Berkshire Botanical Garden is pleased to present the 2012 Annual Winter Lecture:

The World According to Dirr: Trees and Shrubs for the 21st Century presented by noted author, educator and researcher Dr. Michael Dirr.

Dr. Dirr's influence in horticulture is far reaching.  A prolific author and exceptional hybridizer, he has dedicated his life to educating the public about the importance and use of woody plants in the landscape.  In addition to his many well-known books, his newly published Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs continues to set the gold standard for horticultural reference.  Known alternately as the "modern father of woody plants" and the hydrangea guru," his contributions to the world of horticulture are remarkable.

Dr. Dirr's illustrated lecture will weave a tapestry rich in topics befitting an American icon of horticulture, complete with his signature humor and style. The endearing noble trees, trends in woody plants and the back story of the landscape industry including plant breeding and development are among the topics he will present.

Winter Lecture is generously sponsored by

Hunter Boot.

Beekeeping for Gardeners: Getting Started in Backyard Beekeeping

This workshop is for everyone with an interest in honeybees and beekeeping. Learn how to start a honeybee colony, the seasonal management required to keep a healthy hive of bees and the role of pollinators and their relationship to flowering plants.  Topics provide an overview of the beekeeper's job, and will help new beekeepers, or those who are considering becoming a beekeeper, to make the correct choices for starting a backyard apiary. Equipment and tools used by the beekeeper will be discussed, and step-by-step instructions for starting a new colony of bees will be covered.  At the end of the workshop participants should have a solid understanding of how to successfully begin as a new beekeeper.

Dan Conlon owns Warm Colors Apiary in South Deerfield, Massachusetts. Warm Colors maintains bee yards in western Mass for honey production, and to provide pollination services on area farms. As a full-time beekeeper, concerned with the decline of all bees, Dan focuses on management that improves Queen development & health, colony nutrition, and reduces the environmental risks threatening bees. He is President of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association, and was recognized as the Eastern Apicultural Society’s 2004 Beekeeper of the Year, and the Massachusetts 2005 Beekeeper of the Year.

The Secret Life of Bees

Most gardeners are familiar with the sight of a honey- bee forager as she visits flowers in our gardens, but few of us understand the intricacies of bee life within the hive. Join Heather Mattila, assistant professor at Wellesley College, for a lively talk about honeybees and honeybee behavior. She will discuss the secret life of honeybees, including the different kinds of bees that are found in hives, the jobs they do, as well as the means by which honeybees communicate to ensure a healthy and productive colony. This lecture appeals to beginner and seasoned beekeepers as well as naturalists.

Heather Mattila is an assistant professor of Biology at Wellesley College where she studies the social organization of honeybees. She is establishing at Wellesley their first-ever program in Animal Behavior, with the help of 40+ colonies of bees. She lectures widely about honeybees to both professional beekeepers, as well has honeybee enthusiasts.

Cheese-Making Workshop

With the abundance of local and rawmilk, homeowners can now expand their domestic arts into the realm of cheese making.  This program will introduce the craft of basic fresh cheese making, both concepts and process.  Participants will watch and help local homesteader/farmer Dominic Palumbo, from Moon in the Pond Farm, make a simple “Farm Cheese.” The program will conclude with a tasting and tips for how to turn your wonderful cheese into the perfect treat for family or guests including how and what to serve it with.  This program will be held off site.

Dominic Palumbo owns Moon in the Pond Farm, a NOFA (Northeast Organic Farmers Association) certified organic farm in Sheffield, MA.  He produces organic eggs, milk, meat, wool, yarn and honey.

Begonia Workshop

Seduced by begonias? Join the crowd. And who can blame you? Not only are begonias outrageously glam, but they are a cinch as houseplants – if you know the ropes. Join Tovah Martin, curator of the begonia collection at Logee’s Greenhouses for 25 years and lifelong begonia addict, for a begonia workshop. She’ll spill the goods on which begonias make the best houseplants as well as revealing which begonias to avoid. She’ll recommend begonias that make a smooth transition from indoors to outside. In fact, she’ll introduce you to the entire begonia family with scenic detours to show you her favorite real live plants. Care, maintenance, watering, pruning, repotting, and propagating will be demonstrated with plenty of hands-on interaction. Best of all: Bring home several begonia cuttings in a mini-greenhouse to grow on!

Tovah Martin is a horticulturist, writer and garden personality living in Northwest CT.    She writes for many horticultural publications and her latest book is The New Terrarium, published in 2009.

Meadows Turned Garden

Meadows are not only beautiful landscapes, but also valuable habitats for plants, pollinators and birds. Information on creating and maintaining a meadow are included in the talk.  Consider plant selection, siting, planting, cultivation and maintenance of native plants suitable for a meadow garden.  View plants and combinations that will enhance properties in a natural way. In the first hour explore the native and non-native species that call meadows home and learn how meadows function. In the second hour discuss creating meadow gardens and look more closely at the cultural requirements of native meadow species.

Drew Monthie is a horticulturalist, garden designer and ecologist working in upper New York State. He is committed to teaching about the importance of using native plants to provide beauty and preserve biodiversity in yards and gardens.

Big Bold and HOT!

Summer Bulb StandoutsSummer bulbs make great standouts in the late summer garden.   Join expert horticulturist Barb Pierson, Garden Manger for White Flower Farm, located in Litchfield CT for an informative lecture/demonstration on this hot topic. Learn about the best of the bunch including Cannas, Dahlias, Eucomis and more. See why summer bulbs are among the most exotic and exciting plants in our gardens. This lecture will cover top tips for growing and storing, and Barb will be bringing some great varieties for sale following the lecture.

Barb Pierson is the nursery manager for the prestigious White Flower Farm Nursery located in Litchfield, CT.  She holds a degree in horticulture from Cornell University and has worked at WFF since 1998.  She is a popular speaker at horticultural conferences and has appeared as a guest on TV and radio. She is quoted widely in the print media and was the lead horticultural resource for a 2010 New York Times garden series.

HOT SCAPING with Succulents, Orchids and more…

Investigate the trend of gardening with plants from around the world. Consider agaves and other succulents as low maintenance patio plants that double as houseplants for the winter months. Learn about orchids and how to care for these exotic beauties. Practical information on selection, cultivation, maintenance and overwintering will be covered, with a focus on keeping plants beautiful and healthy. Students will practice dividing and repotting a variety of specimen plants and take home divisions to grow on.

Rob Gennari is a garden designer and owner of Glendale Botanicals, a specialty tropical nursery located in Berkshire County. He uses tropical plants in his design work and has in-depth experience with propagating, growing, and maintaining these plants.

Growing a Cutting Garden

Cutting gardens are lovely to look at and provide fresh cut flowers for indoors. Learn how to make a small, highly productive cutting garden. Consider all aspects of growing cut flowers, including selecting varieties that hold up best, sowing times and techniques, planting and transplanting, cultivating and preparing for market. This program is designed for both the home gardener and the nascent market gardener. After the presentation, participants will sow some of the instructor’s favorite seeds and transplant seedlings to grow on at home.

Jan Schaffer and Marty Sax are horticulturists and own Joe Pye Weed Nursery in Carlisle, Massachusetts. They have been growing flowers for over 30 years. Their special obsession is hybridizing Siberian iris. Their nursery includes beautiful display gardens and a large cutting garden that serves the Boston Flower Market.

A Nursery Man’s Miscellany: New and Lesser Known, Garden-worthy Plants

Join nurseryman Ed Bowen of Opus Nursery for a look at the lesser known garden-worthy plants sure to enhance your garden.  Ed’s philosophy suggests that while he appreciates the efficacy element of gardening, success depends on many factors beyond simple plant selection. This lecture will open your eyes to an eclectic range of choice plants to rejuvenate your perennial plant palette

Ed Bowen is a horticulturalist and owner of Opus Nursery, Little Compton, RI. Opus is a deliberately small nano-nursery actively collecting, propagating, and growing a diverse range of plants. Ed’s focus is the under-cultivated and garden worthy, and he specialize in unusual perennials. He employs strictly organic pest controls, and is striving to be peat free.

Organic Vegetable Gardening

Designed for those starting or caring for a vegetable garden, get all your questions answered in this practical class on growing food. This course will include site selection, soil and nutrient management, seed selection, design, crop rotation schemes, seeding and planting, pest management, and specific plant cultivation. These topics will be discussed with an emphasis on building a healthy soil and careful management of moisture requirements.  Each week students will  investigate a different vegetable family (Melon family, Tomato family, Beet family, Cabbage Family, Legume family and the Greens family)  to insure all questions are answered about cultivation of these important food groups.

John Howell is the former Extension Vegetable Specialist, for the University of Massachusetts and currently lectures on vegetables, fruits and soil management   Author of numerous newsletters for growers and is currently the editor for New England Vegetable Management Guide, published biennially by the University of Massachusetts.

Build a Backyard Chicken Coop: Basic Carpentry Skills

Learn basic carpentry skills and put them to use building a small backyard chicken coop. Join Will Conklin for a hands-on workshop that will introduce basic hand and power tool techniques as well as woodworking and project planning skills. Students will become familiar with building materials and the simplicity of backyard woodworking projects. The instructor will focus on the simplicity and satisfaction of proper hand-tool use and will also cover the ways power tools expedite the building process. All students will be active participants in the project construction and will take away the skills to build their own chicken coop in the backyard.

Will Conklin is Program Director for the Greenagers, a youth action group located in Great Barrington, MA. He is a skilled carpenter, teacher and sawyer and is currently building his own timber- frame house.

Botanical Illustration with Graphite Pencil

Draw the beauty of nature's dried plants: the pods, grass and flowers from garden and fields. Discover the features and texture of these plants while building your drawing skills. This is a great class for beginners or more advanced students. Learn to solve drawing problems and develop your drawing step by step from sketch to finished nature drawing. There will be exercises in: training the eye through quick sketching; drawing plants in proportion; the essentials of perspective and applying tonal values to give your drawing visual depth. Whether your love is quick field sketching or rendering plant portraits, this inspiring class will give you confidence to draw and get you to look at nature more closely.

Carol Ann Morley is an illustrator and dedicated teacher of botanical illustration working in Dover, NH. She founded the Botanical Art Illustration Certificate Program at the New York Botanical Garden and teaches illustration there and for other botanical gardens. This is Ms Morley’s only summer workshop in the Berkshires for 2012.

Chickens in the Backyard

Calling all gardeners to join the backyard chicken movement!  Backyard chickens are now pecking around in every neighborhood, town and city. This beginner’s workshop will inspire and give you the skills to start a backyard flock of your own. Topics covered include: nutrition, shelter/coops, health, egg production, breeds, predators, regulations, general care, helpful resources, and more. Inspect a few hens and admire some freshly laid eggs. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

Meg Taylor is a mother, farmer, educator, and Co-Founder and Director of The Farm Education Collaborative. She started the Pioneer Valley Backyard Chicken Association in 2008 which hosts a website, community forum, annual coop tour, and in-person ‘chicken chats’. She began with three backyard hens in a suburb of Boston but now has a mixed flock of 20 chickens, sheep, cats/dog, and grows food for her neighbors at her home, North Wind Farm, in Williamsburg, Massachusetts.

Rejuvenating Shrubs—Lilacs, Weigela, Forsythia and more…

Is that old lilac refusing to flower? Spring is a great time to assess your woody shrubs for shape and structure. This hands-on workshop will focus on rejuvenating pruning including when, why and how to renovate or rejuvenate your woody plants.  Learn about tools, timing, and specific techniques available to the home gardener. Following a lecture and several pruning demonstrations participants will learn by doing.

Ken Gooch is the Department of Environmental Management’s Forest Health Specialist for Berkshire County. Additionally he is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist and teaches arboriculture at the Garden.

Cultivating all the Right Moves: Body Mechanics for Gardeners

Get ready to garden comfortably, safely, and efficiently this spring. In this participatory workshop learn a simple, effective, and energizing stretching routine that will help prevent garden- related injuries, muscle strains, aches, and pains. Explore proper body mechanics, positioning, and movement techniques for bending, lifting, digging, and raking. Assess a variety of gardening situations for reducing stress and strain on your joints by choosing the right ergonomic tools and implementing energy conservation strategies that will help you garden with ease all season long.

Carrie Whitelaw is a registered horticultural therapist with the American Horticultural Therapy Association who has practiced and taught horticultural therapy since 1998. She currently coordinates programs at The Unlimited Garden, an enabling garden created by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County, NY, and operates True Nature Garden Works, a consulting business devoted to using gardening to promote health and wellness, cultivate creativity, and reconnect individuals with their own true nature.

Gardening after Dark – The Perennial Gardener

Join professional gardener Pat Parkins for an intensive exploration of perennial border gardening. This course is designed for both first-time and intermediate gardeners at a time when they are out in the garden looking for new ideas.   Pat will cover all aspects of gardening necessary to create a beautiful and satisfying perennial border. Beginning with site selection, soil and bed preparation she will then explore a selection of perennials that are suitable for a variety of gardening situations. Participants will have time to discuss both sun and shade settings and plant combinations that excel in each situation. The final lecture covers the ever important garden maintenance issue with a focus on low-maintenance techniques that increase soil fertility. All questions will be answered, and participants will take home the knowledge to create a new, or renovate an old perennial border this spring.

From the Ground Up – April 5
This workshop will cover basic soil and bed preparation for establishing a new perennial border or refurbishing an existing one. Developing a healthy soil and enriching garden spaces for optimum plant growth will be the focus of this class.

Selecting and Designing with Perennials – April 1
Look at garden-worthy, easy-to-grow plants for herbaceous border plantings. Learn about the vast array of perennials available, including old favorites and exciting new varieties.  Plant considerations will be discussed with a focus on creating successful plant combinations for three-season interest.  Learn how to select, buy and plant perennials.

Tending the Perennial Border  – April 19
Learn how to keep the herbaceous border looking its best all season long. All aspects of maintenance will be covered including edging, weeding, mulching, fertilizing, watering, and dividing. Pruning, pinching, shearing, cutting back and staking will be discussed, and specific plant requirements will be covered.

Pat Parkins owns Gardens of the Goddess, an organic gardening business focused on enhancing nature's beauty through landscape design, installation and maintenance. She incorporates her interest in ecology into her landscaping practices.

Pruning for Fruit Production: Pome and Stone Fruit Trees and Small Fruits

This demonstration/workshop will focus on the specifics of pruning stone and pome fruit trees and some small fruits including cane fruits and ribes. Unlike ornamental woody plants, pruning for fruit is a special science that is designed to maximize fruit production. Learn the principles of pruning for shape, size and most importantly, fruit production. Watch a structural pruning demonstration on newly planted fruit trees. Semi-dwarf orchard trees, including mature and newly planted trees will be available for pruning.

Steve McKay is the Grape and Small Fruit Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension in eastern New York State. He has a B.S. in entomology from U.C. Davis and a M.S. in pomology.

Making More Plants: Notching, Rossing, Cutting…Peonies, Trillum, Hosta and  Native Orchids!

Join nursery owner Leo Blanchette for a lecture/demonstration on the techniques used to propagate perennials. This program is not for the nascent gardener but all are welcome. In addition to discussion of seed sowing, root cuttings, stem cuttings and divisions, a few unique techniques will be featured, including species Peonies from root cuttings, notching of Trillium, rossing Hosta and division of native orchids. There should be something of interest for everyone involved with perennial propagation.  Participants will take home some unusual plant material to “grow on” at home.

Leo Blanchette is owner of Blanchette Gardens located in Carlisle, MA. His nursery specializes in an extensive variety of perennials and offers many very rare and unusual plants, some of which are available nowhere else. His plants are known for their beauty and suitability to the harsh New England climate. The nursery propagates virtually all of its plants including many difficult to propagate species.

Composting for Gardeners: Designing an Active Compost Pile

The first step to a healthy, sustainable garden is a great compost pile. Discover the differences between active and passive compost pile building, explore compost pile structures and learn what will work for you. Understand strategies for making richer compost in a shorter period of time with less work, and consider why we use compost and what it adds to your garden. Build a mini-scale tipi compost pile on site and see what materials can be used in what ratio.

Pat Parkins owns Gardens of the Goddess, an organic gardening business focused on enhancing nature's beauty through landscape design, installation and maintenance. She incorporates her interest in ecology into her landscaping practices.

Transplanting Shrubs and Planting Small Ornamental Trees

Learn by doing in this hands-on, shrub and tree planting/transplanting workshop. 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 including 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.

Ken Gooch is the Department of Environmental Management’s Forest Health Specialist for Berkshire County. Additionally he is a Massachusetts Certified Arborist and teaches arboriculture at the Garden.

Plant Obsessions: Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Annual Garden Tour

Hunnewell Arboretum, Blanchette Gardens, Joe Pye Weed Nursery

Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden staff for a day-long adventure to gardens and nurseries for the” plant obsessed.” Visit an eclectic selection of gardens private and public with the unifying theme of “obsession.”

Travel first to the Walter Hunnewell Arboretum a privately owned 22-acre arboretum in Wellesley, MA containing over 500 species of woody plants. This estate also contains the renowned and distinctive topiary garden, called the 'Italian Garden' by creator Horatio Hollis Hunnewell, with 140-year-old fanciful groups of intricate geometrically pruned native eastern white pine and eastern arborvitae. A collection of specialty greenhouses feature over 1,000 plant species, including a grape house and peach house, and have been cared for by five generations of the Hunnewell family. Today's pinetum, begun in 1866, includes rare, mature specimens including Torreya nucifera, a massive weeping european beech in front of the 19th century Italianate mansion, and one of the oldest dawn redwood in the United States. The collection of specimen trees and shrubs include towering American white and English oaks, lindens, tulip trees, bald cypress, and Chinese golden larch, as well as different species and cultivars of azaleas, lilacs, viburnums, hollies, weeping cherries and rhododendrons.

From Wellesley, travel to Carlisle, MA, to visit two spectacular specialty nurseries to satisfy our own plant obsessions. Travel first to Blanchette Gardens, renowned for its extensive and unusual perennial collection. Nursery owner Leo Blanchette will lead a guided tour of the nursery and discuss some of his favorite plant genera including arisaemas, species peonies, anemonellas and many more.  Just across town we will stop in the nano-nursery Joe Pye Weed Gardens, and join owner horticulturists Jan Shaffer and Marty Sax for a tour of their garden. Their special obsession is hybridizing Siberian iris but their garden includes much, much more.  The iris will be at the top of their bloom and you will be treated to a feast of color. An added bonus will be the beautiful display gardens and a large cutting garden that serves the Boston Flower Market.

Dress for the weather and bring a bagged lunch. Plants will be available for purchase at Blanchette Gardens. A morning snack and late afternoon refreshments will be compliments of the staff at Berkshire Botanical Garden.