North America.

Sunday, October 9, 5:30–6:30pm $15 M; $25 NM FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED, OIL PAINTING BY JOHN SINGER SARGENT, 1895, BILTMORE ESTATE, ASHEVILLE, NC

N EB G . O R G

7

Smartphone Photography

STEVE MCGRATH

This class will help you understand how to take great images on your phone, what editing apps to use, and how to share and print your images.

Saturday, September 10, 12–3pm $60 M; $75 NM

Nature Journals

papers, or as works of art on their own. Participants will go home with a stack of prints and a gelatin printing plate to continue printing at home. All materials provided.

Thursday, October 20, 1–3:30pm $40 M; $55 NM

Beginning Photography SUZANNE HAUERSTEIN

Craft your own hardcover nature journal with pockets for holding outdoor finds. Decorate your books with vintage botanical images and learn to hone your observational and listening skills to record nature sights and sounds.

Weather permitting, we will go outside for observational sketching, sound mapping, and natural object collecting.

All materials provided.

Tuesday, September 13, 1–3:30pm $40 M; $55 NM

Outdoor Macrophotography

STEVE MCGRATH

Spring, summer, winter, or fall, macrophotography opens the door to a wonderful new world of photo opportunities. With instructor Steve McGrath as your guide, this course will show you ways to use your existing camera gear to make spectacular macro photographs.

Sunday, September 25, 12–2pm $60 M; $75 NM

Introduction to Zentangle

KAREN KEEFE

Zentangle is an easy-to-learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns, many of them inspired by nature. This hands-on class introduces you to basic Zentangle principles and methodology.

Sunday, September 25, 1:15–4:45pm $45 M; $60 NM

Watercolor Mixed Media Collage SUZANNE HAUERSTEIN

Using watercolor paints, oil pastels, colored pencils, and decorative papers we will paint, tear, and collage an abstract floral painting. Design, composition, and color theory will be explored. All materials provided.

Thursday, October 6, 1–3:30pm

STEVE MCGRATH

Are you still getting to know your digital camera and its features? Here’s an opportunity to learn from an expert in this seminar for beginners! Have your camera ready and learn when and how to use its special features, as well as basic composition and the best use of light.

Sunday, October 23, 12:30–3:30pm $60 M; $75 NM

Exploring Shape and Form with Mushrooms CAROL SCHWARTZ

Practice drawing the beautiful forms of mushrooms and shading them using colored pencils. After a short walk in the woods to take photos, choose one of your photos as reference to draw a mushroom, then color and shade it using colored pencils. We will talk about drawing from basic shapes to create a more refined drawing and add texture.

Saturday, October 29, 9:30–11:30am $40 M; $55 NM

Special Effects Photography

STEVE MCGRATH

Do you want to learn how to star the sun, how to add depth to your landscape images, or how to create panoramic images? Bring your camera and lenses to this class and learn how to create great effects with the equipment you already have!

Saturday, October 29, 12–3pm $60 M; $75 NM

Chinese Brush Painting: Poppies

SAU-MEI LEUNG

Relax, create, and meditate with Chinese brush painting inspired by the beautiful surroundings at the Garden.

Through demonstration and hands-on practice, you will learn the Chinese brush methods of painting poppies as well as compositional development.

Sunday, October 30, 10:30am–12:30pm $55 M; $70 NM

$40 M; $55 NM

Printmaking: Gelatin Plate Botanical Prints SUZANNE HAUERSTEIN

Students will use a gelatin printing plate, acrylic paints, botanical materials, and handmade stencils to make beautiful prints. Different stencil making and printmaking techniques will be explored. Prints can be used as greeting cards, bookmarks, gifts tags, for scrapbooking/art

Gardening & Floral Design Introduction to Sogestsu Ikebana

$35 M; $45 NM I NO WALK-INS

8

KAYE VOSBURGH

This course introduces Japanese flower arranging and gives students experience in making arrangements in low containers (moribana) using a pin holder (kenzan).

Thursday, September 8, 9:30am–12pm

NE W E N G L A N D B OTA N IC GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S E PTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022

Winterizing Your Roses

TERESA MOSHER

Roses are a classic plant that can brighten up any garden or home. In this program Teresa provides tips for choosing hardy roses, fertilizing, rose dormancy, fall rose care, and winter protection.

Saturday, September 10, 10:30am –12pm Saturday, October 22, 10:30am –12pm $35 M; $50 NM

Begonia Intensive

TOVAH MARTIN

There’s something for everyone in the begonia genus – and they make great houseplants! This lecture profiles their range of physical characteristics while also sharing the secrets for hosting begonias successfully in your home.

The goal of this talk is to demystify begonias and put these fascinating plants in everyone’s reach.

Saturday, September 24, 2–3pm $15 M; $25 NM I CO-SPONSORED BY THE BUXTON BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN BEGONIA SOCIETY

Embellished Pumpkins

MARY BETH HAYES

It’s the season for pumpkins and fall flowers! In this workshop you will create a fall arrangement using seasonal vegetables and flowers that will make a stunning addition to your autumn tablescape.

Saturday, October 22, 1–3pm

PLANT SHOWS Join us for competitive shows featuring captivating displays of brilliant blooms, fascinating foliage, plant sales, and the chance to learn from expert growers.

INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION.

New England Dahlia Society Show & Sale Saturday, September 17, 1–5pm Sunday, September 18, 10am–3pm

Buxton Branch of the American Begonia Society and the New England Chapter of the Gesneriad Society Show & Sale Saturday, September 24, 10am–5pm Sunday, September 25, 10am–4pm

New England Carnivorous Plant Society Show & Sale Saturday, October 1, 10am–5pm Sunday, October 2, 10am–4pm

$80 M; $95 NM; $105 PAIR

Tours Walk and Talk: The Ramble

HUNTER BLANCHARD

The Ramble is our new 1.5 acre garden that invites the young and the young at heart to learn about plants and nature with accessible paths that all can enjoy and immersive activities designed to spark the imagination. Join us in the garden and expand your horizons in a healthy way.

Thursday, September 21, 2–3pm $10 M; $20 NM

Foraging for Wild Edibles

RUSS COHEN

Join wild edibles enthusiast Russ Cohen, author of the book Wild Plants I have Known…and Eaten, on a two-hour ramble around the Garden to learn about the comestible qualities of at least 18 wild plant species.

Thursday, September 29, 4–6pm $35 M; $50 NM

Walk and Talk: Autumn Beauty in the Garden DAWN DAVIES

Discover some outstanding plants that will add fall color to your garden with Dawn Davies, our Formal Gardens Manager.

Wednesday, October 19, 2–3pm $10 M; $20 NM

N EB G . O R G

9

YOUTH PROGRAMS

Family Fun

Happy Houseplants

Join us for circle time, a story, a take-home craft packet, and a guided garden adventure.

Thursdays, 10:30–11:30am Saturdays, September 3 & October 1, 11am–12pm

Kids’ Workshops

| AGES 5–10

Learn the basics of plant care and pot up your own easy to care for houseplant.

Saturday, September 3, 2–3:30pm M: $25 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $32 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Fall Foliage Fairy Crowns

| AGES 6–12

Learn why leaves change color and create an autumnal floral fairy crown.

Sunday, September 11, 2:30–4pm M: $25 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $32 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes

| AGES 5–12

Use natural materials to create your own fairy house or gnome home in a basket.

Sunday, September 18, 1:30–3pm Saturday, October 8, 2–3:30pm M: $25 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $32 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Magical Mini Gardens

| AGES 5–12

Design your own miniature fairy dish garden, complete with a magical friend.

Sunday, September 25, 1–2pm M: $25 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $32 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Amazing Autumn Watercolors

| AGES 7–14

Learn the basics of watercolor painting and capture fantastic fall foliage.

Sunday, October 9, 1:30–3pm M: $20 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $28 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Plant Potions

| AGES 7–12

Mix up magical plant-based potions and conduct experiments with simple household ingredients.

Sunday, October 23, 1:30–3pm M: $18 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $26 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Mythical Masks

| AGES 6–10

Use cut paper, cardboard, feathers, and other natural materials to create a magical, mythical mask.

Saturday, October 29, 1:30–3pm M: $16 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $24 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Fairies

this fall!

Garden Buds

| AGES 3–5

M: $8 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $15 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Garden Fairy Party

| AGES 3–10

Join our Garden Fairy for stories, crafts, songs, and photographs.

Sunday, September 4, 2–3pm M: $12 CHILD, $8 ADULT; NM: $20 CHILD, $25 ADULT

Fairy Magic Hike

| AGES 3–8

Embark on a magical fairy walk and search for signs of magic in nature on this guided garden adventure.

Saturday, September 10, 11am–12pm Sunday, October 2, 2–3pm M: $9 CHILD, $6 ADULT; NM: $16 CHILD, $24 ADULT

Tots & Toddlers Yoga

| AGES 1.5–3

Just for littles with their adults! Join us to move, stretch, breathe, and practice yoga together.

Saturday, September 17, 10:30–11am Saturday, October 15, 10:30–11am M: $8 CHILD, $8 ADULT; NM: $10 CHILD, $20 ADULT

Fantastic Fungi

| AGES 5–12

Join us for a magical mushroom hunt as we uncover fascinating facts about fungus.

Saturday, September 17, 2–3pm M: $10 CHILD, $6 ADULT; NM: $18 CHILD, $24 ADULT

Little Seedlings

| AGES 1–3

Come explore the wonders of nature and practice sorting, counting, observing, and more.

Monday, September 19, 10:30–11:30am Monday, October 17, 10:30–11:30am M: $7 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $12 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Family Yoga

| AGES 4 –8

Practice nature inspired poses, relax, unwind, and try a mindfulness craft.

Saturday, September 24, 2–3pm

M: $13 CHILD, $12 ADULT; NM: $20 CHILD, $25 ADULT

Fall Foliage Family Hike This fall is full of fairy house displays, magical events, evening experiences, and more.

See pages 16–17 for more details!

| AGES 5–12

Embark on a fall foliage hike, learn why leaves change color, and create an upcycled leaf press.

Saturday, October 22, 11am–12:30pm M: $9 CHILD, $6 ADULT; NM: $16 CHILD, $24 ADULT

Just for Kids!

Children's Yoga

Relax, unwind, and connect with nature. Join us for our just for kids yoga and mindfulness classes. Perfect for yogis of any level and ability.

Spooky Yoga

| AGES 4 –8

Stretch your skeletons, cast calming spells, and try a spooky craft.

Sunday, October 30, 2–3pm

M: $13 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $20 CHILD, $18 ADULT

Join us for Nature Play Days in The Ramble. Drop-in for free, fun family activities this season. Use your imagination to create magical worlds and explore the great outdoors as we dress up, craft, make music, play, and make new friends.

INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION

Discovery Backpacks

This bi-weekly drop-off program just for kids explores a different seasonally appropriate theme each class through hands-on investigations, imaginative play, and outdoor explorations. | AGES 6 –8

Join us for an afternoon of exploration, investigation and play in our outdoor classroom.

Fridays, September 2, 16 & 30, October 14 & 28 1–3pm M: $20 CHILD; NM: $28 CHILD

| AGES 3–12

Check out our Discovery Backpacks filled with exciting activities and tools for exploring together.

Sunday through Saturday, 10am–5pm

Music & Movement

Drop-off Programs

Garden Explorers

Nature Play Days

| AGES 2–8

Dance to your own beat and explore percussion using natural musical instruments.

Mondays, 12–2pm

Nature Storytime

| AGES 2–8

Join us for an interactive hour of exciting stories about plants, animals, and nature.

Tuesdays, 11am–12pm

Imagination Station

| AGES 3–8

Stop by for imaginative play as we dress up and create magical worlds together.

Wednesdays, 12–2pm

Discovery Cart

| AGES 3–12

Visit our pop-up Discovery Carts to learn about plants, animals, and more.

Fridays, 12–2pm

Nature Play Days Weekly Schedule

CHILDREN’S BIRTHDAY PARTIES Make your child’s birthday one to remember by hosting their special day with us!

Now booking for fall.

SUNDAY – SATURDAY / 10am–5pm

Discovery Backpacks

MONDAYS / 12–2pm

Music & Movement

TUESDAYS / 11am–12pm

Nature Storytime

WEDNESDAYS / 12–2pm

Imagination Station

FRIDAYS / 12–2pm

Discovery Cart PLEASE NOTE

Nature Play Days are weather dependent.

Visit nebg.org for details.

N EB G . O R G

11

T

NIGHT LIGHTS 2022 2021 MEMBERS GET EARLY ACCESS TO TICKETS! JOIN US TODAY!

12

NEW E N G L A N D B OTA NI C GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S E PT EMBER/OCTOBER 2022

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25 THROUGH

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30 DAILY, 4pm–10pm Celebrate the season with enchanting landscapes, fun experiences, and thousands of lights. Enjoy s’mores, seasonal drinks, a model train, and fun photo opportunities while creating memories for the whole family.

Members get early access to NIGHT LIGHTS tickets and a 40% discount! Member tickets are available to purchase online on October 17 and general public tickets on October 31.

Visit nebg.org/nightlights for more information.

Gnomevember NOVEMBER 1 THROUGH 30

The gnomes of the New England Botanic Garden have welcomed a few new residents to their community, and their silly antics are bigger and craftier than ever.

Come and see the Garden’s newest inhabitants and witness their takeover this #gnomevember2022!

LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration Thursday, September 8, 4–8:30pm Save the date for our annual Pride Celebration!

Our Garden is committed to inclusivity. Join us as we celebrate the week of Pride Worcester and our LGBTQ+ community through a fun evening of live music, local vendors, resources provided by local community organizations, and more. Please visit nebg.org for more information.

N EB G . O R G

13

GROW the GARDEN WEEK OF GIVING September 7 –14, 2022

Make your annual gift during GROW THE GARDEN WEEK OF GIVING. Earn matching funds and be eligible for drawings for unique New England Botanic Garden experiences including Night Lights tickets, private picnics, after-hours access, adult and youth classes, adventures, entertainment, and more. The week will feature fun “how to” classes and a special event concert and live garden demonstrations on September 9. All gifts support the mission of the Garden – creating experiences with plants that inspire people and improve the world.

Visit growthegarden.nebg.org for more information.

14

NE W E N G L A N D B OTA N I C GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S E PTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022

LAND ART BY W. GARY SMITH ON DISPLAY THROUGH NOVEMBER 1

This nature inspired exhibition, imagined by author, artist, and landscape architect W. Gary Smith, features stunning sculptures set among the landscape of New England Botanic Garden. Made from natural materials collected at the Garden, this exhibit celebrates the connections between people and nature, combining art and horticulture to explore ecological design and artistic abstraction. Join us throughout the exhibition for events, tours, drop-in activities, and more as we explore different ways to connect with the land through art.

What to expect on your visit…

On your visit you will have the opportunity to explore ten immersive land art installations scattered among the Garden landscape. In the Milton Gallery you will view four large mixed media paintings and enjoy interactive displays focused on the patterns in nature that inspire the artist, W. Gary Smith.

Hands On Land Art

September 14, 11am–1:30pm & 1pm–3:30pm During these guided drop-in experiences, visitors will help construct one-of-a-kind land art creations using natural materials. Perfect for all ages and skill levels!

Guided Tours: UPROOTED

Through September 30 Walking Tours Wednesdays, 11am Golf Cart Tours Fridays, 11am Experience UPROOTED in a unique way with a behind-the-scenes guided tour. Learn about the history of land art and the sculpture design process.

ROOTED: Botanical Illustrations by NESBA

Through October 30 In conjunction with UPROOTED, we bring you ROOTED: Botanical Illustrations by NESBA. This exhibit will explore the unique structure and form of plant roots through a series of botanical illustrations by local members of the New England Society of Botanical Artists. Come see this beautiful and unique exploration of the side of plants that you don’t normally get to see – their roots!

N EB G . O R G

15

Enchanted Forest SEPTEMBER 10 – OCTOBER 30

Nature-Inspired Fairy Houses

by Sally J. Smith

Immerse yourself in magic as you journey through our enchanted fairy forest featuring artistic fairy homes and interactive experiences.

Fairies Aglow

Fridays, September 30 – October 28, 6–8:30pm On select Friday evenings this fall, transport yourself into a magical world filled with fairies and folklore. During Fairies Aglow, our children’s garden, The Ramble, becomes even more imaginative with dazzling light displays and lighted fairy houses. This family-friendly event includes enchanted activities, ethereal music, and real-life fairy friends. Explore the wonders of the season in a whole new light and immerse yourself in the magic of nature. Don’t forget your wings and wands! Please visit nebg.org for more information.

Fairy Fest

Saturday, October 8 – Monday, October 10, 10am–4pm Join us for a weekend full of magic this autumn as our fairy friends transform the Garden into a realm filled with imagination, wonder, and enchantment. Enjoy brews and local fare at our Beer Garden, browse our fairyland market, and discover hidden fairy houses along the way. This weekend will feature magical crafts, workshops, and entertainment for all ages. Spread your wings and come dressed up as your favorite magical being! INCLUDED WITH ADMISSION

Youth Programs

See the Youth Programs on page 10 for more details!

Fairy Magic Hike

| AGES 3–8

Embark on a magical fairy walk and search for signs of magic in nature.

Garden Fairy Party

| AGES 3–12

Join our Garden Fairy for stories, crafts, songs, and photographs.

Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes

| AGES 5–12

Use natural materials to create your own fairy house or gnome home in a basket.

Floral Fairy Crowns

| AGES 6–12

Learn about fairy lore and create your own magical floral crown.

16

NEW E N G L A N D B OTA NI C GARD EN AT TOW ER HI L L | S E PT EMBER/OCTOBER 2022

N EB G . O R G

17

Brighten your holiday party or year-end celebration with Night Lights!

Visit nebg.org /nightlights

INFO@NEBG.ORG

508.869.6111

NEBG.ORG

11 FRENCH DRIVE

P.O. BOX 598, BOYLSTON, MA 01505