B E R K S H I R E B OTA N I C A L G A R D E N
WINTER/SPRING 2019
WINTER/SPRING 2019
FEB
02 Winter Lecture: Arne Maynard "The Planted Garden" Lenox Memorial High School
Winter and Early Spring at the Garden — So Much to Enjoy! DEC 15–MAR 1
FEB 2
MAR 4–29
Plant Shadows
Winter Lecture “The Planted Garden”
Bulb Show
Cyanotypes by Joan Dix Blair on display in the Center House Leonhardt Galleries.
presented by Arne Maynard 2:00 pm, Lenox Memorial High School
Featuring New England favorites and a growing collection of South African bulbs.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Matt Larkin, Chairman Madeline Hooper, Vice Chairman Janet Laudenslager, Secretary Rob Williams, Treasurer David Carls Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo Mary Copeland Adaline Frelinghuysen Lauretta Harris Ian Hooper Tom Ingersoll Daniel Kasper
Wendy Philbrick Martha Piper Ramelle Pulitzer John Spellman Mark Walker Suzanne Yale KK Zutter
S TA F F Michael Beck Executive Director
Christopher Kupernik Buildings and Grounds Manager
Christine Caccamo Senior Gardener
Dan Mullen Buildings and Grounds Assistant
Duke Douillet Senior Gardener
Robin Parow Director of Marketing Communications
Alex Fylypovych Camp Director Katarina Goldenberg Seasonal Gardener Cynthia Grippaldi Director of Visitor & Volunteer Engagement Deborah Helmke Gardener
John Ryan Seasonal Gardener Bridgette Stone Education Coordinator Elizabeth Veraldi Office Manager Chris Wellens Director of Education
Dorthe Hviid Director of Horticulture
CUTTINGS Robin Parow, Editor Julie Hammill, Hammill Design, Design
A garden in Norfolk, England, designed by Arne Maynard Garden Design. ©Britt Willoughby Dyer
On the cover: “The Cottage for Kids” by Allen Timmons Photo by Michael Beck
A P R 6 – M AY 2 7
M AY 4 – 5
M AY 1 0 – 1 1
Nature Narratives
Daffodil Show
A retrospective collection: Carol Ann Morley’s choreographed botanical shapes presented in graphite, pastels, carbon dust, and colored pencils.
A judged flower design and horticulture show hosted by the Lenox Garden Club.
42nd Annual Be-a-Better-Gardener Plant Sale Our annual Plants and Answers Plant Sale featuring thousands of plants and helpful advice.
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Cuttings For advertising opportunities, please call 413-298-3926.
DIRECTOR’S CORNER MICHAEL BECK
On the Path It always amazes me, when spending time with avid gardeners (whether professionals or amateurs) to hear how they became enthralled and, often, obsessed with horticulture and garden design. Yes, some of these people clearly caught the gardening bug through their mother’s milk, and were planting and growing things seemingly before they could walk and talk. But for many others, garden appreciation is something they came to later in life. Perhaps this makes some amount of sense, since gardening is a long game that requires patience, reflection, and even wisdom, not character traits that are often associated with youth. Unlike with hobbies such as skydiving or super-G slalom racing, gardening skills can very much be acquired and honed throughout one’s life, and staying active in your garden is likely good for your mental as well as physical health. I loved reading how our board members Madeline and Ian Hooper only “found” gardening once they were settled in their home in Columbia County. You would never think that the owners of this stunning collection of formal and naturalistic gardens (which regularly opens to the public for the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days) were once intimidated and overwhelmed by all the gardening knowledge they had yet to acquire. But how nice to hear that BBG was so instrumental in putting Ian and Madeline on the right, ahem, garden path, by providing an accessible place to learn, to see plantings done right, to shop for amazing plant material and to meet like-minded garden people. I feel that my own journey to becoming a garden lover, a home gardener, and ultimately a member of BBG’s board and later staff, was very much unanticipated and gradual. My first visit to BBG happened sometime in early 2003, on a long weekend tourist trip to the Berkshires. Once my husband and I became part-time Berkshires residents, we started paying more attention to what BBG had to offer, and jumped at becoming members at the first Plant Sale we ever shopped. Hey, why not? You got a 10% discount, and we had a lot of plants to buy that year. But BBG has a way of revealing itself to people in different ways, and over time there were other aspects of BBG membership that became more important to us. Attend a class on growing soft fruit. Mingle over cocktails at some great private gardens. Don a funny hat for the Fête des Fleurs garden party. Make friends and join a real community. All of those were reasons for us to renew our membership year after year. It is a story I hear a lot when talking to our many active BBG volunteers, or when I meet a loyal member who has supported the Garden for many decades. There are many garden paths to BBG. As I write this, we are just concluding the 2018 growing season, and rapidly heading into the giving season. Many of our members take this time to renew their annual membership, which is so important for the Garden’s ability to grow and thrive. Others contact us about gift memberships for loved ones, a gift that really does keep on giving all throughout the year. Whether you are a consummate gardener yourself or know of someone who is, whether you think you have a black thumb or pride yourself on a green one, I hope our winter issue of Cuttings will inspire you to follow your path to BBG.
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Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem) is easy to grow from seed, can survive in the poorest soils, and needs little mowing.
Rewilding the Landscape: Preserving Diversity in a Changing World By Heather Grimes
As the landscape is cut, plowed and paved over, we hunger to see wild places with diverse wildlife and abundant plant life growing in harmony. There are increasingly fewer of these places left in the world; oftentimes, the most accessible wild places to visit will be in our own backyards. The landscape has been changed repeatedly throughout time, so returning it to a natural state can be challenging. Sometimes diversity re-grows and prevails, and sometimes only weeds grow back.
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There’s much discussion as to what we should grow and how; these are important conversations as we shift our desire from using land only for our own needs to preserving its diversity for the future. What can be done here and now to increase diversity in our plants and wildlife, and what will thrive now and prevail in an uncertain future? These are difficult questions to fully answer and act on because we are continually impacting the natural world. We have no choice but to forge ahead, hopefully making the best and most informed decisions we can. Surely one of the most impactful ways to move forward is to cut back on lawns, but when we do so what regrows afterwards? In un-mown agricultural fields, both desirable and less-desirable plants will colonize. For example, if we don’t intercede to remove bittersweet vines and honeysuckle, many woodland edges will become overrun with them. It's important to gauge how much energy and resources you are willing to commit to the work of re-growing a wild environment. Usually, scenery is more beautiful without a lot of invasive plants blocking our sight. Often, simply removing invasive plants alone will allow the plant diversity
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to flourish and the landscape to look and feel more balanced. Frequently, the landscape is expansive with many invasive outbreaks, and thoughtful uses of resources must be considered. Observing which invasive plants are poised to devour the landscape, and investing in controlling them first, may be a prudent step towards a healthier landscape. Over the years I’ve seen bittersweet, autumn olive, stilt-grass, buckthorn and Japanese knotweed outcompete everything else, so I pay particular attention to them. Often, diversity doesn’t mean having every native plant present in the landscape. Observing the habitat of the place and planting what would naturally be present there in numbers that support the wildlife that utilize that habitat is most beneficial. If you see something fantastic naturally growing, encourage it, allow it to
If you see something fantastic naturally growing, encourage it, allow it to spread, and perhaps plant more of it.
Perennials grow best when two growth habits are paired together, a long- lived clumping plant to hold the planting like this bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) and a ground covering plant like this black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) to discourage weeds.
spread, and perhaps plant more of it. Most of the time the plants that support wildlife don’t have show stopping floral displays but have understated beauty like sedges, grasses, asters, woodland goldenrods and ferns. Understory shrubs like Witch Hazel, Winterberry Holly, Spicebush and Gray Dogwood are easy to grow and feed birds and insects. Masses of understated elegant wild plants weave the landscape together and prevent the wild spaces from looking chaotic or unkempt. Often they look good throughout the growing season and when planted densely help keep weeds at bay. Allowing nature to take back the landscape shouldn’t be a completely hands-off journey for most environments. Disturbance to the soil, introduced plants, diseases and pests leave the ecosystem fragile, and the regrowing balance can easily tip towards the most aggressive growers. Fire as a tool to rebalance the ecosystem isn’t
accessible to most, so judicious and timely mowing or trimming can build our arsenal. Because our native plants can be slower growing and also carry the burden of feeding a large number of insects, deer and other animals, the growing advantage is given to the few plants that aren’t eaten. In some cases, intervening by trimming back domineering plants when they are flowering and before they go dormant can go a long way towards tipping the balance back. For example, I will cut bittersweet vines when they are flowering, and once again before they turn color in the fall and bring energy back into their root system for next spring. Some plants also have an advantage of suppressing the growth of their neighbors by changing the soil chemistry or releasing toxins through their roots. Usually after these plants are killed and the toxins decompose, diversity returns, but not always in a way you might expect. Often, you’ll see a flush of other undesirable weeds emerge that will need to be suppressed as well. Try to observe what comes up after you eliminate an invasion and before investing in a new planting. Try to introduce plants that are more tolerant of the changes in the soil and any toxins left behind, such as maples, sedges, grasses or ferns.
A woodland edge with understory shrubs creates habitat for many species. Clearing invasive plants and vines is important, as they usually outcompete the slower growing native shrubs.
Occasionally, you may have an open canvas for new plantings and seeding after construction or clearing land. It’s helpful to observe what appears around the site and include anything native to the area that’s growing abundantly. This not only helps blend the new landscape into the surrounding one, but also ensures you’ve selected plants that are more likely to thrive and replace the lost habitat. When seeding, consider using a mix that includes native grasses, sedges and wildflowers that can be cut back yearly, rather than a traditional grass
seed mix that requires frequent mowing throughout the growing seasons. If you are lucky enough to not have many invasive species in your landscape and are looking to manage the wild environment, use this opportunity to intervene, enhance, and protect. Keep watch for invasive species moving in and remove them as soon as you can. Many times, mowing or construction equipment will bring in seeds that can gain a foothold in an otherwise Continued on next page
Come visit and see what makes Bay State special!
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invasive-free environment. Try not to plant anything that has the potential to become invasive, like Norway maple. You might also try opening up the tree canopy, allowing light to reach below and more plants to emerge from the forest floor. But leave dead trees standing where it’s safe to do so; they can provide habitat for wildlife. Also consider leaving wetlands as they are rather than digging them out to create a pond; ponds can be difficult to maintain, and they often don’t contain as much plant diversity as a wetland. A wild place is in constant change and rebirth from natural and human made disturbances that affect its growth. Gaining a deeper understanding of the cycles of natural succession and closely observing what is happening in the landscape will give you confidence that the influence you are having on the environment is positive. Heather Grimes is a landscape designer in the Hudson Valley who specializes in woodland and meadow habitats and naturalistic plantings. Contact her by email at gardenheathergrimes@gmail.com or on her website at HeatherGrimesGardens.com
JOIN US NEXT SUMMER FOR THE 2019 SEASON
& SEE IT HERE FIRST!
Visit www.wtfestival.org or call 413.458.3253 Brooks Ashmanskas and Matthew Broderick in The Closet, 2018 Season, photo Carolyn Brown.
GRANT LARKIN
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INTERIORS LIGHTING FURNITURE
W W W. G R A N T L A R K I N . C O M
NATURE NARR ATIVES The Botanical Art of Carol Ann Morley
A P R I L 6 - M AY 2 7 GALLERY RECEPTION FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1–3 PM
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Ward’s Where Gardeners Grow
Wa r d ’s N u r s e r y & G a r d e n C e n t e r 600 S. Main Street - Gt. Barrington Open 8am-5:30pm; winter hours start Dec. 27, 9am-5pm 413-528-0166 www.wardsnursery.com Harvest Moon by Carol Ann Morley BERKSHIRE BOTANICAL GARDEN
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World-Class Topiary Garden Donated to BBG We are honored to be the recipient of a world-class topiary garden donated by Lucy and Nat Day of Greenwich, CT. Considered one of the finest collections of topiaries in North America, it was transported to BBG in the fall and now finds its home between the Pond Garden and Martha Stewart Cottage Garden. The collection includes 21 large, custom-designed topiaries in nine different vignettes. Among these living sculptures are cavorting frogs, a hunting dog and pheasant, a yew wing chair and boxwood easy chair, and Jumbo the Elephant, complete with a howdah with glass ball finials
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and water-spouting trunk. Over nearly two decades, the Days engaged the expertise of acclaimed topiarist and BBG board chairman Matt Larkin of Grant Larkin Design, Richmond, MA, and Steve Manning of Suffolk, UK. “The donation of this beautiful, established collection brings a wonderfully dynamic, sculptural element to the Garden,” said Matt, “and its relocation nearly 100 miles to Stockbridge is unprecedented. Topiary gardens of this scope are quite rare, and to pick one up and move it is unheard of.” Moving a topiary garden of this size has required a team effort at
Lucy and Nat Day on Jumbo, one of 21 topiaries the Days donated to BBG. Photo by ChiChi Ubina
both locations. The topiary was hand dug by Dennis Gendron and his crew of ten from Twin Brooks Gardens of Millbrook, NY. All the pieces were removed with a massive crane operated by Thad Tomlinson of Berkshire Crane from Dalton, MA. Once loaded into trucks, the topiaries were transported over three hours to the Garden, where they have been planted in an area that will be enclosed within a purple beech hedge and centered around a pergola. “Lucy’s Garden” will officially open in the summer of 2019.
PASSING THE TORCH
Garden Interns Take New-Found Knowledge into the Future By Robin Parow
Over 30 years ago, Berkshire Botanical Garden initiated a college internship program for promising horticulture and landscape design students. The goals of providing hands-on instruction and learning opportunities were clearly congruent with the Garden’s mission, but the many details of creating outreach, housing, and designing programs and curricula that would be appealing and suitable to students with diversified interests may have seemed daunting at the time. Through the efforts of many, the program has developed and evolved. Over one hundred interns have worked in our gardens, expanded their knowledge, and became part of the close-knit staff that works as a team on multiple levels. What makes this program so successful is a trifecta of generosity, planning, and partnership. Donations from private individuals and organizations including the The Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation and Lenox Garden Club have provided stipends for housing and salaries; a comprehensive list of colleges and universities that offer horticulture and landscape architecture programs was developed, serving as the primary outreach tool to fill the four available intern spots each season. And, through a unique partnership with The Trustees of Reservation, our friends and neighbors at Naumkeag
Korey Adwell, Erica Hecht, Chloe Smith, and Yesenia Vega spend a rainy afternoon in the propagation greenhouse.
provide additional opportunities for interns, who split their time between Naumkeag’s historic gardens and BBG. Intern housing is provided in Naumkeag’s carriage house apartment. The Garden’s professional staff and consultants, led by Horticulture Director Dorthe Hviid, share their skills and resources, providing a curriculum covering topics from entomology to tree identification to propagation and staking of perennials; staff-led field
trips to noted public and private gardens provide further learning opportunities. According to Dorthe, the criteria for becoming an intern are both simple and complex: she prefers college juniors and seniors, with a notable passion for horticulture or garden design. Beyond that, maturity, a good work ethic and good attitude are also required. And most important, a sense of humor is mandatory! That Dorthe
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routinely recruits appropriate interns who check all the boxes year after year is evidence that BBG continues to be a magnet to students of nature. Last May, four exemplary students from as nearby as Springfield, MA, and as far away as Council Grove, KA, arrived at the Garden for 12 weeks of learning, work, and friendship. Here are the stories of their journeys, their aspirations, and hopes for the future: Yesenia Vega heard about the intern program while visiting Naumkeag’s gardens on a class field trip with fellow students from Springfield (MA) Technical Community College. Her interest in green spaces had already led her to advanced studies in landscape design management, horticulture,
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and floraculture, and an internship at a public garden seemed a proper fit to round out her knowledge. She applied, was accepted, and made the 90-minute drive to BBG from her home in Springfield. “I fell in love,” she said, smiling, “when I recognized that each individual garden is treated as its own entity and has its own personality. I was thrilled to know I’d be spending the summer there.” Once at BBG, Yesenia opened an Instagram account to document her internship and share the experience with friends, students, and family. Whether she was assigned to work in the gardens or greenhouses, she focused on a personal goal of learning Latin plant names, which was put to direct use when she
Erica Hecht and Korey Adwell caught in a moment of impromptu plant anatomy studies at an after-hours staff event.
volunteered to help create the weekly bloom chart that is posted on the Garden’s website and shared in a weekly newsletter to 7,000 subscribers. When asked where she hopes her studies will take her, she reflected on her experience, citing a commitment to continuing in horticulture, especially in an environment where she can continue to use her artistic abilities. She’s off to a good start. On her last day at the Garden, her floral arrangement won a blue ribbon in the design division at the Garden’s 48th annual Grow Show. We’ll be seeing Yesenia again. . .she plans to
Yesenia Vega and Chloe Smith create the bloom chart for the Garden’s website and weekly newsletter.
be married in her favorite spot at BBG - the Procter Garden. Erica Hecht came to her internship at the Garden with just one semester to go before attaining a degree in agriculture from Kansas State University. Gardening and horticulture are part of her lineage – her mother is a gardener, and her father an agronomist. She grew up in Council Grove, KA, identifying plants, studying native grasses, and collecting specimens for her flower press. Once in college, studies in greenhouse/nursery management led to an interest in working at a public garden. Applying to BBG’s intern program and working at a garden in New England was especially appealing, and once she arrived, she was happy with her choice. “I didn’t expect such beautiful, hilly geography,” she said, adding that her love of shade plants and ferns was more than rewarded at BBG. At home in her new environment, she was intent on learning all there is to know about how a public garden functions. On a broader scale, Erica takes a sober approach to climate change. “People will have to plant differently as the southern plants move north,” she said. “Climate change forces a shift in the way you think about gardening.” Because of her internship at BBG, Erica would like to continue her work in public gardens. “Caring for and maintaining a landscape is enjoyable,” she said, adding, “I’m more aware now
of how an entire garden works, so the combination of gardening and interacting with the public is gratifying.” Chloe Smith graduated with a degree in actuarial science and horticulture from the University of Illinois just weeks before her arrival in Stockbridge. Before applying for the internship, Chloe was at a crossroad with several job opportunities and some tough decisions to make. She was offered a position as a horticultural instructor through the correctional education program for Land Lake College at Southwestern Correctional Center in East St. Louis. Another offer involved working at a production nursery in Albers, IL, in horticulture outreach. But her professors inspired and motivated her to apply for the intern position, and in the end, she chose BBG. Once she arrived, she quickly found her niche. “I love talking about horticulture and
plant propagation,” she said, “and I love learning about regional plants and the historical aspects of an area. I had never worked in a public garden or been to the northeast,” she said. “Interacting with
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people and working within a tight group in awesome gardens was the right choice.” Her passion for academia may eventually lead to a PhD with the goal of teaching at the college level. “I’ll decide once I return to O’Fallon [Illinois],” she said, “in the meantime, I’m enjoying learning about the regional plants and interacting with the staff and visitors here. Once I leave, I know I’ll stay in touch.” A junior at Northwest Missouri State University, Korey Adwell chose to major in Agricultural Business but soon recognized that his interest in plants should include a minor in horticulture as well. No stranger to gardening, he grew up in Ravenwood, MO, helping with the family’s vegetable garden. He credits his mother for teaching him basic tilling, planting, weeding, and
harvesting techniques. BBG’s intern program was on his radar — he’d seen it on the website as both a freshman and sophomore — but had to wait until he was a junior to apply. The waiting paid off when he was accepted into the program over the winter: suddenly his goal of working in the northeast and seeing a Red Sox game was within reach! Once in Stockbridge, Korey’s broad interest in gardening and landscaping provided a plethora of opportunities, from transplanting boxwoods to creating a stone path to the Vista Garden, working in the greenhouses, and general garden maintenance. His goal of seeing as much as possible of the region was fulfilled by field trips to The Mount, Wave Hill, High Meadows, and Hollister House. Since
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the intern program is shaped around students’ individual interests, he also participated in a tree walk led by Dorthe Hviid, and staff-led workshops in floral design, weed identification, and beekeeping. Down the road, Korey hopes to own a landscaping business in Ravenwood. “Gardens will become more diversified in the future,” he said, “they are like art, always changing — minimalist to intricate.” Our staff eagerly awaits the arrival of the 2019 interns, with recruitment underway through March 1, 2019. Information on the application process is available at berkshirebotanical.org. The 2019 internship program will be funded in part through the generosity of The Marcia Brady Tucker Foundation.
The Planted Garden By Arne Maynard
“Gardening is at the very heart of what I do.”
FEB
02 Winter Lecture: “The Planted Garden” presented by Arne Maynard, Lenox Memorial High School
Gardens in Norfolk, England, designed by Arne Maynard Garden Design. ©Britt Willoughby Dyer
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I am first and foremost a gardener and so I create gardens that are intended to be gardened. The choice of plants for my garden designs, regardless of their location or size, is absolutely integral to their success. From loose wildflower meadows to formal borders, from urns bursting with summer color and texture to individual pots of special specimen bulbs, plants are what make a garden unique and are what root it in its surroundings. I use plants for the majority of the architecture and structure in the gardens I design (pleached fruit allees, clipped topiary sentinels, cloud hedge dividers to name but a few) but it is the soft planting that creates the atmosphere and excitement. Putting plants together is a passion fueled not only by my love of the natural environment, but also by my appreciation and observation of visual arts and crafts. I study paintings, sculpture and textiles to focus my thoughts on balance and rhythm within a border, as well as to inspire wonderful new color combinations. I love starting with the wilder edges of any garden I am designing. The meadows, waterways and woodlands that
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often sit alongside the garden borders can be separated from the natural environment by only a simple fence or hedgerow. We ensure these edges retain their wildness, but link them to the more ornamental areas of the garden by the gradual introduction of more cultivated plants. We plant hellebore, daffodil, snowdrop or aconite in the woodland, we add iris or orchids to meadows or plant primroses into grass and begin to mix cultivars in with the species forms. The approach to the entrance to the property is a carefully planted journey. The edges of driveways are softened with spring bulbs, or the pathways into the garden are planted with creeping thyme. We consider every part of the garden when creating a planting plan, and while the central parts — the rose gardens, perennial and cut flower borders and the seasonal pots and containers — are important, we know that the best designs are those that are planted from the outside in. In my presentation at BBG’s Winter Lecture on February 2, I will explore how I choose and create
MAY
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PLANTS and Answers 42nd Annual Be-a-Better-Gardener Plant Sale Early buying for members: Friday 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
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planting combinations for the gardens I design. Using sumptuous photographs from gardens in both the UK and the USA, I will explain how by observing and using the natural environment’s plant palette for inspiration, we can create gardens that resonate with the surrounding landscape. Arne Maynard is an world-renowned garden designer working with clients across the world to create gardens that sit effortlessly in their surroundings. Central to Arne’s work is his ability to identify and draw out the essence of a place, something that gives his gardens a particular quality of harmony and belonging. He has a collaborative approach to design and believes that to succeed, a garden must relate and respond to its surrounding landscape, its history and to the buildings within and around its confines, as well as to the needs of its owners. Known for winning Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, Arne works with clients throughout the world and is considered one of today’s most celebrated and sought-after garden designers.
Currently Closed Reopening April 1
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A Member’s Gardening Journey By Ian Hooper, BBG Trustee
When my wife Madeline and I chose our weekend house in Columbia County, back in 1980, a garden didn’t factor into our decision, because there wasn’t one! Location, house size, interior layout, fireplaces and price were the key considerations. In fact, the garden’s absence was a blessing: the house required our full attention. As time went by, however, and our first summer came and went, we began to think about the outdoors, and it intimidated us. Where to start? Apart from clearing the area in front of the house, bordered by the road on one side and a large rock outcrop on the other, we hesitated to commit further. Madeline had had a small garden in New Jersey for a couple of years, but I had never had a garden of my own and studiously avoided helping my parents with theirs. What to do? Enter BBG. Their classes for beginners were just what we needed, and even walking the grounds became an educational experience: we photographed plants we liked and took advantage of the plant lists available at every garden. We had a few friends in the area with gardens and they began to bring plants when they visited us and share their knowledge. Then we discovered the Plant Sale at BBG, and it made sense financially as well as emotionally to become members, because we bought so many of the plants that were featured. Our first steps in our own garden were tentative, to say the least. We created a bed behind the house that lasted for a couple of years but was never very satisfactory. Then we 16
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“we began to realize that we were being hooked by a new hobby that would become a passion.” identified another area that we thought worth developing and asked Fred Callander (of Callander’s Nursery in Chatham, New York) to help us define it and prepare it for planting. That not only became the first bed which has lasted to this day, but also started a relationship with this wonderful man that soon became a firm friendship. A neighbor with a green thumb was a big help and guided us in starting a vegetable garden. She also introduced us to Liz Toffey, a rock-gardening whiz
who fell in love with our large rock outcrop and took charge of stripping it of all its undergrowth and weeds, preparing it for planting, suggesting appropriate material, and engaging us as her willing helpers. At the same time, I became involved in New York with an organization that was related to The National Trust in the UK, and Madeline and I would visit significant gardens in England and Wales with this group and meet leading gardening professionals.
only were deeply committed to the institution but also devoted an unusual amount of time and energy to it and were fun to be with. Shortly after that, we joined the Board ourselves. That was more than 10 years ago, and the intervening time has been a period of exciting expansion for both BBG and our own garden, enabled respectively by the skilled navigation of talented and hard-working BBG staff and a dedicated, collegial Board, and by the advice and encouragement of many talented gardening friends. BBG weathered the storm of the Recession and has more than doubled in revenue and expenses, without ever getting into debt. With the restoration of the 18th Century Center House, and the replacement of its
outbuildings with additional staff and education space, there is new revenue potential to fuel continued growth. Concurrently, our own garden became fully established and is now in the exciting stage when all the trees and plantings are maturing. Of course, that means that Madeline and I are maturing as well, but there’s nothing like maturing as well, and we're confident that active BBG members and hyperactive gardeners resist disease and wilting. Ian Hooper has been a BBG Trustee since 2006 and is an active member of the Garden’s Marketing Committee. His career was in marketing communications at advertising and PR agencies in New York, London, and Nairobi.
Frank E. Schoonover: American Visions
Gregory Manchess: Above the Timberline
on view through May 27
on view through February 24
sponsored in part by
Gregory Manchess, Above the Timberline, (detail). 2017. © Gregory Manchess.
Frank E. Schoonover (1877-1972) Abe Catherson, Pony Express Rider, (detail). 1916. Private collection.
So the fog was clearing, and we began to realize that we were being hooked by a new hobby that would become a passion. A favorite annual occasion was the BBG Winter Lecture, where we could be inspired by some of the most respected gardeners and landscape designers in the US and the world. Later, BBG would join the ranks of organizations offering trips to explore gardens across the US and in Europe, all of which fed our need for inspiration and education and honed our own expertise. In 2005, Madeline and I were invited to attend a Retreat organized by the BBG Board to devise plans for the Garden’s next five years, and we discovered a group of people who not
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Tyler Hanes and Ensemble in West Side Story, 2018. PHOTO Daniel Rader.
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The Boston Globe
EDUCATION
DECEMBER 2018 – MAY 2019
Education Our education program offers a diverse selection of learning opportunities throughout the year. Winter and early spring are ideal seasons for enrichment — whether through our Horticulture Certificate Program or by attending classes or workshops. Our annual Winter Lecture on February 2 features noted garden designer Arne Maynard and provides a chance to reconnect with gardening friends at the reception that follows. For more information on classes and events, visit berkshirebotanical.org.
Photo by Jack Sprano
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Classes, Lectures, and Workshops Science of Plant Propagation
Herbal Gift Making Thursday, December 6, 6 – 8 pm Members: $35, Non-Members: $45 Learn about the craft of homemade herbal gift making with local farmer and herbalist, Jen Salinetti of Woven Roots Farm. Participants will make and take home unique holiday gifts, including loose tea blends, sachets, air fresheners, bath salts and sugar scrubs.
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Tuesdays, January 8 – 29, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (4 weeks) Members: $175, Non-Members: $185 Learn the art and science of plant propagation with instructor Adam Wheeler. Focus on the basic botany needed to understand and successfully propagate plants. Sexual and asexual propagation methods including sowing seeds, cuttings, grafting, layering, and division will be covered. Students will learn the fascinating science behind propagation along with the various techniques used to create new plants.
Bark & Buds Organic Vegetable Gardening
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Thursdays, January 10 – February 7, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (5 weeks) Members: $220, Non-Members: $230 Designed for those starting or caring for a vegetable garden, this course will include a comprehensive discussion of regenerative agriculture practices including: soil and nutrient management, no-till practices, seed selection, crop rotation schemes, bed preparation, seeding and planting, pest management, and specific plant cultivation. Each week, students will investigate a different vegetable family to ensure all questions are answered about cultivation of these important food groups, including: Fabaceae (peas/beans/other legumes), greens (lettuce/mustards/arugula/ mache and more), herbs (perennial and annual), perennial vegetables (asparagus/rhubarb/horseradish), Chenopodiaceae (beet/chard family), Brassicaceae (cabbage/cauliflower/kale/ brussels sprout family), Cucurbitaceae (squash/pumpkin/ cucumber/melon family), Poeaceae (corn family), Allioideae (onion/ garlic/leek/shallot family), Solanaceae (tomato/eggplant/pepper/ potato/sweet potato family) and Apiaceae (carrots/parsnips). Taught by Peter Salinetti of Woven Roots Farm. Kitchen classes are sponsored by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace with stores located in Great Barrington and Pittsfield.
Bark and Buds: Winter Tree ID Saturday, December 8, 2017, 10 am – 2 pm Members: $25, Non-Members: $35 Bring a bag lunch. Dress for limited outdoor fieldwork. Discover the many plants that lend bark, buds, fruit, and structural interest to the garden in fall and winter. Under the expert guidance of Brad Roeller, develop your ability to identify winter trees by twig and bud anatomy, bark features and plant architecture. Students will practice their skills with winter tree dichotomous keys. This class will primarily be indoors and participants will work with collected specimens.
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This symbol denotes Horticulture Certificate Program classes, workshops and lectures open to both students seeking credit towards BBG’s acclaimed horticulture certificate as well as the general public. Please visit berkshirebotanical.org or call 413 357-4657 for additional information.
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ANDREW Z E M A’S
LANDSCAPING INC. Landscape installations ■ Water features ■ Masonry
Planting Plan Design Studio H Wednesdays, January 16 – March 6, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (8 weeks) Members: $350, Non-Members: $385 Learn how to design a planting plan for private and public garden spaces with instructor David Dew Bruner, A.S.L.A. Explore the manipulation of space by using plant material through a series of exercises dealing with form, color, and texture. Students will consider the nature of plant characteristics in specific design settings. Existing architecture will be used for a source of inspiration while honoring the horticultural needs of each plant. Students will make presentations for each project, and class critiques will be positive, instructive, and essential to the learning process. This is a participatory class. Required text: Professional Planting Design by Scott Scarfone. Prerequisites: Herbaceous Plants, Ornamental Woody Plants, Drafting for Garden Design. For materials list visit: berkshirebotanical.org
Tree Care for Gardeners
www.andrewzema.com azemaslandscaping@yahoo.com WORK 518 359 6002 CELL 413 329 5207
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.net
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Fridays, February 1 – 15, 1 – 5 pm (3 weeks) Members: $175, Non-Members: $185 Whether you are an amateur or professional horticulturist, you are a steward of the landscape, and probably spend more time than anyone among the flowers, shrubs, and trees. This course, taught by arborist Tom Ingersoll, is designed for those who might not necessarily be first to climb 100 feet up a Northern Red Oak or wrangle the chainsaw to fell a 36” dead American elm. The goal of this class is to empower horticulturalists to better understand the largest plants in the landscape. Learn the basics of tree biology and identification, the tree’s role in the ecosystem, proper selection, siting, planting considerations, pruning of young trees, fertilization, pest identification and when to call in the certified arborist.
Sustainable Landscape Care & Garden Maintenance Tuesdays, February 5 – 26, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (4 weeks) Members: $175, Non-Members: $185
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Learn about the maintenance considerations that should be integrated into the design process. Students’ horticultural knowledge will expand to factor sustainable maintenance concerns with cost effectiveness into plant selection. Learn procedures for perennials, woody plants, and lawns, including transplanting, staking, fertilizing, winterizing, mulching, plant pathology, and pest control with an emphasis on deer control. Taught by Brad Roeller.
• Building Foundations • Complete Organic Lawn Care: installation, maintenance & mowing • Realistic Computer Image Design • Design & Construction • Lawn Installation: seeding & sodding • Woodland Restoration & Cleanup • Backhoe & Excavator Work • Drainage Systems • Underground Irrigation • Erosion Control • Tie Retaining Walls & Steps • Driveway Construction
• Perennial Gardens • Stone Walls, Patios & Steps • Waterfalls & Reflecting Pools • Alpine & Rock Gardens • Natural Screening • Garden Restoration • Land Clearing • Parkification • Test Pits & Septic Systems • Swimming Pools • Night Lighting • Snow Plowing • Synthetic Golf Greens • Golf Lessons
PROJECT MANAGEMENT — FULLY INSURED STOCKBRIDGE, MA tel: 413-298-4292 email: TFarley1@verizon.net www.TomFarley.com
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Baking with Ancient Grains Saturday, February 9, 10 am – 1 pm Members: $45, Non-Member: $55 Ancient grains are a nutrient-rich, healthier alternative to conventional wheat, not to mention their delicious flavor! Using them in baking can present challenges, however. Join pastry chef Rachel Portnoy as she demystifies using the ancient grain einkorn in all types of baking. Einkorn is one of the oldest and lesser known ancient grains, a relative of modern wheat with a more easily digested gluten. “Gluten-safe” einkorn can replace wheat in so many applications, without any of the binding additives needed in gluten-free baking. We will make savory & sweet treats to showcase einkorn’s adaptability and flavor.
The Genus Geranium: Hardy Cranesbills for Every Garden Saturday, February 16, 2 – 4 pm Members: $25, Non-Members: $35 Not to be confused with the tender Pelargonium species, the hardy Cranesbills are a diverse group of plants in habitat, foliage and flower suited to practically every gardening situation. The medley of Cranesbills offers up a profusion of blooms in early summer while the fascinating foliage patterns, markings and fall color can provide three-season interest. As manager of the Countess von Zeppelin Nursery in Germany and Director of Horticulture at White Flower Farm, Robert Herman cultivated over 30 species and cultivars of the genus Geranium. He will share his knowledge and provide advice on selecting and raising some of the best plants for New England gardens.
Native Perennial Seed Starting Saturday, February 9, 11 am – 2 pm Members: $15, Non-Members: $25 In this hands-on workshop, learn how to grow native perennials from seed. Dottie “Lou” Kratt, owner of Northeast Native Seeds, will discuss the benefits of using native plants in various landscape types; native plant selections best suited for our region and various growing conditions; seed stratification; and site requirements. Participants will learn how to prepare a site for sowing plants from seed and various low-tech techniques for starting native plants from seed. Each participant will go home with seeds to plant in their own gardens.
Raising Nucs: A Valuable Skill for All Beekeepers Saturday, February 16, 10 am – noon Members: $10, Non-Members: $15 Most beekeepers lose some colonies every year and will need replacement colonies. Raising your own nucs allows the beekeeper to accomplish several things at the same time: swarming can be controlled, varroa mites can be partially managed, and great replacement colonies and queens can be produced with minimal investment. It also is a very enjoyable and rewarding pursuit. In this talk, Jack Rath, the Betterbee queen rearing and nuc production program manager, will focus on the theory and practice of nucleus production with an emphasis on later season nucs for overwintering.
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Maple Sugaring at Home Saturday, February 23, 10am – 12:30pm Members: $25, Non-Members: $35 This workshop will demonstrate the beloved New England tradition of making maple syrup at home, using the sugar bush on the grounds of the Berkshire Botanical Garden. Chris Wellens, Director of Education at BBG, will cover all aspects of maple sugaring: identifying suitable trees, the when and how of collecting sap, the boiling down process for the home setting, and preserving the syrup for year-round use. Participants will walk through the BBG sugarbush, install spiles, consider collection schedules, and boil down the maple sap to syrup. A tasting will follow.
Hearty and Healthy Soups Saturday, February 23, 2 – 5pm Members: $45, Non-Members: $55 Warm up this winter during this hands-on cooking class all about making simple yet flavorful soups at home. The class will emphasize utilizing common pantry items as well as botanicals. Professional cook and television personality, Anna Gershenson, will lead the class in making a thick and hearty red lentil soup, quinoa, spinach, and feta chowder, and a hearty sausage and kale soup, all paired with a warm-spiced pumpkin pesto bruschetta.
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Winter’s End: A Feast to Celebrate the Transition of the Seasons Saturday, March 2, 2 – 5pm Members: $45, Non-Members: $55 Eating seasonally can get a little tricky in the time between the seasons. Join Cookbook Author Alana Chernila for meal to the transition from winter to spring with a menu from her three cookbooks. This will be a hands-on class, so push up your sleeves and get ready to make Winter Borscht, Herb and Goat Cheese Popovers, Radicchio and Chickpeas with Creamy Lemon Dressing, and Baked Apples with Maple Ice Cream. We’ll discuss how to find and store the best vegetables, as well as tricks to bring out the best in every root and leaf. We’ll wrap it up with a light meal together, to truly celebrate the bounty of the Berkshires.
Heirloom Apple Grafting Sunday, March 3, 1 – 4 pm Members: $45, Non-Members: $55
Container Gardening
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Thursdays, February 28 – March 14, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (3 weeks) Members: $145, Non-Members: $155 Acquire a knowledge of the skills required for beautiful and successful container gardens with Jenna O’Brien, owner of Viridissima Horticulture and Design. Start with techniques for overwintering tropicals, tender perennials, bulbs, annuals and more without a greenhouse through storage of dormant plants, seed collection, cuttings, divisions and other simple techniques. Get to know the plants that thrive in containers and how to care for them. This class will cover practical aspects of gardening with plants that do double duty as housescape plants in the winter and container plants in summer. Consider container selection, siting, planting, growing, controlling pests, and maintaining moveable gardens.
Cultivating the Designer’s Mind Saturday, March 2, 10 am – noon Members: $10, Non-Members: $15 Long in production, Walter Cudnohufsky, M.L.A.'s book Cultivating the Designers Mind — Principles and Process of Coherent Landscape Design, is a culmination of sixty years of studying, teaching and practicing landscape design. While the book is intended for all land-related professions, landscape architects, architects, planners and engineers, it is both accessible to and useful for all audiences. By personal experience, its principles and processes are widely applicable to much of common life. Highly illustrated with real world examples, this book includes Walter’s compelling watercolor landscape paintings, and focuses on the thinking process at the various stages of a design project. It concludes with ten of the most pervasive and widely applicable design principles. This talk will share some of the sources of personal inspiration, discovered principles, and insights made in the capturing on paper the ellusive task called designing. There will be ample time for planned audience engagement and questions and answers in the one hour talk.
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Come join Broken Arrow Nurseries grafting guru, Adam Wheeler, for this hands-on workshop that explores the world of grafting heirloom apples. Participants will be given a brief lecture that explores the methods and intricacies of this time-tested craft. Following the lecture, participants will put this newfound knowledge to work by grafting a few specimen apples of their own to take home.
Landscape Design I
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Tuesdays, March 5 – April 16, 5:30 – 8:30 pm (7 weeks) Members: $300, Non-Members: $325 This design course will introduce students to the design process—the systematic way designers approach a site and client. The course will include a series of simple projects that will end with a garden designed by the students. Learn design principles such as form, balance, repetition, line, texture, color, and spatial relationships. Additionally, students will be introduced to history and how it helps the designer resolve and inspire garden design. As the adage goes, we cannot escape our history so we have to understand where we came from. Taught by David Dew Bruner, A.S.L.A.
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Drawing Nature: Treasures from the Seashore Tuesday, March 19 – Thursday, March 21, 10 am – 4 pm (3 days) Members: $340, Non-Members: $375
Creating a Varroa Management Plan Saturday, March 9, 10am – noon Members: $10, Non-Members: $25 Keeping Varroa mites under control in a honeybee colony can be difficult and confusing. There are lots of treatment options but no silver bullet. UMass extension educator Hannah Whitehead will lead a workshop on how to choose and combine treatment options in order to create a mite management plan. She will explain the theory of Integrated Pest Management, review mite treatment options, and discuss the most effective non-chemical management tools. As part of the workshop, participants will fill out their own personal mite management plan for this coming summer.
Cheese Making at Home Saturday, March 9, 2pm – 5pm Members: $35, Non-Members: $45 Learn how to make a simple, delicious cheese in your home kitchen. BBG’s own Chris Wellens will cover equipment, supplies, and basic techniques used in making nearly all types of cheese. While making 3 types of cheese, fresh from start to finish, an emphasis will be on making a unique cheese unlike any at your local grocery store. After enjoying the fresh-made cheeses, each person will take home instructions and a set of ingredients to make a batch or two at home. This workshop is for beginners, and participants will learn by doing.
Beekeeping 101: An Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping Saturday, March 16, 9 am – 4 pm Members: $65, Non-Members: $75 This all-day program will give first-year beekeepers the tools they need to start off their new hobby on the right foot. Topics will include honey bee biology, equipment, hive installation methods, basic pest management, honey and wax harvesting, and hive management through the seasons. A hands-on demonstration of installing a hive will follow this talk at a later date depending on the arrival date of the bees. Price includes lunch. Suggested supplementary texts: The Beekeepers Handbook by Diana Sammataro and Alphonse Avitabile and The Backyard Beekeeper by Kim Flottum. Taught by BBG Director of Education and head beekeeper Chris Wellens.
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Find inspiration from seashore treasures with illustrator Carol Ann Morley. Bring to life the beauty of shells, pebbles and other wondrous shapes. Explore their structure and intricate details and learn how to create the silky shine of seaweed, surface of driftwood and other textural surfaces. Make graphite studies of your specimens and find out how to select the right tonal values to give form to a white shell or black pebble. From graphite sketches to realistic renderings, create a fun-filled page of beach treasures. Students of all levels are welcome. Material list available at berkshirebotanical.org.
Home Orchard Management Saturday, March 23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Members: $110, Non-Members: $125 Successfully growing fruit for your family becomes straightforward when you narrow the big picture down to getting the basics right. This workshop, led by expert Michael Phillips, of Lost Nation Orchard in northern New Hampshire, covers complementary sprays backed by biodiversity and soil health to set the stage for successfully growing tree fruit in the western Massachusetts/tristate region. Learn how fungal disease becomes manageable with wise variety choices and enhanced soil biology. Even major insect challenges can be resolved safely. All sorts of fruits – from apples and pears to peaches and cherries and onward to berries – make for a diverse home-orchard planting. Bring a bag lunch.
Spring Pruning of Woody Ornamental Plants Saturday, April 6, 10 am – 2 pm Members: $25, Non-Members: $35 Spring is a great time to assess woody shrubs for shape, structure, and winter damage. This workshop will focus on learning by doing. Ron Yaple, owner of Race Mountain Tree Services in Sheffield, MA, will demonstrate how to renovate, rejuvenate, and shape shrubs and small ornamental trees for structure, health, and optimal growth. Plants covered will include viburnums, lilacs, witch hazels, deciduous azaleas, sweetshrubs, crab apples, and ornamental cherries. Participants should dress for the weather; bring pruners, work gloves, and a bag lunch.
No-Till & Cover Crops For The Home Garden: Small Scale Practices for Soil improvement and Carbon Sequestration Saturday, April 13, 10 am – noon Members: $15, Non-Members: $25 Maintaining living plant cover is one of the essential practices of building soil health. This workshop, taught by Sharon Gensler, provides practical guidance on using cover crops in a small-scale, non-mechanized, no-till context to improve soil health both for growing more nutritious food and for sequestering atmospheric carbon into the soil.
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Growing a Cutting Garden at Home Saturday, April 13, 1 – 3pm Members: $25, Non-Members: $35 Cutting gardens are lovely to view, provide fresh-cut flowers and keep your perennial borders from being raided for indoor display. Learn how to grow a small, highly productive cutting garden as an addition to the vegetable patch or as a stand-alone garden. Consider all aspects of growing cut flowers, including designing and constructing an efficient but beautiful garden using select flower varieties that hold up best as cut flowers. Included in the talk will be tips on sowing, planting, transplanting, cultivating and preparing flowers for indoor use. This program is designed for the home gardener. Taught by Elisabeth Cary, former Director of Education at the Berkshire Botanical Garden.
Transplanting Shrubs and Planting Small Ornamental Trees Saturday, April 27, 10 am – 1 pm Members: $15, Non-Members: $25 Learn by doing in this hands-on shrub and tree planting/transplanting workshop led by arborist Ken Gooch. All aspects of successful planting will be demonstrated, and participants will assist in transplanting a multi-stem shrub and planting a small tree. Learn how to successfully transplant shrubs through correct timing, placement, and techniques designed to create minimal disturbance and ensure smooth transition to a new site. Consider the differences between bare-root, container-grown, or balled-and-burlapped trees, and understand the importance of siting. Participants should dress warmly and bring pruners and work gloves; dress for the weather.
Gardening and Mindfulness Sunday, May 5 – Thursday, May 9 $389.00 per person + room and meal. Register through Kripalu at Kripalu.com Berkshire Botanical Garden is proud to partner with The Kripalu Center to offer a unique exploration of the intersection of gardening activities and mindfulness practice. For anyone who has created a home garden or tilled the soil, whether in a plot or a container, the meditative qualities of gardening are naturally evident. You often find yourself connected to the present moment, senses engaged directly with the earth, lost in the calming act of planting and cultivating. In this program, you experience: daily workshops on basic gardening skills, walking tours of the Kripalu campus and Berkshire Botanical Garden, meditation classes focused on mindfulness practices and how to apply them at home, gentle group yoga and movement sessions. Led by Jurian Hughes, the garden component of this program will be led by BBG instructors Chris Wellens and Jenna O’Brien. Join us to discover a whole new way to practice this ancient and joyous activity.
Winter Some course details may have Cuttings: changed since printing and others may have been added. Visit berkshirebotanical.org for the most up4.75”W x 3.5 “H to-date program information. Enrollment in many classes is limited. Early registration is encouraged.
WINDY HILL FARM NURSERY • ORCHARD • GARDEN SHOP
Superb plantS, extenSive Knowledge outStanding Quality, Selection & value
We offer our own Berkshire field-gown specimens, including Kousa dogwood; American, European, Green and Copper Beech; native birch; hybrid lilacs; viburnums; hydrangea paniculata; Fringe trees; witchhazels; resistant American elms; blueberries; winterberry; espaliered fruit trees; mature apple, peach and pear trees; herbaceous and tree peonies. Closing DeCember 24, 2018 • reopening April 1, 2019 686 Stockbridge road, great barrington, Ma 01230 www . windyhillfarMinc . coM (413) 298-3217
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Winter Lecture with Arne Maynard: The Planted Garden Saturday, February 2, 2 pm Duffin Theater at Lenox Memorial Middle/High School Members: $35, Non-Members: $45 In the gardens of Arne Maynard, it is the soft planting that creates atmosphere and excitement. Putting plants together is a passion fueled not only by his love of the natural environment, but also by his appreciation and observation of visual arts and crafts. In his February 2nd Winter Lecture presentation, he will illustrate the design approach central to his work to identify and draw out the essence of a place, something that gives his gardens a particular holistic quality of harmony and belonging. A festive, post-lecture dinner reception with Arne will be hosted at BBG’s Center House on February 2. For more information and to reserve, visit berkshirebotanical.org or call 413 320-4794. Arne Maynard is considered one of the most sought-after garden designers working in Britain today. He is known for winning Gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and for his beautiful and synergistic gardens for private homes throughout the world. His large-scale country estates and small urban spaces reflect the architectural background and holistic philosophy Maynard has applied famously to his private gardens, first at Guanock House in Lincolnshire and now at Allt-y-bela.
Great Gardens of Denmark June 16 – 23, 2019 Arranged by Classical Excursions Join us on this exclusive tour of the great gardens of Denmark, expertly arranged by Lani Summerville of Classical Excursions. Denmark is the southernmost and therefore, the most continental of the Scandinavian countries. Greatly varied with wide fields, moors and forests, Denmark also has a beautiful coastline and over 480 islands. From picturesque villages with colorful half-timbered houses, to majestic castles, manor houses and Viking ruins and, of course, the bold Danish Modern movement, Denmark is a destination not to be missed. This seven-day tour will introduce you to the finest historical properties and gardens in Denmark, including 18th century manor houses, royal residences, and exceptional gardens. For more information, visit berkshirebotanical.org
Learn More About this Great Garden Trip! Information Session: Friday, December 14, 5:00 p.m. in the Center House classroom.
WITHDRAWALS: To withdraw your registration from a class, please contact us as soon as possible so we can make your space available to others. If you give us at least 7 days’ notice prior to the event, we will provide a refund, less an administrative fee equaling 25% of the program cost. Please note: we cannot offer refunds for withdrawals less than 7 days prior to a class.
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Forever Beautiful: Memories of Ellen Greendale She was funny and fun-loving, generous, energetic, and selfeffacing. To many of you reading this, Ellen was an inspiring leader and colleague, either at the Garden, or in the Lenox Garden Club, or both. To some she was a dear friend. I met Ellen when she joined the BBG Board over ten years ago. It didn't take long for me to recognize her keen ability as Ellen Fix-It. That was “ancient history.” Long lines at Holiday Marketplace demanded more cash registers immediately, and there they were! I cannot count the times in the years following when Ellen was spotted at the Plant Sale or Harvest Festival, patching the cracks in a system before they became fissures. Ellen was a problem-solver by nature. I think she may have seen a problem as a puzzle wanting a solution — maybe not as much fun as a jigsaw, but nearly so. She wanted everything to be as easy for others to understand as it was for her, particularly in finance and systems. How often did she ask the Board, after her Treasurer's Report, "What can I do to make this all clearer for you?" She liked to create order out of chaos. Even when she
was very sick, she would say, "you cannot believe how good I feel after I've sorted out a closet!" Sometimes I think she felt sorry for me whenever the Harvest Festival Silent Auction approached, and figuring out that one way to make me smile was to add fuel, she would zip up to her house and return with a tankard of espresso. As I said, she liked to solve problems any way she could. Ellen was a giver, not a taker. She enjoyed knowing that people around her were having fun. Many of you saw her face-painted as a cat, but some have great memories of weekend-themed parties at Broad Meadows, when everyone dressed up for a role. For Ellen, a child of the Midwest, things could be, but did not have to be, sophisticated. Who would believe her very favorite meal was a cheeseburger? She always had cheeseburgers for her birthday, which happened to be Christmas Eve — no roast goose for her! About ten days before Ellen died, I was visiting her, sitting at the end of her bed, and she was eating a burger. "I can have as many of these now as I want!" That same day, with Silent Auction looming, I was concerned about my Smithsonian-worthy
laptop dying. She laughed out loud, knowing both the machine and me only too well. I asked for her advice: "Should I, perhaps, get an iMac?" She looked at me carefully and said, "knowing how change-resistant and non-tech you are, get a PC; if you buy an Apple put it in a tart!" Humorous and helpful to the end, that was Ellen. When Ellen learned that she was ill, she told me that she was not angry, and not scared, just very sad. She didn't want to leave everyone — mostly Chris, of course, but not her dogs, not Broad Meadows, and not her friends. She was probably too modest to recognize how much we would all miss her. In tribute to a good friend, Janet Laudenslager, BBG Trustee
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VOLUNTEER NEWS:
Have a Growth Experience: Be a BBG Volunteer! Cuttings For advertising opportunities, please call 413-298-3926.
Native Habitat Restoration Returning Balance to Nature
Wetlands Woodlands Meadows Fields Invasive Plant Control
(organic options)
Pollinator Habitats Field Reclamation Wetland Restoration
(413) 358-7400 NativeHabitatRestoration.weebly.com Licensed in MA . CT . NY . VT
Whether you are a year-rounder or a part-time resident, you can have a wonderful experience as a Volunteer here at BBG. We have a wide variety of meaningful “jobs” performed by our dedicated Volunteer corps, from hands-on work in the Garden beds, to greeting and guiding visitors … from helping out at delightful special events, to acting as docents in our elegant Center House galleries. Whatever your interests may be, we can use your talents. And now with our art exhibitions open year-round, we have Volunteer opportunities in winter too! Our amazing Volunteers enjoy a variety of perks, including free Volunteeronly classes and celebratory events. But perhaps the best “payback” is the enjoyment you will experience being part of the BBG family, and the sense of fulfillment that comes from doing important work in your community. To learn more about Volunteer positions, go to the Volunteer page on the BBG website at berkshirebotanical.org, and hit “Click here to Volunteer.” Then click on “Volunteer Jobs” to see a list of current positions. Or call our Volunteer manager at 413-298-3926 ext. 14 to discuss a volunteer opportunity that’s just right for you. If you’re around this winter, consider a 4-hour shift as a weekend docent. We’d love to hear from you! I can tell you from my own experience that volunteering at BBG is truly life-enriching. Not only have I become a better gardener, but I have also forged new friendships and deepened my roots in the community. Join me, and discover how you too can grow at BBG. — Lauretta Harris, President, BBG Volunteer Association
Bulb Show
MARCH 4 - 29, 2019 in the Fitzpatrick Greenhouse Enjoy New England favorites blooming alongside our ever-growing collection of South African bulbs.
www.websterlandscapes.com 93 Ashley Falls Road, Sheffield, MA 413.229.8124
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Hours: Weekdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Weekends, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Free admission Photo by BBG volunteer Harriet Wetstone
A Gift of Membership: Priceless Giving a BBG membership is a wonderful way to acknowledge the gardeners in your life, providing them with perks to enjoy all year long. Membership benefits include free Garden admission and discounts on classes, trips, and purchases in our Visitor Center. Members have access to the Garden’s botanical library and receive Cuttings magazine by mail so they can always stay apprised of Garden events and programs. They will get invited to exclusive gallery and movie events at the Center House, enjoy early buying privileges at our Plant Sale and Holiday Marketplace, and benefit from the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admission Program, which offers free admission and/or additional discounts at over 300 gardens throughout North America and the Caribbean. Giving the gift of membership helps the Garden grow in many ways, from allowing us to create new landscapes to supporting our educational programs and after-school outreach. Memberships come in several levels. . .choose one that’s just right for yourself, a family member, aspiring student, or friend. And thank you for supporting the Garden!
NEW THIS YEAR: Renew or give a gift of membership at any level and receive a stylish BBG member canvas tote bag! Purchase a supporter level or above membership and you will also receive a limited edition catalogue commemorating the 2018 exhibit of plant lithographs by Ellsworth Kelly at BBG. Learn more about Garden membership at berkshirebotanical.org, or call our office at 413 320-4794.
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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Qualprint 5 West Stockbridge Road Stockbridge, MA 01262 413-298-3926 • berkshirebotanical.org
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