Daily Archives: October 28, 2010

Thursday, November 18, 6:00 pm – Thoreau as Climatologist: Tracking 160 Years of Climate Change

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Over 160 years ago, Henry David Thoreau initiated a study of flowering times at Walden Pond. Today, a research team including, Charles Davis, Assistant Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Curator in the Harvard Herbarium (below,)  has updated Thoreau’s records with current data and integrated them with modern evolutionary biology to reveal how climate change and earlier flowering times have affected Walden’s plants. Those that have greatly declined include many charismatic native wildflower species, while those that have thrived include many nonnative and invasive species. Davis will explore how an integration of historical records combined and cutting edge science can help us potentially mitigate the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. This program, taking place Thursday, November 18 at 6 pm, is free and open to the public, at the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street. Part of the Asa Gray Bicentennial series. For more information, log on to www.hmnh.harvard.edu.

Saturday, November 13, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Hardwood and Evergreen Propagation

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Join Adam Wheeler, woody plant propagation specialist of Broken Arrow Nursery for a workshop focusing on hardwood and evergreen propagation, on Saturday, November 13, from 10 am – 12 noon at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. This workshop will cover collecting, preparing and propagating evergreens and other woody plants by cuttings. Set at the best time of the year for collecting, participants will learn techniques needed for insuring successful rooting. Cultivation requirements, timing and care of easily propagated varieties will also be covered. Take home a selection of “cool” plant material in a simple propagator.

Adam Wheeler is the Propagation and New Plant Development Manager for Broken Arrow Nursery located in Hamden, Ct. a specialty nursery with a focus on woody plants, especially kalmias. He teaches wood plant propagation workshops throughout New England. $40 BBG members, $45 non-members. Log on to www.berkshirebotanical.org, or call 413-298-3926.