FRAMINGHAM, MA -- New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, is a very special place at any time of the year, but never more so than Mother’s Day weekend. All three layers of the Garden are in bloom; trees, shrubs, and ephemerals. Rain and the spring sun have given the Garden just the right mixture of ingredients to bring a rainbow of colors and a profusion of textures.

Since Moms are so special, New England Wild Flower Society will celebrate Mother’s Day for three days; Friday, May 8, with National Public Garden’s Day; Saturday, May 9, with Compost Tea Day; and Sunday, May 10, the true Mother’s Day.

National Public Garden’s Day

The American Public Gardens Association created this day, May 8, 2009, as a national day of celebration to raise awareness of America's public gardens and their important role in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education in communities nationwide.

Garden in the Woods has been given proclamations by the Massachusetts’ Senate, the MA House of Representatives, and Town of Framingham calling the day National Public Garden’s Day at Garden in the Woods. Guided walking tours of the Gardens and habitats take place at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, May 8. Scott LaFleur, Botanic Garden Director, conducts a special walking tour of the Garden at 6 p.m. that evening. His thorough knowledge of the Garden makes this tour one of the weekend’s highlights. Photographers love the early evening light. Bring your camera on the tour to capture the play of light and shadows.

Compost Tea Day

Forget the chemicals, start brewing compost tea for your plants and gardens. Erika Hanson, former gardening staff member for Martha Stewart, presents “Compost Tea for Your Plants and Garden” at 11 a.m. and will be in the Garden Shop between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to answer questions, do informal demonstrations, and brew some tea. Erika’s blog
www.dirtyhorticulture.blogspot.com covers a wide range of subjects near and dear to her. Living Colors Landscape and Gardens, her consulting, design, and maintenance firm, launched a year ago. A special guided walking tour of the gardens and habitats occurs at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Mother’s Day

New England Wild Flower Society membership makes an enduring and endearing gift for Moms at any time of the year, but on Mother’s Day, it is extra special. With membership, Moms experience Garden in the Woods throughout the spring, summer, and fall seasons with free admission. She enjoys discounts at the Garden Shop for native plants, books, and eco-friendly gardening gloves and tools. She even gets a discount on horticulture and gardening courses through the Society’s educational programs. Bring Mom to the Garden, stroll the beautiful native plant Gardens and Habitats, take the 2 p.m. guided walking tour to learn more about horticulture, gardening, and the history of native plants at Garden in the Woods. Stop by the Garden Shop for native plants, pots, soil . . . all the ingredients for a stunning arrangement for patio, deck, or window box.

Mother’s Day weekend just moved up a notch for everyone. Learn, grow, protect, and enjoy native plants with a visit to Garden in the Woods.

Classes

Fridays, May 8, 15, 12-3:30 p.m. and May 22, 12-3 p.m. Native Herbaceous Plant Materials: Early Season, Garden in the Woods, Scott LaFleur, Botanic Garden Director, examines the characteristics of horticulturally important native plants and discusses how a plant’s cultural requirements relate to its wild habitat. Fee: $130 members/ $150 non-members. Pre-registration required, call 508-877-7630, ext. 3303.

Saturday, May 9, 1-3 p.m. Deer and Deer Ticks, Garden in the Woods, Peter Aquilina, Deer DeFence LLC, teaches about the life cycle of deer ticks, their hosts, and potential for spread of Lyme disease to humans. Fee: $22 members/ $26 non-members. Pre-registration required, call 508-877-7630, ext. 3303.

Founded in 1900, New England Wild Flower Society, the nation’s oldest native plant conservation organization, promotes the conservation of temperate North American flora through education, research, horticulture, habitat preservation, and advocacy. The Society owns and operates Garden in the Woods, a 45-acre public botanic garden in Framingham, MA, and Nasami Farm, a 75-acre native plant nursery in Whately, MA, as well as ten sanctuaries located in New England. The Society’s vision is a future where vigorous native plant populations live in healthy, balanced, natural ecosystems—protected, enjoyed, and beneficial to all life. For more information, visit www.newenglandwild.org

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