Projo Garden Blog

OK. So it took more than the lure of a day in the gardens to entice me this weekend to Elm Bank, headquarters of the Massachusetts Horticulture Society, in Wellesley, Mass.

I went up for their yearly fundraising antiques fair on the grounds of Elm Bank Horticulture Center, a 36-acre park/garden/education site that had vaguely been on my radar, but had never made it to the top of my list. (I think The Mount beat it out last summer.)

I can report it's a lovely and relaxed place to visit, for a variety of visitors. This is just one of the gardens scattered throughout the site.

On Friday, Adrian Bloom, of Blooms of Bressingham, is hosting an ambitious "build a garden in a day" project, in which volunteers will plant an instant garden at the site. They were carving out the beds for it over the weekend. You can get more information on the MassHort Web site.

Elm Bank hosts various plant collections, for serious gardeners wanting to see plants before they put them in their own gardens. There's a nice white garden that's not too fussy, and some pretty outbuildings and structures that a home gardener could find inspiration in.

Smooth paved paths make the site accessible for disabled people, although they may not get as close to some of the beds as they like unless they are willing to bump over some grass.

A children's garden, featuring a twiggy tower and nests, water feature (for your sticky little pagans) and a large sandbox, is inviting to all ages.

According to the Web site, "a donation" is requested for admission. This sounds open to interpretation. If not, let us know if they suggest one.

Whether you go just for the gardens, or to attend a lecture or other event, it's a lovely outing.

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