It’s a February Snow Day as I write this message. Well… snow, hail, and freezing rain day. I am glad to be inside. We have a very exciting lineup of BNARGS programs for 2025. Our first meeting, April 5th, features the intrepid plantsman from North Carolina: Tony Avent. Not only does he run an amazing nursery, Plant Delights Nursery, but went on to found Juniper Level Botanic Garden. Should you not have ordered from that nursery before, know it to be a great source for unique, rare and native plants. Of course this lecture is free to all active BNARGS members. However note that we have offered to share this fantastic talk with the Berkshire Botanical Garden, our host. They are charging their members while we are not for ours. This talk will not be recorded or available online.
The morning will be the lecture. Then Tony will show his impressive skill (I have heard reports!) at a BNARGS plant auction. Now April 5th is rather early for full size plants. So I encourage you to bring some pots inside soon to encourage their growth.
The following month, May, will be our Outreach at the Berkshire Botanical Garden. We will set up our own tent near the entrance. There we can hand out information about our group. And swell our ranks with a few more gardeners. Let’s spread the word about rock gardening.
In June, we had Dan Hinkley scheduled to come and speak. Unfortunately he developed a health issue after the trip was scheduled. So he has offered to tape a program for us. It will only be available in the classroom. So be there to hear it! Note, we will also have a Seedling Sale just for fun.
July will bring Michael Hagen, NYBG’s Curator of the Native Plant Garden and the Rock Garden. You might have known him previously at Stonecrop Gardens in Cold Spring, NY, as served as Staff Horticulturist. Prior to that he was garden manager at Rocky Hills, in Mt. Kisco, a preservation project of the Garden Conservancy. We are very excited to hear him speak.
In August, our own Lori Chips, will present her take on propagation. And she will be vending some of her own. In the afternoon program we will feature a Member’s Potpourri. Be ready as we need to find out what you, our members, are doing these days.
Jordan Tourville is the Terrestrial Ecologist for the Appalachian Mountain Club. He has been studying climate change and other global change factors that will influence the character and function of montane forest and plant communities in the northeastern United States. He will be our morning speaker for September. Then it’s the BIG Plant Sale.
In mid-October the NARGS Traveling Speaker: Paul Cumbleton, will speak am and pm for us after BNARGS Officer elections. Now retired, Paul worked for the Royal Horticultural Society for 11 years, some of that as head of the Alpine section at the RHS Wisley garden, responsible for the rock garden, alpine meadow, crevice garden and the alpine display houses.
Finally, for our annual November luncheon we are delighted to have our NARGS editor, Joseph Tychonievich, speak on Plant Breeding. I am trying out one of his selections of hardy gladiolus this winter. But he has also been breeding snapdragons, to name but one. And he will give us a look at his basement seed starting setup.
Be sure to pay your dues soon. The preferred method is check.
Berkshire Chapter NARGS 