This summer was the third year the Wakefield Estate had collection interns through its partnership with the Tufts Museum Studies program. The graduate students help catalogue the collection of items housed at the Mary Wakefield Trusts property in Milton, MA and assist in making curatorial decisions about what objects should be included in the collection. Two of this year’s interns, […]

The 2012 Summer Archaeology Institute concluded in early August after 4 exciting weeks of excavation at a site believed to be the location of the original “summer house.” By the end of the 2nd session, the archaeologists had located the original stone foundation of the summer house, which was torn down in the early 20th century. The area was then covered […]

This summer was the sixth year the Wakefield Estate assembled a Summer Landscape Crew and we think this year’s crew may have been the best yet. Eight students from local high schools united as a team for six weeks, proving that sometimes when the right combination of people pull together, eight can accomplish the work of twelve! We’re very proud […]

The first session of the 2012 Summer Archaeology Institute wrapped up on Friday, July 20 after several days of exciting excavation. This year’s focus is in the lowest terrace of the estate’s Formal Garden, at a site believed to be the location of the original summer house. The Institute’s STPs(shovel test pits) unearthed artifacts from the first day of digging, […]

Enjoy a stroll through hundreds of blooming kousa dogwood trees cultivated and planted by the late Polly Wakefield, and tour the gardens that she created.  This year Dogwood Days will feature a guided tour of the formal gardens each day at 11:00am, a guided tour of the Isaac Davenport mansion on Saturday, June 2 at 1:00pm, the opportunity to observe plein […]

Not only did we have a gorgeous day for our first annual Spring Shearing, but we also had a terrific crowd. Visitors of all ages enjoyed master blade Kevin Ford’s demonstration of traditional shearing of our three sheep and Jack the llama. It was hard to believe how small the sheep were underneath their ample fleeces! We learned that the […]

Several families made it out for our first Earth Art event. Everyone enjoyed a spectacularly beautiful day amidst the blooming crabapples, lilacs, royal azaleas, bleeding hearts and forget-me knots. Children collected an assortment of tender young leaves and flowers and turned them into beautiful collages, sun prints and nature prints. It was a great day and we hope to do […]

In conjunction with Milton’s 350th anniversary, the Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust presents three lectures on the history of the land and occupants of what is today known as the Wakefield Estate, named after its most recent occupant, Mary (“Polly”) Wakefield. Based on scholarly research and on-site discovery, the lectures will highlight the origin and evolution of one of Milton’s […]

Last weekend’s Backyard Pruning Session with Jen Kettell (from the Arnold Arboretum) was a great success. Everyone thought Jen was a terrific teacher, which she certainly is. Participants got an opportunity to try out the tools, practice pruning cuts, and may participate in a upcoming pruning practice day to be schedule in early May.

Our latest Backyard Homesteading session was held this past Saturday and attracted an enthusiastic group. Participants left ready to order bare-root trees and create their own compact orchard. Based on the guidelines we’ve been given, if successful, their trees should each yield 100 apples within five years!