Presented by Joann Vieira
FarandNear, 156 Center Road, Shirley, MA
Saturday, September 21, 2024 10:30am to 12:30pm
Description: Trustees Horticultural Director Joann Vieira will be leading us on a special tour of two of the major collections on this beautiful, diverse property known as FarandNear–the Pinetum and Perennial Gardens.
In the 1980s and 1990s, FarandNear former resident and property owner Arthur S. Banks created the property’s “pinetum,” an arboretum containing 88 unique species of conifers. This pinetum was featured in an article in the spring 2001 edition of the American Conifer Society’s quarterly magazine entitled “Farandnear: A Small New England Pinetum.” Members of the Society also visited the property in 2001.
In 1995, Banks donated a conservation restriction on Farandnear to The Trustees of Reservations, (now known as The Trustees.). In 2000, he gave the property to The Trustees with a retained life estate.
Farandnear consists of 89 acres with a variety of trails and natural and landscaped areas that include wooded glades, beaver ponds, the conifer collection, and a perennial garden.
About the presenter: Trustees Horticulture Director Joann Vieira has extensive expertise in nonprofit management, public garden development, and sustainable horticulture. As the first and longtime Director of Horticulture at Tower Hill Botanic Garden (now New England Botanic Garden), she helped shepherd the organization through major garden development, membership and visitation growth. There, she helped to design and build 17 gardens, two conservatories, buildings, and infrastructure. In addition, she led the development of purposeful and inspiring plant collections; miles of trails; and sustainable, educational landscapes. Joann is passionate about connecting people with plants and sharing the wonders of the natural world.
How the Plant Swap Works
Members are encouraged to bring up to six extras from their gardens to swap. Try to pot plants a week or two in advance so they look their best on the day of the swap and also provide descriptive labels. This could include name as well as light, water and soil requirements if known, height, width, bloom time and color.
We will conduct the plant swap first, starting at 10:30, and then have our workshop. Don’t be late if you intend to participate in the swap!!
You can bring perennials and gardening tools you want to swap. Members who bring plants get first choice in what to take.
Note: Sharing plants and soil carries a risk of inadvertently introducing the invasive Asian jumping worm into your garden. As a prevention, you can dispose of shared soil in your trash (not your compost!) and rinse the plants roots with water before planting in your garden. Of course, if you know that your soil is already infested, please don’t share plants. Here’s an educational link for more about the jumping work: https://warren.cce.cornell.edu/gardening-landscape/warren-county-master-gardener-articles/invasive-asian-jumping-earthworms