The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, sometimes abbreviated to MassHort, is an American

horticultural Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...

society based in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut assachusett writing systems, məhswatʃəwiːsət'' English: , ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the most populous U.S. state, state in the New England ...

. It describes itself as the oldest formally organized horticultural institution in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. 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 2014, it had some 5,000 members.

History

The society was established in 1829 in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

as the Boston Horticultural Society, and promptly began weekly exhibits (in

Faneuil Hall Faneuil Hall ( or ; previously ) is a marketplace and meeting hall located near the waterfront and today's Government Center, in Boston, Massachusetts. Opened in 1742, it was the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams, James Otis, and others ...

and

Quincy Market Quincy Market is a historic building near Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. It was constructed between 1824 and 1826 and named in honor of mayor Josiah Quincy, who organized its construction without any tax or debt. The market is ...

) of locally grown fruit and later vegetables, teaching the newest horticultural techniques and breeds, including the local

Concord grape The Concord grape is a cultivar derived from the grape species ''Vitis labrusca'' (also known as fox grape) that are used as table grapes, wine grapes and juice grapes. They are often used to make grape jelly, grape juice, grape pies, grape-fl ...

in 1853. It continued this tradition from 1871 through 2008 with its annual

New England Spring Flower Show New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

. In 1831 the society bought a estate called "Sweet Auburn" for an

arboretum An arboretum (plural: arboreta) in a general sense is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, man ...

, garden, and cemetery. Although the horticultural garden never materialized, in 1835 the site was incorporated as

Mount Auburn Cemetery Mount Auburn Cemetery is the first rural cemetery, rural, or garden, cemetery in the United States, located on the line between Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge and Watertown, Massachusetts, Watertown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middl ...

. Until 1976, the society received one-fourth of the proceeds from the sale of Mount Auburn's cemetery lots. Horticultural Hall Massachusetts Horticultural Society Boston

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 Hall."

The first The First may refer to: * ''The First'' (album), the first Japanese studio album by South Korean boy group Shinee * ''The First'' (musical), a musical with a book by critic Joel Siegel * The First (TV channel), an American conservative opinion ne ...

was located on School Street;

the second ''The Second'' is the second studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf, released in October 1968 on ABC Dunhill Records. The album contains one of Steppenwolf's most famous songs, " Magic Carpet Ride". The background of the orig ...

on Tremont Street, and

the third is a light novel series, that has also been made into manga and anime series by Ryo Hoshino and illustrated by Ariko Ito. The anime series goes under the name . According to the New York Comic Convention, ''The Third'' has been licensed by ...

on Massachusetts Avenue.

Elm Bank

Since 2001 the society's headquarters have been at the

Elm Bank Horticulture Center The Gardens at Elm Bank, home of Massachusetts Horticultural Society, occupies of Elm Bank Reservation, a recreational area of woodlands, fields, and former estate property on the Charles River managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conserva ...

(36 acres) in Wellesley. The encompass multiple gardens including an acre-sized one designed by prominent UK plantsman Adrian Bloom. Other gardens include the Weezie's Children's Garden, an Italianate Garden, a floral and vegetable trial garden run as part of the All-America Selection group, and specialty gardens built around rhododendron, daylilies, herbs and native 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."Facing Trouble with Deep Roots" In order to conserve cash the society decided to not hold the

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 th
Boston Flower & Garden Show
produced by the Paragon Group, Inc., 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.

Mass Hort 2011 and Beyond

In January 2011 the Board of Trustees hired Katherine K. Macdonald as Executive Director/President of the Society after the Board stabilized the organization's financials. During the period from 2011 to the writing of this note (2014) Massachusetts Horticultural Society has expanded it programming, delivering its educational mission of promoting horticulture and the understanding of the natural world. Contemporary programs include: The Garden to Table Program, which offers the public an opportunity to come together in a beautiful and welcoming setting to learn about growing, cooking, and preserving healthy food; Thursday Night at the Hort: an adult horticulture lecture series; Plantmobile: youth science and horticulture outreach; Hands On Hort: experiential programs in the gardens; as well as the Gardeners Fair (May) help to connect people with horticulture. The Society continues it 116-year-old tradition of Honorary Medals in October, where we recognize the outstanding contributions of horticulturalists, plant innovators, and those who have made significant contributions to the enjoyment and appreciation of plants and the environment. In November and December, the Festival of Trees provides an enjoyable family event to celebrate the holidays. The Gardens at Elm Bank include twelve display gardens. In 2011, a new vegetable garden was designed to support the Garden to Table program. By 2013, this vegetable garden was producing over 4000 pounds of produce that was donated to two food pantries. The Welcome Garden near the parking lot entrance was added in 2012, designed by Paul Miskovsky. Improvements to the Italianate Garden included the restoration of the fountain, a central element to the garden. In January 2014 the Italianate Garden was featured on This Old House. Since 2011, over $250,000 in capital investments have been made to the property, thanks to the generosity of foundation grants. A small staff and hundreds of volunteers, including Master Gardeners, work together to make the Gardens at Elm Bank a wonderful destination for visitors. Garden group tours are available Tuesdays at 10 am from April 30 to October 1. Mass Hort at the Flower Show provides the management of the amateur horticulture, floral design, Ikebana, and photography for Paragon Group, the owners of the Boston Flower & Garden Show. Working with hundreds of volunteers, committees, and amateur competitors, this important rite of spring continues for the public to learn and enjoy plants, flowers, and design.

Award winners

* 1911 George R. White Medal of Honor -

Victor Lemoine Pierre Louis Victor Lemoine (October 21, 1823 in Delme, Moselle - December 11, 1911) was a celebrated and prolific French flower breeder who, among other accomplishments, created many of today's lilac varieties. As a result of his accomplishm ...

for his lifetime contributions to horticulture. * 1921 George R. White Medal of Honor -

Louisa Boyd Yeomans King Louisa Boyd Yeomans King (October 17, 1863 – January 16, 1948) was an American gardener and author who became a leading advocate of gardening and horticulture, especially in connection with the garden club movement. She wrote on horticultural top ...

, the first woman recipient. * 1922 George R. White Medal of Honor -

Albert Burrage Albert Cameron Burrage (November 21, 1859 – June 29, 1931), known as A. C. Burrage, was an industrialist, attorney, horticulturist and philanthropist from the United States. Birth Albert Burrage was born on November 21, 1859, in Ashburnha ...

for establishing an outstanding collection of rare orchids in

Beverly, Massachusetts Beverly is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, and a suburb of Boston. The population was 42,670 at the time of the 2020 United States Census. A resort, residential, and manufacturing community on the Massachusetts North Shore, Beverly incl ...

. * 1937 Thomas Roland Medal Winner -

Arlow Stout Arlow Burdette Stout (March 10, 1876 – October 12, 1957) was an American botanist and the pioneer breeder of the modern hybrid daylily. Stout was born in Jackson Center, Ohio on March 10, 1876 and moved to Albion, Wisconsin as a child. He wor ...

for his pioneering work in the hybridization of daylilies. * 1952 Thomas Roland Medal Winner - Victor A. Tiedjens for his skill in hydroponics and his outstanding work in the field of vegetable gardening. * 2011 George R. White Medal of Honor -

Lynden B. Miller Lynden B. Miller (born December 8, 1938) is an author, an advocate for public parks and gardens, and a garden designer, best known for her restoration of the Conservatory Garden in New York’s Central Park, completed in 1987. Education and earl ...

References

External links

Massachusetts Horticultural Society website

Internet Archive.org: Assorted full−text publications of the MHSociety

{{DEFAULTSORT:Massachusetts Horticultural Society Horticultural organizations based in the United States Gardens in Massachusetts Horticultural Society Wellesley, Massachusetts 1829 establishments in Massachusetts Organizations established in 1829 19th century in Boston 20th century in Boston