SUMMER/FALL 2022BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN
THROUGH OCT
30 ART/GARDEN:Symbiosis Gallery and outdoor sculpture exhibitions curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody. Join us on the Fitzpatrick lawn for live music after hours featuring headliners from throughout the region. THROUGH AUG 29 Music Mondays Harvest Festival BBG’s legendary Harvest Festival returns over Columbus Day weekend with a full line-up of entertainment, regional food, craft vendors and autumn activities. 8-9OCT AUG 20–21 The Grow Show The iconic “You Grow It and We Show it” event of the season.
SUMMER/FALL 2022
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 1 CUTTINGS Robin Parow, Editor Julie Hammill, Hammill Design, Designer BOARD OF TRUSTEES Matt Larkin, Chair Madeline Hooper, Vice Chair Janet Laudenslager, Secretary John Spellman, Treasurer Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Mary KKSuzanneRobMarkRamelleWendyLindaJoannaDanielJaneTomIanNancyLaurettaMauraAdalineCopelandFrelinghuysenGriffinHarrisHickeyHooperIngersollIredaleKasperMillerO’ConnellPhilbrickPulitzerWalkerWilliamsYaleZutter Trustees Emeriti Jeannene Booher David Carls Cathy Clark Craig IngridJackGailJeanMarthaJudieJoGloriaOkerstrom-LangMcMahonDareMitchellOwensPiperRousseauShawSpranoTaylor STAFF Dana Audia Director of Special Events Mariah Baca Manager of Membership & Development Operations Amy Butterworth Office Manager Christine Caccamo Senior Gardener Virginia Caponera Educator Felix Carroll Director of CommunicationsMarketing Shaun Colon Manager of Facilities and Operations Duke Douillet Senior Gardener Rachel Durgin Camp Director Kevin Johnson Gardener Kessa McEwen Education Coordinator Sean McKenney Facilities Assistant Kristine Romano Visitor Center Manager Eric Ruquist Director of Horticulture John Ryan Gardener Bridgette Stone Director of Education Thaddeus Thompson Interim Executive Director “Seeding Community in the Garden” — a day-long event exploring the impacts of the way we garden on the world around us. NOV 13 8th Annual Rooted in Place Ecological Gardening Symposium A glistening marketplace featuring artisan gifts, holiday blooming plants, and much merriment. DEC 3–4 Holiday Marketplace Featuring designs by professional woodworkers from the Berkshires, New York and Connecticut. SEPT 3 & 4 Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Fine Woodwork Show On the cover: Sunrise in the Garden, 2011 by LC Armstrong. Photo by Bill Orcutt This page: Late summer in the Garden Photo by Robin Parow
For a few days in June, as much as I hated to leave Berkshire Botanical Garden’s blooming alliums, irises and peonies — not to mention the staff and visitors here — I had the opportunity to attend the annual conference of the American Public Garden Association in Portland, Ore. So, off I went. And I’m glad I did. I returned to the Berkshires invigorated and with a broadened sense of how the work we do here contributes to a better society.
We will see this theme echoed later this year, on Nov. 13, through our 8th Annual Rooted in Place, a symposium of speakers who will focus on “Seeding Community in the Garden” (see page 30). The theme echoes throughout our line-up of fall and winter classes, all designed to inspire adult learners and future stewards of a better world. And speaking of regeneration… I’m pleased to announce our annual Harvest Festival will return this year after a two-year hiatus. The Harvest Festival has played an important role in the history of the Garden since our earliest days and has been a hallmark of the fall season for many in the region. (I’ve even been told that the famous “Pocket Lady” will be making a return.) I hope you will join us! In meantime, with you and through you, the regenerative work continues, in Garden and the cultural and natural landscape beyond. DIRECTOR’S CORNER THADDEUS THOMPSON 413-298-3926.
“A ‘regenerative’ mindset is one that sees the world as built around reciprocal and co-evolutionary relationships, where humans, other living beings and ecosystems rely on one another for health and are shaped by their connections with one another.” – Josie Warden
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Regeneration echoes, in many respects, BBG’s own theme this year of “Symbiosis,” beginning with a recognition of the power and importance of fostering (and taking delight in) the interdependence of all living things. We see this in BBG’s commitment to create a native meadow from a fallow field to benefit native pollinators and fauna (see page 6) We see it in our commitment to our summer internship program, which brings promising students of horticulture — our future environmental leaders — to our gardens to work, learn and share with us some of academia’s latest horticultural discoveries (see page 9). We see it in our commitment to our area public schools, helping youngsters experience the rewards of attending to the earth and how the earth gives back manyfold (see page 25).
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I found a panel discussion on the topic of “regenerative thinking and design” of particular interest. As I write this now, the word “regeneration” and its meaning — “to generate or to produce anew” — has taken root. Even in the context of a conference that brings together professionals from across the field of public gardens, the word doesn’t only apply to horticulture. As you probably well know, we in the botanic garden world are inclined to peer beyond our own primrose paths to see how we may play a role in enriching the wider community and cultivating new vigor in our relationships with the earth and with one another.
Maybe that makes us idealists. Or, perhaps, pragmatists? Either way, our work is regenerative work, and that’s a rather radical thought these days. For a long time, many in the environmental field have focused on the concept of “sustainability,” which implies preserving our resources for future generations. But the concept of regenerative thinking, by comparison, recognizes the need not only to sustain, but to enhance, and that, to accomplish this, it is essential to recognize the interconnectedness of all life. Simply put, we must leave things better than how we found them – and that involves engaging and leveraging the whole spectrum of diversity that exists within our natural and social ecosystems.
By Laura Dvorkin atSymbiosistheGarden
An Overview on the Juncture of Art Nature
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 3
and
B is known for — in her drawings, collages and other twodimensional work — is evident within the details of the piece. Fascinated by the immense complexities of the cosmos, Smith further explores this through “Sungrazer,” by giving shape to the movement and brilliance of the stars.
Featured in the outdoor gardens throughout the summer and fall are works by Kiki Smith, Ned Smyth and Thaddeus Mosley, among others.One of the most prominent artists of the past century, Kiki Smith creates artworks in various media that cross the natural and spiritual worlds, gender and sexuality, and birth and regeneration. Her work has been the subject of over 25 museum exhibitions worldwide and featured in five Venice Biennales. “Sungrazer IX” represents Smith’s latest exploration of patinated bronze. Though the sculpture is rendered in a sturdy medium, the delicacy that Smith
Beth Rudin DeWoody
CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 20224
erkshire Botanical Garden continues its 2022 season with the four-part exhibition series Symbiosis, inhabiting both the outdoor gardens and Leonhardt Galleries.
Curated by celebrated art collector Beth Rudin DeWoody, Symbiosis features over 100 well-known and emerging contemporary artists who celebrate our natural world. The exhibition not only focuses on the interaction between organisms that mutually benefit each other, but speaks in a greater sense about our overall interconnectivity. DeWoody says, “Throughout my collecting, I see patterns in the works that artists are creating. I brought to BBG lots of exciting, emerging artists that have been on my radar for a while. I’m also happy to show artists within this exhibition that are more world-renowned. Curating always gives me the opportunity to support and share my vision beyond just my collection.”
At the age of 96, self-taught and acclaimed sculptor Thaddeus Mosley is still producing work in his home city of Pittsburgh. “Inverted Dancer” is cast in bronze from Mosley’s traditional process that transforms often salvaged wood into abstract forms. These abstractions are inspired by a wide-range of influences — from Constantin Brancusi and European modernism, to jazz and African Diaspora art. At times the work recalls the rawness and structure of Dogon stepladders from Mali or even the minimalism of Isamu Noguchi. Mosley’s simplistic but highly pensive process involves his use of only a mallet or chisel. Mosley has always been drawn to wood for its availability, simplicity and warmth in its tones. Though cast in bronze, “Inverted Dancer” retains the beauty in the color of the “wood” and connects to the same organic nature of the land. New York-based sculptor Ned Smyth has exhibited internationally for almost 50 years in venues including the Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art. Smyth’s inspiration comes from surrounding nature and found organic materials. His latest sculpture, “Twig 1-5,” is cast in bronze from a twig that is merely 12-inches high. This radical transformation in scale not only skews the viewer’s perception, it does so with a reverence to nature, monumentalizing an everyday piece of it. emergingmy“Throughoutcollecting,Iseepatternsintheworksthatartistsarecreating.IbroughttoBBGlotsofexciting,artiststhathavebeenonmyradarforawhile.”
Saraceno has been collaborating with spiders for many years. In “Particular Matter(s),” Saraceno’s recent exhibition at The Shed in New York, he staged an immersive sensory experience, as well as numerous intricate spider webs as sculpture. His work in Symbiosis is a web “collage.” Presenting spider silk as if it were a delicate line drawing, the silk is dipped in ink, rendering this network of mark-making visible on the paper.
The second exhibition of Symbiosis in the Leonhardt Galleries runs from July 29 through Sept. 11, and features works by Christopher Adams, Charles Arnoldi, L.C. Armstrong, Madeleine Bialke, David Brooks, Leidy Churchman, Peter Dayton, Margot Glass, Mimi Gross, Paula Hayes, Robert Hawkins, Marc Horowitz, Kathy Klein, Seffa Klein, Nancy Monk, Charles Ray, Tomás Saraceno, Max Hooper Schneider, Katherine Sherwood, Simone Shubuck, Coleen Sterritt, and Tabboo!
Laura Dvorkin is the co-curator of the The Bunker Artspace: Collection of Beth Rudin DeWoody in West Palm Beach. She has worked with the Collection for over 12 years, managing large presentations of the Collection at institutions and the exhibitions that DeWoody curates, in addition to being part of a larger team overseeing the Collection. Dvorkin is also the co-curator of 53 West 53, the Residential MoMA Expansion Tower designed by Jean Nouvel, and 1228 Madison Avenue, designed by Robert A.M. Stern.
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 5
The Leonhardt Galleries will have transformed three times by the end of the season, with Symbiosis 1, Symbiosis 2 and Symbiosis 3. Each exhibition provides its own unique take with subject matter that ranges from Ikebana and spiders to Dodo birds and Argentinepotatoes.artistTomás
As an artist, educator, writer and performer, Paraguayan-American Faith Wilding is best known for her contributions to the 1970s Feminist Art Movement, alongside contemporaries Judy Chicago and Miriam Shapiro. She is heavily influenced by the work of polymath Saint Hildegard von Bingen and a fierce ecofeminist, a branch of feminism that examines the connections between women and nature. In “Woven Leaves,” lush botanicals, abstraction and geometry intersect to form a beautifully balanced composition, focused around a central energetic life force. Internationally renowned sculptor Charles Ray has been making flower drawings for decades. This integral part of Ray’s artistic practice functions in a complementary way to his sculpture. While his sculpture is more conceptual in theme and monochromatic in color, these drawings and prints are a form of “art symbiosis” as it functions for him to engage with color, relaxation and instantaneous play. One part of the practice symbiotically benefits the other.
Anna Zemánková, Untitled, c.1970 Courtesy Cavin-Morris Gallery and the family of the artist
Opposite left: Kiki Smith, Sungrazer IX Oppostie right: Thaddeus Mosley, Inverted Dancer Photos by Felix Carroll
The third Leonhardt Gallery exhibition of Symbiosis runs from Sept. 16 through Oct. 30, and features works by John McAllister, Lou Beach, Mitchell Charbonneau, Helen Chung, Elliot Green, Adler Guerrier, Sophia Heymans, Marsia Holzer, Max Jansons, Poppy Jones, Iran Issa-Khan, Lacey Leonard, Matt Murphy, Peter Nadin, Rose Nestler, Jonathan Peck, Alexandra Penney, Rob Raphael, Megumi Shinozaki, Celina Teague, Wade Tullier, Elizabeth Thompson, Henry Vincent, Gabrielle Vitollo, Shanna Waddell, Faith Wilding, and Anna Zemánková.
Since BBG’s revised meadow maintenance plan eliminates the use of herbicides, Ruquist had already begun to assemble a contingency plan involving volunteer weed warriors pressed to the hard labor of hand-weeding throughout the summer. Weaner, instead, advised monthly mowing through September at a height of 4 to 6 inches. (Some weeding by hand will have to happen, but nothing close to what Ruquist feared, had the seeding not been so successful.)
That’s excellent news for Berkshire Botanical Garden’s efforts to create a meadow — a future home of healthy micro-habitats — upon a thumb-shaped appendage of land we acquired behind the Center House in 2019. The property includes an open meadow, a ridge and a wetland plateau. In the future, plans call for walking paths and public access to what BBG hopes (fingers still crossed) will become an ecologically and aesthetically complex and diverse showpiece and destination. Weaner and his co-worker Marli Milano, a field operations coordinator, helped seed the bare field late last fall. Their check-up this June was one of several planned as they seek to ensure in the next two years the rooting and continued residency of a healthy array of native-dominated plant species.
In addition, Weaner recommended establishing a narrow pathway along the edge where the meadow meets a poplar ridge. This will prevent poplar and goldenrod from pushing their colonies into the meadow.
The news is (mostly) excellent By Felix Carroll Treading lightly out upon a verdant field of tender shoots, they had their fingers crossed. Would these 2.5 acres consist of a ghastly assemblage of garlic mustard, bittersweet, knotweed and whatnot? Or would its green groundcover consist of flora indicative of a nascent native meadow? The verdict was swift.
“Seedling, seedling, seedling, seedling, seedling, seedling,” said Larry Weaner, of the Pennsylvania-based Larry Weaner Landscape Associates, as he strolled and pointed earthward. “It’s as good as it gets.”
CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 20226
A fear, especially of BBG’s Director of Horticulture Eric Ruquist, was that invasive weeds would get a running start on the meadow this spring and early summer, potentially smothering out the stated goal.
OUR MEADOW IN THE MAKING
“This is really great news,” Ruquist said.
Weaner and Milano confirmed the emergence of some invasives. Of most concern are the finely toothed bedstraw (Galium) and a climbing, morningglory-wannabe called bindweed (Convulvulus), both perennial plants that can quickly take over and be difficult to eradicate once well established.
Upon the ridge, the desirable species observed include poplar and gray dogwood. Weaner, whose design and restoration work spans more than 20 states and the United Kingdom, recommends the poplar thicket be managed as an educational opportunity. He also suggested that Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) be cut back from around each poplar and dogwood sapling to allow in more light. The weed species observed there include bindweed and grapevine. On the wet plateau, the desirable species observed include Carolina rose (Rosa carolina), sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis), species of rush (Juncus), dewberry and strawberry. The weed species observed include bindweed, buckthorn andAmonggrapevine.theseeded species observed in the meadow itself include horsemint (Monarda punctata), partridge As Eric Ruquist (left) and Duke Douillet (right) listen in, Marli Milano and Larry Weaner give their preliminary impressions on the success of Berkshire Botanical Garden’s emerging meadow.
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“With an early start to their removal,” said Milano, “these plant populations can be kept at a minimum with manual management.” Ruquist mostly had been concerned about that noxious loiterer, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolate), seen in several locations.
“I wouldn’t bother,” Weaner advised. “This meadow is vigorous enough that it will just swamp it out.”
“They look like mini mimosa trees,” Milano said.
“And that’s definitely sedge,” said Ruquist. “Very good,” said Weaner. “The sedge is running all through. That’s what you want, something that kind of ties everything together.”
Zizia aurea = golden Alexander Solidago juncea = early goldenrod Coreopsis lanceolata = lance-leaved tickseed
pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), smooth aster (Aster laevis), golden Alexander (Zizia aurea), white beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium), pasture thistle (Cirsium discolor), butter weed (Asclepias tuberosa), anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata), and sedge species (Carex sp).
“Yep, bee balm,” he said. “Seedling, seedling, seedling, seedling, seedling, seedling.”
CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 20228
Penstemon digitalis = white beardtongue Rudbeckia hirta = black-eyed Susan Cirsium discolor = pasture thistle Carex sp = sedge species Aster laevis = smooth aster Parthenium integrifolium = wild quinine
Here’s a look at successful thisofgerminationseedlinginoneareathemeadowearlierseason.
An Intensive One-Day Workshop at BBG with Larry Weaner. See page 15 for more details.
“This is the partridge pea,” said Weaner.
Asclepias tuberosa = butterfly weed Agastache foeniculum = anise hyssop
Milano said she expects seeded plants such as bush clover (Lespedeza) and sea holly (Eryngium) to show up later in meadow establishment, perhaps next year. In addition to bedstraw, bindweed and garlic mustard, the weed species observed in the open meadow portion of the property include lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) and wild carrot (Daucus carota). Walking through the meadow in June, the good news came as a chorus that was only natural.
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Chamaecrista fasciculata = partridge pea
Planting and Stewarding Native Meadows
“Black-eyed Susan,” said Duke Douillet, BBG’s senior gardener.“Righthere, is this bee balm?” Weaner speculated. “I’ll tell you in a sec.” He snapped off a leaf, rubbed it and smelled.
Carl, of West Stockbridge. David, a former chairman of BBG’s Board of Trustees, considers the program “critical.”
“We need to ensure that, in the future, our public gardens and botanic gardens are managed by people with knowledge and experience,” he said. “That’s why we support this.”
The 2022 internship program included students Naomi Fuson from UC Berkeley, Samantha Fuss from Connecticut College, and Noah Schultz from Iowa State University. The three split their time between BBG and the Trustees of the Reservation’s Stockbridge property Naumkeag, a public garden and historical house located in Stockbridge.
“It’s a win-win,” said Interim Executive Director Thaddeus Thompson. “These young, aspiring, idealistic students of horticulture get real-world experience in the crucible of a botanic garden. They learn from our experienced staff. And, in turn, we help prepare them to be the next leaders in the field of horticulture and the next stewards of botanic gardens.”
With care and zeal, three inquisitive college students weeded, planted, mulched, and absorbed the beauty — all during a heat-pressed Berkshires summer. The students were thankful for the opportunity. The Garden staff was just as thankful for their presence.
BBG’s yearly summertime internship program has become a critical component to the Garden’s mission.
This year, BBG’s internship program has received additional financial support from Kathryn Cafiero and Trustees Ian and Madeline Hooper.
Internship Program Proves a “Win-Win”
None of this would be possible without the longtime support of David and Maria “These
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BBG’s Director of Horticulture Eric Ruquist (right) enjoyed the summer working with interns (from left) Naomi Fuson, Samantha Fuss and Noah Schultz. “It’s been great having them,” he said. “They bring new ideas from the world of academic horticulture, and they contribute in very meaningful ways to the Garden.”
—Thaddeus Thompson
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Patricia McCormack and Lisa Goudey
Alice and George Frelinghuysen
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Steven Gambrel and James Anderson
Linda and David Cass Lauren and Katherine Chapdelaine
Timothy and Patty Burch
Contributors
Dorothea L. Leonhardt Foundation
Linda Greenhouse and Eugene Fidell Maura Griffin and Joseph Carry
Jacqueline Del Rossi Page Dickey and Bosco Schell Susan and JW Dunlaevy
Wendy Philbrick and Edward Baptiste
Marcia and Jonathan Feuer Meghan Ford and Carter Taylor
Elizabeth Ford Sayman $10,000–$24,999
Gregory Greene
Maria and John Bartlett
William Loutrel and Thomas Fynan Teresa Manns Judy and Dennis Mareb Barbara and Christopher May
TheSusanCarolPatrickPamelaOCFOsbornFoundationPescosolidoRiordanandPaulCollinsWolfMarciaBradyTucker
Candace and Frederick Beinecke
Ricky Bernstein and Elisabeth Cary Paul Bernstein and Jane Magee
Hilary NathanRobertHarleyHarrisandMarilyn Hayward Callie Herzog and Frank Walton
Greg GregoryWardand Lillian Whitehead
Lydia MaureenIrwinand
Maria and David Carls Communities Foundation of Texas
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Betsey McKearnan
The Non Nobis Solum Foundation
Jane DeborahMullenand Brian Munson Elizabeth and James Murray
Anthony Chojnowski and Joe Goodwin
Nic
Catherine and David Bohrman
Rimvydas Baranauskas and Ruta Baranuaskas
Susan Abramowitz and Aaron Gurwitz Lauri Aibel and Tim Sleeper
Robert Bujalski and Loretta Scheel
Anastasia Smith Appy and John Stookey Barbara Kahn Moller
Joanne Leonardt Cassulo Madeline and Ian Hooper
Patricia and John Chory
Kate and Hans Morris Jane Iredale and Robert Montgomery Elizabeth CommunityRobertsPreservation Committee
Charlotte Fairweather and Steven Bellofatto
Jeannene Booher Jo Dare and Bob Mitchell Katie and James Stewart Lauretta Harris and Louis Cohen
Richard Kalb and Karl Laird
Sarah Horowitz and David Verarde Richard and Marianne Jaffe Pamela and BJ Johnson Kristina and Gary Kahn
Peter Hineman
Lucy and Nathaniel Day Scott Lambert $25,000–$49,999
Lenox Garden Club
Brian Mikesell and John Weinstein Susan Morris Ann and Donald Morrison
Mary Copeland and Jose Gonzalez, Jr. MA Cultural Council Linda O’Connell Lainie Grant and Matt Larkin Kathleen and John Zutter Kathi Cafiero
Jane PaulineAngeliniandAnthony Archer-Wills
Rodney Day Michael and Marilyn Dee Paul and Christina del Balso
Holly Kempner and Warren White
The following constituents made contributions of $150 or more during BBG’s 2021 fiscal year from Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2021. Contributions include membership dues, unrestricted contributions to the Annual Fund, donations to designated funds, as well as grants and sponsorships.
Carolina Schulze Carol and Robert Williams Caitlin and Mitchell Nash Benjamin Liptzin Anna and Starbuck Smith Adaline Frelinghuysen and Titus Ogilvie-Laing
Margaret Abbott and Theresa Johnson
$50,000 +
Donna Raftery and Vincent Inconiglios
Nancy RamelleHickeyandMichael
Marion G.H. Gilliam Mary Michelle Gilligan and Lester Ettlinger
Christopher Greendale
Mary RobertGilliganandPam Goergen
Francis Kendrick Diane Kern
Frank Muytjens and Scott Edward Cole
Benno Friedman and Stephanie Blumenthal
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Cindy McCollum and John Spellman
Bronly and Sarah Boyd Stephanie and Carl Bradford Anne Brewster
Hugh Freund and Sandra Wijnberg
$250–$999
Foundation Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association
Carolyn and David Gambrel
Carol Edelman Fred and Nancy Fagelman
Donna and James Hurley
JanetKleinLaudenslager and Maxime Aflalo
Tom Ingersoll and Melissa LeVangie
Richard and Laura Allen Judith Ambery
Tania and Mark Walker Anonymous $2,500–$9,999
Jack Sprano Michele Dodge Nancy Lukitsh
Elise and Carl Hartman Ellen and Scott Hand Estanne Fawer Gay GeorgeanneTucker and Jean Rousseau
Harriet Wetstone Ingrid and Richard Taylor Mary and James Cooper
$1,000–$2,499
Patti
Judy Kaminstein
Jytte and John Brooks
The Frelinghuysen Foundation Suzanne Yale Sherry and Daniel Kasper
Pulitzer Michael Beck and Beau Buffier
Gordon Dinsmore, Jr. and Susan Dumont
Dennis & Wendy carlton
Nick Stagliano
Jennifer and Rob Goldwasser
Elizabeth Olenbush and Roger Levine
Burton CatherineHadlockandEric Haines Pamela and Asa Hardcastle
Robin Tost Ann Trudnak and John Ackerson
Eleanor Rochman
Richard Matturro and Mary Trev Thomas
Mary Ann Aiello
BarbaraPatriciaRichardBurtSuzyElizabethMaryRoxanaIlanaJaneArthurCarlaSaraDavidJudithSylwiaKathleenJohnsonKereseyandBrianKetchenKittredgeandCorneliaKlimczakKoffmanKrasnickKreigerandRebeccaBensonKreschKrishnamurtiLaughlinandWillLelandLeonardLeonLeveringandJeanneLiebandMarkLustedMandell
Elizabeth Bean and Lynn Bertelli
Frank Peterson and Roger D. Mitchell
Paula Angerstein and Paul Grosso
Peter Bevacqua and Stephen King
The Academy Garden Club of Lenox
Susan and Marc Goldman
Patricia Callahan and David Dee
Marie WilliamRafteryandJanine
I. Michael Goodman and Judith Uman
Carolyn Butler
Irene Samuels and David Gonsalves
Earle and Jeanne Shumway
Ann and Austin Starkey
Theresa Terry Michney and Gerard Michney
Susan Dempsey
Helen and John Davies
Laura Persily
Linda Conway Gary and Deborah Crakes
Steve Gabel and Deborah Garry Meg Gage and Stephen King Miriam and Christopher Galligan
Diane and John Parks
Lucia and Thaddeus Thompson
Andrew Urbanowicz
$150–$249
Beth and Bruce Gamble
Joyce Vandemark and Alan Zablonski
Matthew Vella and Carey Dalton Ellen and Wade Walbrun Ranne Warner
Ellen Richman
Roberta Silman
Schussler
Carol and Joseph Green Randy and Allison Grimmett
Charles Pardoe and Mariet Westermann
Honey Sharp and David Lippman
Rose ThomasRichardTannenbaumTataraTaylorand Karen Erickson
Minton
Susan Mitrano
Alison and Jeffrey Atlas
Lori
Donald and Marie Gelston Ellen Gendler and James Salik Steven and Barbara Glicksman
Dale HarveyScalise-SmithandJustine
Marc and Phyllis Newman
Denis Farina Eric and Wendy Federer
Amy JaneDonnaBruceHarrenHartHasslerandWilliam
Mary and Thomas Caraccioli
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John and Leslie Garwood
Sandra Northrup and Dean Walton
Lesa LauraBennettBenson
Carol Parrish and Paul Clark
Caroline Devereux and Robin Deveraux
Alfred Bingham and Paula Kelley Barbara and Robert Blank
John and Charnell Moore
Raymond Pieczarka and Mandy Victor-Pieczarka
David and Natalie Hosford
Thomas Doane Perry and Karen Carmean
Kim Saul and Jim Schantz
Robert and Nancy Bott
Margaret Sutherland and Ann Ghublikian
Anita and Nicholas Diller Constance Eagan Stewart and Lynn Edelstein
Deborah Fenster and Edward Seliga Diane and Alan Fergurson
Randy Tryon and Daniel DeBerardinis
Christine and Mark Baldridge
David JacquelineCarpenterandWilliam Connell
Emily Vasiliauskas and Ryan Riley
Anjani and Barbara Nelson
Ashley and Deborah Smith Carol and Irving Smokler Stephen snyder
Sharon Hughes Janet and John Hutchison
Ditte Nielsen and Mark Greenberg
Christine and Keith Brisebois
Samuel Budish
Bonnie Flynn Fort Orange Garden Club
Aimee Van Dyne and Steven Tillem Reinout VanWagtendonk and Kristine Huffman
Jeanne and Stanley Goldwasser
Diane McAveeney and Candace Palangi Donna and Peter Meixner
Richard and Mimi Alford
David and Cindy Berger
Susan Diamond and Henry Michaelis
Frosty MeganGladysMontgomeryMontgomeryMooreandJoby
Baker
Maureen Barton
Pamela Goguen and Peter Conzett
MarianneMaryRon,EdJonathanJosephLisaMargotLenoreGinnieMarkAmyBarbaraLaurenMarkRosemarieJanePeterSallyAlfredErikMitchellAdeleRobbinsRodbellSchlanskySebestaSelnickSetandLynnShafferandTerrenceSheaSiegelSmithandJohnO’KeefeSmithSnyderandLeonardSigalandDavidSorkinStrieterandAnthonyMachadoStylesandPaulSundbergandKipTowlTownsonSeamanTralongoandGeorgeFordIIIandShariTurellWarrenVeronicaandLarissaYapleYoungandHowardZimberg
Chris Ferrero Peter and Elizabeth Finn
Leslie and Stephen Jerome Nancy
Eric DeborahEnidMeltzerMichelmanandStuart
Debbie Gangemi
Dorothea Greene and Linda Morse
Linda and Robert Noonan
Bonnie Podolsky and Douglas Rich
Marotta and Joe Marotta
Susan and Robert Buchanan
Barbara and Michael Polemis
Adam and Beth Man
Reid
Shirley Ripullone and Kenneth Stahl
Julia and James Russell
Jane Smith and Jules Anderson
Havemeyer
Katherine Pichard
CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 202212 Robert and Brigitte Weible Vicki Weiner Neil and Carol Wells Michael Wolkowitz Lynn Wood and Pam Hayden 2021 Plant Sale Donors Amherst Zema’sWindyWildflower’sWhalenWard’sWanczykWahconahTwinTheTheTaftSlyvanSunnySummerSpringSixteenSalisburyRandall’sR&CPride’sPioneerPaley’sOldO’BrienNasamiMt.MonroviaMeadowMcEnroeMarkristoLitchfieldLandcraftKentIngersollHudsonHolidayHadleyGardenFaddegon’sCricketCountrysideClark’sChathamCampoCallander’sBrokenBecker’sBayAndrew’sNurseriesGreenhouseStatePerennialFarmFarmArrowNursery,LCCNursery&LandscapingDe’FioriBerryFarmGardenCenterLandscapeHillGardenNursery,Inc.Magic,Inc.GardenCenterBrookFarmValleyOrganicsLandCareGreenhousesEnvironmentsHillsNurseryFarmOrganicFarmViewFarmsNurseryWilliamsGreenshousesCreekNurseriesNurserymenFarmNurseryFarmMarketGardensCornerFarmsFloralFarmandGreenhouseGardenCenterAcresGardenCenterMeadowNurseryHillNurseryBorderNurseriesNurseryFarmsPlantGroupRobertBakerCompanyBrooksStreetGreenhousesEvergreenNurseryNurseryNurseryFloristHillFarmNursery HOLIDAY MARKET PLACE Memorial Contributions Dorthe Hviid Tree Fund Harriet MichaelWetstoneBeck In Memory of Gloria Egelhoffer Jay Polonsky In Memory of John Adams Elizabeth Leonard Thomas Platten William Meier Ian Hooper F. Michael Tucker Sara JamesElinorGaryJanisRonaldAlCraigJohnDavidMargaretMcWilliamsCashenJCooperKowalskiDillionBellenchiaTannerSmytheGrillBlakeRoach In Memory of Lucy Day Elizabeth Wills In Memory of Jeri Lynn Oestreicher Estanne Fawer In Memory or Nancy Nirenberg Allison Forsman In Memory of Shron Liptzin Benjamin Liptzin Save the date for BBG’s December 3–4 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cuttings For advertising opportunities, please call 413-298-3926.
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2022 alwaysOurEducationfallandearlywinterclassesbringamixofemotions. In early September, we focus on the harvest, fall plantings and the rich tapestry of a garden still baked in late summer light. We welcome a new cohort of Horticulture Certificate Students who look ahead to nine months of intensive learning. As the season begins to shift, we slow down and work to preserve the seeds and bounty of the summer. Finally, as winter approaches, we turn our attention inward, preparing for the long winter rest and gatherings with loved ones. No matter when you join us in the season, we know you’ll find classes and experiences you’ll love. For more information on classes and events happening at the Garden, visit Weberkshirebotanical.org.areaCOVID-compliant facility. EDUCATION BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 13 withEco-PrintingNadeStudios Design and eco-print a silk scarf with textile artist Maggie Pate using a mix of seasonal flowers and foliage. Learn more on page 23 16OCT
Classes, Lectures, and Workshops
SHOP Beginning Botanical
IN-PERSON AT
a.m. to
botanical forms and create compelling pieces of
participants
ONLINE Our online classes are offered over Zoom. Students receive class log-in information and materials lists, when applicable, once they’ve registered.
Kitchen classes are sponsored by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace with stores located in Great Barrington and Pittsfield.
Herbaceous Plants H IN-PERSON AT BBG Tuesdays, Sept. 6 though 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
14 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022 EDUCATION
IS GROWING!LOCATEDALONG RTE 7 PITTSFIELD & GB @GUIDOSFRESHMARKETPLACE
GUIDO’S
Members: $185/Non-Members: $215
SEAFOOD THE
Saturday, Sept.
p.m. Members: $35/Non-Members: $45 Cyanotypes are
SEPTEMBER
TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
This intensive, four-session class led by Lee Buttala explores the world of herbaceous plants, from their identification, selection and use in the garden, through their basic botany, life cycle and propagation. Participants are asked to create a final project highlighting a genus or plant family related to the curriculum. A part of the Level 1 horticulture core curriculum, this class is essential for the committed gardener and includes lectures, hands-on activities, field study, and group discussion. The class aspires to give participants a deeper understanding of annuals, perennials and ornamental vegetables and their role in the garden. Students should dress for outdoor field study. All students participating in this class as part of the Horticulture Certificate Program are required to complete a final project.
OFFSITE These classes are held at locations described in class listings.
and
about the history of the
HYBRID These classes are held both online and in person. They feature the lecture portion of class online and a hands-on component in-person and outdoors.
BELLA MAZZEO’SFLORAMEAT
MORE local produce, MORE delicious meals, MORE imported treats, & MORE of everything you love about Guido’s. GB Shop our locally owned Family of Businesses: & CHEF’S Cyanotype BBG 10, 10 1 a compelling simple way to capture art. Learn cyanotype process and the work of botanist Anna Atkins, who created the first photographic book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions in 1853. Led by Madge Evers, students will observe the mixing of the light-sensitive emulsion used to create cyanotype and its application to paper. Students will create their own cyanotype prints to bring home. Pressed plants will be provided, but may also bring their own.
IN-PERSON The location of onsite classes is subject to change in accordance with state and federal regulations. Students will be notified as soon as possible if classes require a change in location.
H HORTICULTURE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM This symbol denotes Horticulture Certificate Program classes, workshops, and lectures open both to students seeking credit towards one of BBG’s five acclaimed horticulture certificates as well as the general public. Please visit berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-357-4657 for additional information.
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 15TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG EDUCATION
Planting and Stewarding Native Meadows: An Intensive One-Day Workshop with Larry Weaner
Through an exploration of the Berkshire Botanical Garden landscape, this session will examine how the principles presented in the introductory presentation play out in various types of meadows.
Session 2 | Field Visit: Observation & Exploration
Session 1 | Ecological Principles in Meadow Design
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Meadow-like plantings need not be exclusively consigned to large open spaces like pastures, abandoned fields and mowed turf areas. In this session, Larry will illustrate how the meadow establishment techniques described in the earlier sessions can be altered to create refined meadow gardens on the small scale. Alterations to plant selection and arrangement, planting procedures and management techniques will be covered.
Demand for native meadows, particularly as an alternative to lawn, is dramatically increasing. That said, few planting types are more misunderstood. Many failures result from inadequate planning and management, as well as from the use of plants that are poorly adapted to the site and unable to survive in a highly competitive meadow environment. Far better results can be obtained when the plants and processes used reflect the ecological character of our native meadow communities. More than one-year wonders, meadows modeled on these ecosystems can provide long-term, easily managed landscapes that harbor a myriad of wildlife and provide color and texture throughout the year. The program will begin with landscape designer Larry Weaner discussing the design, implementation and management of native meadows on a variety of scales and in residential and public settings. The remainder of the day will include viewing on-property meadows, including a meadow-in-progress and an area with high potential for a future meadow planting.
Members: $165/Non-Members: $185
While meadows are in high demand, effective protocols for designing and implementing them are in short supply. This session will delve into the nitty-gritty of meadow design: site analysis, species selection, seed mix formulation, live plant inclusion, planting and management. The inclusion of shrub thickets and drifts also will be covered, including the arrangement of clonal versus clump forming species and the use of shrublands as ecological and visual “connective tissue” between meadow and woods.
Session 3 | Meadows on the Garden Scale
For many gardeners, nothing is more fulfilling than planting bulbs in the fall for spring bloom.
A ‘Tour de France’ of Wine + Food, in the Heart of the Berkshires!
Fall Trees in Watercolor Workshop
Biochar 101 Thursday,OFF-SITE Sept. 22, 2 to 4 p.m.
16 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022 TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
The Art of Planting Bulbs
Members: $15/Non-Members: $18
Medicinal Mushrooms IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Sept. 17, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Members: $20/Non-Members: $23 Are you curious about the power of medicinal mushrooms? Join along with Willie Crosby, of Fungi Ally. In the classroom, the woods and the kitchen, this exploration of medicinal mushrooms will serve as an introduction into some of the common mushrooms found in the Northeast woods and cultivated at home. We will learn how to prepare them to access their medicinal potency. We will get to know reishi, cordyceps, lion’s mane, maitake, and other fungal allies.
The wines of France have had a profound influence on new and developing wine countries. So, even if you haven’t tasted a French wine, you’ve had one inspired by France. For example, the varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay originated in France, and the French versions have a distinct character unlike any other. Tasting French wine offers a valuable perspective on the evolution of modern wine. We will taste and talk about five wines from various regions of France, each paired with regional delicacies crafted by Chef Benjamin Daire. This class is led by the husbandwife team Benjamin and Mary Daire, owners and operators of Dare Bottleshop & Provisions, in Lenox, Mass.
This workshop is proudly presented in partnership with Berkshire Grown. Biochar is made by heating biomass in the absence of oxygen. This process produces a highly porous and durable form of carbon that provides habitat for beneficial soil microbes that support vigorous and healthy plants. This process has been used to improve soils around the globe for thousands of years. If you ever have wanted to learn more about biochar and its use for both domestic and professional growing, this is your chance. Join the team at Arthur’s Point Farm to learn about its history, various benefits and applications. Participants will also be able to witness first hand on the farm the production of biochar. This is an in-person, off-site program.
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to noon
In this class, garden writer and horticulturist Lee Buttala plumbs the depths of the geophyte kingdom, highlighting major and minor bulbs, from snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils to species tulips, hyacinths and fritillaria, that bring the spring garden into full focus. This class explores not only the classic techniques for using bulbs in the garden, but it also shows new approaches that pair bulbs with perennials and other plantings that complement them or that take the main stage as the bulb show comes to an end. This class will explore planting methods, post-bloom care for bulbs and how to select varieties best suited to naturalizing.
IN-PERSON AT BBG Friday, Sept. 23, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Sept. 17, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members: $25/Non-member: $35 At the end of the summer, what do you do with all those special patio plants that you have fussed over for the summer months?
Overwintering Your Plants
Join us for six sessions with beloved watercolor artist Pat Hogan Capture the changing colors of the season in watercolor. This workshop combines both studio and plein air painting. Rainy forecast? No worries. In this inside/outside workshop, we will have the challenge and fun of plein air paired with the comfort of the studio. This time we are exploring BBG’s fabulous collection of trees! Come with curiosity, camera, sketchpad, and watercolor kit. Materials list is available on our website.
Members: $27/Non-Members: $30
Members: $80/Non-Members: $85
EDUCATIONEDUCATION
IN-PERSON AT BBG Wednesdays, Sept. 21 through Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members: $245 /Non-Members: $265
This class, led by Jenna O’Brien of Viridissima Horticulture & Design, will give gardeners tricks of the trade to protect their tender perennials, house plants, woody potted specimens, and succulent collections and encourage them to thrive during the winter season. Taught by Jenna O’Brien, the class will include cultivation, fertilizing, watering, and healthcare. Learn by doing, and take home some plant companions.
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Members: $50/Non-members $60 Join the chef/educator team Steve and Julie Browning for this fun and collaborative cooking lesson. At the start of the class, we will open up a basket full of secret seasonal ingredients. Using the mystery ingredients, we will discuss the dishes they could potentially be and how they could all come together. As a class, we will discuss and plan a dinner recipe out of the ingredients and then cook and eat the meal. Drawing on years of building menus from a chef’s perspective, we will reveal how to use farmers market ingredients in different ways.
Members: $55/Non-Members: $65 This class, led by Ted Elliman, will focus on the identification features, ecological impacts and population trends of many of the invasive trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants that grow in forests, fields and wetlands in Berkshire County. The class will include a morning presentation and an afternoon in the field investigating invasives in a variety of habitats. We will look at both widespread and less common species of invasives.
Seasonal Cooking Surprise IN-PERSON AT BBG
Identifying Invasive Plants in the Landscape
WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
GRANT LARKIN 414-698-2599 GRANTLARKIN.COM INTERIORS LIGHTING FURNITURE
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 17 EDUCATION TO REGISTER, VISIT
Members: $20/Non-Members: $25 Add beauty to your garden in the sweet, golden days of autumn with flowers, shrubs, trees, and vines that shine during this season. Discover plants with colorful blooms, rich foliage and dramatic seed heads, and learn strategies that will guide you in designing a vibrant fall garden. This class is led by Jana Milbocker, the principal of Enchanted Gardens.
FallScaping IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Sept. 24, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
C u s t o m H o m e s – A r t i s a n a l D e t a i l s
Saturday,OFF-SITE Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
OCTOBER Plants that Pay their Way IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. to noon Members: $20/Non-Members: $25 Resources and time in the garden are limited, so choosing plants that offer more than one attractive feature is a smart strategy. Robert Clyde Anderson will discuss the best plants for late and multi-season interest and their application in the landscape. Perennials and shrubs don’t have to be done doing their job once their blooms have gone. We will explore perennials that have stunning seed heads, grasses that always offer interest and shrubs that provide berries after their blooms. Fall Pruning IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Members: $15/Non-Members: $20 Autumn is a great time to assess your woody plants for shape, structure and health. This demonstration/workshop led by Ken Gooch will focus on pruning, including when, why and how to shape, renovate, train, or rejuvenate your woody plants. Learn about pruning tools, timing and specific techniques available to the home gardener. Pruning techniques for both evergreen and deciduous hedges will be covered. Dress to be outside, and bring pruners.
CREATING BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES 413 448 2215 churchillgardens.com 1998est design • installation • maintenance
EDUCATION The Garden in Pastel IN-PERSON AT BBG Thursday, Sept. 29 through Friday, Sept. 30, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. $200/Non-Members: $250 Learn how to capture the splendor of the Garden with the deep pigments that only can be found with pastels. Led by artist/ Cheryl Moore, this class is appropriate for beginners to intermediate students. A materials list will be provided upon registration. Students will work en plein air, learning the fundamentals of this medium before using it to render the late summer garden in all its glory.
18 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022 TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
educuator
Members:
Tuesdays, Oct. 4 through Oct. 25, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Paint • draw • sculpt • craft • sew • create MAKE MART! AKE ART! @ b e r k s h i r e a r t c e n t e r We've Announced a new Wname! e've Announced a new name! b e r k s h i r e a r t c e n t e r o r g | 4 1 3 2 9 8 5 2 5 2 1 3 W i a r d H l l R o a d S t o c k b r d g e M A 0 1 2 6 2 *Formerly IS183 Art School
Understanding Woody Plants H IN-PERSON AT BBG
Seed Saving IN-PERSON AT BBG Sunday, Oct. 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Members: $20/Non-Members: $25 Join BBG for a tour of Mountaintop Arboretum in Tannersville, N.Y. We will receive a private tour at the height of fall color. Not only will the trees be putting on a show, but fall asters will also be in their full glory. Transportation from Berkshire Botanical Garden is provided. Mountain Top Arboretum is a public garden in the Catskills dedicated to displaying and managing native plant communities of the Northeast, in addition to curating its collection of cold-hardy native and exotic trees. Its mountaintop elevation of 2,400 feet, overlooking the New York City watershed, creates a unique environment for education, research and pure enjoyment. The Arboretum trails and boardwalks connect 178 acres of plant collections, meadows, wetlands, forest, and Devonian bedrock.
Eco-Printing with Nade Studios
IN-PERSON AT BBG Sunday, Oct. 16, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Members: $125/Non-member $150 Join textile artist Maggie Pate for an introduction to eco-printing. Capture a moment in time with this seasonal workshop using a mix of summer flowers and fall foliage. Students will leave with a luscious 100 percent silk charmeuse scarf that they will design and eco-print during the class.
WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
Members: $185/Non-Members: $210 Taught by Jenna O’Brien, this four-session course will focus on the bones of the garden with a survey of ornamental woody plants for residential landscape design. It will cover ornamental shrubs, small flowering trees, shade trees, and broadleaf and needle evergreens. Students will become familiar with the many gardenworthy woody plants that thrive in Zone 5. The course covers plant identification, selection, siting, cultivation, and possible design uses. Students should dress for outdoor field study. All students participating in this class as part of the Horticulture Certificate Program are required to complete a final project.
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 19 EDUCATION TO REGISTER, VISIT
Field Study: Mountaintop Arboretum ThursdayOFFSITE Oct. 13, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Members: $15/Non-Members: $18 Have you ever wanted to collect seed from the garden to create more plants? This workshop, led by garden writers and horticulturists Lee Buttala and Shanyn Siegel, teaches gardeners everything they need to know in order to harvest and collect seed that they can then sow in the seasons ahead. This half-day workshop begins inside with a presentation on the rudiments of how plants create seed. (Plants set seed all on their own; the gardener only needs to facilitate this process and learn to identify the right moment to collect seed.) The workshop will include a review of basic collecting and cleaning practices for dry- and wet-fruited plants. After the presentation, attendees will head out into the garden to identify and collect ripe seed. The class then heads back inside where attendees will “get seedy” and learn to thresh and winnow dry-fruited species and how to clean and prepare wet-fruited seeds for future use. Participants will walk away from the class not only with seeds in hand, but with a knowledge of how to isolate, identify and collect seed of some of their favorite species and varieties of plants.
TO REGISTER, VISIT
Members: $12/Non-Members: $15 Join us for an hour outdoors in the glorious colors and landscape of fall in the Berkshires. Through a process of sitting, resting, walking, sensing, sharing, and reflecting, you are invited to witness beauty and connect with the natural world at this moment of the foliage’s fiery display. This event culminates with a guided contemplation of the “inner harvest.” All adults (18-plus) are welcome, and no experience with mindfulness or meditation is required to attend. Please wear comfortable clothing, outdoor walking shoes and layers for warmth. Please bring a blanket, mat or camping chair for moments of stillness and quiet practice. Led by Sandrine Harris, a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and Somatic Movement Therapist.
WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
Learn to safely use a chainsaw! Taught by arborist Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll, this workshop is designed for the novice-to-beginner chainsaw operator who wishes to gain greater confidence with this powerful tool. The class will combine lecture and hands-on learning, covering topics such as personal protective equipment, the anatomy of a chainsaw, reactive forces, basic chainsaw maintenance, and additional tools for use with a chainsaw. Techniques will include holding and starting a saw, hazard identification, escape options, log analysis (binds), planning cuts, overall planning, bucking, and limbing. Attendees will cut logs on the ground and/or elevated on sawhorses and will leave with a better understanding of the safety features of a chainsaw and be able to operate a chainsaw based on safety fundamentals. No experience necessary. Note: Equipment will be provided; if you have your own chainsaw or personal protective equipment, please bring it with you. Dress and prepare for the weather, including long sleeves, pants and boots. Bring a bagged lunch. Bringing the
energetic landscaping, inc. expert design, construction & year-round maintenance
Hosted by local writer and storyteller Sheela Clary
Harvesting Hope: A Garden Story Slam
20 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022 EDUCATION
IN-PERSON AT BBG Thursday, Oct. 20, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Members: $12/Non-Members: $15 Join us for an evening of story-telling. With a theme of “Harvests and Hope,” storytellers will share experiences of finding human connection through nature connection. From gardens, fields and forests, these stories are sure to inspire and entertain. Interested in sharing a story? Please reach out to bstone@berkshirebotanical.org.
Autumnal Beauty: A Meditative Harvest with Mindfulness-in-Nature Guide Sandrine Harris
IN-PERSON AT BBG Friday, Oct. 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Members: $130/Non Members: $145
natural beauty of the Berkshires to homes and offices since 1979. (413) 442-4873 energeticlandscaping.com
Beginners Chainsaw Skills Workshop H IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Oct. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT BBG Wednesday, Oct. 26, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Members: $10/Non-Members: $14 Join Mass Audubon for a talk and walk. The focus? The tricky, skulky, secretive, and absolutely stunning sparrows that spend their fall in Berkshire County. Together, we will learn helpful tips for identification, the various species that breed and migrate through the Berkshires and how to enjoy their subtleties as they dart and dive into grasses and shrubs. Bring binoculars and sturdy walking shoes. We will be exploring the gardens in search of sparrows! This class is led by Zach Adams, a teacher/naturalist for Mass Audubon’s Berkshire sanctuaries since 2018.
Member: $60/Non-Members: $65
IN-PERSON AT BBG Monday, Oct. 31- Nov. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Rendering Notes from Nature
EDUCATION
Taught by John Howell, this four-session course will explain how plant growth is affected by soils, from drainage to pH and nutrients. Learn how to evaluate soils, improve those that are less than ideal and amend soils for specific garden uses.
Members: $185/Non-Members: $210
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 21TO REGISTER, VISIT
Fertilizers, soil amendments, making and using compost, moisture management, and the pros and cons of mulching will be covered. Students need to get a soil sample before class and bring the results to the first class.
WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG Sparrows in the Garden
DIY Autumn Herbal Spa Day IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Nov. 5, 3 to 5 p.m.
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Treat yourself to a beautiful afternoon of fun and pampering! Relax, meet new friends and discover the world of herbal skin care. Led by Nicole Irene, we will go through a full facial routine using natural, handcrafted skincare products to rejuvenate and restore skin, body and mind. You are invited to take some time for self-care and learn how to make your own herbal spa products! In this workshop, you will learn all about different exfoliants, serums, carrier oils, and essential oils that focus to support skin health for your individual needs. Each participant will make (and take home) a nutritive facial oil and exfoliating sugar scrub. In class we will go through a simple, yet invigorating facial routine with a gentle cleanser and purifying facial steam. We will address impurities with a spot treatment and restore skin by providing deep hydration with a facial serum and nourish with a facial oil. You will leave glowing and refreshed! Herbal tea and infused refreshing water included.
If there’s one thing many of us have enough of in our diet, it’s wheat. It’s everywhere, one of the four pillars of baking, along with eggs, butter and sugar. It can be destabilizing when you take wheat out of the equation. Either for health or dietary reasons, baking gluten-free has become a challenge and a need for many people. Join pastry chef Rachel Portnoy to discover new grains, new techniques and new flavors, by moving away from wheat in your baking. In this class, we will make sweet and savory recipes, all designed to highlight the fun and flavorful ways that gluten-free baking can take you in new and delicious directions. We will cover a wide array of possibilities, including French and American classics.
Goodbye Gluten! Baking with Alternative Grains
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. BBG Members: $55/Non-Members: $65
Come play in the Berkshires!
Member: $200/Non-Members: $255 Taking place over three sessions, this series will teach you to make your own nature note cards — to capture moments of nature with pen and color. Follow along with botanical artist Carol Ann Morley as she shows you how to illustrate your images of nature. This fun technique starts with tracing over your photocopies with a micron pen onto translucent paper. Add shading to give depth, then bring it all to life with colored pencils and watercolors. Photo images of nature will be supplied. You may also add your own images, words and ideas. Come celebrate nature in this fun class. All levels of drawing experience are welcome. A materials list will be provided.
NOVEMBER Understanding Soil Health and Structure H
IN-PERSON AT BBG Tuesdays, Nov. 1 through 22, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Beaujolais Nouveau Day is an eagerly awaited day in Beaujolais — and around the world — on the third Thursday of November each year. Festivities in Beaujolais include fireworks, music, and of course wine tastings. While we won’t be celebrating with ‘actual’ fireworks, we will have fireworks in terms of awesome wine & food pairings celebrating this special wine — and special region of France! Our tasting menu highlights the wines of Beaujolais, (because Beaujolais is so much more than just ‘nouveau’) paired with traditional dishes:
• Beaujolais Villages paired with Poire à la Beaujolais
Members: $85/Non-Members:$90
• Beaujolais Blanc paired with French Country Pâté
Plant Healthcare H IN-PERSON AT BBG Tuesdays, Nov. 29 through Dec. 20, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Members: $185/Non-Members: $210
• Beaujolais Nouveau paired with Salade aux Lardons
Members: $55/Non-members $65
This demonstration, led by Jake Levin, will take you through the process of curing at home. It begins with a brief history of curing/ salting meat, including an explanation of the three products and basic techniques we will be making that day. We discuss what cuts and types of meat are best suited for different kinds of curing techniques, and why. You will get a basic overview of what curing does and why. We will discuss the three basic curing techniques and why, when, and how to use them: brining, applying a rub (generally used for smoking meats) and dry-curing. We will then go through each technique doing a hands-on demonstration for each technique with a different product (brined chicken, rubbed pork tenderloin and dry-cured salmon). We will talk about how to think about what ingredients to include when curing and how that changes for each of the three techniques. Jake will explain the ratios for salt and other ingredients. He will explain frameworks to come up with one’s own recipe by thinking about other classic spice combinations or by using recipes from other meat dishes. At the end, we will sample some of the products we made. Beaujolais Wine Workshop with Dare Friday, Nov 18, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Intro to Home Curing AT BBG Saturday, Nov. 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
EDUCATION TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG22 CUTTINGS SPRING/SUMMER 2022
IN-PERSON
• Crémant Blanc de Noir (sparkling wine) paired with Gougères
Led by Ken Gooch, this program focuses on factors that affect plant health care, including insects, diseases, pathogens, and abiotic influences. Basic diagnostic techniques will be taught. Learn to minimize potential problems through proper site preparation, plant selection and placement. Managing problems using biological, chemical and cultural techniques will be discussed with a focus on integrated pest management.
This workshop is led by the husband-wife team, Benjamin + Mary Daire, owners and operators of Dare Bottleshop & Provisions located in Lenox, Mass.
natureworkslandcare.com | 413-325-1101 Landscape Design & Construction | Stonework | Fine Gardening Organic Lawn Care | Food Systems | Natives & Restoration An ecological landscape company
Members: $55/Non-Members: $65 Making a gift for someone is an opportunity for you to create something unique and beautiful, something truly useful and practical, and express love from your heart for that special person. The Herbal Holiday Gifts Workshop, led by Nicole Irene, is an opportunity to make rich and diverse herbal gifts for the holidays, or other occasions, feel connected with the gift-giving process, and nourish another person by crafting something special for them from the Earth. You are offering your loved one the opportunity to dip into that vibrant, natural health by giving them a handmade herbal gift that will support their well-being. These gifts are so much more special than what you can find in a store. They are novel, enticing, fresh, and low-cost once you have the skills.
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Dec. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Herbal Holiday Gift Workshop
Food for Gatherings IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
DECEMBER The Quieting: A Meditative Evening for Being with the Heart of Winter, with Mindfulness-in-Nature Guide Sandrine Harris
WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
EDUCATION
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Dec. 3, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 23TO REGISTER, VISIT
YOGA IN THE GARDEN Thursdays through Sept. 15, 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Experience the Garden like never before with our popular Yoga in the Garden classes. Classes are led by Kathi Cafiero, a certified Kripalu yoga teacher who has been instructing the physical and mental benefits of yoga for more than 20 years. This outdoor program is appropriate for all skill levels and is a perfect way to end the day. No registration required. Please note all sessions are held outside and will not run in severe weather. Please check the website for updates.
Members: $45/Non-Members: $55 Want to go beyond pigs in a blanket and cocktail shrimp? Join cookbook author and Guido’s Marketing Manager Alana Chernila for a hands-on class to bring vegetables to the party. We’ll start with chickpea salad in endive boats, move on to broccoli raab and cheddar party toasts and finish with sweet potato latkes with roasted applesauce. All Berkshire Botanical Garden cooking classes are sponsored by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace.
Members: $110/Non-Members: $120 Students will create a silk scarf that is bright and unique using dried petals from seasonal flowers, food waste scraps and pigments from natural dye extracts. In this steam color dye technique, each attendee will lay out their design then bundle their fiber into a roll and steam bath the piece. After one hour in a steam bath, the scarves will reveal brilliantly saturated atmospheric patterns.
Members: $12/Non-Members: $15 Join us for a contemplative hour soaking in the beginnings of winter and the slowing energy as we approach the darkest days of the year. The gifts of quieting down and turning inwards with the season are offered through a facilitated mindfulness experience, including talking, meditating, sharing, walking, and connecting with the land at BBG. All adults (18 or older) are welcome, and no experience with mindfulness or meditation is needed to attend. Hot tea will be provided. This event takes place outside (weather permitting) for the first portion and then moves indoors.
SAVE THE DATE: WINTER 2023 & BEYOND Camp Registration for Members Tuesday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. Winter Lecture Texas Gardens of the Netherlands Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 FREE FOR ALL!
Bundle Dyeing Textile Classes
IN-PERSON AT BBG Saturday, Dec. 17, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG24 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022 EDUCATION HORTICULTURE CERTIFICATE PROGRAM 2022-2023 The Horticulture Certificate Program is a noncredit, adult enrichment program designed for the professional, aspiring professional or serious home gardener. Students can choose either to take classes towards receiving a certificate or audit individual classes of interest. Staffed by seasoned and practicing horticulturists and landscape designers, these in-depth classes provide a strong foundation for all horticultural pursuits — whether one is exploring or advancing career goals or simply acquiring or expanding their knowledge, skills and enjoyment of gardening. Classes include lectures, hands-on workshops and field trips. Through seven core courses, Level I students learn material essential for a foundation in good gardening practices and are designed sequentially beginning in September and progressing through April. CORE CURRICULUM Herbaceous Plants Tuesdays, Sept. 6 – 27 Understanding Woody Plants Tuesdays, Oct. 4 – 25 Soil Health and Structure Tuesdays, Nov. 11 – 22 Plant Health Care Tuesdays, Nov. 27 – Dec. 20 Plant Propagation Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 7 – 8 Sustainable Garden Care and Maintenance Tuesdays, Jan. 17 – Feb. 21 Landscape Design I Tuesdays, March 7 – April 11 Upon completing the Level 1 Horticulture Certificate Program, students can work towards additional Advanced Certificates in the following areas: n Advanced Horticulture n Landscape Design n Sustainable Land Stewardship n Native Plant Landscapes Since 1977 Certified Arborists in MA, CT & NY race mt tree services, inc. (413) 229-2728 support@racemttree.com • www.racemttree.com #racemttree How We Help You Win the Moment It’s a simple strategy. We can bring any idea to life with our complete suite of the world’s best production and finishing technologies – HD scanning, digital and offset UV printing, LED curing, die cutting, embossing, foil stamping, laminating, mounting and more. Then we get it where it needs to be with our fulfillment capabilities including print-on-demand, personalized and blind shipments, complete mail house services – supported by hi-tech fulfillment centers nationwide. Since nothing gets outsourced, we have complete control of deliverables – which means you do too. Want to learn more about how Qualprint can help your print win the moment? Contact us at 800-547-7468 or visit us online at www.qualprint.com.
As gardeners, our work extends beyond the soil, rippling out to communities of every type. From our human neighbors, to pollinators and beyond, what and how we grow has an indelible effect on the world around us. This year, our Rooted in Place symposium speakers will consider the impacts of the way we garden on the world around us. preserve) using holistic regenerative methods focused around intensive, multi-species rotational livestock grazing. These efforts have been coupled with a comprehensive ecological monitoring program measuring responses in our soil health, plant biodiversity, bird biodiversity, insect biodiversity, and water quality. This presentation will share some of our preliminary discoveries from listening closely to the landscape and how those lessons could be applied by stewards of a variety of human-impacted landscapes, including the landscaping and gardening community.
Annie White: Ecosystem Approaches to Landscape Design: Building Resiliency Through Community Today’s gardeners are faced with more challenges than ever before — a changing climate, more pressure from invasive plants and pests, and more decisions about what to put into and how to manage our landscapes. Annie White is striving to create a new culture of gardening where we move away from carefully curated gardens, work more with rather than against nature, and become better stewards of the ecosystems within and around our gardens. Annie will share her ecosystem approach to landscape design that helps build resiliency through community. Sharing case studies of her successes and failures, Annie’s talk will open your eyes to the myriad of naturally occurring processes in the landscapes and how we can steward these to create both beautiful and ecologically significant landscapes.
Page Dickey: Bringing Meadows into the Garden
ROOTEDpark IN PLACE
8TH ANNUAL ECOLOGICAL GARDENING SYMPOSIUM COMMUNITY IN THE GARDEN Sunday, Nov. 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SEEDING
Elijah Goodwin: Agriculture as Conservation: Lessons for the Landscape Our increasingly complex and dire environmental challenges can’t be met by wildland preservation alone. It has become abundantly clear that we must also radically change our approach to intensively human-managed landscapes. Since 2018, Stone Barns Center has been managing over 350 acres of former traditionally managed pasture land (now predominantly part of a state
Wambui Ippolito: Growing In Weeds
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 25TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.BERKSHIREBOTANICAL.ORG
With global warming and energy conservation in mind, let’s cut down on mowing and blowing and replace some of our lawns with higher grass. Page will discuss a wide range of examples showing how beautifully meadows — however small — and meadow plants can be incorporated into our gardens.
So many children grow up with sterile green spaces designed with their safety in mind — structured spaces that don’t allow for exploration, imagination and the sense of danger that fuels curiosity. How can landscape designers, gardeners, parents, and communities approach design and create new spaces that bring a new vitality into children’s green spaces? How do these spaces help our children to be emboldened explorers and better stewards of landscapes they inhabit?
OFFSITE Members: $85; Non-members: $100; Students: $55
26 CUTTINGS SPRING/SUMMER 2022 NRM.org | Stockbridge, MA | 413.298.4100 | KIDS & TEENS FREE! Always something new to see! I m p r i n t e d : I l l u s t r a t i n g R a c e , and In Our Lifetime: Paintings by Kad i r N e l s o n , through October 30 N o r m a n R o c k w e l l D r a w i n gs , Sept. 10 - Jan. 7 • H Hilary Knight's Eloise & Other Stories, Nov. 12 March 12 become a REEL Friend to independentsupport filmmaking and year round events join today at biffma.org berkshire international film festival invites you to FEAST AND FROLIC WITH FRIENDS HOSTED AT A PRIVATE STOCKBRIDGE ESTATE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 2022 4-8PM TENTS, CAMPFIRES, DANCING, DINNER AND FUN CAMP ATTIRE internationalberkshire film festival for more info visit BIFFMA.ORG or call 413.528.8030
How did you get the idea to write this guide about the flora growing at the Berkshire Botanical Garden?
This was one of the biggest challenges — deciding which of the more than 3,000 of flowers are hermaphroditic? How do plants photosynthesize? What tree did the Druids consider sacred? What plant supposedly restores virginity? Who was the real Johnny Appleseed? Why is the locust tree named for an insect? Is there such a thing as a deciduous conifer? What’s the difference between a corm, bulb, rhizome, and tuber? How is the daffodil related to the words “narcissistic,” “echo” and “nemesis?” What tree do elves and fairies protect? What aquatic plant can support the weight of a child? What BBG tree is related to the tallest tree in the world? What makes the hyacinth’s fragrance so ethereal?
I had drafted a series of essays about Covid-19 and the ways we endure the Covid-19 world we live in, such as finding respite in nature. Those essays were collected into a booklet the Stockbridge Library, Museum & Archives sold as a Severalfundraiser.of those essays were about flowers native to the Berkshires. It occurred to me that I could write a series of essays about BBG flora as a BBG fundraiser. I pitched the idea to the folks at BBG in August, 2021. They agreed, and I began working on it. How would you describe this guide?
In addition to characterizing various flora, each of these short essays delves a bit deeper, including into topics such as relevant histories, Greek myths, Native Americans’ medicinal uses of flora, symbolic meanings of flora, the benefits of veggies’ nutrients, and etymological explorations related to common and binomial nomenclature terminology. In these far-ranging essays, you will encounter a cast of characters that includes a pantheon of Greek gods, Johnny Appleseed, John the Baptist, Daniel Boone, Julius Caesar, Captain Cook, Charlemagne, Anders Dahl, the Delphic Oracle, Doctor Doolittle, Thomas Edison, Fibonacci, Robert Frost, Thomas Jefferson, King George III, King Solomon, John Lennon, Pierre Magnol, Paul McCartney, John Milton, Pliny the Younger, Sequoyah, Simon & Garfunkel, Shakespeare, Suleiman the Magnificent, Vermeer, George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Stevie Wonder, the Wright Brothers, and Johann Gottfried Zinn. How did you decide which flora to include?
AROUND THE GARDEN BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 27
EDITOR’S NOTE: Nearly one year in the making, An Alphabetical Romp Through the Flora of Berkshire Botanical Garden, by Stockbridge author Stewart Edelstein, was published in May and is a delightful and informative guide to all things botanical at BBG. This lovely guide provides a unique opportunity to explore BBG via Stewart’s whimsical delivery of interesting and little-known facts about both well-known and exotic flora. Below is a Q&A with the author on the inspiration for the book, followed by an excerpt. Did you write this guide only for botanists or for any BBG visitor? This guide is for anyone interested in flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, and veggies, especially flora at BBG, written in an entertaining style infused with humor. Among many questions answered in this guide are these: How does a sunflower know to turn toward the sun as it appears to arc across the sky? Why do cats go crazy for catmint and catnip, and what’s the difference between the two? How often do squirrels find the acorns they bury for the winter? What Enhance your BBG experience with this alphabetical romp!
A few more: What’s the origin of “cup of joe?” How do the Venus flytrap and pitcher plant capture and devour their prey? What plants take advantage of the Fibonacci number to thrive? How do monarch butterflies benefit from milkweed’s toxicity? How is rhubarb related to stuttering Persians? Why is the Greek word for fennel marathon? Why do broccoli and Brussels sprouts taste bitter only to some people? How are turnips associated with Halloween? Who put the “witch” in witch hazel? And why are an elephant, peacock and alligator hanging out at BBG?
TAKE A PEEK INSIDE!
The American beech does not grow fast (sometimes only thirteen feet in twenty years), but it makes up for its very gradual maturation with longevity, its wide-spreading dense canopy providing shade for generations. Over the course of the nineteenth century, settlers cut down many of these trees to clear the land for farming. The wood of this tree bends easily when steamed, and so it is used to make benwood furniture. Its bark is smooth and uniform, attracting people who consider it appealing to carve into, which at BBG and elsewhere is to be discouraged. Most notably, a tree in Louisville, Kentucky, bears the carving “D. Boone killed a bar. 1775.” In pioneer days, some hunters memorialized their impressive feats by carving about their trophy on the nearest beech. Whether this carving is legit or a forgery, we’ll never know. In recent years, beech-bark disease has decimated the population of American beech trees in New England, which has many negative impacts, including depriving bears, turkeys, and squirrels of forage they rely on. American beech trees continue to propagate, however from root suckers that generate new trees. From An Alphabetical Romp Through the Flora of Berkshire Botanical Garden in this abecedarian guide. Mike is also to be credited with conjuring up the clever title and subtitle for this guide, much preferable to my bland working title.
Mike Beck, BBG’s executive director before Thaddeus Thompson, suggested arranging the essays in alphabetical order, a neat trick if we could only figure out how to include an “X” essay. Thaddeus came to the rescue, suggesting that we title the yellowroot essay by its technical name, Xanthorhiza. By that simple act of legerdemain, we were able to include every letter of the alphabet
28 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022 AROUND THE GARDEN
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
In addition to my own research, I relied a great deal on the extensive botanical knowledge of BBG staff and volunteer collaborators, all of whom I acknowledge and thank in the Statement of Gratitude in this guide. Throughout the process of researching and drafting it, I have been very impressed by their depth of knowledge and their generosity in sharing that knowledge with me. Were you able to include every letter of the alphabet?
A: Not without some help. Initially, this guide was to be in seasonal order, but that organizing principle proved unworkable.
BBG’s flora to include. With the help of BBG botanists, I chose 100 common and exotic flora from all around BBG’s gardens. The two main criteria were flora with remarkable physical characteristics and with memorable stories to tell. What were your sources for botanical information?
Q: Do you have a sequel in mind? If a sequel is warranted, I have so many BBG flora to choose from! Let’s see about the demand for this guide before venturing to the next one.
Q: Where can people buy this guide? It’s available at BBG’s Visitor Center and online. Call the Visitor Center at (413) 2983926 or go to berkshirebotanical.org for details. It is also available at The Bookstore in Lenox and The Bookloft in Great Barrington.
The show features designs by 18 professional woodworkers from the Berkshires and neighboring towns throughout New York and Connecticut. A highlight of the weekend is a silent auction to benefit the Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Scholarship Fund, which supports individuals who aspire to make woodworking, architecture or a related field their professional goal. Since 2013, the Guild has awarded $39,500 in scholarship monies to 30 recipients. Throughout the weekend, BWG members will demonstrate various woodworking techniques including turning, sharpening techniques, riving and finials turning. Admission is $5 for the general public and $3 for Garden members.
The Lost Lamb Can be Found Here
Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Show Returns to the Garden
A Magical Time in the Garden, Music Mondays Continue
While Wendy’s conversation was not heavily laced with botanical Latin, she was an excellent gardener. The large sloping lawn in front of her Egremont home was filled with daffodils, and the plantings around the house were thoughtful and well tended. She was an eager visitor to special gardens. She is very much missed.
Goodbye, Dear Friend
Located in the Center House, our café provides sweet and savory food prepared by Stockbridge’s famous French-Berkshire fusion patisserie, The Lost Lamb, run by pastry chef/owner Claire Raposo, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Stop in and enjoy sandwiches, salads and baked goods! The café is open Thursdays through Sundays through Labor Day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This summer, we’ve enjoyed live music during the Garden’s “magic hour,” after the gates close to the public, the shadows are long, and the Garden takes on its soft, golden hues. Our popular Music Monday series of live concerts continues through Aug. 29, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. featuring favorite performers from the Berkshires as well as headliners from the region, including Union Jack and sounds of the British invasion on August 15; Robin Gerson Wong performing music from the Great American Songbook on Aug. 22, and the Wanda Houston Band on Aug. 29, featuring songs from the 40s, 50s and 60s, R&B and jazz. Tickets are $10/members and $15 for the general public, and are available online at berkshirebotanical.org.
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 29 AROUND THE GARDEN
Admission to the Garden is required. The menu includes seasonal loaf cake slices, muffins, chocolate chip cookies, flourless chocolate tortes, floral shortbread cookies, prosciutto gruyere baguette sandwiches, roasted pepper mozzarella baguette sandwiches, green salads, quinoa salads, gazpacho, and beverages.
— Georgeanne Rousseau
“Wendy was a dear friend of the Garden,” said BBG Board Chairman Matt Larkin. “She was very generous, providing advice and counsel on BBG’s real estate transactions, and she was a joy to work with. We all miss her and her great enthusiasm for the Garden.”
Sept. 3 & 4
On Sept. 3 and 4 (Labor Day weekend), BBG once again proudly hosts the Berkshire Woodworkers Guild Fine Arts Show and Silent Auction, when Guild members exhibit and sell unique, hand-made products ranging from furniture to musical instruments. The Guild also provides ongoing demonstrations highlighting their trade and providing an educational component to the weekend event, which runs from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. both days.
The Garden lost a great friend on April 15, when Wendy Linscott passed away. Wendy grew up attending the Harvest Festival, then as an adult, she served as a very hardworking member of BBG’s Board of Trustees (from 1994 to 2016).
93 Ashley
YOUTH EDUCATION S uperb p lant S , e xten S ive K nowledge o ut S tanding Quality , S election & v alue We offer our own Berkshire field-grown specimens, including Chinese or Kousa dogwood; the native Berkshire strain of Cornus florida; American and European Green, Tricolor and Copper beech; native birch; hybrid lilacs; hydrangea paniculata selections; American Fringe trees; witchhazels, blueberries, viburnums; winterberries, espaliered fruit trees; mature apple, peach and pear trees; herbaceous and tree peony selections. 686 S tockbridge r oad , g reat b arrington , M a 01230 www . windyhillfar M inc . co M (413) 298-3217 WINDY HILL FARM NURSERY • ORCHARD • GARDEN SHOP Sopring-Summer Cut 4.75”Wtings: x 3.5 “H
By Kessa McEwen, EducatIon Coordinator learn about native plants and pollinators and the critical role the two play in our ecosystem. Their project was to redesign the school’s “Reading Park,” a courtyard garden alongside the library. Their goal was to increase biodiversity, remove invasives and create a welcoming space.
“The best part of the school day this spring was working afterschool in the garden with Kessa and our students,” Alexis said. “These sorts of hands-on, community-building projects are precisely what are needed at this moment in education, now more than ever. Students would chatter and banter with each other as they planted, leaned heavily into shovels, and troubleshooted how to eradicate a weed. ‘Another burdock,’ they’d exclaim, as they reached for their hori horis and began to attack the offender. Kessa McEwen [BBG’s education coordinator] is a superior educator who empowered the students to use tools appropriately, decide where to plant items and reflect upon the impact their actions would have long-term on their environment. I am so grateful for our collaboration with BBG, as true education
30 CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 2022
For six weeks last spring, students from Lenox Memorial Middle and High School strived to do just that. They met weekly to work alongside educators from BBG and Youth Education
www.websterlandscapes.com Falls Road, Sheffield, MA 413.229.8124
Students spent time assessing sun and shade areas in the space. Then, they removed invasives. After preparing the soil for planting, they helped determine plant placement based on what they had learned. Working collaboratively, they planted over 95 plants in the ground. In the process, they connected with each other and the earth. This project reached beyond the library and BBG. Under the instruction of Heather McNiece, a teacher in the school’s business department, students in a marketing class were challenged to design flyers for the program. They selected a favorite and posted copies around the school. This cross-department collaboration increased the amount of students connected to, and learning from, this wonderful project. The seeds for the project were planted in 2019 when the schools’ librarian, Alexis Kennedy, worked with BBG staff to apply for a LEEF grant to improve the space. After nearly two and a half years, it finally came to fruition.
Fall is a rewarding and energizing time in the garden when the season’s hard work appears in harvests and blooms. For pollinators, fall is a crucial time. Lateblooming flowers provide essential food sources. As blooms fade, stems and foliage become welcome mats for insects like solitary bees, butterflies, and moths looking to over-winter. When we acknowledge the garden as an ever changing ecosystem, we can work to support nature’s cycles. Mainly, we can nurture the symbiotic relationship between plants and pollinators that has evolved over thousands of years. It’s up to us to acknowledge the importance of nature’s cycles in a pollinator garden ecosystem, allowing plants and pollinators to interact symbiotically as they have evolved to do.
BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN 31 NativeRestorationHabitat Returning Balance to Nature WoodlandsWetlandsMeadowsFields Invasive Plant Control (organic options) Pollinator Habitats Field NativeHabitatRestoration.weebly.comWetlandForestryClearingMowingRestorationLicensedinMA.CT.NY.VT(413)358-7400 lies in trusting students to be thoughtful and to make informed decisions on their own; a clear hallmark of Kessa’s training. The real beauty lies in stepping back as an educator and watching what students create.” This project tripled the number of native plant species in the “Reading Park.” Native plant species were chosen as opposed to cultivars, due to the increasing evidence these plants provide the highest nutrient value to native pollinators. These plantings should help to increase biodiversity of native pollinators that will find both food and habitat in the garden. Over the course of the year, early bloomers like Virginia strawberry and Solomon’s seal will give way to purple coneflower, red-osier dogwood and mountain mint. Later in the season, showy goldenrod and New England aster will make their appearance with shades of yellow and purple. Witch hazel, a host species to 68 species of butterflies and moths, will bloom in October and November, providing food for pollinators until temperatures have reached well below freezing. The hard work and persistence of the Lenox students made this garden possible. They displayed problem-solving skills, creativity and teamwork, all of which culminated in a native pollinator garden that will bloom for years to come. Our youth programs are designed to foster these skills and a connection to the community and natural world. This project was generously funded by a LEEF grant (Lenox Environmental Education Fund).
CUTTINGS SUMMER/FALL 202232 VOLUNTEER NEWS
The Garden Conservancy
Visit America’s most interesting, creative, and inspiring private gardens through Garden Conservancy Open Days. Our 2022 season includes many exciting garden-visiting opportunities, Digging Deeper programs, and other educational offerings in Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts.
See you in the gardens!
Open Days is a program of the Garden Conservancy, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve, share, and celebrate America’s gardens and diverse gardening traditions for the education and inspiration of the public.
BBGPresident,LaurettaSincerely,volunteer@berkshirebotanical.org.atHarrisVolunteerAssociation
Serving the Berkshires since 1981
If you think volunteering takes too much of a commitment — well, it doesn’t! You can volunteer with us weekly, more frequently than weekly or just occasionally. However you choose to help, you’ll be contributing to our vital mission. BBG is not only a place of beauty and art, but also an important resource for education about gardening and our precious natural environment. We have a wonderful Volunteer family waiting for you to join us! Come discover all the friendship, appreciation and pleasure of participation when you become a BBG Volunteer. For more information, write to us
The Garden of 1391 Barnum Street, located in Sheffield, MA
Yes, You Can Volunteer!
O pen Days 2022
gardenconservancy.org/open-days
Serving the greater Berkshire area since 1992; providing cross disciplinary expertise in design, horticulture, arboriculture, irrigation and excavation for both residential and commercial clients. Countrysidelandscape.net413.458.5586
Have you thought about volunteering but haven’t quite taken the first step? At BBG, we make it super easy! We have all kinds of opportunities that fit many interests and schedules. It’s true, we love to get Volunteers who can make a weekly commitment to a four-hour shift, whether as a Docent in our galleries, a Greeter in the Visitor Center or as Gardener helping to maintain our beautiful display beds. But you can also volunteer on an occasional basis, as a Tour Guide or a helping hand at one or more of our special events. Maybe you have computer skills or other “back office” talents you are willing to share. We’d love to know about that, too. The first step in volunteering at BBG is to visit our Volunteer page on the BBG website at berkshirebotanical.org/volunteer. When you “Click Here to Volunteer,” you’ll open the registration form. Complete the form, hit “submit” at the bottom of the page, and you will start to receive our Volunteer enews and learn about upcoming opportunities and events.
Give the Gift of Gardens Did you know that BBG membership delivers way beyond our Stockbridge campus? All members are automatically enrolled in the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admission Program, a network providing free access to more than 320 horticultural institutions in 48 states and the District of Columbia, plus Canada and the Caribbean. Back at home, your membership comes with many benefits, including advance notice and discounts on BBG’s educational offerings. Our upcoming semester includes an exciting selection of classes and workshops designed for students of all levels and ages. Whatever your interests — from garden photography to landscape design for advanced backyard gardeners and professionals — now, more than ever, member discounts go a long way! Join or give a membership gift at the Supporter Level and also enjoy the benefits of NARM, the North American Reciprocal Museum Association, offering free admission and discounts to more than 1,000 member institutions in five different countries, and ROAM, the Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums, a free reciprocal network that connects world-class institutions for the benefit of our Members. Honor the gardeners and horticulturists in your life with a BBG membership! Gift memberships can be shipped in festive packaging or prepared for pickup at the Garden. Visit berkshirebotanical.org or call Mariah Bacca, Manager of Membership & Development Operations, 413-298-4532 ex. 22 for information about a membership. Garden Membership Extends Way Beyond the Berkshires!
5 West Stockbridge Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 413-298-3926 • berkshirebotanical.org Nonprofit Org. U.S.QualprintPaidPostage BARRINGTONSTAGECO.ORG413.236.8888 SCAN FOR TICKETS BESTTHEATRE OF THEDECADEJULIANNE BOYD ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AWARD-WINNING THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN PITTSFIELD 2022 SEASON A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Music & Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Book by HUGH WHEELER Orchestrations by JONATHAN TUNICK Musical Direction by DARREN R. COHEN Choreographed by ROBERT LA FOSSE Directed by JULIANNE BOYD AUGUST 6–28 WORLD PREMIERE PLAY ALL OF ME By LAURA WINTERS Directed by ASHLEY BROOKE MONROE SEPTEMBER 21–OCTOBER 9 BOYD-QUINSON STAGE Pictured: Maiesha McQueen, Allison Blackwell and Anastacia McCleskey, in Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show, 2022. Photo by Daniel Rader. ST. GERMAIN STAGE AT THE SYDELLE AND LEE BLATT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WAITING FOR GODOT By SAMUEL BECKETT Directed By JOE CALARCO AUGUST 19–SEPTEMBER 4 10am–5pm Oct. Sat/Sun8–9
