Classes

Native Plant Basics: A Conversation with Reed Pugh – Lexington Living Landscapes – Free Online Video

COMPLETED Late Winter Pruning Workshop – Saturday, February 28th @ 10am & 12pm – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA

COMPLETED Setting Up Your Garden: Early Season Prep – Saturday, March 14th @ 10am – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA

Early Spring Pruning Workshop – Saturday, April 11th @ 10am and 12pm – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – Focusing on early spring–flowering shrubs that have just bloomed on old wood. This brief but powerful pruning window is when plants respond most vigorously, making timing and restraint especially important. Participants will learn how to manage winter damage, renovate plants thoughtfully, and—just as importantly—identify what not to prune during this explosive growth period. Attendees will discuss pruning decisions that balance plant health, bloom preservation, and long-term structure.

Tour and Discussion of Spring Flowering Shrubs – Saturday, May 23rd @ 10am and 12pm – Blithewold Gardens and Arboretum, Bristol, RI – Come and walk the gardens during the peak of spring blooms on our ornamental shrubs. We will visit and discuss many plants of interest at this time of year. Depending on the spring weather, we will visit some interesting Rhododendrons and Azaleas, along with Lilac, Viburnum, Glossy Abelia, Enkianthus, and Fothergilla, among others. We will take an intimate look at the flowers and discuss some care and needs for each plant.

Late Spring Pruning Workshop – Saturday, May 30th @ 10am and 12pm – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – Addressing the majority of spring-flowering shrubs and trees that have recently finished flowering. This session explores how timing affects both structural integrity and aesthetic form. Participants will learn how to shape plants after flowering, correct structural issues, and make pruning choices that support long-term health and visual balance. Instruction takes place in the garden, using seasonal plant examples to demonstrate pruning techniques and decision-making in context.

Rethinking Garden Maintenance: Native vs Traditional Practices – Sunday, May 31st @ 10am – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – In this lecture, we’ll explore the key differences between sustainable (native-focused) and conventional garden care, including soil preparation, irrigation practices, plant management, seed collection, seasonal cutting back, pest and disease resistance, mulching strategies, and more. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to shift maintenance practices to better support biodiversity, soil health, and long-term resilience in the garden..

Understanding Hydrangeas – Saturday, July 18th @ 10am and 12pm – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – Hydrangeas are among the most striking flowering shrubs in the landscape, celebrated for their dramatic inflorescences, wide color range, and extended bloom time. Yet many gardeners struggle with questions about soil conditions, water requirements, sun exposure, fertilization, and—most of all—pruning. We will explore a range of hydrangea cultivars growing on site and compare the most common species in New England. Participants will learn how species differences influence bloom timing, pruning practices, and cultural needs.

Summer Pruning Workshop – Sunday, July 19th @ 10am and 12pm – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – By mid-summer, most spring growth has finished, making this an ideal time for certain types of maintenance pruning—especially for evergreens, which can be pruned now with minimal growth response. This session will cover how summer pruning differs from earlier seasonal approaches, what plants benefit most during this window, and how to maintain plant form and health without overstimulating growth. Participants will tour the garden and examine plants to better understand summer-appropriate pruning strategies.

Demystifying Hydrangeas – Saturday, July 25th @ 10am and 12pm – Blithewold Gardens and Arboretum, Bristol, RI – Hydrangeas are the most striking flowering shrubs, from the size and color of their inflorescences to their lengthy flowering times. However, there is much confusion regarding water and soil requirements, sun exposure, fertilization, and pruning of these colorful shrubs. We will walk through the gardens and visit many cultivars of common New England species: macrophylla (Big Leaf), arborescens (Smooth), paniculata (Paniculate), quercifolia (Oak Leaf), as well as some special, uncommon species. A handout will provide information on the proper care of the different species and a listing of the plants visited.

Work in the Fall Garden – Saturday, August 29th @ 10am – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – CLASS WILL BE POSTED SOON

Plant Propagation – Saturday, September 19th @ 10am – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – CLASS WILL BE POSTED SOON

Dormant Pruning Workshop – Saturday, November 14th @ 10am and 12pm – Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Wellesley, MA – With leaves gone and plant structure fully visible, this is a critical time for addressing long-term structural issues, reducing risk of winter damage, and performing pruning tasks that should not be done during active growth. Plants may include ornamental trees and late-flowering shrubs. Participants will learn why plants do not respond to pruning during dormancy—and why that lack of response is essential for certain types of corrective and preventative work.