Pixels + Petals, An Orchid Exhibition

Get ready for a blast from the past with New England Botanic Garden’s annual orchid exhibition. Pixels + Petals combines the vibrant world of retro video games with the delicate beauty of orchids in a one-of-a-kind experience. Thousands of living orchids in bloom are artfully showcased throughout the Garden’s two subtropical conservatories.  Learn more at: https:<a href="//nebg.org/pixels-and-petals/">//nebg.org/pixels-and-petals/</a>

New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill

The Secret Life of Spring Bulbs

The Secret Life of Spring Bulbs at New England Botanic Garden Unlock the horticultural secrets of spring bulbs! Learn planting techniques, care practices, and design insights to create a stunning seasonal garden display. All materials are included.

Orchid Resin Jewelry at New England Botanic Garden

Join us for a unique orchid resin workshop and an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Pixel + Petals, our annual orchid exhibition with the Garden’s conservatory horticulturists. Discover the art of preserving orchids in resin and learn about their care and cultivation. Participants will create stunning resin pieces to take home, inspired by the exhibition.

Spring into Printmaking: Cyanotype Workshop

This workshop is a wonderful place to embark on your print-making journey in a relaxed, supportive, and fun environment. Enjoy making cyanotype photographic prints using a variety of plants in this educational, and playful workshop. The cyanotype process, also known as the blueprint process because of its deep blue color, was first introduced in the early 1800s. Anna Atkins was one of the first people to put the cyanotype process to use and in the mid-1800s became the first person to produce and photographically illustrate a book using cyanotype printing. We will delve into the history of the method and learn how we can adapt it to home printing. It is one of the easiest printing techniques you can do at home without expensive equipment or a darkroom. The chemicals needed are easy to find and inexpensive. It is becoming increasingly popular with photographers and artists wanting to expand their creativity with printing. We will work with the sun as our UV light source, and the sun and weather at the time will determine the intensity and sort of cyanotype prints we produce. Everyone will go home with their very own cyanotype art, usually something frameworthy.

Spring Wreath with Bluebird Bouquets at New England Botanic Garden

Celebrate the season with a touch of creativity! Join us to craft a vibrant spring wreath blending the rustic charm of dried herbs with the fresh beauty of seasonal flowers. Let your masterpiece bring fragrance and life to your space. Instructor, Haley Cormier started Bluebird Bouquets for Valentine's Day 2021. Her love of flowers started from a very young age while arranging flowers after dance recitals with her grandmother. Together they would have so much fun sorting all the flowers and creating beautiful arrangements to display throughout the house. This love of flowers continued through college jobs in greenhouses and with florists, incorporating flowers into her artwork, and now making arrangements for you!

Pruning Your Roses

Roses are a classic plant that can brighten up any garden or home. In this beginner’s workshop, learn about choosing hardy roses, fertilizing, rose dormancy, fall rose care, and winter protection with Past President and garden director of New England Garden Society and Master Rosarian, David Cannistraro. David is a past president of the New England Rose Society, past garden director and now board member of the NERS. He has been growing roses for 45 years and has developed a small business called Just Roses. He restores, prunes, winterizes rose gardens and does summer maintenance as well as installing drip irrigation.

Zen Watercolors Shapes at New England Botanic Garden

Come play with watercolors by filling in shapes with different colors, patterns, and textures.&nbsp;Embrace experimentation and play in a focused fashion, giving way to flow and a relaxed, zen-like state. All materials will be provided. Meet Your Instructor: Victoria Chapman Victoria K. Chapman is a fine artist, illustrator, author, and teacher whose art shares joy in nature, wildlife, the Earth, mindfulness, and imagination. She grew up in New England and earned her BFA in illustration from the University of Connecticut.

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs at New England Botanic Garden

Come and learn how to use natural and edible materials to create colorful eggs with floral patterns. This class will teach you how to prepare edible natural materials for dyeing, prepare your eggs, and dye them. Students will go home with a half dozen dyed hard-boiled eggs. This is a messy class and students should come dressed appropriately. _ Meet Your Instructor: Liz Ives Liz serves as the Registrar at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, where she is passionate about making art and arts education available to everyone. As a textile arts teacher with 25 years of experience in all types of education, from college lectures to private mentorship, Liz believes firmly that anyone can do art if they have a desire to try. Liz has a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago in textile arts and an MA in history from Villanova University with a focus on material culture. She believes that learning about material culture, the things created and used in daily life, can teach us about the past and inform the present. In her personal life she enjoys sewing, weaving, spinning yarn, fashion history, quilting, natural dyeing, embroidery, and many other types of textile&nbsp;

Pysanky: Ukrainian Easter Eggs

Join us for a workshop to create traditional Ukrainian Easter Eggs, also known as Pysanky.&nbsp;Pysanky are the beautiful and elaborate Easter eggs found in Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian traditions.&nbsp;Learning this centuries-old technique for decorating Easter eggs is easier than you might think! Using a stylus called a kistka, you will write with melted beeswax onto the shell of an egg. The eggs are then dipped into successively darker dyes. At the end of the process the beeswax is melted off to reveal the beautiful and colorful design. You may use the traditional patterns or make up your own design. Once you are home from class you may wish to varnish your eggs (instructions will be given) which should last for many years. Each person will receive eggs to decorate and in-class instructions. You will also take home a kit to continue your pysanky journey.

Edible Flower Celebration at New England Botanic Garden

Discover the culinary and decorative possibilities of edible flowers in this hands-on workshop. Learn how to elevate drinks, desserts, and more with the vibrant flavors and aromas of flowers like lavender, hibiscus, and rose, adding elegance and a unique floral twist to your creations! Meet Your Instructor: Meredith Powell A curious home bartender and cook at heart, Meredith Powell honed her mixology and teaching skills as the Beverage Director at Orange Door Kitchen where she launched a popular cocktail education program and managed the bar for private parties and public events. Her approach to craft cocktails and food is accessible, flavor-driven, and spirited, combining practical know-how with a light-hearted attitude. Meredith is an interior designer, supper club hostess and fitness devotee when she is not behind the bar. She lives in Acton with her husband, Chris, and two dogs.&nbsp;

Square Foot Gardening

Maximize your garden’s potential with square foot gardening! This efficient and beginner-friendly method teaches you how to grow more in less space, perfect for small gardens or raised beds. Learn tips and tricks for planting, spacing, and maintaining a productive and thriving garden.

Enchanted Ficus Kokedama Bonsai at New England Botanic Garden

Embrace the magic of “Seeds and Sorcery,” our April vacation programming, as you create your own Mandrake-inspired Kokedama using Ficus microcarpa, also known as the curtain fig. Perfect for adults seeking to bring a bit of botanical magic into their space!

Fairy Terrarium Gardens with Sam's Stems

Samantha Paradis founded Sam's Stems in 2023, driven by a passion for using the art of flowers to foster a more interconnected community. Starting at local farmers markets, Samantha showcased her nature-inspired art in addition to offering unique experiences like fresh flower bars and custom dried flower crowns at New England festivals and events. As Sam's Stems blossomed, she expanded into private events and weddings, catering to diverse esthetics. Committed to supporting local flower farmers in Massachusetts and maximizing the life of each bloom through drying and preservation, Samantha blends sustainability with artistry in every creation.

Botanical Mixology: Pixels + Petals at New England Botanic Garden

Step into the fun of Pixels + Petals, our annual orchid exhibit at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill with a hands-on cocktail making workshop with a botanical twist. Join mixologist Meredith Powell to explore how plants and spirits are and can be connected. Learn how to craft the perfect version of a foundational cocktail, then discover how to transform the basic recipe into a unique libation with the addition of herbs, spices, flowers, trees, berries, fruits, or vegetables.&nbsp;This workshop will help you build confidence as a creative mixologist by honing the skills of measuring, mixing, and mastering flavor. This workshop is sure to be an evening to remember!

Bluebird Discovery at New England Botanic Garden

Explore the fascinating world of bluebirds with a guided hike focused on understanding this species' habitats and behaviors through the conservation practice of nest boxes. Participants will experience a demonstration of installing a nest box, learn about citizen science, and how to contribute to the conservation of bluebird populations through monitoring. Ideal for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts!

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Discover kid-friendly fun in Boston, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas! Enjoy hands-on exhibits at the Boston Children’s Museum, explore the New England Aquarium, and visit the Franklin Park Zoo. Find parks, playgrounds, and seasonal events perfect for families across Massachusetts.

Top 20 kid-friendly things to do in Boston, MA

Kid-friendly things to do in Boston

Kid-friendly events

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.