Berkshire Botanical's 75th anniversary steeped in tradition, innovation

In 1934, the Lenox Garden Club obtained 6 acres of land from Irene and Barnard Hoffman. Members wanted to try an experiment - the creation of gardens that would serve as an educational tool for the community.

Now, 75 years later, no part of that core mission - to inspire through demonstration gardens and to educate - of what is now called Berkshire Botanical Garden has changed. This anniversary season's theme, "Back to the Future: Rediscovering our Roots," speaks to that heartfelt desire and effort over the past 75 years to maintain continuity in the garden's purpose.

Although the arrangement for the land donation was complete in the fall of 1934, according to BBG trustee Honey Sharp, the first real harvest did not occur until 1935. Then, following the designation of the Berkshire Garden Center (the original name) as a nonprofit in 1936, the Hoffmans donated the additional 9 acres across Routes 102 and 183 where the Visitors Center is now located.

The oldest of the gardens include the herb garden, designed and "hardscaped" by Edward Belches in 1937, some lavender that Sharp said she was told still exists on the property as well as the vegetable garden and orchards.

"I think it's interesting they started out with food," Sharp said, "helping the community learn to be self-sufficient."

The gardens themselves, however, were not all that the garden had to offer.

"They had classes early on, too.
That theme of education and demonstration gardens - that's what I like so much about the history, to see that thread running through," Sharp said.


Keeping ahead

The focus on education has not changed, except perhaps to strengthen over the years. In fact, Sharp first came to the garden as a visitor 25 years ago when her daughter was a baby. She started taking classes about 10 years ago, ultimately earning a horticulture certificate. Her level of involvement deepened when she joined the board.

In addition to the mission and the existence of those early gardens, the annual Harvest Festival, first held at the end of 1935, has been maintained all these years as well. The festival, then as now, she said, was used as a fundraiser as well as a way to celebrate the end of the growing season.

What also hasn't changed, Sharp said, is the garden's commitment to responsible gardening. From the start, the emphasis was on what would be considered organic and green gardening today, although certainly not in vogue in the garden's early days. Sharp said the garden also showcased native plants, in an age when the dangerousness of non-native invasive plantings was unknown.

One of the key things about the garden that also hasn't changed is the belief that BBG should teach people that, for as much as gardens can provide continuity, they are also constantly changing and evolving by their very nature.

"We try to have all kinds of interesting plants. We keep ahead that way, with new plants and new techniques," Sharp said.

John Parker, executive director of BBG, echoed that thought. The garden has lots of plans to celebrate its 75th anniversary, he said, "by doing something special, but also to try to counter that notion that gardens are static.

"Gardens are all about change. We're making a special effort to do something new each year. We hope it inspires and educates our visitors," he said.

For example, the herb garden will be completely "revisioned and redesigned" this year, he said. The historic hardscape of the terraced planting will remain intact, but the themes of each of the sections will change. The new themes are being designed by Page Dickey, just one of three guest gardeners this year.

"One of them we're really excited about is a Hogwarts garden," Parker said, which will contain plants that have a connection to magical properties, in honor of the magic school attended by Harry Potter in J.K. Rowling's series of the same name.


Attracting the community

Another new feature this year will be "Contained Exuberance: A Fresh Look at Gardening in Pots," which opens June 6.

"The exhibit has a pretty broad appeal for folks who don't have large yards or properties. It's being put together by a couple of quite eminent gardeners," Parker said.

The gardeners in question are Margaret Roach, creator of

awaytogarden.com who also served as Martha Stewart's first garden editor, as well as Bob Hyland, co-owner of Loomis Creek Nursery.

"We wanted to do something not run of the mill, but interesting in terms of plant selection and design," Parker said, adding that these 10 container gardens would of course include annuals and perennials, but would also include "small shrubs and possibly even aquatic plants."

But that's not all that's new this year. This season will see the first of the "Cocktails in Great Gardens of the Berkshires" events. Four of these privately owned "great gardens," identified in the last summer's book "Great Gardens of the Berkshires" by Virginia Small, will host cocktails and hors d'oeuvres to benefit BBG.

But despite the growth and changes within the gardens, programming and exhibits over time, Sharp was clear that in addition to the other things that provide continuity over the past 75 years, there is one other constant.

"I've seen the garden grow and attract new visitors, as well as serve the Berkshire community," she said. "That's a great priority."