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X-WR-CALNAME:Hollister House Garden
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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Hollister House Garden
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T094500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T114500
DTSTAMP:20260812T192257
CREATED:20260811T021510Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T024547Z
UID:10000172-1790415900-1790423100@hollisterhousegarden.org
SUMMARY:Meditation Workshop: Gardens as Metaphors
DESCRIPTION:Gardens invite us to slow down\, clear our minds\, and reconnect with the beauty of the natural world. In this two-hour workshop\, participants will explore the garden as a metaphor for our lives and as a place of renewal. Buddhist priest Brian Vaugh and Woodbury poet laureate emerita Sandy Carlson will lead guided meditations and share poems designed to inspire personal reflection. Participants will also have time to explore the garden rooms and find a quiet place for individual meditation. The workshop concludes with an opportunity to share reflections with the group. No previous meditation experience is necessary\, and no special equipment is required. Come prepared to pause\, listen\, and experience the garden—and yourself—with renewed attention. \n Participants are welcome to bring a cushion or yoga mat or to settle comfortably on the steps\, lawns\, and benches throughout Hollister House Garden. \nBrian Vaugh has been an ordained Buddhist monk in the Zen tradition since 2000. His spiritual path began in a Catholic monastic seminary and has included the study of many religious traditions. He has served as a chaplain in hospice\, prison\, and hospital settings\, and describes his work in hospitals as especially meaningful. After decades of spiritual study and service\, Brian continues to find a rich and lively source of wisdom in his grandchildren. \nSandy Lee Carlson is a widely published poet\, an educator\, and poet laureate emerita of Woodbury. A dedicated advocate for poetry in her community\, she founded the monthly open mic at the Woodbury Public Library and organizes literary events throughout Litchfield and New Haven counties. As managing partner of Orenaug Mountain Publishing\, she edits and publishes poetry anthologies. She is the host of People and Their Poems\, a podcast featuring conversations with area poets about their work and the poems that have shaped their lives. \nRegistration: $25 \n					\n									REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP
URL:https://hollisterhousegarden.org/event/meditation-workshop-gardens-as-metaphors/
LOCATION:Hollister House Garden\, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road\, Washington\, CT\, 06759
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T113000
DTSTAMP:20260812T192257
CREATED:20260604T154229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260725T172940Z
UID:10000164-1790416800-1790422200@hollisterhousegarden.org
SUMMARY:Reawakening Beauty:  Revitalizing the Landscape of a Historic House
DESCRIPTION:In 2019\, landscape design firm Columbine LLC began a thoughtful restoration of DeRham Farm\, a historic estate overlooking the Hudson River in Garrison\, New York. Working closely with the homeowners\, the project focused on revitalizing the landscape while honoring the property’s historic character and extraordinary setting. Highlights included the restoration of a sunken garden within the remnants of an old foundation and the creation of a vibrant one-third acre native meadow designed to support pollinators and biodiversity.  Join us as we explore the transformation of this remarkable landscape\, and the process of shaping new garden spaces within a historic estate. \nRoberta DiBisceglie is a third-generation horticulturist and founder of Columbine\, a fine landscape gardening and design firm specializing in the stewardship of residential properties in Fairfield County\, Connecticut and Westchester County\, NY. A graduate of the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture\, she has managed landscapes for more than 20 years. In 2024\, Roberta founded NYBG’s alumni mentorship program\, and she remains committed to community engagement through her work with emerging horticultural and agricultural professionals. Roberta is a consultant to the Norwalk Pollinator Pathway\, a NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional\, and serves on the advisory board of the East Norwalk Neighborhood Association and on the board of Reading Retreats in Rural Italy. \nHHG Members $30 \nNon-members $40  (includes admission to the garden) \nREGISTRATION
URL:https://hollisterhousegarden.org/event/reawakening-beauty-revitalizing-the-landscape-of-a-historic-house/
LOCATION:Hollister House Garden\, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road\, Washington\, CT\, 06759
CATEGORIES:Lectures
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260926T160000
DTSTAMP:20260812T192257
CREATED:20260724T182843Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260724T182843Z
UID:10000166-1790431200-1790438400@hollisterhousegarden.org
SUMMARY:Master Class: Native Plant Seed Saving Workshop at The Fen in Sharon\, CT
DESCRIPTION:Spend an afternoon in the stunning fields of The Fen in Sharon\, Connecticut\, with botanist and seed specialist Heather Liljengren for a hands-on workshop in native seed collection. Set within expansive\, species-rich meadows on a calcareous fen\, The Fen is a native seed farm and regenerative land project seldom open to the public. This off-site field day offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from a field botanist in a working landscape shaped by seasonal rhythms\, native plant communities\, and careful stewardship. Guided by Heather’s deep knowledge of plants and seed ecology\, participants will learn how to recognize seed maturity\, collect seed responsibly\, and clean and prepare native seed for successful planting. Each participant will leave with native ecotype seed they have collected themselves\, ready to plant in their own garden. \nNOTE: This is an off-site program. Participants will meet at The Fen in Sharon\, Connecticut. \nHeather Liljengren is a botanist with 17 years of experience in native seed collection\, field botany\, and ecological restoration across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. She spent more than a decade as a Supervising Seed Collector and Field Taxonomist with the Greenbelt Native Plant Center of NYC Parks\, managing the seed bank and seed collection program for restoration projects throughout New York City. Now based in Washington\, Connecticut\, Heather is the owner of LocalLand Consulting LLC\, where she works with land trusts\, farmers\, landscape design firms\, and homeowners to restore and steward native plant communities across the region. \nThe Fen is a small diversified farm and ecological restoration project cared for and stewarded by Matt Sheehan\, whose hands-on work is rooted in a deep love of the land and its native plant communities. Located on a rare calcareous fen in Ecoregion 58\, the farm produces native plant seed\, craft willow\, elderberry\, and other perennial crops while serving as a living example of regenerative land stewardship. For this field day\, Matt is generously opening The Fen to participants\, offering a rare opportunity to experience a working landscape devoted to biodiversity\, restoration\, and connection with the natural world. \nHHG Members $55 \nNon-members $65 \nREGISTRATION
URL:https://hollisterhousegarden.org/event/master-class-native-plant-seed-saving-workshop-at-the-fen-in-sharon-ct/
LOCATION:The Fen\, Sharon\, CT
CATEGORIES:Workshop
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261003T113000
DTSTAMP:20260812T192257
CREATED:20260724T182639Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260806T011501Z
UID:10000165-1791021600-1791027000@hollisterhousegarden.org
SUMMARY:The Beauty of Decay: Rethinking Dead Wood
DESCRIPTION:October is a fitting time to appreciate the particular beauty of decay and the quiet work dead wood performs in the landscape. What gardeners are often tempted to clear away provides some of the garden’s richest habitat. Standing dead trees\, fallen branches\, decaying logs\, and brush piles offer food\, shelter\, and winter refuge to a wide range of wildlife. Decomposing wood releases nutrients\, retains moisture\, and can provide seedbeds for new plants. Beyond these ecological benefits\, weathered trunks and logs lend the landscape a sense of age and continuity\, adding texture and character that deepen over time. This program invites gardeners to see dead wood anew: as vital habitat\, an essential part of a healthy woodland system\, and a deliberate feature of managed landscapes. \nBeth Merow is the Education Director at the Connecticut Forest & Park Association\, where she leads programs connecting people with Connecticut’s forests\, trails\, and natural spaces. She oversees CFPA’s Master Woodland Manager and Master Naturalist programs\, along with school-based initiatives and public outreach. Beth holds a master’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut. Her interests include habitat conservation\, wildlife ecology\, vernal pools\, and helping people discover the value of nature close to home. Outside of work\, she can often be found searching for salamanders\, photographing nature\, and trying to become a better birder—one misidentified warbler at a time. She lives in northeastern Connecticut with her husband and dogs. \nHHG Members $30 \nNon-members $40 (includes admission to the garden) \nREGISTRATION
URL:https://hollisterhousegarden.org/event/the-beauty-of-decay-rethinking-dead-wood/
LOCATION:Hollister House Garden\, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road\, Washington\, CT\, 06759
CATEGORIES:Lectures
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261016T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261016T153000
DTSTAMP:20260812T192257
CREATED:20260127T200106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260724T182932Z
UID:10000137-1792144800-1792164600@hollisterhousegarden.org
SUMMARY:Watercolor Journaling: Autumn's Oddities
DESCRIPTION:Autumn at Hollister House Garden reveals a fascinating world of berries\, hips\, pods\, seedheads\, and other seasonal forms that often go unnoticed. In this watercolor journaling workshop\, participants will begin in the garden\, observing and sketching these late-season details. We will then return to the barn for guided watercolor instruction\, with step-by-step demonstrations and individual support from botanical watercolorist Betsy Rogers-Knox. \nThis workshop uses watercolor journaling as a tool for close observation\, helping participants notice the textures\, shapes\, and small surprises that give the autumn garden its character. Students will leave with a colorful journal study that records an autumn day in the garden. All skill levels are welcome. \nBring a bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. \nRequired Materials: Watercolor Journal and a Micron 01 or 02 pen. You may bring your own or purchase a set for $35 when you register. Please click below for details and a full list of recommended materials. \nJournaling Materials List \nBetsy Rogers-Knox is an award-winning botanical artist whose watercolor paintings explore the full life cycle of plants and their relationships within the ecosystems they inhabit. She holds a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from The New York Botanical Garden\, where she continues to teach. Her work has been exhibited widely throughout the United States and internationally\, including in the ASBA International Exhibitions\, the NYBG Triennials\, and the RHS Botanical Art Exhibition in London\, where her paintings of Beckley Bog received the Judges’ Special Award for their educational and ecological value. Betsy’s illustrations are held in the permanent collections of the RHS Lindley Library and the Hunt Institute. \nHHG Members $90 \nNon-Members $110 \nJournal and Pen $35 \nREGISTRATION
URL:https://hollisterhousegarden.org/event/garden-journaling-flowering-trees-and-shrubs/
LOCATION:Hollister House Garden\, 300 Nettleton Hollow Road\, Washington\, CT\, 06759
CATEGORIES:Homepage Feature,Workshop
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