Make a Springtime Visit to the House & Landscape at Bush-Holley Historic Site

COS COB, CT – Spring is in the air and at Bush-Holley Historic Site the landscape and gardens are alive with new growth and colorful blooms. If you haven’t visited Greenwich’s very own National Historic Landmark recently, April is a great month to become reacquainted with this historic treasure. Take a tour of the house that dates from the 1730s, or sign up for the Flowers in Nature lecture given by Greenwich Historical Society Curator Karen Frederick. Children will thrive in two creative workshops offered during vacation week.

Bush-Holley Historic Site regular hours resume as of April 1. Tours of Bush-Holley House and the historic site are now offered Thursday through Sunday, at 1, 2, and 3 p.m. The Museum Gallery and Visitor Center/Museum Shop are open to the public Tuesday through Sunday; from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission to the Gallery, Visitor Center and Bush-Holley House is $6 for adults, $4 seniors and students. Children under 6 and Historical Society members are Free. Group Tours are also available. Call 203 869-6899, ext 18 to schedule.

APRIL PROGRAMS

Flowers in Nature and Art: Elmer and Constant Holley MacRae - Lecture and Lunch
Friday, April 24, 11 a.m. –1 p.m.
Historical Society Curator Karen Frederick explores the flower paintings and woodcarvings of Elmer MacRae and the floral arrangements of Constant Holley MacRae, preserved in vintage photographs. From their marriage in 1900 until Elmer’s death in 1953, Constant and Elmer lived in “The Old House” (today’s Bush-Holley House), sharing a love of the house and its surrounding gardens.  Lecture: $8 members, $10 non-members. Bring a bag lunch or pre-order a box lunch. Lunch, 12:30 p.m. Box lunch, $10, Call 203 869-6899, ext 18 or visit www.bush–holley.org.

Vacation Week Workshops for Children:

Painting Nature
Tuesday, April 7, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cos Cob art colony artist Elmer MacRae, whose studio and art works are on display at Bush-Holley Historic Site, found inspiration for his large floral paintings in the gardens and landscape at Bush-Holley House. Children will examine two large murals recently installed in the barn and use tempera paints to design their own large nature themed works of art. $15 per person, $10 for Historical Society members. Ages 6 and up.

Nature in Origami
Wednesday, April 8, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cos Cob art colony artist Genjiro Yeto taught his fellow artists Japanese traditions from his culture including origami. Today origami cranes adorn the studio of Elmer MacRae inside Bush-Holley House. Guided by members of the Japan Society of Greenwich, learn to fold origami creations inspired by nature including flowers and birds. $15 per person, $10 for Historical Society members. Open to parents and children age 7 and up.

Space Still available in History and Art Summer Camp

Bush-Holley History & Art Camp is offered for children in 2nd through 7th grades and features a highly interactive two-week program (Mondays through Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) with focuses on the history and art themes that characterize Bush-Holley Historic Site: Colonial and Early American history and Cos Cob art colony. Camp, which takes place on the grounds of the historic site, is staffed by educators and experienced counselors who have a special interest in history, art or education. Sessions are fun, engaging and hands-on. A field trip and a Friday Parents Day are part of every week. Camp fees are $475 two-week session/$325 single week (if available).Camper families are automatically enrolled as members of the Historical Society (a $65 value). Current memberships are renewed for one year.

For a complete camp brochure, visit www.bush-holley.org or call 203 869-6899, ext.18. To register, send a completed registration form (available online) and a non-refundable deposit of $100 per child ($50 for each additional sibling) to: Camp Director, HSTG, 39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob, CT 06807.

Bush-Holley Historic Site, features the circa 1730 National Historic Landmark Bush-Holley House, home of Connecticut’s first art colony. Guided tours of the House feature an American Impressionist art collection and historic interiors. The William Hegarty Gallery presents historically and artistically significant exhibits that focus on the art and artists of the Cos Cob art colony, museum collections and aspects of Greenwich history. Take I-95, exit 4. 

Bush-Holley Historic Site is a member of the Connecticut Art Trail, a partnership of fifteen world-class museums and historic sites across the state.  Discover collections rich in history and heritage, including European masterpieces, American Impressionism, ancient art and contemporary culture. Visit www.arttrail.org for information about member museums.