Massachusetts Horticultural Society

FOUNDED IN 1829, THE MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY IS DEDICATED TO ENCOURAGING THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF HORTICULTURE AND DEVELOPING THE PUBLIC'S ENJOYMENT, APPRECIATION, AND UNDERSTANDING OF PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK:MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY (MHS) IS LOCATED ON 36 ACRES IN THE HISTORIC ELM BANK RESERVATION. ELM BANK IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES FOR ITS MANOR HOUSE, DESIGNED BY CARRERE AND HASTINGS, THE ARCHITECTS WHO DESIGNED THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY; ITS ORIGINAL OWNER, BENJAMIN CHENEY, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF AMERICAN EXPRESS; AND THE LANDSCAPES CREATED BY THE OLMSTED BROTHERS FIRM IN THE EARLY 1900S. WITH 17 ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION, THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK OFFERS ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE, ENJOY AND LEARN ABOUT PLANTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE CAMPUS OFFERS A VARIETY OF BEAUTIFUL GARDENS INCLUDING THE HISTORIC ITALIANATE GARDEN DESIGNED BY THE OLMSTED BROTHERS, THE NEW ENGLAND TRIAL GARDEN THAT TESTS PLANT VARIETIES FOR HARDINESS IN OUR ZONE, THE WHIMSICAL WEEZIE'S GARDEN FOR CHILDREN, AND BRESSINGHAM GARDEN, WHICH DEMONSTRATES PERENNIAL PLANTS FOR THE NEW ENGLAND GARDEN, DESIGNED BY ADRIAN BLOOM. SEVERAL PLANT SOCIETIES AND GARDEN CLUBS HAVE ALSO INSTALLED PERMANENT DEMONSTRATION AND DISPLAY GARDENS.MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND FOR CLASSES, WORKSHOPS AND SYMPOSIA HELD IN THE EDUCATION BUILDING, THE HUNNEWELL CARRIAGE HOUSE, AND THE PUTNAM BUILDING WITH WET LAB. THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK IS OPEN FOR GARDEN VISITORS, APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER, 7 DAYS A WEEK, FROM 10 A.M. TO 7 P. M. MEMBERS GET IN FREE AND OTHER GUESTS PAY ADMISSION. FUNCTION BUSINESS:THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK ALSO PROVIDES AN EVENT VENUE THAT SUPPORTS MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S MISSION THROUGH RENTALS OF ITS FACILITIES AND GROUNDS. OVER 24,000 GUESTS PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND HELP TO INTRODUCE THE PUBLIC TO HORTICULTURE AND OUR BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND GROUNDS.EDUCATION:ADULT EDUCATION: ADULT EDUCATION INCLUDES A SELECTION OF HORTICULTURAL/GARDENING/ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS TO EDUCATE ADULTS, SUCH AS YEAR-ROUND CLASSES IN HORTICULTURE, LANDSCAPE DESIGN, AND BOTANY TO NAME A FEW, FOR THE NOVICE TO EXPERT; GARDEN TOURS; AND VOLUNTEER GARDENING TRAINING.YOUTH EDUCATION: MHS'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH FOCUS ON THE SCIENCE OF GROWING PLANTS, HEALTHY NUTRITION, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF NATURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE PLANTMOBILE IS A TRAVELING PLANT SCIENCE WORKSHOP THAT PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN IN GRADES K-8. A MEMBER OF MHS EDUCATIONAL STAFF WILL COME TO YOUR CLASSROOM TO PRESENT EACH PROGRAM. OUR EMPHASIS IS ON HANDS-ON INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES. OUR PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE MASSACHUSETTS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FRAMEWORKS, STEM. EACH WORKSHOP IS DESIGNED TO DELIVER A POSITIVE AND UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AT MHS TAKES PLACE DURING THE SEASON IN WEEZIE'S GARDEN FOR CHILDREN.LIBRARY: MHS'S HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY IS THE OLDEST HORTICULTURAL LIBRARY IN THE COUNTRY AND IS RENOWNED FOR ITS COLLECTION OF BOOKS RELATED TO EARLY AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN. THE CIRCULATING LIBRARY IS COMPRISED OF OVER 20,000 BOOKS AND 5,000 RARE BOOKS AND A MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION STORED OFFSITE WITH THE WILLIAM B. MEYER COMPANY. IN 2017, THE MHS LIBRARY DIGITIZED ITS COLLECTION OF EDWIN HALE LINCOLN PLANT PHOTOGRAPHY PLATES, MAKING THEM AVAILABLE ONLINE TO STUDENTS, SCHOLARS, WRITERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. VISITING THE DIGITAL COMMONWEALTH SITE, ONE CAN FIND THE LINCOLN COLLECTION, AS WELL AS OUR COLLECTION OF BOTANICAL PRINTS DATING FROM 1620 TO 1969, ACCESSIBLE FROM THE LIBRARY PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.MASSHORT.ORG/THE-LIBRARY. MEMBERSHIP:MEMBERSHIP IN MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PROVIDES ACCESS TO INFORMATION, LEARNING AND HORTICULTURAL EXPERIENCES, WHILE SUPPORTING AMERICA'S OLDEST HORTICULTURAL INSTITUTION. MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE FREE ADMISSION TO THE GARDEN AT ELM BANK, OUR HEADQUARTERS IN WELLESLEY/DOVER, MA, AS WELL AS A MONTHLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER, THE LEAFLET, BORROWING PRIVILEGES AT OUR CIRCULATING LIBRARY, DISCOUNTS TO OUR HORTICULTURAL LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS, A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE FROM TWO NURSERIES, FREE/DISCOUNTS ADMISSION TO GARDENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY RECIPROCAL PROGRAM, AND DISCOUNTS AT OVER SEVENTY OF OUR GREEN PARTNER NURSERIES. HONORARY MEDALS HORTICULTURAL AWARDS:AT THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY, MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY BEGAN THE PRACTICE OF CONFERRING HONORARY MEDALS ON THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS IT REGARDED AS IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ART AND SCIENCE OF HORTICULTURE. THIS 119 YEAR OLD TRADITION HONORS EXCELLENCE IN HORTICULTURE. OVER TEN AWARDEES RECEIVE VARIOUS MEDALS: GEORGE ROBERT WHITE MEDAL OF HONOR, JACKSON DAWSON MEMORIAL AWARD, THOMAS ROLAND MEDAL, AND GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS.