News \ News Archive

News Archive

Summer Garden Music for families featuring Abby Vail 9/22

Friday, 21 June 2019 19:16

Rain put a damper our Summer Garden Music series so we are determined to celebrate the last day of summer with a special afternoon concert on Sunday, September 22nd, featuring local singer/songwriter Abby Vail. Scheduled from 4:00-6:30 pm, it's a perfect opportunity for a family visit to the estate's gardens, play games, and visit the animals before settling down to enjoy the late afternoon music starting at 5:00 pm. Enjoy light refreshments and wonderful music as we say goodbye to summer. Admission $10; please RSVP by calling 617-333-0924. This event is subject to cancellation due to weather - check our website or facebook page for updates.

The Sun Has Set on Dogwood Days 2019! It was one of the best!

Thursday, 20 June 2019 12:38

Well, the sun has set on Dogwood Days 2019 and it was extraordinary, with a smorgasbord of activities ranging from fun to awe inspiring to enlighting and informative.

The Garden Party kicked things off in spectacular style. It was a wonderful gathering full of good company, delicious food, lively jazz, and all surrounded by hundreds of flowering dogwood trees. It could not have been a more beautiful evening.

Guests heard from a variety of speakers that evening about how this annual fundraiser to celebrates the amazing legacy of Polly Wakefield left. They heard the excitement of young Sergenio, a second-grader who read to us of his experience walking in the woods for the very first time and learned how members of the Massachusetts Master Gardeners use Polly’s landscape as a outdoor classroom and chance to share their knowledge.

One highlight of this year's Dogwood Days was the "unveiling" of our new dwarf conifer garden and on opening day, a trio of experts shared their talents with visitors at "pop-up" sessions relating to dwarf and standard conifers. Thanks to Christie Dustman of Christie Dustman & Company and Jeff Thompson, faculty member at Norfolk Agrigulture High School for their outstanding session and donating their time. Once again, our Wine, Cheese, and Trees Trivia event was a big hit with participants on Wednesday. On closing day, we reved up our "Dogs and Dogwoods Day," pairing it with our Dogwood Beer Garden which featured craft beer, live music by Electric Standard and a wood-turning demo by Central New England Woodturners.

Thanks to all our generous patrons, donors, volunteers, garden clubs, and visitors for making this year's Dogwood Days one for the record books! Enjoy these photos capturing the spectacular beauty of this year's Dogwood Days. If you missed it, come visit soon!

Hot off the press! Read the latest issue of our Quarterly, Dogwood Lane

Thursday, 20 June 2019 12:21

Our spring issue of Dogwood Lane is hot off the press! We hope you will take some time to read this latest edition of our quarterly journal aimed at giving readers a greater appreciation of the ten generations of one inter-related family that fashioned this land from wooded hillsides 300 years ago to the historic estate and grounds that it is today. In 2018, the estate was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places as the Davenport Estate Historic District. In addition, this journal provides a deeper understanding of the larger social and political context in which these families lived their daily lives. This historical and biographical overview is based on the scholarly research by students and professionals who combed through the archives of the estate, tax documents and census records to learn of those who called the estate home. To read Vol. 1, Issue Three, click here.

Click here to read Dogwood Lane Vol. 1, Issue One - Wakefield Estate's educational programs.

Click here to read Dogwood Lane Vol. 1, Issue Two - Horticultural Research at the Wakefield Estate.

Celebrating Spring, Mothers, and Gardens Sat. May 11th with Garden Yoga at 1:00 pm

Monday, 29 April 2019 08:37

Celebrate your mother with us, as we celebrate our "mothers" - Mother Earth, mama llamas, and others at our annual celebration of spring and Mother's Day Tea, this year on Saturday, May 11th. Reservations are not needed if your family just wants to enjoy a stroll or visit with the animals during Open Hours which will be 1:00-4:00 but are requested if you plan to attend the tea starting at 3:00. $10 donation requested for adults attending tea and children are welcome for free. RSVP by calling 617-333-0924 x22.

Open hours for garden strolls & animal visits throughout

1:00 pm - Garden Yoga Session -reservations required.

2:00 pm - Llama visit and selfies

3:00 pm - Mother's Day Tea - reservations required.

News Archive

Summer Garden Music for families featuring Abby Vail 9/22

The Sun Has Set on Dogwood Days 2019! It was one of the best!

Hot off the press! Read the latest issue of our Quarterly, Dogwood Lane

Celebrating Spring, Mothers, and Gardens Sat. May 11th with Garden Yoga at 1:00 pm

More Articles...