Events & Programs AUGUST 2021
Visitors are welcome! Please buy tickets in advance by visiting at www.towerhillbg.org. Tickets are not sold on site. Tower Hill follows Massachusetts guidance on face coverings. Please check our website before your visit for up-to-date information. Explore the following pages to discover experiences you can enjoy in person or on-line. We offer many opportunities to learn, explore and delight in all Tower Hill has to offer.
Program Registration To see the full description of educational programs and to register please visit our website. We highly encourage registering for programs online in advance to ensure your spot. Classes are organized to abide by all state and federal regulations on masks, distancing, and group size. For up to date information regarding regulations please visit our website. For registration questions pertaining to adult programs or youth and family programs, please contact our Registrar at registrar@towerhillbg.org or call 508.869.6111x174.
ADULT PROGRAMS Online Learning Butterfly Institute
ASSORTED INSTRUCTORS
This 3-week hybrid course (3 online lectures, 2 field experiences) led by members of the Massachusetts Butterfly Club will introduce you to the diversity, ecology, and life history of our beautiful New England butterflies, along with management tools to help them. This course is designed for the butterfly enthusiast who wants to dig deeper, and for those who would like to further their appreciation of the natural world around them. Thursday, July 29, August 5 & 12, 6–8pm (ONLINE) Saturday, August 7 & 14, 9–11am (IN PERSON) $150M; $175NM | HYBRID WORKSHOP
Introduction To Grasses, Sedges And Rushes TED ELLIMAN
Learn identification approaches to grasses, sedges, and rushes, which are often challenging to identify. This program is being offered as a webinar with the ability to add on a field session on Saturday. View gardening and horticulture section and website for details on field study. Thursday, August 19, 6:30–8pm $15M; $20NM | LIVE WEBINAR
Adaptive Gardening for 50+
DEBORAH KRAUSE
This webinar, sponosored by AARP, will showcase the ways you can adapt gardening to meet your needs. Learn how to safely and comfortably garden with the right techniques and tools. AUGUST 25, 6–7pm NO COST TO ATTEND | LIVE WEBINAR SPONSORED BY AARP
Art, Craft, & Floral Design
Wellness Yoga in the Garden
Advanced Zentangle
ASSORTED INSTRUCTORS
Enjoy gentle-to-moderate flow yoga in a class for all levels. Please bring your own mat. Tuesdays, 6–7:15pm Thursdays, 10:30–11:45am Thursdays, 6–7:15pm PER CLASS: $10M; $17NM I NO WALK-INS
Chair Yoga
REBECCA REBER
Using a chair as a prop, come and have fun while enjoying the benefits of movement. Tuesdays, August 3–31, 11am–12pm (4 week session) *No class August 10 $45M; $60NM I NO WALK-INS
Forest Bathing
KAREN KEEFE
This 3 ½ hour session is for those who have already participated in the Introduction to Zentangle class and are very familiar with the basic concepts, methodology and practices. The class will focus on learning more complex tangles, blending of patterns, techniques of tangulation and use of various Zentangle tools with different media. Sunday, August 1, 1:15-4:45pm $45M; $60NM
Flowers in the Sun: Exploring Highlights and Shadows CAROL SCHWARTZ
Using colored pencils, learn how to better create highlights and shadows and why they are important. Saturday, August 14, 10:30am–12:30pm $30M; $40NM
NADINE MAZZOLA
Relax and refresh through mindfulness practices, sensory awareness, and nature outdoors. Friday, August 6, 9:30am–12:30pm Sunday, August 29, 9:30am–12:30pm
Tour and Build with the Myth Makers DONNA DODSON & ANDY MOERLEIN
In the tranquil environment of Tower Hill, you will breathe deeply and practice gentle fluid movements, mindfully to reduce stress and improve strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, range of motion, and stamina. Wednesdays, August 4–25, 10:15–11:30am (4-week session)
Tour the Myth Makers’ Wild Hideaways installations up close, hear about the life cycle and risks to Monarch Butterfly, and gain a unique understanding of bamboo. Using ancient skills taught to the Myth Makers by an octogenarian Taiwanese bamboo master, participants will take bamboo poles and split them into flexible strips. Then using this split bamboo and the unique tools and materials provided, participants will make a modest trellis of their own design to take home to their garden or yard. Saturday, August 7, 11am–1pm
Therapeutic Horticulture Thursdays
Watercolor Painting: Bird Nests and Eggs
$36M; $50NM I NO WALK-INS
Qigong & Tai Chi Movement
ROSE LEE
$65M; $80NM I NO WALK-INS
DEBORAH KRAUSE
Take deep breaths, slow down and leave your “to do” list behind during Therapeutic Horticulture Thursdays. This month’s theme will be herbs. Thursdays, August 5 & 12, 6:15–7:30pm (2 week session) Thursdays, August 19 & 26, 6:15–7:30pm (2 week session) $75M; $90NM I NO WALK-INS
Pop Up Yoga: All Levels Vinyasa
EMMA BARTOLINI
Join us in the gardens for this gentle yoga flow to ease tension and stress, get a stretch, and help nourish our spirits. Saturday, August 21, 12–1pm $10M; $17NM | NO WALK INS
Pop Up Yoga: Yin/Restorative
LISA MOORE
Deepen your stretches with a focus on yin postures. Saturday, August 28, 9:30–10:30AM $10M; $17NM | NO WALK INS
$60M; $75NM
SUZANNE HAUERSTEIN
Using real bird nests as inspiration, you will hone your observation skills and create a watercolor painting on paper. Drawing and painting demonstrations will be taught and practiced. Color theory and composition will be discussed. Friday, August 27, 1–3:30pm $40M; $55NM
Gardening and Horticulture Introduction to Grasses, Sedges and Rushes Field Session TED ELLIMAN
Learn identification approaches to grasses, sedges, and rushes, which are often challenging to identify. This program is being offered as an online webinar with the ability to add on a field session on Saturday. The field session is limited to 15 people. Thursday, August 19, 6:30–8pm (webinar) Saturday, August 21, 10:30am–12:30pm (field session) $40M; $55NM
Savory Herbal Kitchen
BETSY WILLIAMS
Learn how simple it is to make herb enhanced condiments and hot to use them to lift ordinary, everyday meals to new levels of enjoyment. Sunday, August 22, 10:15am–12:30pm $75M; $90NM
Vegetable Garden Walk and Talk
DAWN DAVIES
Join Horticulture Manager Dawn Davies on a walk around Tower Hill as she guides you through the beauty of the gardens. Learn about the vegetable garden design, the new addition to the plot, and plants on display. Sunday, August 29, 2–3pm $10M; $20NM
KYLE JACOBY
Calling all level birders! Join THBG staff member Kyle on a guided bird walk around the gardens. This casual stroll will stop at popular birding spots on site to see what we can find. Friday, August 6 & 20, 2–3pm $10M; $20NM
AMBER KENNEDY
On a leisurely plant identification hike around Tower Hill Botanic Garden you will learn about a plethora of native and introduced wild plants, their folklore, historical uses, and folk remedies. Sunday, August 21, 11am–1pm $35M; $45NM
Smartphone Photography
PAUL NGUYEN
This class teaches you how to get the most out of your smartphone, from using ambient light properly and improving your sense of composition, to doing simple edits in your phone to make your photos "pop" before sharing them with your friends. We'll also learn about accessory lenses that you can attach to your phone to turn it into an even more versatile camera. Sunday, August 22, 10:30am–1:30pm $45M; $60NM
Introduction to Birding
KYLE JACOBY
Looking to take your birding skills to the next level but don’t know where to begin? This introductory course will give you the foundational skills needed to be an active birder. Learn Identification skills, bird anatomy, habitat preference, and more. Saturday, August 28, 11am–1:30pm $40M; $55NM
Nature Studies Guided Bird Walk
Wild Herb Medicine Walk
Guided Photography Walk
STEVE MCGRATH
Join Steve McGrath on our monthly Photography Walk around Tower Hill! Bring your camera and lenses or a smartphone for your photography. During this freeflowing walk, we will be looking for many subjects around the gardens, like birds, flowers, Landscape and more! These walks are an opportunity to learn a few things, ask any questions you have, and enjoy the company of other photographers. Saturday, August 28, 10:30am–12pm $20M; $30NM
Flash Photography for Flowers
PAUL NGUYEN
If you know the basics of how to take close-ups of flowers and plants, it’s time to take your image-making to the next level by adding a little light of your own. Whether you are just curious about the possibilities, or own a flash setup but don’t know how to use it, this class puts you in position to properly light up your subjects. Sunday, August 29, 10:30am–1:30pm $45M; $60NM
YOUTH PROGRAMS Just For Kids Trailblazers | AGES 8–12
Explore a different topic with us each week with games, investigations, trail explorations and more during this drop-off program. Tuesdays & Thursdays in August, 9am–12pm M: $40 CHILD; NM: $45 CHILD
Kids Workshops Fairy Houses & Gnome Homes | AGES 4–12
Use natural materials to create your own fairy house or gnome home in a basket. Saturday, August 7, 1:30–3pm M: $25 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $30 CHILD, $16 ADULT
Wishbone Weaving | AGES 7–12
Craft a wishbone stick geometric weaving using yarn, natural materials, and more. Sunday, August 15, 1:30–3pm M: $20 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $26 CHILD, $16 ADULT
Birdhouse Builders | AGES 6–14
Build and paint your own birdhouse to welcome your feathered friends. Saturday, August 28, 1:30–3pm M: $30 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $36 CHILD, $16 ADULT
Family Fun Garden Buds | AGES 4–5
Join us for circle time, a story, a take-home craft packet, and a guided garden adventure. Thursdays in August, 10:30–11:30am M: $7 CHILD, $0 ADULT; NM: $12 CHILD, $16 ADULT
Insect Safari | AGES 3–12
Come bug out and learn about insects of all shapes and sizes. Thursday, August 5, 6–7pm M: $9 CHILD, $6 ADULT; NM: $15 CHILD, $18 ADULT
Adventures in Yoga | AGES 4–8
Get introduced to the basics of yoga together and try nature inspired poses. Thursday, August 12, 6:15–7pm Saturday, August 21, 10:30–11:15am M: $12 CHILD, $12 ADULT; NM: $16 CHILD, $20 ADULT
Ponding | AGES 6–12
Explore our wildlife pond and learn about life in this aquatic habitat. Saturday, August 14, 1:30–3pm M: $9 CHILD, $5 ADULT; NM: $15 CHILD, $18 ADULT
Orienteering Adventures | AGES 6–14
Learn about orienteering, practice navigational skills, and embark on series of trail adventures. Thursday, August 19, 6–7pm M: $10 CHILD, $7 ADULT; NM: $16 CHILD, $18 ADULT
Honeybee Walk | AGES 5–10
Celebrate National Honeybee Day, meet our newest residents, and learn about life as a honeybee. Saturday, August 21, 1:30–2:30pm M: $9 CHILD, $6 ADULT; NM: $15 CHILD, $18 ADULT
Sunset Family Walk | AGES 3–10
Explore our mile-long loop trail and enjoy the summer sunset on this guided nature walk. Thursday, August 26, 7–8pm M: $9 CHILD, $6 ADULT; NM: $15 CHILD, $18 ADULT
Drop-In Activities Exploration Stations | ALL AGES
Stop by our pop-up activity stations to tinker, investigate, and learn. Thursdays in August, 5–7pm
Discovery Backpacks | AGES 3–12
Check out our Discovery Backpacks filled with exciting activities and tools for exploring together. Sunday through Saturday, 10am–5pm
r e m Sum
Evenings at tower hill
August | Thursdays, 5–8PM September 2 | 5–7:30PM
This summer explore the gardens while enjoying live music, playing fun lawn games, and hiking our woodland trails. Enjoy food and drinks at our café and Beer Garden, watch the sunset over the Wachusett Reservoir, and choose from a wide variety of programs for both children and adults. See our website for details.
JUNE 1 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
PHOTOS © TROY THOMPSON, MATT MODOONO, J S MCELVERY
Join us this summer for Wild Hideaways: Designed for Adventure, a temporary outdoor art exhibit that showcases artistic, interactive, outdoor structures, that bring joy, inspire imaginative play, and spark a curiosity for the natural world and its connections to the built environment.
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