Boston Flora

Monday, January 27, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern – Houseplants 101, Online

So you think you have a black thumb? Think again! Learn the most important basics of houseplant care from lighting to watering, repotting, and fertilizing. Discover what plants might do best in your home, and how to troubleshoot pests and diseases.

This Chicago Botanic Garden class will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance. The class will take place Monday, January 27 from 7:30 – 9:00 Eastern. $24 for CBG members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at www.chicagobotanic.org

Julia Zoltwosky, horticulture educator is the instructor.

Saturday, February 1, 11:30 am – 2:30 pm – Composition in the Field: Photography Workshop

Thanks to whaling merchant James Arnold who left a portion of his estate to Harvard College about 150 years ago, today we have the Arnold Arboretum as one of the gems of the city’s park systems. The voluminous collection of plants, trees, gardens, flora and fauna, concepted by Frederick Law Olmsted, quickly grew to 7 miles of gardens, pathways and views, now known as part of the famous “Emerald Necklace.”

Students of the Harvard Agricultural school have the resource for valuable research, but photographers have unending photo ops in soothing water scenes, landscaping, macro photography and if willing, a view of the Boston skyline from the top of the hill of the Arboretum. Every season offers new images to add to a photo portfolio, with exercises in photo compositions of every sort, from Leading Lines of the winding lanes to Rule of Thirds layout and colorful studies to convey a cool quiet or a vibrant wake-up call.

The class will take place Saturday, February 1, from 11:30 – 2:30. 125 Arborway, Boston, MA 02130 $125. Register on Eventbrite HERE.

Due to weather or other circumstances beyond our control we will be happy to work with you to reschedule or provide a refund. However, if you should need to cancel or require a new class date, contact us. A $25 transfer fee will be imposed without a 3 day notice before the scheduled class. Call Digital Photo Academy at 1 877 372 2231 or a field agent at 917 597 7053. Lots of people seem to hang up if our welcome recording comes on instead of a live voice, but we promise to return your message within a day or two if you leave one with your name and number. It would be even better if you included your email address as well as the date and city of the class you are considering. If leaving a voice mail message is not your thing, please email us at DPAbooking@digitalphotoacademy.com and include the date and city of the class you are considering, as well as your phone number.

Wednesday, January 29, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Eastern – Mary Mitchell: The Postwar Landscape Architect of the North, Online

In January, join Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading for the beginning of an online series of talks in partnership with the Gardens Trust, on six women – Susan Jellicoe, Sheila Haywood, Brenda Colvin, Mary Mitchell, Marjory Allen and Marian Thompson – who all contributed to the expertise, development and awareness of the landscape profession and in so many different ways. A ticket is for the series of 6 talks at £42 or you may purchase a ticket for individual talks, costing £8. (Gardens Trust and FOLAR members £6 each or all 6 for £31.50). There will be an opportunity for Q & A after each session. Please note that the 6th and final talk in this series is on 30th April. Ticket holders can join each session live and/or view a recording for up to 2 weeks afterwards. For tickets visit www.eventbriteco.uk

Join us in this online series to hear from these special speakers – Sally Ingram, Paula Laycock, Hal Moggridge, Joy Burgess, Wendy Titman and Bruce Thompson – who have each known, worked with, or researched one of these six remarkable women.

Mary Mitchell was a prolific and influential landscape architect during the post war period. Much of her early work was influenced by Lady Marjory Allen’s approach to play which could be seen across the north of England during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Mary Mitchell was Birmingham City’s first ever landscape architect, which was where she began to explore her own convictions over creative, playful and art-filled landscapes, seen most clearly in a number of housing sites that she worked on with Sheppard Fidler, the City Architect. It was also here that she made a name for herself on the international stage as a world-renowned designer before setting up her own practice which she ran successfully for more than twenty years. The full extent of Mitchell’s work and the impact it had on the north of England is yet to be fully understood. This talk will explore Mitchell’s life, some of her creative collaborations, as well as some projects which show her approach to design and what made it so unique.

Joy Burgess is a lecturer in landscape studies at the University of Liverpool where she is currently carrying out her PhD in collaboration with Historic England. Her PhD looks to tell the histories of female landscape architects in post-war Britain. Joy also works on the editorial team for the Women’s History Network Journal and has recently been a research assistant alongside Professor Luca Csepely-Knorr on the AHRC projects – IFLA 75: Uncovering hidden histories in Landscape Architecture and Women of the Welfare Landscape.

Saturdays, February 1 – February 22, 10:00 am – 11:30 am Eastern – Native Plants for Every Corner of the Garden, Online

This sequence of Berkshire Botanical Garden online classes, taught by Duncan Himmelman on Zoom, is suited to gardeners of all levels, from novice to experienced. Sign up for individual classes or the whole series which run Saturdays, February 1 to February 22, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Series topics include Native Vines, Native Groundcovers, Living Mulch, Native Bulbs, and Native Plants for Container Gardens.

Duncan Himmelman earned his doctorate at Cornell University and taught horticultural science at the college level for 24 years. He recently retired as the education manager at Mt. Cuba Center, a public garden in Delaware devoted to native plant advocacy. He continues to enjoy teaching, designing landscapes and promoting ecologically focused gardening practices. $50 for BBG members, $65 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org

Thursday, January 23, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern – Longest Blooming Perennials, Online

For a garden that stays colorful all season, long-blooming perennials are a great choice. These plants offer consistent flowers from early summer to the first frost, providing lasting beauty with minimal effort. They attract pollinators, add variety, and reduce the need for frequent replanting, making them a practical option for maintaining a vibrant garden throughout the growing season. This Chicago Botanic Garden class on January 23 will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance.

Jacob Burns, curator, plant collections, Chicago Botanic Garden, is the instructor. $32 for CBG members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at www.chicagobotanic.org

Wednesday, January 29, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern – Unraveling Botanical Names, Online

Scientific names offer precision and accuracy when identifying plants, but they can also intimidate even the most seasoned gardener. Mt. Cuba’s conservation scientist, Élan Alford, PhD, breaks down the various components in a Latin binomial, including why plants are named in this way and what a Latin name can teach us about a plant. This introductory course leaves you well prepared for any magazine article, nursery catalog, or class with a strong Latin component.

Élan Alford, Plant Conservation Scientist at Mt. Cuba Center, earned a B.S. in Ecology & Evolution at the University of Pittsburgh and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Ecology at Colorado State University. Élan initially worked in ecological consulting where she conducted rare plant, habitat, and wetland surveys. With survey knowledge she aided clients to achieve their projects in a regulatory-compliant manner. After seeing many remarkable sites during her private-sector career, Élan transitioned from finding practical and responsible environmental solutions in development to a conservation-centered approach. Now Elan focuses on using survey and data to tell native plant stories.

This Mt. Cuba Center program takes place online on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. $25. Register at https://mtcubacenter.org/event/unraveling-botanical-names-online/

Tuesday, January 21, 7:00 pm Eastern – Teaching Science Standards with Native Plants, Online

Calling all educators, caregivers and camps. For your New Years Resolution, resolve to incorporate a free curriculum and native plants into your academic plans with this Grow Native Mass webinar on January 21.

Join educator and nursery owner Jocelyn Demuth to explore her new science curriculum Five Hundred Yard Field Trip. Developed with grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, these curricula include ready made lessons, activities, and reading practice designed to help students create a habitat using native plants and learn about the ecosystem created. The units are leveled by age group, comprised of modules that can be used as stand-alone lessons, and reference grade level science standards for MA and other states. All lessons are free to download and instructors can take advantage of grant funds to obtain free native plants to use in their projects.

This is a great opportunity for teachers, parents, and caregivers to learn more about this great resource, and ask questions of its creator!

To register, head to grownativemass.org/our-programs/calendar

Jocelyn Demuth is an award winning English and Latin teacher who has been providing professional development to teachers for the past 25 years. Now she runs the Native plant nursery, Checkerspot Farm in Colrain Massachusetts and her educational focus has shifted to environmental education.

Saturday, January 25, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Make a Terrarium Garden

Terrariums are fun way to learn about indoor gardening and easy to maintain. During this Sweetbay Flowers and Gifts class on January 25 at 2 pm you’ll choose easy to care for mini plants to design your own little plant eco-system. You’ll also learn how to properly take care of your new container garden. We’ll be getting our hands dirty so dress appropriately.

Cost per student ($65) includes instruction and all materials. Register at www.eventbrite.com. Sweetbay Flowers is located at 478 Main Street in Wakefield.

*Please note this class takes place on the second floor of our building and requires going up a flight of stairs. All ticket sales are final, but may be transferred to someone else after purchase.

Sunday, January 26, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Drop In) – Repot Your Own Houseplant at The Potting Bench

Drop in to Mahoney’s Garden Center, 449 Western Avenue in Boston on January 26 anytime between 10 AM – 2 PM and repot your own houseplant. They will have experts on hand to guide you on selecting the proper pot size to move into, as well as the proper potting soil. Make sure your plant is wrapped up to protect it from the cold! This is for plants currently in an 8” pot or smaller.

Soil is included with the $5 cost. You may register in advance HERE through Eventbrite.

REMINDER: Tropical plants are sensitive to the cold. When you bring your plant in for repotting, please be sure to protect your plant with a cover such as a paper or plastic bag, a box or a pillowcase.

Thursday, January 30, 7:00 pm – Penguin Adventures in the Falkland Islands

Join wildlife photographer Shawn Carey for a photographic journey through the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) on Thursday, January 30 for a close up look at the several species of penguins and tips for planning your own travels. Co-sponsored by the Watertown Free Public Library and by the Brookline Bird Club, the event takes place at 7 pm at the library, 123 Main Street in Watertown. For information call 617-972-6431.