The redbuds bloom by the pond on May Day. The day lilies riot in high summer. And on a fall morning when the milkweed pods have split and sent out silken threads, a local woman who grew up walking in the woods near here leads a walk to talk about gathering native seeds.
In a quiet corner of Stockbridge, the Berkshire Botanical Garden has cared for 20 acres of land since 1934.The gardens open to visitors from May to early October, and in 2018 the garden expanded year-round into a renovated farm house with a gallery of rotating art exhibits, a library of garden books and a new teaching kitchen.
In winter, the garden holds talks and workshops for gardeners planning for the spring, and cooking classes with natural ingredients. Local beekeepers meet here, and local experts teach baking with ancient grains, homebrewing, herbal infusions, plein air painting or photography.
The garden also holds community events in each season, including the annual Grow Show in August, the Harvest Festival in early October and holiday wreathes in December.
Daffodils bloom along the path at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge.
Mark Hewitt's ceramic urn, almost man-high, glows in the ferns at Berkshire Botanical Garden on a fall day.
A bench invites a quiet moment at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge.
Daffodils at the Berkshire Botanical Garden anticipate spring in the Berkshires.
Scarecrows survey the ground at Berkshire Botanical Garden.
A show of work by the internationally acclaimed artist Ellsworth Kelly, who lived and worked just over the border in New York, opened the Center House art gallery's first summer at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge.
Many native plants will grow in container gardens, from shade to sun, perennials to shrubs, spring to fall, and bring a host of beneficial insects and birds.
Ron and Kieran Yaple, owners of Race Mountain Tree Services in Sheffield, will lead a workshop on how to renovate, rejuvenate and shape shrubs and small ornamental trees.
Arborist Melissa LeVangie Ingersoll will teach a Level 2 workshop designed for the chainsaw operator who wants to gain greater confidence with this powerful tool.
Why isn’t my hydrangea flowering? may be the number one question asked of Northeast Master Gardeners — Cornell Master Gardener Chris Ferrero will show the six hydrangea species that thrive in the Northeast.
Willie Crosby is the owner of Fungi Ally, will lead a dive into the fungal kingdom — learn how to inoculate logs, wood chips and stumps for mushroom cultivation in your backyard.
Soil is alive with microorganisms that help provide garden plants with the all-important nutrients they need. Duncan Himmelman will lead a workshop on the basics of soil science.
Writer Stewart Edelstein will lead an exploration of Remarkable Flora, Memorable Greek Myths and Surprising Etymologies: A Romp through the Berkshire Botanical Garden.
Duncan Himmelman leads a workshop on growing an ecologically robust and relaxing garden in the shade. The group will look at degrees of shade and native plants.
Botanist and ecologist Ted Elliman will lead a hybrid course (online and in-person) focusing on the wildflowers that grace Berkshire County’s spring woods.
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