Ron Morgan to Appear at Berkshire Museum

Print Story | Email Story
Pittsfield – The Berkshire Museum in downtown Pittsfield continues Galleries in Bloom activities with a lecture and demonstration in the Little Cinema Theater by floral designer Ron Morgan, Saturday, May 10 at 10:30 a.m. The presentation is followed a book signing of Mr. Morgan’s In the Company of Flowers ($49.95) and A Glass Act ($34.95). Berkshire Museum members receive a 10% discount. At 12:30, guests will enjoy a luncheon and a demonstration by Miriam Landsmen, voted best Florist 2007 by “Best of the Gold Coast” Greewich, New Canaan, Darien and Westport magazines. The lecture and luncheon are $125 ($100 MEMBERS). The lecture only is $35 ($30 members).

Ron Morgan is the most sought-after and well-recognized floral designer in the United States. He has dazzled lecture and garden club audiences for over twenty years with his wit, knowledge, and unparalleled creative talents. Through his imaginative use of flowers, fruits, vegetables, and unusual items, he transforms the ordinary into the exquisite, artfully arranging his striking materials into masterpieces. Ron Morgan's career in floral design began at age ten, when he won his first flower show competitions in San Joaquin County, California. Over the course of his extensive career, he has designed window displays for Harrod's and David Jones, opened retail floral and antique shops, consulted as an interior designer, conducted flower arranging classes and, most importantly, become a highly sought-after speaker at garden club events around the world.

Galleries in Bloom is a museum-wide display of approximately 40 floral arrangements. Admission is adults, $13 ($8 members), and children ages 3-17, $9 ($5 members). Proceeds from Galleries in Bloom benefit year round educational programs at the Berkshire Museum. The pieces combine the artistry of floral displays with works from the Berkshire Museum’s collections. Inspiration comes from diverse objects in What’s the Story, paintings in America Seen, pieces in Native Peoples Northeast-Northwest, artifacts from Egypt and other ancient cultures, and the new Feighenbaum Hall of Innovation. Selected arrangements will also complement the aquarium and natural science collections. Floral photography, nationally judged by the Garden Club of America, will be on view.  Galleries in Bloom is on view through Monday, May 12.

Galleries in Bloom is sponsored by Country Curtains, Cranwell Resort, Spa, & Golf Club, and TD Banknorth.

The Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South Street on Route 7 in Downtown Pittsfield. The galleries are open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. For more information, contact the Berkshire Museum at (413) 443-7171, ext. 10, or visit www.berkshiremuseum.org
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Former Harry's Supermarket Under Construction for Restaurant

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Construction is underway to transform the former Harry's Supermarket into a restaurant

Late last month, the Conservation Commission greenlit some tree pruning on the property. New windows and a new door can be seen in the front of the building. 

"It's a substantial renovation that's currently underway here," Brent White of White Engineering said, speaking on behalf of the applicant and owner, Huajie Zhu. 

A fire gutted the longtime Wahconah Street supermarket in 2023, and the following year, Zhu purchased the property for $460,000 two years ago to build a restaurant with hibachi in the existing footprint of the more than 100-year-old building. 

White explained that the project has been ongoing for over a year, and the Community Development Board granted the property a waiver to reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces so that additional spaces aren't needed.  

He noted that, looking at the site plan, there is very little room to do so. A mirror will be installed near the sharp turn on Bel Air Avenue to alleviate traffic concerns. 

Pruning will be done on trees in the southeast corner of the existing paved parking lot, as a number of branches are hanging over. The new owners also intend to patch, sealcoat, and re-stripe the parking lot. 

A fire tore through the building less than an hour after the supermarket closed for the day three years ago. An automatic sprinkler system is required for the new use. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories