By Carol Stocker

The Old Northern Avenue Bridge, an important pedestrian link between the Rose Kennedy Greenway and the Seaport District, has been spruced up with 12 giant planters of flowers spanning Fort Point Channel. A ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning celebrated the project, called the Harbor Links Gardens, which is an example of public and private cooperation.

Representatives included Michele Hanss and Leslie Wills of The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America, which contributed $50,000 to the project, Vivien Li, president of The Boston Harbor Association, and JoAnn Massaro, Commissioner of Public Works for The City of Boston and Antonia Pollak, Commissioner of the Boston Department of Parks and Recreation, who originated the idea. Also on hand were David J. Warner of Warner Larson Landscape Architects, which provided pro bono services for the design and oversight of the installation and designer Sameer Bhoite. A reception sponsored by the Milton Garden Club followed at the ground floor facility for public accommodation at 470 Atlantic Avenue.

With rooftop gardening becoming more popular, innovations in lightweight products were employed to protect the historic but fragile bridge, including "Roof Lite" growing media donated by Read Custom Soils.

Other companies that contributed to the project include BH Brown Landscape Design, Mahoney's Garden Center and Greentop Planters of Rockport, who built large but light weight containers from fiberglass and aluminum with polystyrene cores for maximum insulation in heat and cold with a minimum of weight. These are a long way from the old concrete municipal planters that were once the standard.

"Making horticultural and open space available in this important area of Boston is consistent with the Garden Club's mission of supporting horticultural projects that can have an impact upon the greatest number of people," said Hanss. "We want to show developers that this kind of beauty and greenery should be part of the new waterfront. Mayor Menino has done a great job and I hope whomever the new mayor is, he or she keeps green space and beautification on the City's agenda."

The 1908 metal truss "swing" bridge" has "always been gritty, a connection to warehouses and railroads," said Li. "No one really thought of it as an entry to an 'Innovation District,' We took a rusty bridge and made it a beautiful connector." She praised Mayor Menino and his staff for his support. "Think about this: The Garden Club gave us the money in November and the project was executed by June."

The planters are moveable because long term plans for stabilizing and refitting the bridge for multiple uses are still in the works. In the meantime, plants have been installed that can withstand punishing summer sun and winter winds in a very exposed location.

Shrubs and trees include blue holly, Japanese black pine and white pine, purple leaf sand cherry, Icy Drift rose, Blue Pacific Shore juniper, and Color Guard yucca. The tough perennials are equally well chosen. Leading the field is the wonderful reblooming clear yellow Happy Returns daylily bred by Darrel Apps. Also up to the challenge are May Night salvia, Moonshine yarrow, Little Spire Russian sage, black eyed Susan, Angelia sedum, Black Beauty coral bells, Walker's Low catmint, Elijah blue fescue grass and Hamlen fountain grass, Potato vine, petunia and purple verbena are the annuals used, along with driftwood for a sculptural effect.

Funding from the Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America is raised from a membership of 1100 women from 14 garden clubs in Greater Boston and southern New Hampshire.

Brings Asian Traditions to Opening Night Party
by Carol Stocker
On Friday, June 21, Newport’s summer season will officially begin with the 18th annual Newport Flower Show Opening Night Party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year’s theme, Jade: Eastern Obsession will blend gardens, Eastern treasures and traditions at Rosecliff, capturing the simple yet stunning beauty of this exotic part of the world.

The Opening Night Party will offer guests an opportunity to discover the mysteries of the East through “Zen-full” floral, horticultural and garden displays. While enjoying Asian-inspired food, guests can roam freely through the Oceanside Boutiques and Gardeners’ Marketplace. The evening will be filled with entertaining surprises including Asian music and dancing.

The show continues Saturday and Sunday with floral exhibits, horticultural entries, photography and children’s programs, displayed throughout the rooms and on the grounds of Rosecliff, as well as expansive front lawn garden designs. The free lecture series returns as well, offering advice and demonstrations by noted plant experts.

This year’s special guests headlining Luncheon Lectures on Friday and Saturday of the Newport Flower Show include floral designer Hitomi Gilliam, showcasing her designs inspired by Ikebana and the Zen appreciation of nature; and landscape architect Harriet Henderson, sharing her experiences in the Far East and how Western gardens are influenced by Eastern designs. These two Luncheon Lectures are separately ticketed events requiring advance reservations. Tickets for the Luncheon are $80 per person. Lecture-only tickets are available for $40. The Lecture Luncheon series is sponsored by National Trust Insurance Services.

The Newport Flower Show will be open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 21, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, June 22 & 23. Advance sale and Preservation Society member admission tickets are $18 per person. Tickets sold at the door will be $25 on Friday, $23 on Saturday or Sunday.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the Newport Flower Show, visit www.NewportFlowerShow.org, or call (401) 847-1000.

Bartlett Tree Experts returns as Presenting Sponsor of the Newport Flower Show, which benefits The Preservation Society of Newport County. The show is also sponsored by National Trust Insurance Services, Brooks Brothers, Porsche of Warwick, Northern Trust, BankNewport, Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Southern New England, Atria Senior Living, United Airlines, Aardvark Antiques & Restoration, East Coast Wholesale Flowers, Water's Edge Flowers and Four Roses Bourbon.

All proceeds from the Newport Flower Show benefit the ongoing landscape restoration efforts of The Preservation Society of Newport County, a private non-profit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area's historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts. Its 11 historic properties—seven of them National Historic Landmarks—span more than 250 years of American architectural and social development.

By Carol Stocker
I will be on line live Friday, June 14, 1-2 p.m. to answer your gardening questions.
Actually, all this rain is good for plant life, and humans too, as it refills aquifers and reservoirs. And after digging all those new plants into your garden, aren't you glad you don't have to water - yet. Never fear. The hot dry days will be here soon. Right now, we can pretend we live in the northwest where the gardens are always lush. Here's a tip: it's much easier to pull out weeds with taproots, like dandelions, and small self seeded trees like those pesky Norway maples, when the soil is deeply moistened like this. When you get outside this weekend, do some weeding! Those roots will slide right out of the soil with a tug. And here's another tip...most weeds are annuals and pull up easily. This is good to know if you are weeding in a perennial garden and don't know which are the real plants and which are the weeds.

Here's some upcoming events at Elm Bank this summer:

June 23, Sunday
Elm Bank Antique Auto Show
Do you love old cars? Does the sight of a classic Corvette or a car
with tail fins make you smile? Then be prepared to do a lot of smiling
on Sunday, June 23rd because that’s the date of the 11th annual Elm
Bank Antique Auto Show. Elm Bank is located in Dover; its entrance is
on Route 16 on the Wellesley/South Natick town line, a mile south of
Wellesley College.

August 3, Saturday
Mass Marketplace Festival
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
New England farmers, specialty food producers, and artisans will come
together for the 17th annual Massachusetts Marketplace at the Gardens
at Elm Bank in Wellesley. Featuring homemade crafts, soaps, baked
goods, popcorn, teas, herbs, fine art, and annual plants from vendors
located throughout Massachusetts and New England.

For more information, google the Massachusets Horticultural Society.

What to do in the garden this week: No need to water! But finish planting. Wait until September to acquire additional plants. Keep mowing! Carol Stocker will answer your gardening questions Friday live on line from 1-2 p.m.

There are a lot of garden tours this month including the Open Days Directory program for the Garden Conservancy, which will show off gardens in Nantucket, Thursday, June 20. For more information go to www.opendaysprogram.org.

The Congregational Church of Milton will hosts a Strawberry Festival and Plant Sale Saturday June 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Town Green. Visit www.fccmilton.org.

There will also be a Summer Solstice Garden Tour to benefit Dorchester Park Saturday, June 15, 3-6 p.m., followed by a garden cocktail reception at 18 Milton Street next to Cedar Grove Gardens. Tickets, program and map are available at Cedar Grove Gardens. Visit www.dotpark.org.

Carol Stocker will answer your gardening questions Friday live on line from 1-2 p.m.

There are a lot of garden tours this month including the Open Days Directory, which will show off gardens in Milton from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. this Saturday. Visit www.opendaysprogram.org for information.

Or visit the www.LexGardenClub.org for information about their Tour of Seven Unique Lexington Gardens 10-4 Sat., June. 8

By Carol Stocker
The Garden Club of America is helping to fund a 3300 square foot native shrub garden which will be planted June 2 at the Trailside Museum in Milton by the Milton Garden Club.

The New England Wild Flower Society grew the trees and shrubs and made a selection based on native plants found in New England woods, that create food and habitat for birds. If you are interested in doing this kind of planting yourself, here's their list:

Amelanchier canadensis, shadblow tree, two, berries, 25x15.

Aronia arbutifolia, two, berries 6x6 (suckers)

Aronia melancarpa, two, berries 4x6 (suckers)

Cercis candensis var candensis, redbud, two, 25 x 25

Clethra ainifolia Hummingbird, 3x5

Cornus florida Heritage, a GCA anthracnose resistant selection.

Hamamelis virginiana, suckers, likes a moist spot, 15 x 2

Hydrangea arborescens Annabell, wants shade, 4x6 (from Missouri)

Ilex glabra Compacta, five, moisture, evergreen, 4x5

Ilex verticillata, Southern Gentleman, pollinator male, 9x9

Ilex verticillatam Winter Red, three females, bright red berries, 7x7

Kalmia angustifolia Kennebago, sheep laurel, moist, likes peatmoss, 2x4

Kalmia latifolia Carousel, two, mountain laurel, evergreen, likes moisture and rocks, 10x10

Salix discolor, pussy willow, catkins in late winter, suckers, 10x15

Sanbucus candensus, three,berries, including one dark leaved, 9x9

Viburnum acerifolium, suckers, two, berries, 5x5

Vaccinium corymbosum, highbush blueberry, berries, seven, two kinds for cross pollination, 7x7

Viburnum dentatum, straight branches used for Indian arrows, hence the name arrowwood, two, berries, 8x10

Don't have 3300 square feet? Proven Winners, the company that has introduced so many high performance annual flowers for containers, has been expanding into shrubs bred for compactness for backyard gardens.

They are introducing two new varieties of Arrowwood Viburnums that only grow to 5X5, called "All That Glitters" and "All That Glows." The reason for two different varieties is so they can cross pollinate and produce loads of the gorgeous blue berries that are so popular with birds. This is a great way to attract birds to your yard in a small space and would make an ecologically sound foundation planting. And they are deer resistant.

To clear up any confusion, these are not our native New England arrowwood, V. dentatnum, but a south eastern plant called limerock arrowwood, or V. baracteatum. But it is cold hardy here, and is endangered in the wild. And it seems to do ok in our acid soil, too.

Other new shrubs being introduced these years by Proven Winners includes a yellow needled minature arborvitae, Filip's Magic Moment, which could substitute for Dwarf Alberta Spruce if you have a couple of yours that have outgrown their containers. There is also a new Spirea (yawn!) called Glow Girl with lime foliage that is 4x4, which still seems too big for me - I'd like to see a really small one. And of course PW has a new version of the ever popular blue reblooming Hydrangea Macrophylla. Let's Dance Blue Rhapsody blooms amethyst blue and stays small enough for gardens (3x3).

By Carol Stocker

This is the time to plant your seasonal containers with annals.

Anything that holds soil and has drainage holes in the bottom may be transformed into a container garden for terrestrial plants

For vibrant plant growth, the containers must provide adequate space for roots and soil media, allowing the plant to thrive.

Container gardening has been on the uptrend over the past five years and continues to grow in popularity, especially in urban areas where green space can be limited. But to ensure the most success, it is crucial for the 21 million households planting container gardens to pick the right plant for the pot.

Going the container route saves space, helps control pests and overcome soil issues, enabling the availability of home grown fresh produce without a yard. But it is important to choose a seed or a plant that was specifically developed for the compact container space.

When choosing what to use to fill containers, never use garden soil by itself no matter how good it looks or how well things grow in it out in the garden.

Container soils are often referred to as soilless or artificial media, because they contain no soil at all.

When these mixes are used, they should be moistened slightly before planting. Fill a tub with the media, add water and lightly fluff the media to dampen it.

When filling containers with media, don't fill the pot to the top. Leave about a one inch space between the top of the soil and rim of the pot.

Soils for containers need to be well aerated and well drained while still being able to retain enough moisture for plant growth.

A regular fertilizer program is needed to keep plants growing well and attractive all season.

The choice of fertilizer analysis will depend on the kinds of plants you are growing. High nitrogen sources would be good for plants grown for their foliage while flowering and vegetable crops would prefer lower nitrogen and higher phosphorous types.

Plants that thrive in like soil, watering, and light conditions make successful combinations. When combining plants, size, texture, proportion, color, setting, and lighting all play a role.

Containers offer the advantage of being portable. As the seasons, temperature and light conditions change, you can move your containers to maintain the desired conditions for peak performance.

Most fruit bearing vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and eggplant require full sun.

Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, collards, mustard greens, spinach, and parsley can tolerate more shady location compared to the root vegetables such as turnips, beets, radishes, carrots, and onions.

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to watering. That is why you have to be watching your containers on a regular basis and understand the requirements of the plants you choose to put in the containers.

The best way to tell if a plant needs water is to feel the soil. And if the first inch or so of the soil is dry, water. Use enough water each time so water starts to drip out of the drainage holes.

When shopping for plants for containers, consider one of my favorite nurseries, Lake Street Garden Center, 37 Lake St., Salem, N.H. (tel 603-893-5858) The selection is so large and the quality is so good, it really is worth a trip.

By Carol Stocker...If you want season long garden color in part shade, look for plants with beautiful foliage that will hold its hues. Heucheras do that plus they do it in part shade and, unlike coleus, they are perennial and have flowers. What a plant!

Since 1973, Dan Heims has been deeply involved in all facets of horticulture. He's currently the president of Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., in Oregon, where I interviewed him and saw his amazing display garden. This company noted for its many new introductions to horticulture. Terra Nova's breeding programs have produced many international gold and silver medal winners and an astounding 700 new plants to horticulture.

Dan's specialty is heucheras, and he has done more than anyone else to bring this native wildflower into the garden with a great variety of leaf colors. New this year are Heuchera 'Delta Dawn,' which has round leaves with red centers and gorgeous gold and lime highlights. and "Paprika,' with warm cherry coral foliage, 'Blondie,' a blooming machine with 8 inch creamy flower spikes rising from colorful foliage, and Huecherella 'Sunrise Falls,' a trailing foam flower especially for containers.

For sunnier locations, he is also introducing 'Red Hot Popsicle,' a compact knipohfia, 'Cherry Truffle,' a sedum with red black foliage, 'Goldfinch,' the yellowest flowering Shasta daisy ever, and 'Fire Storm, a dwarf geum with plentiful orange flowers.

Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., is a wholesale nurserie, but its fantastic perennial plants are available at many local nurseries and you can Google their website for more information.

By Carol Stocker...I will be on line live this Friday from 1-2 p.m. to answer you gardening questions.Memorial Day Weekend is the traditional weekend for planting tender vegetables and flowers. Local nurseries and garden centers will be well stocked. Plant seedlings and plants at the level they are growing in their pots. But plant tomatoes two inches deeper than that to encourage roots to develop along the buried stem. Plant bean seeds two inches deep and a foot apart.

Posted by Carol Stocker...

Regardless of the type of vegetable you plant, here are some general tips provided by the University of Illinois Extension for growing vegetable container gardens:

Choosing a Container

Anything that holds soil and has drainage holes in the bottom may be transformed into a container garden for terrestrial plants
For vibrant plant growth, the containers must provide adequate space for roots and soil media, allowing the plant to thrive.

Soil

When choosing what to use to fill containers, never use garden soil by itself no matter how good it looks or how well things grow in it out in the garden.
Container soils are often referred to as soilless or artificial media, because they contain no soil at all.
When these mixes are used, they should be moistened slightly before planting. Fill a tub with the media, add water and lightly fluff the media to dampen it.
When filling containers with media, don't fill the pot to the top. Leave about a one inch space between the top of the soil and rim of the pot.
Soils for containers need to be well aerated and well drained while still being able to retain enough moisture for plant growth.

Fertilizer

A regular fertilizer program is needed to keep plants growing well and attractive all season.
The choice of fertilizer analysis will depend on the kinds of plants you are growing. High nitrogen sources would be good for plants grown for their foliage while flowering and vegetable crops would prefer lower nitrogen and higher phosphorous types.

Choosing Plants for Your Container Garden

Plants that thrive in like soil, watering, and light conditions make successful combinations. When combining plants, size, texture, proportion, color, setting, and lighting all play a role.

Taking Care of Your Vegetable Plants

Containers offer the advantage of being portable. As the seasons, temperature and light conditions change, you can move your containers to maintain the desired conditions for peak performance.
Most fruit bearing vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and eggplant require full sun.
Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, collards, mustard greens, spinach, and parsley can tolerate more shady location compared to the root vegetables such as turnips, beets, radishes, carrots, and onions.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to watering. That is why you have to be watching your containers on a regular basis and understand the requirements of the plants you choose to put in the containers.
The best way to tell if a plant needs water is to feel the soil. And if the first inch or so of the soil is dry, water. Use enough water each time so water starts to drip out of the drainage holes.

FAVORITE NURSERIES
One of my favorite nurseries, Lake Street Garden Center, 37 Lake St., Salem, N.H. is opening for the season. Call 603-893-5858. The selection is so large and the quality is so good, it really is worth a trip. Great plants for containers...

By Carol Stocker...This is the prime time of year for non-profit plant sales and garden tours. The oldest and most famous of is Thursday's nationally recognized Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill tour, which has raised millions of dollars for worthy projects. The Beacon Hill Garden Club also has a new book for sale this year with photos of gardens that have been on this tour. On May 16 this year's edition runs through 12 private gardens from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a complimentary tea. Tickets are $40 for sale at 70 Charles St. visit www.beaconhillgardenclub.org for more information.

Other noteworthy events open to the public include:

May 15, 8 a.m. to noon, Lexington Field & Garden Club annual Plant Sale, National Heritage Museum, 330 Marrett Road, Lexington.

May 16, 7 p.m. Natick Garden Club Plant Auction, Natick Senior Center.

May 17-19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 32nd Annual Herb & Plant Festival at Green Briar Nature Center, featuring plant sale and lectures, Green Briar Nature Center, 6 Discovery Hill Road, East Sandwich, www.thorntonburgess.org

June 1, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tower Hill 28th Annual Plant And Garden Accessory Sale. $5 admission. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive. PO Box 598, Boylston, www.towerhillbg.org

By Carol Stocker
Mother's Day weekend is the best time of the year to find plant sales by garden clubs and plant societies. Rarities and bargains dug from thousands of local backyards are yours to seek out:

May 11, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and May 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Historic New England's Casey Farm, 2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, RI.

May 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Robin Hollow Farm, 1057 Gilbert Stuart Road, Saunderstown, RI, is having its annual open house this weekend in cooperation with Casey Farm. Usually not open to the public,Robin Hollow is a charming privately owned farm which grows herbs and specialty cut flowers of exceptional variety and quality, and is known for its wedding work. You can buy plants here that you will find nowhere else - and at very reasonable prices. A perfect day trip for Mother's Day. 401-294-2868.

May 11, 8 a.m.-noon, The Milton Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale, in front of The Milton Library on Canton Ave.

May 11, 8 a.m.-noon, The Amateur Gardens of Milton Annual Plant Sale, in front of Milton Town Hall on Canton Ave.

May 11, 9-11 a.m., The Marblehead Garden Club's 82nd annual plant sale, benefiting the Jeremial Lee Mansion, at the Gerry 5 VFA, 210 Beacon St., Marblehead.

May 11 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Billerica Garden Club Plant Sale, 25 Concord Road, Billerica.

May 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Garden Club of Concord Plant Sale, Middlesex Bank, Main St., Concord.

May 11, 10 am. to 1 p.m., Kingston Garden Club annuual spring plant sale, Faunce School, 16 Green St., Kingston.

May 11. 9 a.m. to noon, Bridgewater Garden Club Plant Sale, Bridgewater Cole-Yeaton Senior Center, 10 Wally Krueger Way, Bridgewater off Rte. 18/28.

May 11, 9 a.m.:Easton Garden Club Plant Sale, Yardley-Wood Rink, 388 Depot St., S. Easton

May 11 The New England Daylily Society [www.nedaylily.org] is holding a Plant Sale on in Wakefield at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St. Sales tables open: 10:30-12:30. Auction of more expensive daylily hybrids at 12:30.

Members of the New England Daylily Society will be there at the sale to answer your questions or help you to choose a daylily for your gardens. Hundreds of daylilies will be available for purchase. Be there at the start of the sale for best selection.

Daylilies are not Lilies or bulbs. They are herbaceous perennials. Daylilies grow very well in average garden soil and although they perform better when watered during the growing season, they are drought tolerant.

If you have questions about the sale, please contact NEDS president, Adele Keohan at akgabriel22@comcast.net
For more information about daylilies, visit the American Hemerocallis Society at www.daylilies.org.

By Carol Stocker
This Saturday is the biggest day of the year for plant sales by garden clubs and plant societies. Rarities and bargains dug from thousands of local backyards are yours to seek out.

May 11, 8 a.m.-noon, The Milton Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale, in front of The Milton Library on Canton Ave.

May 11, 8 a.m.-noon, The Amateur Gardens of Milton Annual Plant Sale, in front of Milton Town Hall on Canton Ave.

May 11, 9-11 a.m., The Marblehead Garden Club's 82nd annual plant sale, benefiting the Jeremial Lee Mansion, at the Gerry 5 VFA, 210 Beacon St., Marblehead.

May 11 9 a.m.-1 p.m.: Bilerica Garden Club Plant Sale, 25 Concord Road, Billerica.

May 11, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Garden Club of Concord Plant Sale, Middlesex Bank, Main St., Concord.

May 11, 10 am. to 1 p.m., Kingston Garden Club annuual spring plant sale, Faunce School, 16 Green St., Kingston.

May 11. 9 a.m. to noon, Bridgewater Garden Club Plant Sale, Bridgewater Cole-Yeaton Senior Center, 10 Wally Krueger Way, Bridgewater off Rte. 18/28.

May 11, 9 a.m.:Easton Garden Club Plant Sale, Yardley-Wood Rink, 388 Depot St., S. Easton

May 11 The New England Daylily Society [www.nedaylily.org] is holding a Plant Sale on in Wakefield at the First Parish Congregational Church, 1 Church St. Sales tables open: 10:30-12:30. Auction of more expensive daylily hybrids at 12:30.

Members of the New England Daylily Society will be there at the sale to answer your questions or help you to choose a daylily for your gardens. Hundreds of daylilies will be available for purchase. Be there at the start of the sale for best selection.

Daylilies are not Lilies or bulbs. They are herbaceous perennials. Daylilies grow very well in average garden soil and although they perform better when watered during the growing season, they are drought tolerant.

If you have questions about the sale, please contact NEDS president, Adele Keohan at akgabriel22@comcast.net
For more information about daylilies, visit the American Hemerocallis Society at www.daylilies.org.

By Carol Stocker
What do you get when a true artist interprets plant forms? Dark Gardens is an installation at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton through May 19 that is a must-see for gardeners. The artist, Linda Huey is both a noted ceramicist and a keen gardener herself

The title of this terrific show, "Dark Garden" is taken from her thoughts about the damage being done to the environment. The most major event of her career, it consists of 40 clay "plants" up to nine feet tall that mirror her conviction that the biggest problem the earth is facing is ecological disaster.

The beautiful but unlikely plant forms turn an entire gallery into a somber, courtyard-type garden. This is no ordinary garden. Imagine flowers, seed pods, leaves—all constructed from clay, manufactured steel, rusted rebar metal, and debris. Huey’s four to nine-foot-tall plants have a suggestion of beauty and fragility, but look closer and see mounds of clay earth that appear to be fossilized trash and computer parts, flowers with graffiti, black fairies, decayed gnomes, broken antennas, leaves infested with cars. Her garden grows with compelling dualities: nature versus culture, organic versus man-made, life versus decay. Huey’s concern for the natural environment is apparent as she explores problematic aspects of culture through her sculptures.

Each of us tries to find a way to answer the onrushing crisis. Her exhibition asks the question—Can art make a difference and change the values of society?

To contact the Fuller Craft Museum at 455 Oak Street, Brockton, call 508.588.6000.

Looking for organic compost from a local farm? Sign-Up by this Thursday to place an order with the MILTON GARDEN CLUB for their yearly "Black Gold" Aged Weed Free Compost Sale. Each worm filled living 40 pound bag costs seven dollars and must be ordered in advance. Orders must be picked up on Saturday, May 11, at the Glover School Parking Lot, 255 Canton Ave., Milton, between 8 a.m. and noon. Please note, this is a new location. The manure is trucked in from an organic dairy farm in western Massachusetts.

To quote author and organic gardener, Ann Lovejoy, "Dairy manure may be the single most useful soil builder around. Composted dairy manure from healthy cows is just about perfect for garden use; it can be used as a topdressing and for soil improvement, and it is safe to use in unlimited numbers."

You will receive a detailed set of instructions on how to use the compost with your purchase. To help calculate the number of bags to purchase, here are some guidelines: *Approx. 1 bag per 20 sq. ft. of bed area - compost worked into soil. Approx. 2 bags per 1000 st. ft. top dress lawns. Apply spring & fall.

This sale is a fund raiser for Milton civic projects. The Compost Sale coincides with the Milton Garden Club Perennial Sale on the front lawn of the Milton Public Library at 476 Canton Avenue but is being held at separate locations. The Perennial Sale starts at 8 am and is typically finished by around 9:30. The Amateur Gardeners of Milton have their annual plant sale across the street at the same time.
>

>
> HOW TO ORDER
>
> 1) All orders must be pre-ordered and submitted by Thursday, May 2nd.
>
> 2) Checks are payable to: Milton Garden Club
>
> 3) Print out the order receipt/record and order blank. The top portion
>
> of the form is your receipt and present it when picking up your
>
> order.
>
> 4) Fill out the lower section of the form and return with your payment
>
> to the address on the form.
>
> Questions: Call Barb Phinney (617-696-8009)
> SCROLL DOWN FOR ORDER FORM
>
> ******************************************************************************************************************************************
>
> COMPOST ORDER RECEIPT/YOUR RECORD
>
> PRESENT THIS SECTION OF FORM WHEN PICKING UP YOUR ORDER
>
> on Sat., May 11, 8-noon, Glover School Parking Lot
>
> NAME __________________________________________________
>
> NO. OF BAGS ORDERED
>
> __________________________________
>
> DATE CHECK SENT _______________________________________
>
> Keep this section as your receipt for pick up
>
> ****************************************************************************************************************************************
>
> ?BLACK GOLD? ORDER FORM
>
> NAME __________________________________________________
>
> ADDRESS ______________________________________________
>
> PHONE _________________________________________________ (Where we can reach you the day of the sale)
>
> EMAIL __________________________________________________
>
> NUMBER OF BAGS _______________ @ $7 =
> TOTAL $ ________________________
>
> CHECKS PAYABLE TO: MILTON GARDEN CLUB
RETURN THIS PART OF THE FORM WITH PAYMENT TO:
>
> BARBARA PHINNEY
> 104 CANTON AVE
> MILTON, MA 02186
> 617-696-8009
> cooper448@me.com

By Boston Globe Garden Writer Carol Stocker, who will answer your gardening questions live on-line Friday at 1 p.m.

Water everything well as rainfall was one third of normal last month!
To control recently hatched inchworms, spray your roses, blueberries and fruit trees with Spinosad, an organic bacteria found in Conserve, Bulls-Eye or Monteray Garden Spray. Or have your trees sprayed by a state certified arborist.
Spread a weed preventative such as Preen on garden beds and water it in before mulching.
Spray or pull dandelions before they set seed.
This is your last chance to reseed or oversee your lawn until September.

By Carol Stocker
Yesterday the Museum of Fine Arts concluded its three day festival of floral arrangements inspired by masterpieces. Some 50 works of art were interpreted in flowers by garden club members. The fun of attending this annual event is to select your favorite arrangements based on how well successfully or cleverly you think they reflect their assigned masterpiece.

Standouts ranged from Marisa McCoy and Katherine Coyle's interpretation of La Japonaise by Monet to Karen Knaub and Kitty Lurene's tribute to a white marble sculpture of artist Hortio Greenough's beloved grayhound. A white ceramic of the Virgin and Child from 1773 inspired Sue Hess and Heather Comerford of the Cohasset Garden Club, while Barbara Cobb and Vicki Spencer of the Weston Garden Club successfully tackled a painting by Felice Casorati.

Also of particular note were The Garden Club of the Back Bay's Donna Morressey and Nancy Stone's interpretation of Copley's 1796 portrait of John Quincy Adams. And Donna Johson and Judy Handley's depiction of a La Farge stain glass window using plant material was particularly witty. They are members of the Sudbury Garden Club.

I will be on line live this Friday at 1 p.m. to answer gardener's questions.

By Carol Stocker
Globe Correspondent

British royal wedding floral designer Shane Connolly is the star of this weekend's Art in Bloom, the annual flower festival which runs through Monday at the Museum of Fine Arts. He holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, making him an official supplier of flowers for royal events, including Prince Charles' 2005 wedding and Kate and Will's 2011 nuptials. He also doesn't believe in using Oasis, that green stem gripping sponge employed by most florists since the 1950's.

Q; What was your role in the Royal Wedding?
A: Confidentiality is a very big part of it. Shane Connolly and Company provided flowers for the church, the bride and bridesmaids, the reception at Buckingham Palace and dinner there that night. We had a team of 15 in total.

Q: Describe it.
A: It was a green and white color scheme. Live growing trees were very noticeable. The bridal bouquet contained lily of the valley, sweet William and hyacinth with myrtle from Queen Victoria's wedding. Myrtle is a symbol of a happy marriage.
Q: You literally used cuttings from the very same myrtle plant used in Queen Victoria's wedding bouquet in 1840?
A: Yes. The cuttings were from the same plant which is at her favorite former residence on the Isle of Wight.
Q: What will you be doing at the MFA for Art in Bloom this weekend?
A: I will be teaching two master classes to 24 people (sold out) and giving a lecture.

Q: What are the current trends in flower arranging?
A: I am an anti-trend person. My work has to reflect the individual, and be respectful of the environment. It excludes material that cannot be composted, such as Oasis. That makes you more inventive. You have to chose flowers that work with your containers. The flowers actually last longer with nice fresh water around the stems.
Q:How is flower arranging different in Britain?
A: It's considered a craft, whereas in America floral arranging is considered more of an art form. The fact that flowers are brought into the museum (where they are used to interpret artistic masterpieces) shows that. In England floral design is a craft equated with home cooking. If someone makes a painting of one of my arrangements, the painting is considered a work of art. But my arrangement is not.

Q:How did you get into this profession?
A: I am a native of Belfast and I have always enjoyed gardening, though I read psychology at university. I started helping with flowers for friends in the business when I was 23. Then I decided it would be nice to be paid.
Q: You were at Art in Bloom ten years ago. How did last week's bombing affect your attitude toward the event this visit?
A: It made me more determined to come. Beauty is part of life and there is no better memorial than that life continues. I was in Japan the year after the sunami. It was a different kind of disaster. But the people were hungry for beautiful things again. Beauty makes people feel hopeful

Art in Bloom runs through Monday, April 29. Some 50 works of art from across the Museum’s encyclopedic collection will be interpreted in flowers, including John Singer Sargent’s iconic painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, the recently conserved sculpture of the Roman goddess Juno, and contemporary artist El Anatsui’s sculptural work Black River.

Drop-in Ikebana floral demonstrations and gallery tours will be offered during Art in Bloom on Saturday, April 27, followed by a Member’s Night from 6–9 p.m. that evening. On Sunday, April 28, the MFA will host a Family Day featuring family-friendly programming, art-making activities, storytelling, and live entertainment. Additionally, local artist Robert Guillemin (“Sidewalk Sam”) will be at the MFA collaborating with visitors to leave their mark on the Museum’s steps using sidewalk chalk. This year’s featured speaker will be Shane Connolly, who received worldwide acclaim for the elegant and inspired floral décor he created for the 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Connolly will conduct two master classes with hands-on floral instruction on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. He will also present a lecture and demonstration on Monday, April 29, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a book signing. All presentations by Connolly are ticketed events. Daily events include continuous demonstrations of floral arranging for the home, outdoor walking tours exploring the architecture and neighboring gardens of the MFA, and free gallery tours highlighting the floral arrangements throughout the Museum.

Also included is a ticketed “Elegant Tea” available Saturday through Monday in the newly renovated William I. Koch Gallery, one of the Museum’s grandest spaces. Guests at the afternoon tea, hosted by Cunard Line—operator of the famous ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. The full schedule of events is listed below.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Ticketed Events

· Shane Connolly Master Class I

Saturday, April 27, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hands-on floral arranging with one of Britain’s renowned floral designers. Tickets are $200.

· Shane Connolly Master Class II (advanced)

Sunday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hands-on floral arranging for advanced students. Tickets are $200.

· Shane Connolly: A Year in Flowers

Monday, April 29, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Connolly presents a floral demonstration and lecture, followed by a book signing. Tickets are $55.

· “Elegant Tea” in the William I. Koch Gallery

12:30 and 2:30 p.m. daily

Reservations required

Adult tickets: $30; children 12 and under: $10

Famed for its legendary white-gloved afternoon tea services, the renowned Cunard Line will host “Elegant Tea.” Guests will enjoy the finest teas and canapés during a traditional British-style afternoon.

Special Events

Free with Museum admission, no reservations required. Museum admission is free for MFA members.

· Ikebana Floral Demonstrations

Saturday, April 27, 3–4 p.m.

Each of the three Ikebana design schools will present one floral creation.

· Members’ Night

Saturday, April 27, 6–9 p.m.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

A members-only viewing with tours, shopping, and dining.

· Family Day

Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Art-making activities and performances for children of all ages.

· Gardens of New York

Sunday, April 28, 3–4 p.m.

A presentation by Maureen Bovet, who lectures on world gardens.

· Designing a Garden for All Seasons

Monday, April 29, 3–4 p.m.

A presentation by Suzanne Mahler, a recognized garden writer and lecturer.

Daily Events

Free with Museum admission, no reservations required. Museum admission is free for MFA members.

· Art in Bloom Gallery Tours

10 a.m.–3 p.m.

A tour of the collections and floral arrangements throughout the galleries.

· Designing with Flowers

Noon–3 p.m.

Continuous demonstrations of flower arranging for the home.

· Outdoor Walking Tours

1–2 p.m.

The MFA’s architecture and neighboring gardens are among the highlights of this tour.

· Enter-to-Win a Cunard Line Tour

Cunard will offer Art in Bloom attendees an enter-to-win opportunity for a private tour and luncheon for one winner and three guests aboard Queen Mary 2 during one of the ocean liner’s future Boston visits.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Art in Bloom is free with Museum admission. Advance ticket purchase is required for the Shane Connolly lecture and master classes and “Elegant Tea.” Tickets may be purchased at www.mfa.org/artinbloom, by calling 1-800-440-6975, or in person at the MFA ticket desks. For the full event schedule, visit http://www.mfa.org/programs/series/art-bloom.

Join the conversation about the about the MFA on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mfaboston and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mfaboston, and watch MFA-related videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mfabost

Art in Bloom originated at the MFA in 1976 and since then has been replicated at museums throughout the country. The three-day event attracts more than 15,000 visitors, and is one of the most highly attended events at the Museum. It is organized by the Museum’s volunteer group, the MFA Associates, an organization of 75 members formed in 1956, who contribute more than 40,000 volunteer hours to the Museum annually. In addition to presenting this annual event, their activities include funding MFA grants and School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) scholarships from Art in Bloom proceeds, providing assistance at the Sharf Visitor Center Desk, leading daily gallery tours, creating regional membership outreach programs, organizing events, and arranging flowers in the MFA’s public space.

Open seven days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; and Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. Admission (which includes one repeat visit within 10 days) is $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students age 18 and older, and includes entry to all galleries and special exhibitions. Admission is free for University Members and youths age 17 and younger on weekdays after 3 p.m., weekends, and Boston Public Schools holidays; otherwise $10. Wednesday nights after 4 p.m. admission is by voluntary contribution (suggested donation $25). MFA Members are always admitted for free. The MFA’s multi-media guide is available at ticket desks and the Sharf Visitor Center for $5, members; $6, non-members; and $4, youths. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. For more information, visit www.mfa.org or call 617.267.9300. The MFA is located on the Avenue of the Arts at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.

Carol Stocker
Globe Correspondent

Highlights Including Family Day, Guided Gallery Tours, Lectures, and Floral Demonstrations when the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), all are part of this weekend's Art in Bloom, a festival of floral arrangements inspired by masterpieces on view in the Museum’s galleries. These displays are created by New England garden club members and professional designers.

The event, now marking its 37th anniversary, kicks-off Saturday, April 27, and runs through Monday, April 29. Some 50 works of art from across the Museum’s encyclopedic collection will be interpreted in flowers, including John Singer Sargent’s iconic painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, the recently conserved sculpture of the Roman goddess Juno, and contemporary artist El Anatsui’s sculptural work Black River.

Drop-in Ikebana floral demonstrations and gallery tours will be offered during Art in Bloom on Saturday, April 27, followed by a Member’s Night from 6–9 p.m. that evening. On Sunday, April 28, the MFA will host a Family Day featuring family-friendly programming, art-making activities, storytelling, and live entertainment. Additionally, local artist Robert Guillemin (“Sidewalk Sam”) will be at the MFA collaborating with visitors to leave their mark on the Museum’s steps using sidewalk chalk. This year’s featured speaker will be Shane Connolly, who received worldwide acclaim for the elegant and inspired floral décor he created for the 2011 royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. Connolly will conduct two master classes with hands-on floral instruction on Saturday, April 27, and Sunday, April 28. He will also present a lecture and demonstration on Monday, April 29, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a book signing. All presentations by Connolly are ticketed events. Daily events include continuous demonstrations of floral arranging for the home, outdoor walking tours exploring the architecture and neighboring gardens of the MFA, and free gallery tours highlighting the floral arrangements throughout the Museum.

Also included is a ticketed “Elegant Tea” available Saturday through Monday in the newly renovated William I. Koch Gallery, one of the Museum’s grandest spaces. Guests at the afternoon tea, hosted by Cunard Line—operator of the famous ocean liners Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth. The full schedule of events is listed below.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Ticketed Events

· Shane Connolly Master Class I

Saturday, April 27, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hands-on floral arranging with one of Britain’s renowned floral designers. Tickets are $200.

· Shane Connolly Master Class II (advanced)

Sunday, April 28, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hands-on floral arranging for advanced students. Tickets are $200.

· Shane Connolly: A Year in Flowers

Monday, April 29, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Connolly presents a floral demonstration and lecture, followed by a book signing. Tickets are $55.

· “Elegant Tea” in the William I. Koch Gallery

12:30 and 2:30 p.m. daily

Reservations required

Adult tickets: $30; children 12 and under: $10

Famed for its legendary white-gloved afternoon tea services, the renowned Cunard Line will host “Elegant Tea.” Guests will enjoy the finest teas and canapés during a traditional British-style afternoon.

Special Events

Free with Museum admission, no reservations required. Museum admission is free for MFA members.

· Ikebana Floral Demonstrations

Saturday, April 27, 3–4 p.m.

Each of the three Ikebana design schools will present one floral creation.

· Members’ Night

Saturday, April 27, 6–9 p.m.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

A members-only viewing with tours, shopping, and dining.

· Family Day

Sunday, April 28, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Art-making activities and performances for children of all ages.

· Gardens of New York

Sunday, April 28, 3–4 p.m.

A presentation by Maureen Bovet, who lectures on world gardens.

· Designing a Garden for All Seasons

Monday, April 29, 3–4 p.m.

A presentation by Suzanne Mahler, a recognized garden writer and lecturer.

Daily Events

Free with Museum admission, no reservations required. Museum admission is free for MFA members.

· Art in Bloom Gallery Tours

10 a.m.–3 p.m.

A tour of the collections and floral arrangements throughout the galleries.

· Designing with Flowers

Noon–3 p.m.

Continuous demonstrations of flower arranging for the home.

· Outdoor Walking Tours

1–2 p.m.

The MFA’s architecture and neighboring gardens are among the highlights of this tour.

· Enter-to-Win a Cunard Line Tour

Cunard will offer Art in Bloom attendees an enter-to-win opportunity for a private tour and luncheon for one winner and three guests aboard Queen Mary 2 during one of the ocean liner’s future Boston visits.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Art in Bloom is free with Museum admission. Advance ticket purchase is required for the Shane Connolly lecture and master classes and “Elegant Tea.” Tickets may be purchased at www.mfa.org/artinbloom, by calling 1-800-440-6975, or in person at the MFA ticket desks. For the full event schedule, visit http://www.mfa.org/programs/series/art-bloom.

Join the conversation about the about the MFA on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mfaboston and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mfaboston, and watch MFA-related videos on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mfabost

Art in Bloom originated at the MFA in 1976 and since then has been replicated at museums throughout the country. The three-day event attracts more than 15,000 visitors, and is one of the most highly attended events at the Museum. It is organized by the Museum’s volunteer group, the MFA Associates, an organization of 75 members formed in 1956, who contribute more than 40,000 volunteer hours to the Museum annually. In addition to presenting this annual event, their activities include funding MFA grants and School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) scholarships from Art in Bloom proceeds, providing assistance at the Sharf Visitor Center Desk, leading daily gallery tours, creating regional membership outreach programs, organizing events, and arranging flowers in the MFA’s public space.

Open seven days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; and Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. Admission (which includes one repeat visit within 10 days) is $25 for adults and $23 for seniors and students age 18 and older, and includes entry to all galleries and special exhibitions. Admission is free for University Members and youths age 17 and younger on weekdays after 3 p.m., weekends, and Boston Public Schools holidays; otherwise $10. Wednesday nights after 4 p.m. admission is by voluntary contribution (suggested donation $25). MFA Members are always admitted for free. The MFA’s multi-media guide is available at ticket desks and the Sharf Visitor Center for $5, members; $6, non-members; and $4, youths. The Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, Patriots’ Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. For more information, visit www.mfa.org or call 617.267.9300. The MFA is located on the Avenue of the Arts at 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.