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News Archive

CANCELLED -300 years of history: Exploring the Davenport Farm through Archaeology - virtual talk 8/18 by Sara Belkin

Friday, 07 August 2020 10:42

This month on Wednesday, August 18th at 7:00 pm, we will be hosting an exciting session via zoom featuring archaeologist Sara Belkin, who completed her doctoral thesis in archeology at Boston University based on her research here over many summers. As the director of our Summer Archaeology Institute, a two-week program for high school-age youth, Sara was able to learn about the history of the people who called this place home, beginning with the founders of Davenport Farm in the early 1700s and the nine generations that followed, through the objects recovered during the excavations conducted with the youth. During her talk, Sara will highlight different artifacts, like the George Washington Inauguration Button, to tell the story of the families who lived on this property for 300 years.

Please register to receive the zoom link here or by email. For more information, call 617-333-0924.

Virtual Garden Workshop - Session Two

Wednesday, 29 July 2020 07:48

Join us tonight, Wednesday, July 29, 6:00 pm, for the second of two in-depth gardening sessions to "dig deeper" into your gardening knowledge.

What's going on in your yard?

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.This class consists of a 45-minute power point and discussion on this fascinating subject. Participants will learn about the various lifecycles of plants and animals and how we can observe these changes anywhere we live. We will talk about how we are using our own Kousa dogwood collection to collect data and help scientists all over the world study this subject. $15 per person; limited to 20 participants. To register for this event, click here.

Here is the zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/98528150908

What's blooming? Hydrangeas! and they are a "hive" of activity

Thursday, 09 July 2020 13:04

What's blooming? Hydrangeas! and they are a "hive" of activity, attracting a variety of native bees as well as honeybees, moths and butterflies and of course, hummingbirds.

Enjoy this photo album of the wide variety of hydrangeas now in bloom at the estate.

Stay connected with us through Virtual Programs

Wednesday, 01 July 2020 14:30

Enjoy some of our programs virtually! We are developing an array of online programs for all ages and interests. To attend any future virtual events on our calendar, register through the event link and the Zoom invite will be sent one day before the event.

Take a look at the exciting online programs that we've hosted so far:

Jr. Naturalist program - a virtual summer camp for kids (of all ages!)
Program and Educational Director Erica Max hosted a series of virtual educational experiences exploring the natural world here at the Mary May Binney Wakefield Arboretum. We will searched for salamanders in the woods, caught cray fish in the pond for an up-close view, and visited with the variety of animals who live here. You can enjoy these short "virtual" field trips through a set a video links listed below and on Youtube. Get even closer to the animals and nature than you could during a real visit!

Garden Workhop Session: What's growing in your yard?
This in-depth gardening sessions to "dug deeper" into your gardening knowledge. This class about weeds and invasive species and consists of a 45-minute power point and discussion with participants about the impact of weeds and invasives in the landscape. We will talk about our efforts to manage some of these species without the use of chemicals. $15 per person; limited to 20 participants. You can view this session via this link.

We will be host a new garden workshop each month in October, November, and December. To learn more, click here.

In addition, our staff has created a wide array of fascinating short videos you can access via the links below, via the video tab of our Facebook page.

Garden Highlights

Enjoy this virtual Dogwood Days stroll.

A Virtual Visit to the Dwarf Conifer Collection, a beguiling batch of quirky and delightful plants - slide show.

A series of videos about our Magnolia Collection

Kobus Magnolia and their fuzzy buds

A visit with magnificen Magnolia 'Elizabeth'

Celebrating our magnificent magnolias, part 2: the Cucumber Magnolia

Celebrating the Bigleaf Magnolia

Wow! a variegated magnolia! Highlighting fabulous Magnolia x 'Fran Smith'

Other fun "virtual visits"

Enjoy this virtual Dogwood Days stroll.

Celebrating our insects and pollinators