Berkshire Botanical Garden Signature Pot Unveiled at 32nd Annual Plant Sale

Print Story | Email Story
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. - The Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Massachusetts will hold the 32nd Annual Plant Sale on Friday May 8th from 10am-5pm and Saturday, May 9th from 9am-5pm with early buying Friday May 9th from 8am-10am with a $10 fee and free for members.

Buyers will choose from thousands of plants, including many rare and unusual perennials, trees, and shrubs and featuring tried-and- true classics. In celebration of the Garden's 75th Anniversary Season, a newly designed signature pot will be on sale for the first time. This commemorative flower pot comes in four sizes and has been beautifully embossed with the Garden's own unique logo to mark this special occasion.

Experts from the Garden staff and knowledgeable volunteers will be on hand to assist shoppers, answer questions and provide practical gardening advice about growing and caring for plants.“ The tried-and-true classic, great performing plant is the theme of this year’s 75th Anniversary sale,” says Dorthe Hviid, Director of Horticulture at the Garden. “These hard-working plants have stood the test of time and can withstand the often challenging growing conditions found in the Berkshires. These tough workhorses include: Leucanthemum, Agastache, Hydrangea paniculata, Calycanthus, Daylilys, Hosta, Iris, Geranium, Amelanchier, Cotinus, Clematis, and Viburnum. Combined in mixed borders, these tree and shrub shapes not only provide winter interest, they give permanent height, scale, and texture to traditional perennial beds.”

Plant shoppers will again receive free garden designs featuring many of the plants that will be for sale. Designs are created by the Garden’s horticultural staff and intended to inspire gardeners or be used as a blueprint. This year’s free, give-away designs include a shrub border for sun, a mixed border of shrubs and perennials, and a native plant border. Written planting and plant care instructions are also included for all the plants purchased in the sale. “And don’t forget a gift for Mother’s Day,” says Dorthe Hviid. “We’re offering Gardens-in-a-Box, hanging baskets, pre-planted containers for sun and shade perfect for an entrance, patio, or garden room, as well as pre-planted pots of succulents, and mini lettuce and herb planters. These one-of-a-kind gifts are all priced very reasonably.”


Select vendors will sell organically grown herbs and vegetables, native wetland plants, rustic garden furniture, metal garden décor and ornaments, hypertufa troughs and planters, and more. Top-quality compost direct from Holiday Farm (Dalton, MA) will be sold by the bag. Old, new, and gently used gardening books and cookbooks will be available. Don’t forget to stop by the Garden’s Gift Shop for the annual “Spring Cleaning Sale” with 25% to 50% savings on a wide selection of garden-related gifts, gear, and accessories.

Renowned for its inspiring gardens, educational programs and exquisite setting, the Berkshire Botanical Garden is one of New England’s oldest and most treasured public gardens. Established in 1934, its mission was to inspire and educate the community in responsible horticulture and home grown food. Today, with a year-round schedule of gardening classes, prestigious guest lecturers and a horticulture certification program in addition to our special events, we honor these founding values that are timelier than ever. Come roam the Garden’s 15 lush acres where 3,000 regionally appropriate plant species, significant trees, unique shrubs and exotic botanical collections take center stage in an ever-changing theater of the senses.

Admission to the Garden and parking throughout the two-day event are free. Food and r efreshments will be available. Garden members will enjoy a 10% discount on plant purchases; memberships may be purchased or renewed at the sale. For further information please call:413-298-3926 or emailinfo@berkshirebotanical.org/www.berkshirebotanical.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Council Passes $232.7M Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council unanimously approved a $232.7 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year. 

It is a modest, almost 2.9 percent increase from FY26. 

"I do want to give the community kind of a heads up as we move forward on budgets. What we see coming out of the federal government that's trickling down to the states, it's going to be harder and harder for us as a community to meet our needs under the Proposition 2 1/2," Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said. 

"We're going to have challenges, as we've seen communities across the state trying to override the Proposition 2 1/2, because we have dwindling amounts of money coming from the state and federal government." 

She pointed out that, at the same time, utility bills are going up for both residents and the city, as are the costs of pavement and other items. 

The amended budget of $232,777,720, down from the $232,782,090 originally proposed, includes cuts to the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the restoration of funds for councilors to attend the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association conference. 

The Pittsfield Public Schools' $86,855,061 budget includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city. With $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition revenues, it totals $87,200,061 and is an approximately $300,000 increase from the Pittsfield Public Schools' FY26 budget of $86.9 million. 

The district's budget will fund 13 schools, as Morningside Community School will retire in the fall, and includes the middle school restructuring. 

Councilors also approved the use of $2 million in certified free cash to reduce the tax rate, and appropriated $450,551 for parking-related expenditures. 

View Full Story

More Stockbridge Stories