Massachusetts Horticultural Society
The Massachusetts Horticultural Society, sometimes abbreviated to MassHort, is an American horticultural society based in Massachusetts. It describes itself as the oldest, formally-organized horticultural institution in the United States.
The society was established in 1829 in Boston as the Boston Horticultural Society, and promptly began weekly exhibits (in Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market) of locally grown fruit and later vegetables, teaching the newest horticultural techniques and breeds, perhaps most notably the local Concord grape in 1853. It has continued this tradition since 1871 with its annual New England Spring Flower Show.
In 1831 the society bought a 72-acre (290,000 m2) estate called "Sweet Auburn" for an arboretum, garden, and cemetery. Although the horticultural garden never materialized, in 1835 the site was incorporated as Mount Auburn Cemetery. Until 1976, the society received one-fourth of the proceeds from the sale of Mount Auburn's cemetery lots. Starting in 1845, the society has had three different exhibit halls, each named Horticultural Hall. Since 2001 the society's headquarters have been at the Elm Bank Horticulture Center (36 acres), where as of 2006 the estate's neo-Georgian mansion is being renovated as the fourth Horticultural Hall.
In its mission statement, the society dedicates itself to encouraging the science and practice of horticulture and developing the public's enjoyment, appreciation, and understanding of plants and the environment. As of 2006, it had some 8,000 members.
Financial difficulties
In 2008 the society found itself in financial difficulty. Following revelation that then-new executive director Bob Feige had spent three days in jail the year before for failing to pay employees at a former business he owned, the trustees began a detailed review of the books which revealed the organization to be "essentially broke and facing a stack of bills with no way to pay them."[1] Feige resigned after the trustees presented the facts, but it was apparent that problems were building over a number of years due to overspending. In 2002 the society sold $5.25 million of rare books and prints to raise cash, at which time the Massachusetts Attorney General strongly advised the society to educate its trustees on sound financial practices.[2] In order to conserve cash the society decided to not hold the New England Spring Flower Show in 2009 for the first time since 1871.
Award Winners
- 1911 George R. White Medal of Honor - Victor Lemoine for his lifetimes contribution to horticulture.
- 1937 Thomas Roland Medal Winner - Arlow Stout for his pioneering work in the hybridization of daylilies
- 1952 Thomas Roland Medal Winner - Victor A. Tiedjens for his skill in hydroponics and his outstanding work in the field of vegetable gardening.