Massachusetts Horticultural Society
Encyclopedia
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, sometimes abbreviated to MassHort, is an American horticultural
society based in Massachusetts
. It describes itself as the oldest, formally-organized horticultural institution in the United States
. In its mission statement, the society dedicates itself to encouraging the science and practice of horticulture and developing the public's enjoyment, appreciation, and understanding of plants and the environment. As of 2006, it had some 8,000 members.
as the Boston Horticultural Society, and promptly began weekly exhibits (in Faneuil Hall
and Quincy Market
) of locally grown fruit and later vegetables, teaching the newest horticultural techniques and breeds, perhaps most notably the local Concord grape
in 1853. It has continued this tradition since 1871 with its annual New England Spring Flower Show.
In 1831 the society bought a 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) estate called "Sweet Auburn" for an arboretum
, garden, and cemetery. Although the horticultural garden never materialized, in 1835 the site was incorporated as Mount Auburn Cemetery
. Until 1976, the society received one-fourth of the proceeds from the sale of Mount Auburn's cemetery lots.
. The first was located on School Street; the second on Tremont Street, and the third on Massachusetts Avenue. Since 2001 the society's headquarters have been at the Elm Bank Horticulture Center
(36 acres) in Wellesley
.
The 36 acres (145,687 m²) encompass multiple gardens including an acre-sized one designed by prominent U.K. plantsman Adrian Bloom. Other gardens include the Weezie's Children's Garden, an Italianate Garden, a floral and vegetable trial gardens run as part of the All-America Selection group, and specialty gardens built around rhododendron, daylilies, herbs and natrive plants.
In September 2009, MassHort announced that it would incorporate "Blooms" as part of the Boston Flower & Garden Show, produced by the Paragon Group, a privately held events marketing group. That show took place in March 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center. MassHort took responsibility for two floral design competitions, amateur horticulture competition, Ikebana displays, plant society displays and one day of lectures. In its May 2010 newsletter, 'The Leaflet', MassHort described the venture as 'financially successful'. Also in its May 2010 newsletter, MassHort reported it had reached agreement with the bulk of its remaining creditors by selling off an additional group of books from its collection. Paragon's website provides dates for the 2011 Boston Flower & Garden Show.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
society based in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It describes itself as the oldest, formally-organized horticultural institution in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In its mission statement, the society dedicates itself to encouraging the science and practice of horticulture and developing the public's enjoyment, appreciation, and understanding of plants and the environment. As of 2006, it had some 8,000 members.
History
The society was established in 1829 in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
as the Boston Horticultural Society, and promptly began weekly exhibits (in Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall
Faneuil Hall , located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts, has been a marketplace and a meeting hall since 1742. It was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others encouraging independence from Great Britain, and is now part of...
and Quincy Market
Quincy Market
Quincy Market is a historic building near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was constructed 1824–1826 and named in honor of Mayor Josiah Quincy, who organized its construction without any tax or debt.-History:...
) of locally grown fruit and later vegetables, teaching the newest horticultural techniques and breeds, perhaps most notably the local Concord grape
Concord grape
Concord grapes are a cultivar derived from the grape species Vitis labrusca which are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes....
in 1853. It has continued this tradition since 1871 with its annual New England Spring Flower Show.
In 1831 the society bought a 72 acres (291,373.9 m²) estate called "Sweet Auburn" for an arboretum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
, garden, and cemetery. Although the horticultural garden never materialized, in 1835 the site was incorporated as Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery
Mount Auburn Cemetery was founded in 1831 as "America's first garden cemetery", or the first "rural cemetery", with classical monuments set in a rolling landscaped terrain...
. Until 1976, the society received one-fourth of the proceeds from the sale of Mount Auburn's cemetery lots.
Horticultural Hall
In its early years, the Society met in various locations in Boston. Starting in 1845, the society has built for itself three successive exhibit halls, each named Horticultural HallHorticultural Hall, Boston, Massachusetts
Horticultural Hall, at the corner of Huntington Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, was built in 1901. It sits across the street from Symphony Hall. Since 1992, it has been owned by the Christian Science Church...
. The first was located on School Street; the second on Tremont Street, and the third on Massachusetts Avenue. Since 2001 the society's headquarters have been at the Elm Bank Horticulture Center
Elm Bank Horticulture Center
The Elm Bank Horticulture Center is the home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, located at 900 Washington Street , Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S....
(36 acres) in Wellesley
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
.
The 36 acres (145,687 m²) encompass multiple gardens including an acre-sized one designed by prominent U.K. plantsman Adrian Bloom. Other gardens include the Weezie's Children's Garden, an Italianate Garden, a floral and vegetable trial gardens run as part of the All-America Selection group, and specialty gardens built around rhododendron, daylilies, herbs and natrive plants.
Financial difficulties
In 2008 the society found itself in financial difficulty. Following revelation that then-new executive director Bob Feige had spent three days in jail the year before for failing to pay employees at a former business he owned, the trustees began a detailed review of the books which revealed the organization to be "essentially broke and facing a stack of bills with no way to pay them." Feige resigned after the trustees presented the facts, but it was apparent that problems were building over a number of years due to overspending. In 2002 the society sold $5.25 million of rare books and prints to raise cash, at which time the Massachusetts Attorney General strongly advised the society to educate its trustees on sound financial practices. In order to conserve cash the society decided to not hold the New England Spring Flower Show in 2009 for the first time since 1871, opting instead for a truncated event in downtown Boston called 'Blooms".In September 2009, MassHort announced that it would incorporate "Blooms" as part of the Boston Flower & Garden Show, produced by the Paragon Group, a privately held events marketing group. That show took place in March 2010 at the Seaport World Trade Center. MassHort took responsibility for two floral design competitions, amateur horticulture competition, Ikebana displays, plant society displays and one day of lectures. In its May 2010 newsletter, 'The Leaflet', MassHort described the venture as 'financially successful'. Also in its May 2010 newsletter, MassHort reported it had reached agreement with the bulk of its remaining creditors by selling off an additional group of books from its collection. Paragon's website provides dates for the 2011 Boston Flower & Garden Show.
Award winners
- 1911 George R. White Medal of Honor - Victor LemoineVictor LemoineVictor Lemoine was a celebrated and prolific French flower breeder who, among other accomplishments, created many of today's lilac varieties...
for his lifetimes contribution to horticulture. - 1937 Thomas Roland Medal Winner - Arlow StoutArlow StoutDr. Arlow Burdette Stout was an American botanist and the pioneer breeder of the modern hybrid daylily.Dr. Stout was born in Albion, Wisconsin on March 10, 1876 He worked between 1911 to 1948 at the New York Botanical Garden. In over 50,000 cross-pollination experiments, Dr...
for his pioneering work in the hybridization of daylilies - 1952 Thomas Roland Medal Winner - Victor A. TiedjensVictor A. TiedjensVictor Alphons Tiedjens was an American horticulturist, agronomist, biochemist and soil chemist. He was credited as "one of the pioneers in growing plants in chemical solutions."...
for his skill in hydroponics and his outstanding work in the field of vegetable gardening.
Further reading
- Carol Stocker. Her budding career. Boston Globe, February 17, 2011. Interview with Katherine K. Macdonald, executive director, Massachusetts Horticultural Society