Boston Flora

  • Tuesday, October 27, 2:30 pm Eastern – The Royal Parks: Gardening for People and Planet, Online

    London Parks & Gardens is delighted to announce that tickets are now on sale for its 2026/27 Winter Lecture Series. Running for over 20 years from October to February, the series is one of the most exciting fixtures in the calendar.

    The first lecture takes place on Tuesday, October 27, with Matthew Pottage, Head of Horticulture at The Royal Parks and late of RHS Wisley, speaking on The Royal Parks: Gardening for People and Planet. The changing climate isn’t kind to gardeners. As soon as you’ve mastered one weather extreme, along comes another. So how will we keep our parks, horticultural areas and green spaces flourishing in this changing world? And how do we do our part by doing it sustainably?

    £5 – £10. Register on Eventbrite UK HERE

  • Registration Open for Tuesday, December 8 – Picture Frame Door Wreath Workshops

    Have you been to a Sterling Garden Club holiday craft program at the Conant Public Library in Sterling? This year the Club will be making Picture Frame Door Wreaths similar to the one pictured below. They’ll have two sessions on Tuesday December 8th, an afternoon and an evening program.

    Sign up is ONLY THROUGH THE LIBRARY, either online, calling or in person. Registration for this begins Tuesday October 13th at 9am. Slots fill up fast so mark your calendar to register. https://sterlinglibrary.org/


    Please note that Sterling residents will get first priority and will open up to non residents after a week. Make sure to get on that waiting list.

  • Wednesday, October 21, 7:00 pm Eastern – Bats in the Backyard, Online

    Bats are among the most important—and misunderstood—wildlife in our communities. They’re also part of the intricate food webs that connect native plants, insects, water, and healthy landscapes. But supporting bats at home involves more than simply installing a bat house.

    Presented in partnership with Bat Conservation International, this free Wild Ones webinar features Brandi Christiano, PhD, and Megan White as they explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape choices can help support North America’s night flyers. Learn what bats need for food, water, shelter, and movement through our landscapes—and practical steps you can take to make your outdoor space more bat-friendly.

    This October 21 online session will cover:
    The important ecological roles bats play in North American ecosystems.
    What bats need for food, water, shelter, and movement.
    How native plants support moths and other insects that provide food for bats.
    Ways to create safer places for bats to drink, forage, and travel.
    Practical habitat improvements—and common hazards to avoid—in outdoor spaces of all sizes.

    Register at https://wildones.org/bats-in-the-backyard/

  • Saturday, October 17, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Invasive Plant Management with Green Abundance by Design

    If you struggle with invasive plants on your home or personal property, be sure to JOIN US for our next Community Workshop on “Invasive Plant Management,” led by Framingham-based company Green Abundance by Design.

    With 13 years of experience in ecological landscape design, land restoration, lawn care, and invasive plant management, Green Abundance by Design will guide us through this critical environmental topic and answer all your questions about ridding your invasives while caring for and enriching your lawn and soil!

    Class size is limited, so register today for this FREE public workshop at https://www.millcitygrows.org/

  • Friday, October 16, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – A Special Evening with Kate Brown

    Join East End House and Kate Brown on Friday, October 16 to explore how gardens can boost health, connect neighbors, and create stronger communities together.

    Discover how small green spaces can make a big difference—for our health, our neighborhoods, and our planet. Join author and gardener Kate Brown for a book talk and community conversation about the power of gardens to build stronger, more connected communities.

    The event takes place at First Street Market, 59 First Street in Cambridge. Register through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-special-evening-with-kate-brown-tickeets-2001641895793

    For more information call 617-876-4444.

  • Friday, October 23, 11:00 am – 12:00 noon Eastern – Ecologies of Memory: Landscapes as Story Networks, Online

    In the context of a changing climate, clarified social and political tensions, and rapid urban development, an understanding of ecologies of memory can offer creative departures for contemporary design practice. The Ecologies of Memory framework explores stakeholders’ individual and collective stories of place to inform dynamic landscape design. Sara Zewde will share recent design work of Studio Zewde across a range of United States geographies using this framework. This American Horticultural Society webinar will take place October 23 at 11 am Eastern, and is $15 for AHS members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/ahs-live-ecologies-of-memory-landscapes-as-story-networks/

    Sara Zewde is founding principal of Studio Zewde, a design firm practicing landscape architecture, urbanism, and public art. Named to TIME Magazine’s TIME100 Next, Architectural Digest’s AD100, and a United States Artists Fellow, her work is celebrated for design methods that sync culture, ecology, and craft. In parallel with practice, Sara serves as Associate Professor of Practice at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. She holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from Harvard GSD, a Master of City Planning from MIT, and a BA in Sociology and Statistics from Boston University. She is also currently writing a book on Frederick Law Olmsted’s travels through the Slave South, to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2027.

  • Saturday, October 24, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Fall-oween on the Farm

    Celebrate the season with a full day of autumn fun at Fall-oween at Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary in Lincoln on October 24 from 9 – 5. Check in when you arrive. Preregistration is not required.

    Wander through vibrant fall foliage and take a once-a-year festive hayride through the fields. Visit the Creepy Critter Mansion for an up-close look at snakes, insects, and other crawlers, and don’t miss the return of the ever-popular Hay Play area—perfect for climbing, jumping, and rolling around.

    Stations around the farm feature crafts, games, facepainting, and storytelling sessions with the one-and-only Drumlin Witch. Meet one of our iconic owl wildlife ambassadors, then stick around to dance to the Harmony Highway Band as they fill the farm with lively tunes. Enjoy food options from local food truck vendors as well as cider, doughnuts and other classic fall treats. Come dressed in your favorite costume for a special free farm prize!

    Each activity runs in several time blocks throughout the day, so come when you can and stay as long as you’d like.

    *Note: Special event pricing for Fall-oween on the Farm will apply to all visitors, including Mass Audubon members and Lincoln residents. No library passes are accepted for this date. Your admissions fee contributes to supporting our work. Thank you! Adult members $10, nonmembers $15. Child members $8, nonmembers $12. For more information visit https://www.massaudubon.org/programs/drumlin-farm/103948-fall-oween-on-the-farm

  • Tuesdays, November 6 – December 17, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Paleobotany: The Origin of Plants, Online

    Paleobotany, the study of plant evolution through fossil evidence, gives us insights into Earth’s flora, past and present. Gain a historical perspective on global diversity and climate change, and the origin and development of present-day trees and flowering plants. This online New York Botanic Garden continuing education series will be held Tuesdays, November 6 – December 17, from 6 – 8 Eastern. Instructor Jamie Boyer, Ph.D., is the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Vice President for Children’s Education at The New York Botanical Garden. He holds a Masters in Paleobotany from Illinois University-Carbondale, and a Doctorate in Plant Biology from SUNY-Binghamton. NYBG members $330, nonmembers $367. For information, including prerequisite class options, visit www.nybg.org

  • Saturday, October 17, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Sip Local: Cider & Brewery Tour

    Go beyond the bottle with a private excursion to the Ragged Hill Cider Company, a leader in sustainable orchard management. Step behind closed doors for a rare, inside look at the cider production facility which is usually not open to the public, where renowned cider expert Steve Garwood will lead an intimate discussion on heritage apple varieties and the delicate science of fermentation. Apply your new horticultural and scientific knowledge to a curated heirloom apple and cider tasting, then take home your favorites with an exclusive 10% discount.

    This New England Botanic Garden tour on October 17 begins with a check in at 9:45 at New England Botanic Garden, where you will meet your host and driver. The scenic drive to Oakham will take you to Ragged Hill just in time for opening, a picnic lunch, and curated cider and heirloom apple tasting. You will return to NEBG by 2 pm.

    Optional box lunches can be ordered can be from Farmer & The Fork. They will delivered by NEBG staff on the tour (no need to pick them up). We will reach out to all participants with more lunch details and options. Box lunch costs are not included. You are welcome to bring your own lunch. Register HERE. $78 for NEBG members, $90 for nonmembers (adults).

  • Wednesday, October 14, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Eastern – Foundations of a Four-Season Garden, Online

    Are you hungry for practical tips about how to plan a garden that prioritizes biodiversity while being tailored to your goals and space? Much like people, plants have individual personalities that reveal themselves when they share a common space. Participants in this Native Plant Trust online class on October 14 at 5:30 will explore how to create varied, beautiful native plant landscapes that benefit wildlife all year long. We will focus particularly on how to create sustainable, compelling landscapes while keeping in mind the unique growing habits of individual plants. A recording of this class will be available for 30 days after the class date. Marie Chieppo is the instructor. $25. Register at https://nativeplanttrust.org/class/foundations-of-a-four-season-garden/