Boston Flora

  • Thursday, August 27, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Mrs. Trillium’s Book Garden with Alex Snodgrass

    Mrs. Trillium’s Book Garden: Signature Series invites you to an evening with Alex Snodgrass. The event takes place on August 27 from 6 – 9 at Trillium Fort Point in Boston. From $55.20. Register at Eventbrite HERE.

    Cookbook author and creator of The Defined Dish, Alex Snodgrass returns to Trillium to celebrate the release of her new cookbook, Everyday Eats. Known for her wholesome, flavor-forward recipes and practical approach to home cooking, Alex has built a trusted community of home cooks seeking meals that are both nourishing and crave-worthy. Everyday Eats delivers versatile, weeknight-friendly recipes designed to simplify mealtime without sacrificing flavor.

    Join Alex in Fort Point with Trillium Founder & CEO, Esther Tetreault for an evening of conversation, food, and celebration. The event will feature an engaging Q&A, a signed copy of Everyday Eats, a welcome beverage, and bites inspired by her fresh, approachable recipes.

    5:45 PM | Doors Open, Bites & Sips

    6:15 PM | Q&A with Alex, Followed by Signing

  • Wednesday, August 19, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – The Fungal Lens: An Interactive Primer on Nature Writing & Science Communication

    Aspiring writers and naturalists will enjoy this Polly Hill Arboretum interactive workshop on August 19 hosted by author Maria Pinto. Participants will learn how their interactions with the ‘more than human’ world around them equip them to be effective science communicators and nature writers. Attendees will analyze the work of seasoned writers and do a series of exercises to draw out their own lyrical and scientific encounters with our planet.

    Maria Pinto is an author and educator living in the Boston area. Maria has led workshops and lectures for mycological societies around the country, and leads regular forays at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston.

    Pre-registration required. PHA Members: $20; Non-Members: $30. Click here to register.

  • Saturday, August 22, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Design Clinic with Walter Cudnohufsky

    This seven-hour, fast-paced, information-saturated Berkshire Botanical Garden clinic on Saturday, August 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., focuses on common design principles, problem solving, conceptualizing a landscape master plan, and more fully understanding the design process. The clinic will focus on several selected homes/properties in the vicinity of BBG. It may include one or more of the workshop participants, or their clients’ properties. Should time permit, we may visit one or more projects completed and/or in process by the leader.

    All attendees will participate in the process of observing and conceptual designing. This field trip is held rain or shine; please dress appropriately for the weather. This clinic is ideal for making you a better, more engaged client for professional design services, or to advance your ability to know your own mind relative to design.

    Guest Instructor Walter Cudnohufsky, M.L.A., is a long-time dedicated teacher and artist (see image below.) Having founded and for 20 years directed the nationally acclaimed Conway (MA) School of Landscape Design, he has honed a reasoned approach to planning design. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/design-clinic-walter-cudnohufsky. BBG members $130, nonmembers $160.

  • Saturday, August 8, 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm – 19th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival

    Expect a day full of wings, wonder, and smiles at the 19th Annual Barbara J Walker Butterfly Festival, noon – 4 at Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester. Watch butterflies fly free in their natural meadow and garden habitats, take naturalist-led walks to learn how they live and migrate, and get up close with live caterpillars exhibited by The Caterpillar Lab to see the full life cycle in action.

    Kids can explore butterfly crafts, and the whole family can join guided garden tours to discover which plants support butterflies and other pollinators. Show off your wings by coming in costume for the chance to win a prize!

    Round out the day browsing local vendors, exhibitors, and a native plant sale. Members receive an additional 10% off gift shop purchases on the day of the festival.

    Adult members $5, nonmembers $6. Children under 2 may attend for free. Registration with Mass Audubon required at massaudubon.org

  • Berkshire Botanical Garden Glass House Conservatory Initiative Announced

    Berkshire Botanical Garden is preparing for one of the most significant expansions in its nearly century-long history: a $4-plus million Glass House conservatory designed to transform the Stockbridge campus into a year-round destination.

    The 5,000-square-foot facility will immerse visitors in tropical plants, orchids, desert landscapes and aquatic gardens, offering a warm, living escape during the Berkshires’ coldest months while dramatically expanding the Garden’s educational and community programming.

    Garden officials unveiled the project Saturday, July 11, calling it the culmination of years of planning and the final major component of the first phase of a long-range master plan for the non-profit Garden, founded in 1934.

    Although detailed planning for the Glass House began about three years ago, its roots stretch back even further. Between 2018 and 2020, Berkshire Botanical Garden commissioned internationally recognized landscape architecture firm Nelson Byrd Woltz to develop a comprehensive master plan for the Garden’s 24-acre campus. At the time, the Garden had expanded significantly through new land acquisitions and was preparing for its next century of growth.

    For complete details, and to consider making a donation, visit https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/berkshire-botanical-garden-unveils-vision-transformative-new-glass-house

  • Thursday, August 6, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Understanding Microclimates & Soils in the Garden

    Grow Native Massachusetts will host Marie Chieppo and Trevor Smith of CFS Regenerative Designs Group on August 6 at 10 am in Sagamore Beach (exact location provided with registration.) Grow Native members $45, nonmembers $55. This in-person workshop will explore a landscape replete with native plants across a variety of microclimates on site- from dry, sunny areas to more sheltered, moisture-rich spaces. We’ll talk deep roots, seasonal timing, ecological value, and work with actual soil samples to show how to work with what you have to create a glorious garden. Link for registration may be found at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar

  • Friday, August 14, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm – Mushrooms for Beginners, Late Summer Edition

    Mushrooms are tremendously diverse and play an important ecological role. In this June 19Native Plant Trust class at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, we will first learn about basic fungal biology and identification from Thomas Roehl and then head out to the Garden for a mushroom foray. After lunch, we will identify our finds using field guides and microscopes. Bring a bag lunch and a hand lens if you have one. $100. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/mushrooms-for-beginners-2/

  • Tuesday, August 11, 9:30 pm – 11:00 pm Eastern – Understanding Soil Health: Bioremediation in Urban Post-Fire Landscapes, Online

    Join Dr. Danielle Stevenson – environmental toxicologist, applied mycologist, and founder of @caer.earth – for a free online conversation hosted by @theodorepayne, The Theodore Payne Foundation. The talk will originate in California so please be aware of the time.

    Decades of human activity and development can leave behind contaminants that are difficult to see but may affect the health of our soils. This raises important questions:

    What defines soil health?
    When should we be concerned about contamination?
    What happens to soil after a wildfire?
    How does that compare to an urban conflagration?
    How can fungi help restore damaged soils?
    What steps can we take to evaluate risks and create safer outdoor spaces for our homes, families, and communities?

    Drawing on her work at the intersection of toxicology, ecology, and fungal science, Danielle Stevenson will describe how fungal networks can help break down pollutants and support healthier, more resilient landscapes.

    Whether you’re stewarding a home garden, schoolyard, community space, or landscape recovering from fire, this webinar offers valuable, science-based insights into assessing soil health, understanding contamination risks, and supporting ecological recovery. Register Here at Caer Earth.

  • Thursday, September 17 – Saturday, September 26 – UNESCO Treasures of Ancient Greece

    Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime American Horticultural Society voyage through the legendary landscapes of Greece, where ancient history, horticultural heritage, and breathtaking coastal scenery converge. Traveling aboard the Emerald Azzurra, a private, 50-cabin luxury mega-yacht, you’ll experience a complete circumnavigation of the Peloponnese peninsula, exploring iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites, hidden harbors, and coastal villages rarely visited by larger ships.

    From the sacred sanctuaries of Olympia and Delphi to the medieval hilltop city of Mystras and the tranquil gardens of Athens and Kardamyli, each day offers insight into Greece’s deep cultural and botanical roots. Along the way, enjoy expert lectures, private garden visits, and authentic culinary experiences.

    Hosted by Panayoti Kelaidis, an award-winning horticulturist, educator, and AHS Liberty Hyde Bailey Award recipient, this journey offers rare opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection in one of the world’s most storied landscapes. Dates are September 17 – 26, 2026.

    Contact

    Travel Department
    703.768.8801
    travel@ahsgardening.org

  • Thursdays, August 6 – September 3, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Designing with Water in the Landscape, Online

    Explore the art and science of integrating water into landscape and garden design during this Longwood Gardens comprehensive course led by Nick Arcuri and Nicole Roche of Fluidity Design. The fully online course will take place August 6 – September 3, live streamed. $179. For complete information, prerequisites, and registration visit https://longwoodgardens.org/events-performances/events/designing-water-landscape

    From ancient aqueducts and Mughal reflecting pools to contemporary rain gardens and ecological water features, delve into the rich history, meaning, and expressive potential in working with water, by exploring its evolving role in aesthetics, place-response, sustainability, and function. Explore key design principles and the basics of effective construction, including space analysis, purpose, water action, detailing, engineering, and construction. Whether you’re creating a tranquil backyard pond, a fountain for a public space, or a sustainable drainage system, this course equips you with the foundational tools to bring your vision to life—creatively, technically and responsibly.