Events by this organizer

As a small not-for-profit organization, Hollister House relies upon the time, energy and expertise of our team of dedicated volunteers. Volunteers play a key role in our mission to engage our community by ensuring that all garden visitors and everyone attending our events is made to feel welcome.

To learn more about volunteering as a Garden Docent, Barn Talk Volunteer, Special Event Volunteer, or Special Project Volunteer, please visit our website and fill out a Volunteer Sign Up Form.

A five part course beginning April 20th, 2023 through May 18th, 2023

This five-session master class developed for all skill levels will cover all aspects of gardening, from concept and planning to installing and maintenance.

For either new gardeners or those with existing knowledge, this course will provide fresh ideas and concepts for reimagining established gardens and incorporating new trends and techniques to grow your garden into the next chapter.

Students will learn how to develop the knowledge and skills to cultivate their own legacy garden including ornamental and edible plants based on sustainable, ecologically responsible practices. We will cover comprehensive garden design tools and strategies for the home gardener.

Taught by author and New York Botanical Garden Gardening Certificate Program Coordinator and instructor Daryl Beyers this course will introduce students to the principles of garden design from site assessment to long-term development, present strategies for plant and material selection, and introduce the fundamentals of seasonal maintenance and continued care techniques.

Classes will be held at Hollister House Garden as well as several exclusive offsite class locations to explore established gardens and prototype garden settings. The class will enjoy a nursery visit with a personal plant guide to understand what to look for when plant shopping at local nurseries.

Class Dates:
Thursday, April 20th 3pm – 5pm | Session One: “Assessing Your Property and Plants”
Thursday, April 27th 3pm – 5pm | Session Two: “The Art of Gardening”
Thursday, May 4th 3pm – 5pm | Session Three: “All About Plants”
Thursday, May 11th 12pm – 3pm | Session Four: “The Making of a Garden”
Thursday, May 18th 12pm – 3pm | Session Five: “The Craft of Gardening”

$450 for members
$500 for non-members

Register here

Please join us for a fun and creative class using beautiful dried and pressed flowers to create custom note cards.

The class will explore methods and techniques for drying your own petals and flowers at home, and teach students the most appropriate application methods and materials when using delicate dried florals.

Members $75
Non- members $90

Register here

Hollister House Garden Opens for the Season Today! Come, be inspired by the gentle beauty of the early garden. April-May hours are Wednesdays and Fridays 1-4pm and Saturdays 10am-4pm.

Learn more

Join Debra Kaye, owner of Bear Creek Farm, to explore dahlia tuber handling and methods of growing dahlias from seed.

This lecture will guide you through all the alternative ways to manage the process depending on quantity of tubers, equipment, and time you want to dedicate to your dahlia crop. You’ll get hands-on experience with different options to figure out what’s best for you and your garden.

HHG Members: $25
Non-Members: $35

Register here

Join local artist and illustrator Brianna Killion in this exciting workshop on sun printing, commonly referred to as cyanotypes.

We’ll explore multiple methods of toning and staining cyanotypes to create not just blue prints but also yellow and sepia stains on eco paper, prints and notecards. We will use organic specimens, such as lavender, ferns, blooms and natural objects to create beautiful framed art prints and note cards. Space is limited to 13 participants.

HHG Members: $75
Non-Members: $90

Register here

Presented by Monique Bosch

Are you looking for an effective alternative to chemical fertilizers and pesticides? Join Monique Bosch of Wiggle Room as she explains proven methods to improve our soil quality and help our plants grow using Vermicompost and its numerous benefits. We will discuss advantages of vermicompost and the role worms and wormcasting microbes play in soil health. Register for a free soil analysis.

HHG Members: $25
Non-Members: $35

Register here

A five part course beginning April 20th, 2023 through May 18th, 2023

This five-session master class developed for all skill levels will cover all aspects of gardening, from concept and planning to installing and maintenance.

For either new gardeners or those with existing knowledge, this course will provide fresh ideas and concepts for reimagining established gardens and incorporating new trends and techniques to grow your garden into the next chapter.

Students will learn how to develop the knowledge and skills to cultivate their own legacy garden including ornamental and edible plants based on sustainable, ecologically responsible practices. We will cover comprehensive garden design tools and strategies for the home gardener.

Taught by author and New York Botanical Garden Gardening Certificate Program Coordinator and instructor Daryl Beyers this course will introduce students to the principles of garden design from site assessment to long-term development, present strategies for plant and material selection, and introduce the fundamentals of seasonal maintenance and continued care techniques.

Classes will be held at Hollister House Garden as well as several exclusive offsite class locations to explore established gardens and prototype garden settings. The class will enjoy a nursery visit with a personal plant guide to understand what to look for when plant shopping at local nurseries.

Class Dates:
Thursday, April 20th 3pm – 5pm | Session One: “Assessing Your Property and Plants”
Thursday, April 27th 3pm – 5pm | Session Two: “The Art of Gardening”
Thursday, May 4th 3pm – 5pm | Session Three: “All About Plants”
Thursday, May 11th 12pm – 3pm | Session Four: “The Making of a Garden”
Thursday, May 18th 12pm – 3pm | Session Five: “The Craft of Gardening”

$450 for members
$500 for non-members

Register here

Presented by Gordon Hayward

Join renowned landscape designer Gordon Hayward as he explores the elements of outdoor garden rooms within your existing larger garden to create a place apart. We will explore the use of traditional and modern materials such as stone or gravel to create intimate enclosed spaces using trees and shrubs as walls and the metaphorical canopy of tress and branches as a living roof.
Consider types of fencing, dappled light, outdoor furniture, and mixed varietal evergreens and shade tolerant perennials to decorate your space. Special focus will be paid to considering viewpoints and site lines.

HHG Members: $25
Non-Members: $35

Register here

Taught by Betsy Rogers-Knox

Join Betsy Rogers Knox as we explore a variety of useful water-color techniques to capture the beauty of an early spring daisy meadow. Students will be taught through hands-on demonstrations and instruction for using masking fluid technique, wet-on-wet washes, blending colors, dry brush and glazing.

Open to all skill levels. Please bring a bag lunch. Water, soft drinks and snacks will be provided.

HHG Members: $95
Non-Members: $120

Register here

Presented by Frances Palmer

Join us as we explore the the inspiration behind Frances Palmer’s exquisite ceramic creations and the link between her home cutting garden and how it lends itself to her boundless creativity. Guests to this lecture will get a peak into this awe-inspiring world.

In this illustrated talk Frances traces how the ceramics and flowers are inextricably combined in her daily creative process. Using the stunning photographs from her recent book, Life in the Studio, Frances shares the story of her artistic journey. Following the presentation, Frances will offer a live demonstration of her honed methods and techniques for displaying her blooms during a floral arranging demonstration.

Her book, Life in the Studio will be available for purchase following the lecture.

HHG Members: $25
Non-Members: $35

Register here

Working in watercolor, employ beautiful and minimal brush strokes to depict the beauty of tree peonies. This class will be taught by Joanne Wasti in the style of Sumi-e, a delicate Japanese traditional watercolor technique using tonal black pigments with limited colors.

Tree peonies are commonly depicted in traditional Japanese art. In Japan, tree peonies not only represent feminine beauty, but also wealth and nobility of spirit. A presentation and selection of images demonstrating how the tree peony is used as a common motif across a range of traditional Japanese art forms, from woodblock prints to watercolors, will be shown to students for additional inspiration.

All skill levels welcome. A materials list can be found online. Class is limited to 12 participants

HHG Members: $75
Non-Members: $90

Register here

Beginning Wednesday, May 31 and continuing every Wednesday through August 30, Hollister House Garden welcomes artists and photographers to come and be inspired by the beauty of the garden in the morning light.

Admission $10 per person.

As the light fades and day turns to evening enjoy the company of friends and neighbors and see the beauty of the garden in a different light. Come, have a glass of wine and delight in the intimate outdoor spaces, bordered by dramatic hedges and overflowing with exuberant plantings. A perfect start to a summer weekend. Reservations are not required.

This event is being generously sponsored by board member J. Rodney Pleasants.

$10 per person (includes a glass of wine)

Presented by Dan Jaffe Wilder

Join Dan Jaffe Wilder for a talk on design-less gardening in native settings. This presentation looks closely at some of the old gardening rules (such as the use of bark mulch or lawns) and reinterprets them with sustainability in mind. This is a great talk for experienced gardeners who may not have a lot of experience with native plants but are curious to explore the many benefits of using natives in their ornamental landscapes.

HHG Members: $25
Non-Members: $35

Register here

Presented by Betsy Rogers-Knox

Create a visual record of your garden. This class will take place both indoors and in the garden and is designed for beginners or those with journaling experience. Demonstrations of new techniques and tools with a specific plant species will help to refresh your observation, drawing and painting skills. Open to all skill levels.

Please bring a bag lunch. Water, soft drinks and snacks will be provided.

Journal and pen are required materials for all first time garden journal students. If you participated in this workshop last year and wish to use the journal and pen you purchased then please be sure to bring it to class. Material List can be found online. Journal and pen $25 (required materials purchase for all new garden journal students)

HG Members: $95
Non-Members: $120

Register here

An Afternoon of Fun for the Entire Family!
Activities include an art workshop, story time, face painting, garden tours, a scavenger hunt, and more. You may bring a picnic lunch or just come and enjoy an afternoon in the garden.