Wakefield Estate

"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."

-   Edwin Way Teale

The end of summer here at the Wakefield Estate signals the beginning of a new program year full of workshops, school visits, garden tours, and special events.  Soon, hundreds of students from local schools will make their annual trek to the estate to interact with the landscape and learn from the ways animals, insects, plants and trees prepare for the cold, dark months ahead. Summer officially ends on the autumnal equinox

- only the second and last time this year when darkness and light are in perfect balance. To mark this moment -- to say goodbye to summer and welcome the arrival of autumn -- we invite you to our first autumnal equinox evening garden tour, when we will blend lightscape with landscape to reveal the beauty and wonder of this place.  What better way to bid adieu to our beloved summer and greet what many will say is our most beautiful season - autumn.

  

-Mark Smith

Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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2011 intern crew 

Autumnal Equinox Evening Garden Tour

(Please note change of date!)

Our first annual autumnal equinox evening garden tour will be held this Friday, September 23nd from 6:00-8:30 pm. As with our mid-winter evening tour, we will illuminate parts of the garden and the statuesque forms of some of the estate's oldest trees. Join us and roast a sausage or marshmallow and watch the stars come out with your friends. Note: The event is subject to cancellation due to weather. Call 617-333-0924 for more information.

           

 

The Mansion gets a Facelift, part 3

This summer, preservationist painters returned to carefully repaint one more facade of the 200+-year-old Isaac Davenport mansion. The colors used were determined by a thorough paint study and analysis done two years ago using a microscope to document the structure's paint history since 1794. Once the color scheme of the new paint was chosen, the old wooden clapboards were stripped of all the old paint and treated to restore some moisture. Then the new colors -- light gray and ivory trim - were applied with a new coat of oil primer followed by two coats of finish paint. Mason Cook and Ethan Howard of Westmill Preservation, which specializes in painting historic homes and buildings, carried out the project.  

 

The Wakefield Sheep Love the Grass!

 
SAVE THE DATE:
Wed. November 16, 7-8:30 p.m.
Join us for one of our most popular activites: Holiday Decorating Demonstration with Lisa Ahern of Cedar Grove Gardens. Check our website for updates and more information in coming weeks or call 617-333-0924 to pre-register.
Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Staff:
Mark Smith, Executive Director - email: mark@dogwoodlanefarm.org
Erica Max, Landscape Supervisor and Educational Coordinator - email: erica@dogwoodlanefarm.org
Dave Cafaro, Grounds and Building Maintenance - email: dave@dogwoodlanefarm.org
For more information, call us at (617) 333-0924 or check out our website at wakefieldtrust.org