Berkshire Botanical Garden's Annual Plants Sale Returns

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STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Berkshire Botanical Garden's 49th annual Plants-and-Answers Plant Sale will be held on May 8, 9 and 10, coinciding with the second annual SpringFest on May 9. 
 
This event marks a celebration of plants, play and community, with proceeds supporting the Garden's horticulture and education programs. The sale will feature a diverse selection of perennials, annuals, herbs, and vegetables, all designed to promote nature-based landscaping and attract pollinators. 
 
Traditionally held on Mother's Day weekend, the Plants-and-Answers Plant Sale began in 1977 as BBG's harbinger of spring for gardeners in the Berkshires and beyond. This year's sale continues the tradition of offering plants for landscape and container gardens, along with a wide selection of organic vegetable and herb plants. Featured are a selection of plants that attract bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators. As always, "Ask Me" staff and volunteers will be on hand to provide expert advice. 
 
SpringFest brings an added layer of festivity on Saturday, May 9 — a full day of family fun with free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A celebration of the season and of community, SpringFest features food trucks and enough children's activities to keep the youngest visitors happily busy for hours. Little ones can enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, face painting, classic lawn games, and more. There will be a traditional Maypole dance.
 
Garden members receive early buying privileges and a discount on BBG plant purchases. To become a member, visit BerkshireBotanical.org. Garden members enjoy early buying hours on Friday, May 8, from 9 to 11 a.m., with the sale opening to the general public from 11 to 4 p.m. Weekend hours continue Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10 (from 9 to 4 p.m. both days). Free parking will be available to all.
 
Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at 5 West Stockbridge Rd., Stockbridge, Mass. Visit BerkshireBotanical.org for more information.
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Pryor & Peacock's Whimsical Furniture Environmentally Friendly

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
 

The company uses digital printing to create the upholstery fabric, saving water and saving vintage furniture from ending up in landfills.

STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — A unique furniture store has popped up on Elm Street this month.

Mom-and-daughter store Pryor & Peacock is hosting the pop-up storefront from Aug. 13 to Aug. 25 at 6 Elm. The New Marlborough business is co-founded by Rosalina Wright and Luca Shapiro, who is also the creative director. 

Their online shop was created in 2024 but they wanted people to see the pieces in person, so they're renting the space for a limited time before a long-term tenant moves in.

The store sources prints to create unique fabrics and reimagines vintage and antique furniture acquired at auctions, local shops, and online.

"We source prints from all over the world that date from the late 1600s up through mid-20th century, and Luca turns those prints into fabric by manipulating them, scanning them, oftentimes has to add or subtract things, and then we manufacture the fabric using only digital printing, which is very environmentally friendly, unlike traditional textile printing," Wright said.

Upholstering the furniture can take weeks of work. Shapiro looks for the perfect design for each piece and, if need be, uses Adobe Photoshop to extend the art work to fit or enhance the print.

"One of the most difficult parts comes in marrying the fabric to a piece of furniture because we only use antique and vintage frames also to be earth friendly, and they're also more beautiful and durable than new furniture," Wright said. "So the image has to go with the furniture, so that takes a lot of work."

One of Pryor & Peacock's missions is to be environmentally friendly. Digital printing doesn't use the same amount of water as traditional textile productions do nor does it contaminate water with ink according to their website.

Not only are they saving water, but they are saving furniture from going into the landfill while also using more durable furniture that doesn't break as easily as current pieces. They started their business to create something unique and to help the environment together.

"It's creating something nobody else is doing. People can't continue to buy throwaway furniture. Six percent of American landfills is furniture, and digital printing not only opens up the possibility of being able to put unique images on a piece of furniture, but it also is, as I said, environmentally friendly. So, for us, the excitement is to take an old East Lake settee that somebody's going to store in their barn and forget about, and make it something completely new and surprising," Wright said.

They hope their furniture helps bring a pop of fun to someone's home.

"We think our furniture is very whimsical and surprising, and most furniture today is oatmeal colored couches and gray neutral chairs, and it's boring," she said.

The two named their business after their mothers' maiden names to honor them and believe the name reflects their pieces.

Shapiro works in interior design outside of the business and the two liked working together and thought it would be great to start a business together. Shapiro says they can work well together and that her and her mother, Wright, has flipped houses before and have the same eye for design.

"So it's very easy for us to work together. When we see something, generally we agree on whether it works or doesn't work on a piece. We agree on the color schemes and that sort of thing. So it's very fun and fulfilling to work together," Shapiro said. 

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