Tower Hill Botanic Garden announces flower exhibitions to thaw February's chill

While the New England landscape has been left bare by winter’s frozen touch, Tower Hill Botanic Garden will teem with color and vibrancy during Flora in February, a winter exhibition dedicated to flowers. Each weekend will have a different focus as Tower Hill aims to offer an escape from the winter blues and also to inspire through this year’s theme of rustic elegance. Visit to hear expert guest speakers, participate in hands-on workshops, listen to live music, and participate in activities geared to all ages.

“You can savor the beauty and value that plants bring to your life year-round at Tower Hill,” said CEO Kathy Abbott. “While enjoying one of our magnificent weekends of Flora, you can stroll through our lush indoor conservatories, enjoy a meal by our new chef, Matt Landry, at Twigs Café, and browse in our terrific gift shop. During February, you can stretch your legs and imagination with a visit to Tower Hill. It will be a fun floral experience.”

The first weekend, Friday, Jan. 30, to Sunday, Feb. 1, features top professional designers showing off their one-of-a-kind floral arrangements. Exhibitors will include Fôret Design Studio (Best of Boston 2014 award winner), 1956blooms, Luna Moss, Seed to Stem, Pollen Floral Design, Wild Folk Studio, and others. Find out how the iconic Blue Garden in Newport, R.I., was restored at a 2 p.m. lecture on Jan. 31. At 2 p.m. on Feb. 1, stop by for speaker Carol Julien’s illustrated lecture on the history and future of the White Garden and about her belief that there is a gardener in each of us.

During the weekend of Friday, Feb. 6, to Sunday, Feb. 8, garden clubs and talented non-professional designers take the stage to display their floral arrangements for viewer enjoyment and inspiration. Visitors can also listen in to a talk on Keepsake Annuals, which covers the easy care heirloom annuals and showcase combinations, on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 p.m. On Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. find out how to incorporate beautiful blooms into your existing garden space during “Grow It, Cut It, Arrange It.”

Tower Hill has a full menu of activities to choose from during February school vacation week from Saturday, Feb. 14, to Friday, Feb. 20. Plant and flower inspired, kid-friendly activities take center stage all week. Daily activities include a story walk, scavenger hunts, crafts, library programs, story time, and more. In addition to free programs, on Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. create a special Valentine’s Day gift bouquet from flowers and herbs, known as a tussie-mussie; on Feb. 17, children can make their own wooden flower press to bring home; on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. elementary and middle school students can make a batik, which can be used as a scarf or wall hanging; and on Feb. 20 at 1 p.m., children 8 years old and up can be dropped off for a Flower Arranging for Kids workshop. Please check towerhillbg.org for each class fee.

Flora in February ends with excitement on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22, with the Worcester County Horticulture Society Midwinter Show which celebrates the beauty and creativity of forced flowers, branches, container gardens, conservatory plants, and flowering shrubs. Two events for a fee include making a spring table garden on Feb. 21 to be held at 10:30 a.m. and on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. join author Kerry Mendez for a talk and book signing of “The Right-Size Flower Garden.”

Even as the official Flora in February program ends, the month long celebration of flowers continues Feb. 28 and March 1 with the annual Camelia Show, presented by the Massachusetts Camelia Society. This is a perfect way to spend a winter day, amidst hundreds of camellia blossoms and the subtropical greenery of Tower Hill’s lush indoor conservatories.

For specific hours for each flower show or to register for upcoming events, please visit towerhillbg.org or call 508-869-6111. Tower Hill Botanic Garden is located at 11 French Drive in Boylston, Mass. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors, $7 for ages 6 to 18, and free for children 5 and under.

Home of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, Tower Hill Botanic Garden is less than an hour’s drive from Boston, Providence, Springfield, and Hartford and is nationally recognized as one of the finest gardens in the Northeast with more than 90,000 annual visitors and more than 6,000 active members.