Led by New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill horticulturist and land steward, Robert Graham, and volunteers Lois & Denis Melican, discover this innovative restoration project and enjoy fresh ripe chestnuts during peak season. Come prepared for a hike in the woods to our American Chestnut restoration project and learn about the American Chestnut's place in the landscape and history. 

Instructors: Robert Graham, Lois & Denis Melican

Robert Graham is the Land Steward at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill located in Boylston, MA. He has been with the organization since 2017 and is responsible for overseeing all formal grounds-keeping as well as management of all naturalistic areas including meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. Robert earned his BS in Biology from Worcester State University where he focused on conservation biology and GIS. His professional interests include early successional habitats, native plant ecology, and sustainable land management. Robert played an instrumental role in New England Botanic Garden’s adoption of electric landscaping equipment, an important initiative that led to the organization being recognized as the first botanic garden in the nation to earn Green Zone certification from the American Green Zone Alliance.

Denis and Lois Melican have been working with American chestnuts for 20 years, planting the 1st chestnut research orchard on state land in Massachusetts at Moore State Park in Paxton.  Together they attended the Arnold Arboretum’s Institute for Cultural and Historic Landscape Studies. Both are long-time American Rhododendron Society members and have assisted in the development of new varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons.  They are also participating cooperators in the American Chestnut Cooperators’ Foundation and have been planting 100% pure American chestnuts grown from seed from ACCF. They are also working with hybrid chestnut growers in Massachusetts and New York promoting regenerative agriculture with the goal of creating a local chestnut industry.

$30 Member Adult; $40 Adult (Includes admission to the Garden)

Please Note: Come prepared for a hike! 

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Construction Update: beginning October 2023, renovations and construction will be taking place in and around the Stoddard Visitor Center. While every effort will be made to minimize the impact on our programs, there may be some noise, dust, or other disruptions. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Registrar at registrar@nebg.org.