Woodland sanctuary

Flower & Garden Magazine, Nov-Dec, 1998 by Dorothy J. Pellett

Hands-on techniques encourage a sense of discovery in the children's classes. Beginning with the idea that plants are the basis for all life on the planet, it is natural to integrate plant science with art, mathematics, writing social studies.

Staff members have observed that children are more ready to see nature than are adults, who are not experienced with plants. As adults study longer, they too become observant of details -- how many petals a flower has, whether a leaf is lobed or not, what other plants, birds and insects live nearby. All begin to feel a sense of personal responsibility for the ecological system.

Whimsical notes are mixed with serious ideas in children's classes. Most children return for more fun and learning. Personnel from local zoos sometimes bring animals from exotic locations for a closer took. As the children see a parrot from the rain forest, they can perceive the relationship between destruction of the parrot's habitat and events in their own local areas that affect animal life.

Curtis transferred ownership of Garden in the Woods in 1967, to the New England Wild Flower Society to ensure its continuing existence. The Society also maintains the Lawrence Newcomb Library, which has a collection of 3,000 books about natural history, botany and related subjects.

Each part of the growing season provides visitors with flowers. foliage and fragrances. Cardinal flowers. Turk's-cap, lilies and purple coneflower are a few of the plants that add color to the summer. More than 1,600 species and their variations have been brought together. Horticulturists have continued Curtis' interest in white-flowered forms and unique or variegated plants such as the double-flowered Trillium grandiflorum, variegated fairy-bells (Disporum sessile `Variegatum,') and white-flowered Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica `alba').

A conservation director and a nursery manager/plant propagator work to determine successful methods of propagating native plants so they can satisfy the increased demand by gardeners. Another of their goals is preservation of stock for replenishing wild plant populations.

The garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day between April 15 and June 15; in May it's open until 7 p.m. From June 16 through Oct. 31, the garden is open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday. For more information call 508-877-7630 or, 617-237-4924: write to New England Wild Flower Society, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham. MA 01701-2699; or send e-mall to newfs@newfs.org.

Dorothy J. Pellett is a freelance a writer and the owner of a wholesale perennial nursery in, Charlotte, Vermont.