Boston Flora

Month: May 2010

  • Sunday, June 13, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – The Secret Gardens of Cambridge 10th Anniversary Tour

    The 10th Anniversary of the Secret Gardens of Cambridge, sponsored by the Friends of the Cambridge Public Library, will be held on Sunday, June 13th from 10AM to 4PM, rain or shine.

    This self-guided tour includes access to nineteen private gardens, special green spaces, and historic locations throughout the city. Tickets will cost $20 per person in advance and $25 per person on the day of the event.  The tour begins at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge.  For more information, call 617-349-4040, email esturges@cambridgema.gov, or log on to www.cambridgema.gov.

    http://centersandsquares.com/files/2009/04/spring-flwrs-on-Avon-Hill-Cambridge.jpg

  • Saturday, June 5, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Artist’s Reception, Flights of Discovery

    An Artist’s Reception for the exhibit Flights of Discovery: The Avian Art of Barry Van Dusen, will be held Saturday, June 5, from 6 – 7:30 at Wayside. The free event, open to the public, will include complimentary refreshments. Fruitlands Museum’s 2010 Artist-in-Residence Barry Van Dusen has developed his skill as a field artist and painter for over 30 years. Inspired by European nature artists, Barry is a confirmed advocate of outdoor sketching and painting.

    The oils, watercolors and prints shown at the Museum Wayside are arranged in categories—songbirds, shorebirds, birds of wetlands or grasslands feathered friends, “other nature” and New England landscapes—are for sale and range in price from $250 to $5000. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Fruitlands Museum.

    Van Dusen also has a display in the Ell Gallery at Fruitlands Farmhouse of his ornithological illustrations. Additionally, a presentation of his process of painting called “Nature Artist at Work”, field to studio to production, is shown.

    RSVP to lseeckts@fruitlands.org, or call 978-456-3924, ext. 292 for more information.  The exhibit will continue through November 15, 2010.

    http://www.fruitlands.org/images/auction/barry.jpg

  • Saturday, June 5, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Claremont Neighborhood Association Street Fair and Flea Market

    Neighbors and friends sell antiques, collectibles and furniture, with live music, food and family entertainment on Saturday, June 5, from 9 – 3, sponsored by the Claremont Neighborhood Association.  This 21st Annual Event, the oldest continuous street fair in the City of Boston,  is free, and takes place at the corner of Wellington Street and Columbus Avenue in the South End.  For more information, log on to www.cnaboston.org.

    http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files/images/blogs/36491.jpg

  • Sunday, June 6, 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Rain Gardens: Beautiful Water-Saving, Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

    Dori Smith, M.Ed., Gardens for Life, will present an illustrated lecture on Sunday, June 6, from 1 – 3 pm, at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, Massachusetts.  Would you like to help protect our precious water resources, while at the same time create a lush, beautiful garden that attracts birds and butterflies?  Rain gardens take advantage our our natural abundance of rainfall, rather than wasting it as runoff.  Rain gardens use water flowing from your roof, driveway, or lawn.  These gardens are easy care, and can often solve problems such as erosion, icy walkways, or wet basements.   Dori will review design options, construction details, and appropriate native plants.  The class will then take a walk around the Wildlife Pond to see some of the outstanding plants recommended for rain gardens.  Tower Hill members: $18, non-members, $20.  To register, or for more information, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.  Dori will be a featured speaker for The Garden Club of the Back Bay next April, but if you have limited weekday availability, this Tower Hill lecture is the session to attend.

    http://www.dscapes.com/images/12%20Beds%20during%20rain%20web.jpg

  • Friday, June 11 – Sunday, June 27 – GardenFest

    The Florence Griswold Museum, 96 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, Connecticut, has planned an exciting series of special events to take place in and around its historic gardens.  All events are free with Museum admission, unless noted.

    June 11, noon:   Garden Luncheon
    Third annual garden luncheon featuring Pauline Lord of White Gate Farm. Lord speaks about the importance of eating locally grown food for both health reasons and to support local agriculture.  $100, reservations required.

    June 11 and 12, 9am-3pm:  Plant Sale
    The Museum’s volunteers, the Garden Gang, host a plant sale. The heirloom perennials and unusual annuals range from $5 to $50. Proceeds benefit the Museum’s garden projects.

    June 13, 1-5pm:  Make-A-Painting Sunday
    Visitors can pick up all the painting supplies necessary to make their own masterpieces in garden or down by the river. No experience necessary. In addition to the painting activity, visitors of all ages can enjoy garden-related fun. Today you can also make a painting using flowers, leaves, and twigs as brushes.

    June 15,  11am: Demonstration by the Garden Gang in the Landscape Center on
    The World of Composting.

    June 16, 11am- 3pm:  Guy Wolff Demonstration and Flower Pot Sale
    Meet the man Martha Stewart hails as the maker of her favorite flower pots. Guy Wolff, the master potter from Litchfield, known for creating functional art based on historic designs, demonstrates how he makes his hand-thrown pots. A selection of Guy Wolff Pottery will also be available to purchase.

    http://www.wakefieldstudio.com/graphics/GW203-VW_lg.jpg

    June 17, 11am:  Demonstration by the Garden Gang in the Landscape Center of
    Flower Arranging.

    June 18 & 19, and June 25 & 26, 11am:  The Painted Garden, a Guided Tour in the Griswold House, and at 2pm, a walking tour of the gardens and grounds

    June 20, 1-5pm: Make-A-Painting Sunday.
    Visitors can pick up all the painting supplies necessary to make their own masterpieces in garden or down by the river. No experience necessary. In addition to the painting activity, visitors of all ages can enjoy garden-related fun. Today you can also make a T-Shirt for Father’s Day.

    June 22, 11am: Demonstration by the Garden Gang in the Landscape Center entitled Selecting and Caring for Roses.

    June 23, 11am:- Family Day Award-winning children’s author Page McBrier will read her book The Chicken and the Worm and teach kids how to make a worm farm for great garden composting.  Then, from 2pm – 4pm, kids learn to create a flower arrangement. Bring your own water-proof container.

    http://www.heifer.org/atf/cf/%7BE384D2DB-8638-47F3-A6DB-68BE45A16EDC%7D/Chicken%20and%20worm%20cover%20for%20web%20article.jpg

    June 24, 11am: Demonstration by the Garden Gang in the Landscape Center on
    Planting and Caring for Vegetable Gardens.

    June 27, 12pm – 4pm: Connecticut Historic Gardens Day, with expert tours of the gardens and refreshments.

    Museum admission is $9 Adults, $8 Seniors, $7 Students, children 12 and under free.  Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 – 5, and Sunday 1 – 5.  For more information call 860-434-5542, or log on to www.florencegriswoldmuseum.org.

  • Single Stream Recycling is Here

    As a public service, we reprint a recent notice received from The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. Two on-line sources for these bags are  www.amazon.com and www.staples.com.

    As many know, we now have single-stream recycling throughout Boston. This means you no longer have to separate paper and cardboard from cans and bottles. Instead, all recyclable materials can be mixed together in one container. Currently, that container is typically an open blue bin that allows loose materials to fly around on windy days.

    Beginning in July, for all buildings with less than seven units, all recyclables should be placed in clear plastic bags for pickup on recycling day. All bags should be tied. This should significantly reduce  loose papers flying around the alleys. And, for those opening bags looking for returnable bottles, the use of clear bags will allow these people to see if there are in fact any bottles with deposits before they tear the bag.

    For buildings with more than seven units, the law requires that the building provide residents with recycling programs using large 64-gallon carts. Many buildings currently use these for recycled materials.

    The clear plastic bags should be a heavy-duty, 30-gallon size and are available at Back Bay Hardware on Newbury Street and Charles Street Supply. They are also available at Foodies in the South End and from a variety of online sources.

    If you live in a building with less than seven units, please encourage your building to begin using clear plastic bags for all items to be recycled beginning in July. The result will be fewer rodents and less trash for Back Bay.

    — NABB City Services Committee

    http://s7d5.scene7.com/is/image/Staples/s0036019_sc7?$sku$

  • Sunday, June 6, 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm – Beacon Hill Art Walk

    Enjoy a walk through the gardens and passageways of the North Slope of Beacon Hill on Sunday, June 6, beginning at 6 pm.  The works of 100 artists will be featured on this 20th Anniversary tour.  Residents open up their private gardens, alleyways, and courtyards and allow artists to display and sell their artwork. It is a chance for visitors to tour free the private spaces of Beacon Hill while viewing original artwork, such as the pastel below by Catherine Meeks.  Thousands attend each year. It is a popular event in the neighborhood, with a festive atmosphere and volunteer musicians playing in various gardens throughout the day. Around 100 artists usually participate, with a variety of styles, media, and subject matter.There are two starting points for this free tour:  the first is at 135 1/2 Charles Street, and the second is the corner of Cambridge and West Cedar Streets.  For more information, log on to www.beaconhillartwalk.org.

    http://www.artisticsisters.com/catherine/images/art/LittlePamet2.jpg

  • Monday, June 21, 6:00 pm – Summer Solstice Stroll in Copley Square

    On Monday, June 21, beginning at 6 pm, join The Friends of Copley Square for the Summer Solstice Stroll in Copley Square, a guided tour of the landmarks of Copley Square.  Begin at Normandy Real Estate Partners’ Hancock Tower, then on to Trinity Church, the Boston Public Library, and Old South Church, concluding at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.  Learn the history of the Square, listen to music, taste refreshments along the way, enjoy the splendid landmark buildings and institutions, then complete the evening with a light supper.  The Summer Solstice Stroll benefits The Friends of Copley Square, Inc., a not for profit friends group which provides funding to assist the City with the maintenance and beautification of the Square.  Festive business attire.  $100 per person.  You may purchase tickets online at http://friendsofcopleysquare.org prior to the June 17 deadline, or send a check made out to The Friends of Copley Square to 234 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116.  You may contact the Stroll Committee by email at  SolsticeStroll@gmail.com.

  • Thursday, June 17, 7:30 pm – Birdology: From Hens to Hummingbirds – And One Big Living Dinosaur

    In her new book, Birdology, award-winning wildlife author Sy Montgomery explores questions such as: Do hawks show emotion, like anger, sympathy and frustration? Are birds actually living dinosaurs? Is there a secret emotional life to birds that we are only beginning to discover? Montgomery will explore these intriguing questions and others in this lecture and book signing on Thursday, June 17, at 7:30 pm at The Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street in Cambridge. Free with museum admission. For more information, log on to www.hmnh.harvard.edu, or call 617-495-3045.

    http://www.supercoolpets.com/pictures/birdology.jpg

  • Saturday, June 19, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Horn Pond Mountain in Flower

    The New England Wild Flower Society has another field trip scheduled for Saturday, June 19, between 10 – 2, this one to the Horn Pond Conservation Area in nearby Woburn, Massachusetts, led by Roland “Boot” Boutwell. Native Americans called Horn Pond “Lake Innitou,” which means “Looking Place of the Great Spirit.” The pond is over 100 acres in size and is nestled beneath Horn Pond Mountain, which “towers” 287 feet above sea level. Pond and mountain are set amidst 550 acres of open space filled with a rich diversity of plant life. According to Tom Sileo in his book, The Great Spirit of Horn Pond, “members of New England Wild Flower Society … have located over 600 species of plants on the mountain alone.” Many of these plants flower in late spring, making the Horn Pond area a delightful spot for field identification. The walk focuses on wildflower identification as well as interesting natural history and lore.    Bring a bag lunch, a copy of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide and a hand lens if you have them.  $32 for NEWFS members, $36 for nonmembers, and registration may be completed at www.newfs.org.