Massachusetts Horticultural Society will celebrate Mother’s Day with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of its newly constructed Hartley Botanic Victorian Lodge on Sunday, May 14 at 11:30am. The Gardens at Elm Bank will be open for families to enjoy, including our newly renovated Weezie’s Garden for Children. Moms will receive a cut flower to take home.

Mass Hort’s project to build a greenhouse was already well underway thanks to a generous donation from Mass Hort Trustee Scott Bierney’s (Bierney lives in Needham now, but called Wellesley home for many years). Then, since donations tend to beget donations, United Kingdom-based Hartley Botanic, maker of high-end, custom-made greenhouses, rang up Mass Hort to mention that to complete Mr. Bierney’s vision, they would rather like to donate a Hartley Botanic Victorian Lodge greenhouse to the cause. The company has been manufacturing handmade aluminum greenhouses in the UK for over 75 years, and its US location is in Woburn.

The structure is approximately 11’ wide by 19’ 3” long and has a central portico on both front and rear elevation. Ideal for the larger garden, the Hartley Lodge can provide a variety of different needs, from cultivating exciting exotics such as large ferns and palms, to producing a regular supply of fruits, vegetables, potted plants and cut flowers. With its spacious central portico entrance, there’s plenty of space to accommodate an attractive garden room that can be enjoyed year round. It’s also built to last, featuring 4mm tempered single-glazed safety glass.

Scott Bierney, Mass Hort — Mass Hort Trustee and donor Scott Birney pitches in to lay the foundation for the new Hartley Botanic Victorian Lodge. The project was built upon Scott’s vision for a greenhouse where flowers would brighten gloomy days in winter and early spring, and it was made possible in large part by his generous donation. Photo credit: Mass Hort.

So on Mother’s Day, bring a picnic, your Mom, and enjoy the setting. On Mother’s Day, Moms visit free. The Gardens at Elm Bank are open from May 1 through Columbus Day, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am – 4pm, and Holiday Mondays. Admission is free for Mass Hort Members, for visitors: Adults: $10, Children under 12 free with adult. The entrance is located at 900 Washington Street (Route 16), Wellesley, MA.