Daily Archives: September 14, 2009

Embedded in the New England landscape and filling the catalogues of our nurseries are many plants that have achieved a sort of “resident” status here. Some of them may be among the earliest plants introduced to America from distant parts of the world; others arrived here more recently. This program, to be held at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on Saturday, October 3, from 9 – 12,  combines an indoor slide presentation with an outdoor walkabout to observe some of these plants growing in the on the grounds of Tower Hill.

We will look at imports from a variety of habitats that were well suited for our conditions, including those that were altogether too well suited and now are designated “invasive species.” Whether you are a gardener tempted to try exotic plants, a geography buff who wants to learn more about the habitats of certain plants, or someone who is merely intrigued by the way in which plants can adapt to different environments, come join us for this brief sampling of international flora.

Instructor Dennis Collins is a plant taxonomist on the staff of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass. He has degrees in arboriculture and park management, urban forestry and landscape management, and biodiversity and taxonomy of plants. He has worked at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture in Amherst, Mass., and the University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, in Scotland, and has taught many courses on horticultural subjects at Mount Auburn and the Arnold Arboretum. Once, long ago, he led a group of intrepid Garden Club of the Back Bay members on a walking tour of Mt. Auburn, which is still talked about as a highlight of our many wonderful programs. To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org. The fee is $15 for Tower Hill members and $18 for non-members.