Fall Tour with Joann Vieira
Members-only event. Free.
We need an accurate count in advance, so see the email for RSVP info and respond by 9/28/2015.
Meet at 10:20am for carpooling*
or 11:20am at Tower Hill Botanical Garden Registration Desk
* Meeting place for carpooling is Old Town Hall, 3 Parker Road, Shirley, MA
More Than A Tour
Besides our tour of the major areas of the garden with long-time horticultural director Joann Vieira, there are many special Fall Fest events going on the day of our visit:
- There will be heirloom apple, cider, and beer tastings, and food and beer demos with Heather Schmidt of Union Square Donuts (Best of Boston 2013 & 2015, voted best in the US, Eater.com); and, Best Bees – Talk & Honey Tasting; Gardner Ale House, Beer tasting.
- The live music is provided by Town Meeting (indie folk/rock/Americana), with Ayer’s own Luke and Russ Condon and friends.
- The library will be open from 10:00 – 4:00 with The Highgrove Florilegium exhibit of selected watercolors by leading international botanical artists of the flowers in Prince Charles’ garden. (An exhibit talk begins there at 11:00 a.m.)
- A free talk on The History of Apples with John Bunker will be held from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. For 300 years Massachusetts was the center of American orcharding. Long before the days of Red Delicious, Fuji, Gala and Honeycrisp there was Roxbury Russet, Garden Royal, Hubbardston, Nonesuch and Westfield Seek No Further. Where did those old varieties come from? What were they like? What were they used for? Where are they now? Join apple historian and fruit explorer John Bunker for a romp through the history of apples in the Bay State. Learn the answers to these and other questions. Bring your apples for John to identify.
- There will also be craft and other vendors.
Lunch
Lunch has not been planned but we know everyone will be hungry following the tour. Twigs Cafe at THBG will be open for lunch and serves a variety of salads, soups, gourmet sandwiches and desserts. In addition there are many wonderful restaurants nearby. Recommended are Harvest Grille on Route 12 in Sterling and Ristorante Via Alta 27 in downtown Clinton, both open for lunch. For those carpooling, don’t forget to take lunch into consideration when making your plans!