Botanical Garden Pays Homage to Roy Boutard, Treehouses

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — It's finally spring in the Berkshires and many local gardeners are back in the dirt bringing up daisies.

Alongside the arrival of gorgeous (and long-awaited) displays of tulips, daffodils and magnolia trees, the Berkshire Botanical Garden is also ringing in the arrival of the flower season by honoring the past and welcoming the future.

The garden is hosting its first annual Roy Boutard Day on Sunday, May 1, from 9 to 5, in honor of one of its most beloved directors, who served the horticultural community there from 1954 to 1984. In addition to this good old-fashioned celebration, the garden will also present "Out On a Limb: Architects Take a Bow," a seasonlong exhibition of six innovative treehouses by architects and designers including Michael Trapp, Joseph Cho and Stefanie Lew of binocular design, Robyn Sandberg, Gray Davis and Will Meyer of  Meyer Davis Studio, Mark Smith and Tim Smith of 9 Partners Design and James Odegaard.

Robin Parow, communications director for the garden, said the day promises to be one of whimsy, beauty and, of course, sunshine.

Roy Boutard was director of the Berkshire Botanical Garden for 30 years. He died last year at age 94.

"We're expecting great weather and that's the most important thing," Parow said in a phone interview. "We have six unbelievable, amazing treehouses and we are encouraging families with children to come and explore them. They can go in the houses and see for themselves. It's really almost magical what the designers have done with these treehouses."

"People are pining for something green at this point," she said. "All of our spring blooming bulbs are out, the magnolia trees are magnificent, this place is quite a sight right now. Having the Roy Boutard Day in conjunction with the treehouse exhibition is just so wonderful. Here we have this old-fashioned traditional touch complete with a reception and punch delivered in an antique bowl and then a flip into the 21st century with a two-story treehouse fortress and mockingbird nest. It's really kind of perfect."

The garden's Herb Associates, a volunteer group, will provide the traditional Mai Bowle punch (which is a forever-secret recipe) as well as cookies and refreshments at a post-tour reception.

Cecile Roy Boutard died July 1, 2010, at the age of 94. A native of Sweden, he came to this country from Canada in the 1950s after graduating from England's Royal Horticultural Society Gardens.

Boutard wrote a regular column on gardening for The Berkshire Eagle and had a gardening show on WBEC. Under his direction, the garden expanded its grounds and educational offerings and won numerous gardening awards.

The tour, beginning at 1, will highlight Boutard's favorite display areas and gardens to which he contributed to during his three decades as director. Of course, no honorary celebration of spring is complete without a graduation and according to Parow, the BBG's got it covered.

"We are going to have a graduation ceremony for our horticultural program," she said. "These people have put years into studying here at the garden and now they are finally going to be certified horticulturists. It's quite an accomplishment all the way around."

Admission to the garden on Sunday is free and the grounds are open from 9 to 5. The Roy Boutard garden tour will begin at 1, followed by a Mai Bowle and reception.

Allendale Pines North Affordable Manufactured Homes Sell Fast

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:17PM / Saturday, August 22, 2026

Developer Teton Management cut the ribbon on the first six hopes in the manufactured housing community earlier this year. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Just a few months after Allendale Pines North cut the ribbon on its first six homes in the new manufactured home community, units in the planned development are selling fast with both first and second phases all but sold out.

 

For several years, Teton Management Corp. has been planning to expand its existing Allendale Pines Mobile Community with the development of 22 planned manufactured housing units. The new development has its own entrance at 395 Cheshire Road. 

 

The need for attainable housing has never been higher, Teton President George Whaling said. 

 

"And where we sought the opportunity to help with that demand is, we can get folks into a home at Allendale Pines North for essentially a couple of $100 less than what it would cost for someone to rent a three-bedroom of the same quality," he said. 

 

The corporation took over Allendale Pines, now referred to as Allendale Pines South, about 6 1/2 years ago, Whaling said. 

 

Since then, the corporation has invested $1,000,001 in infrastructure improvements, including replacing all water and sewer lines, paving the community and installing the infrastructure needed for 10 additional units, he said. 

 

Additionally, it has been working to clean up and improve the community, which was lacking during previous ownership, said Jason Nocher, owner of Nocher Realty, which has been hired to help sell the units.