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"Two pure white leaves (bracts), one longer than the other, hang down gracefully around a central ball of small, yellow true flowers. The effect is quite unique, like a flock of birds in flight or a series of handkerchiefs set out to dry. It is the bracts that give the tree its common names of dove tree, ghost tree, and handkerchief tree."
- from "Description of a Dove Tree", C. Colston Burrell
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May and June are turning out to be busy months here at the Wakefield estate as you can see by the list of upcoming events! First and foremost, I want to call attention to our annual Dogwood Days - a week-long celebration of the kousa dogwood tress and their beautiful blooms. Each and every kousa dogwood - over 300 - was propagated and planted by Polly Wakefield. This year, we have significantly added to the number of activities related to Dogwood Days and we hope you will take advantage of these to experience the estate's unique gardens and arboretum designed and created by Polly herself.
If Polly were still alive, I imagine that Dogwood Days would be her favorite time of the year, and she would want to share it with you.
Mark Smith
Executive Director
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JOIN US FOR DOGWOOD DAYS: A week-long celebration of the estate's kousa dogwood trees, featuring open gardens, guided tours, tree sale, and more
Each June, the Wakefield Estate welcomes visitors to celebrate the annual blooming of hundreds of Polly Wakefield's kousa dogwood trees. We're excited to announce that this year's Dogwood Days will include a week full of special events, including open hours, guided tours, a tree sale and more. The grounds will be open daily for self-guided walks around the formal gardens where hundreds of kousa dogwoods will be at their peak bloom. Program highlights include:
Saturday, June 8: Garden Conservancy Open Days, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
This year, the Wakefield Estate has partnered with The Garden Conservancy to organize "Greater Boston Area Open Days" on June 8 featuring the Wakefield Estate, the Forbes House Museum and 3 other outstanding Milton gardens.
While some of the gardens offer guided tours, visitors can tour the gardens on their own schedule and itinerary. Reservations are not required and the Open Days program is rain or shine. Admission is $5 per garden; proceeds will benefit The Garden Conservancy and the educational programs of the Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust.
For more information, click here to visit The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program website and t o see a list of the selected gardens and directions. For more information, call the Wakefield Estate at 617-333-0924.
Also on June 8-14: Tree and Plant Sale, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Our first ever plant sale will kick off Saturday, June 8th and continue all week. This is your opportunity to add some special woody plants and perennials to your own yard, including some of the estate's signature kousa dogwoods, metasequoias, tulip trees, paperbark maples, mayapples and many more.
Sunday, June 9: Dogs and Dogwoods Day, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Join us for a day of fun for families and four-legged friends featuring "dog" related activities, including a light-hearted dog show for kids and adults at 1:00 p.m., a chance to "dig" like dogs at our "Dig it" Summer Archaeology demonstration, enjoy a yummy "dog" at our Hot Dog stand, or just enjoy a stroll in the garden or a "roll" in the grass. ($5 suggested donation)
Friday, June 14: Dogwood Fire, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Dogwood Days will conclude with a rousing fire in the front garden. Join the Wakefield staff in celebrating the conclusion of the 2013 Dogwood Days by roasting a sausage or marshmallow after an evening stroll through the estate's formal gardens and kousa dogwoods Please call to register: 617-333-0924.
Monday June 10 - Friday, June 14, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
During Dogwood Days, the estate will be open to the public daily from 10am-4pm for self-guided garden tours and plant sale. Stroll about the estate grounds and formal gardens to view hundreds of breathtaking kousa dogwoods at their peak bloom.
Plein air artists are invited to capture the blooming dogwoods on canvas and will have the opportunity to sell their work at a later event or enter a competition for the image to be used on the 2014 Dogwood Days poster. If your garden club or organization would like a private guided tour, please call us at (617) 333-0924.
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Milton Library hosts talk about GCA Open Days Program
May 23 - 7:00 - 8:30pm
Deb Merriam, Wakefield Estate's Landscape Director, will give a presentation on the upcoming Open Days Program, set fpr June 8, and about The Garden Conservancy, its history, and prominent projects. Deb's talk will include historic photos of some of the gardens featured in Open Days. For more information, call us at 617-333-0924.
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Elizabeth Ryan on the state of our climate, and its impact on plants -
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Thacher students work out at Wakefield
As another school year enters its final phase, we want to applaud some of the special efforts of this year's Adolescent Program at Thacher Montessori School. It has been a particularly productive year, with teams of 7th and 8th graders creating a series of trail signs for our "Decomposer Trail," and the estate's first "stile," a type of ladder bridge for climbing over the estate's lovely stonewalls. Currently, the whole class is helping Wakefield staff launch our "Buffer Project," a planting project to rehabilitate and reinforce the screening plants that create a visual boundary at the property edge. In addition to assisting with planting, Thacher students will be involved with monitoring and tracking these plantings over the next few years.
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Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Staff:
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