"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." 

- Emily Bronte

 There's something about the falling leaves of autumn that capture one's attention. Standing under a flaming yellow maple tree today, I was mesmerized by the silent and gentle beauty of the leaves falling, each leaf slowly dancing side to side on its way down to earth from the tree's highest branch. In a few day's time, the sudden burst of autumn color will be but a memory, and the leaves that transmit that color to our eyes already starting to decay into soil. Lest I get too nostalgic for the fallen leaves, millions upon millions beckon to be raked into piles and carted to the compost pile. With apologies to Robert Frost, I have piles to rake before I sleep, piles to rake before I sleep...

 

 Mark Smith
Executive Director
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Holiday Inspiration with Lisa Ahern of Cedar Grove
Wednesday, Nov. 19th, 7:00-8:30 pm

With the holidays quickly approaching, it's time for "Holiday Inspiration with Lisa," our annual holiday decoration demonstration by Lisa Ahern, floral designer for Cedar Grove Gardens. Lisa will share her tips on how to create beautiful and easy floral accents for the holiday home, emphasizing creative and fun ways to make your home and table "shine" during the holidays. Enjoy some light refreshments, mulled cider or a glass of wine while watching Lisa work her magic! Most of the arrangements created during the workshop are raffled among those present at the end of the evening. Price for the workshop, which includes light refreshments, is $25 per person. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call 617-333-0924.

Create a fabulous holiday wreath for your door with locally-sourced fancy evergreens gathered from the Wakefield Estate. This session will begin with a short demonstration by Lisa Ahern from Cedar Grove Gardens, who will show how to embellish a plain balsam wreath and turn it into a  custom-made show stopper! The Wakefield Estate will provide a plain wreath for each participant to decorate, along with all materials needed. If extra wreaths are produced, they will be sold as part of our Holiday Wreath Sale. For more information or to register for this special program, call 617-333-0924. The fee for this class is $25 and registration is required.

The Mary M. B. Wakefield Charitable Trust is offering hand-crafted, locally-sourced holiday wreaths for purchase. The wreaths are 18 inches in diameter and can be hung or used as a holiday centerpiece. The deadline to order a wreath is Wednesday, Dec 3; order by calling 617-333-0924 or send an email to:wakefieldestate@dogwoodlanefarm.org. Wreaths will be available for pick up at the Wakefield Estate during the week of Dec. 8-12, or earlier if arranged with staff.  The wreaths are $35; all proceeds benefit The Wakefield Trust's educational programming.

Exhibit of Polly Wakefield's watercolors - Wotiz Gallery, Milton Public Library; Opening reception-Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6-8:00 pm
Throughout December, Polly Wakefield's watercolors will be on display in the Wotiz Gallery of the Milton Public Library, 476 Canton Avenue in Milton. This collection reflects work done over dozens of years, right up until Polly's death in 2004, while studying with esteemed painter Nancy Sargent Howell. Polly's works reflect Howell's method of allowing students to "borrow" heavily from her work and others, "in order to learn how (the artist) mixed colors, used brush strokes, and developed their compositions," enabling students to become comfortable making "strokes that are uniquely (their own)." The exhibit will include some of Howell's work to help illustrate the method and "teacher-pupil" connection. Join us for an opening reception at the library Tuesday, Dec. 2nd from 6-8:00 pm. Gift sets of cards made of some of Polly's paintings will be available for purchase. For more information, call 617-333-0924.

Merry Jackmas!

Join us for some holiday cheer at our fifth annual holiday open house! This year, the holiday open house will be held on Wednesday, December 10th from 4:00-8:00 pm. The 1794 Isaac Davenport Mansion will be in spectacular holiday display and hand-crafted wreaths will be available for sale. Tickets are free for members, $10 suggested donation for others. Annual memberships will be available for purchase; refreshments provided. Please RSVP by calling 617-333-0924 if you plan to attend or reply by email. 

Upcoming Events
November:
Nov. 19: Holiday Inspiration with Lisa Ahern-7:00-8:30 pm
December:
Dec.1-31: Exhibit of Polly Wakefield's watercolors - Wotiz Gallery, Milton Public Library; Opening reception-Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6-8:00 pm
Dec. 3: Deadline for holiday wreath orders- call 617-333-0924.
Dec. 3: Wreath Making Workshop, Wednesday, 6:30-8:00 pm
Dec. 10: Holiday Open House, Wednesday, 4:00-8:00 pm
January:
January 10: 5th Annual Winterfire - Saturday, 5:00-7:00 pm
January 29: Stone Soup Series - Thursday, 5:30-7:00 pm
For more information about any of these programs, visit our website:  www.wakefieldtrust.org or call us at 617-333-0924.
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, Program Director - email: erica@dogwoodlanefarm.org
Dave Cafaro, Grounds and Building Maintenance - email: dave@dogwoodlanefarm.org
Deb Merriam, Landscape Director - email: debbie@dogwoodlanefarm.org 
For more information, call us at (617) 333-0924 or check out our website at wakefieldtrust.org