Daily Archives: February 12, 2011

Wednesday, March 16 – Thursday, March 17 – Conservation in a New Nation Workshop

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This two-day intensive workshop helps conservationists strengthen the practice of conservation by ensuring future innovation and responsiveness to present-day challenges. It is a chance to talk openly and safely about how to diversify in order to maintain competitive edge and leadership and how to collaborate with facets of the larger community, thereby broadening bases of support, developing meaningful new relationships and engaging more public citizens on the issues. Today, 40% of all Americans under the age of 16 are people of color. These changes within our nation are to be celebrated because they bring new ideas and vigor and because people of color have traditionally been strong supporters of conservation. But, today, conservation and environmentalism includes far fewer people of color. How can conservation groups adapt? What needs to evolve within conservation so that more people of color see themselves within the story of conservation? This workshop will explore all of these themes and spend time on specific tools and skills needed to implement change. The faculty will include Peter Forbes, founder of the Center for Whole Communities, and Mohamed Chakaki, who holds a Masters of Environmental Management with a focus on Urban Ecology and Environmental Design from the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. The workshop, to be held March 16 and 17 at the Essex Conference Center in Essex, Massachusetts, is sponsored by the Center for Whole Communities, and you may register on line ($525 tuition, $105 room and board optional) at www.wholecommunities.org.  Feel free to call Lauren Oleet, Program Manager, at 802-496-5690 with any questions, or email her at Lauren@wholecommunities.org.

Friday, March 4 – Sunday, March 6 – Needham’s Art in Bloom 2011

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Beth Shalom Garden Club and the Needham High School Fine Arts Department proudly announce Needham’s Art in Bloom 2011, which will be held during the weekend of March 4 – 6 at multiple locations in Needham, Massachusetts. Beth Shalom Garden Club co-chair Sue Kaplan said “It really appeals to everyone – art lovers, flower lovers, seniors, students, couples, families with young children…everyone!” This free, multi-generational exhibit will feature mixed media student artwork accompanied by floral interpretations designed by members of the Beth Shalom Garden Club. This year’s event has been generously sponsored by Roche Bros.

Needham’s Art in Bloom was modeled after the annual springtime exhibit Art in Bloom presented by the Museum of Fine Arts, in Boston. Beth Shalom Garden Club’s goal was to organize a community event that would engage people of all ages, interests, and life experiences. In June 2010, the Garden Club Federation of MA, Inc. awarded the state’s SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to Beth Shalom Garden Club for it’s successful creation and execution of Needham’s Art in Bloom. The exhibit, now in it’s third year has become a well-received annual event. Last year, over a thousand people filled the Needham Public Library during the weekend long exhibit.

This year there will be special Tercentennial component of Needham’s Art in Bloom in celebration of town’s 300th birthday. Floral interpretations of notable Needham artists W.C. Wyeth and Giovanni Costano as well as notable Needham authors will be on display in the Bosworth and Wyeth rooms at the library. The Needham Exchange Club and Parametric Technology Corporation (PTC) have generously funded this special exhibit.

The weekend’s schedule is as follows: On Friday, March 4th from 12-4, a few pieces of the exhibit will be on display in the Needham High School lobby and also at the Needham Senior Center providing a taste of what’s to come. On Saturday, March 5th from 9:00am to 5:00pm and on Sunday, March 6th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm the complete exhibit will be on display throughout the Needham Public Library.

If further information is needed  please contact either co-chair:

Sue Kaplan, Beth Shalom Co-Chair      Allison Shapiro, Beth Shalom Co-Chair
SueKflowers@yahoo.com LATDShapiro@rcn.com
Phone: 781-444-6085                               Phone: 781-453-9880

Saturday, February 12 – Sunday, February 27 – Oh, Orchids!

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Escape winter and surround yourself with warm, lush, color at Oh, Orchids!, Mahoney’s First Annual Orchid and Houseplant Festival. Join us Saturday, February 12 through Sunday February 27 at 3 Mahoney’s locations: Winchester, Brighton and East Falmouth.

“Oh, Orchids” features original exhibits of orchids and flowering houseplants – providing inspiration on the many ways you can creatively use orchids in your home or office. Plus walk through tables of gorgeous orchids – including the heart shaped Phalaenopsis just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Also come see the all-new “Double Blue Mystique” – the first blue orchid – shown below. Blue Mystique is not painted, sprayed or hybridized, but gets its color through a patented process that induces the blue color in flowers. “The future flowers that are on the stem will be blue as well,” says Farid Khalil, Mahoney’s Greenhouse Product Manager. “It’s a closely held patented process. We don’t know how they do it, but it’s all the rave in Europe.”

In addition to numerous exciting houseplants the Festival will feature epiphytes or “air plants”. Air plants “grow” upon another plant or object, using the host only for mechanical support, not for nourishment. Air plants get nutrients from the air, falling rain, and the compost that lies on tree branches. They can be used in terrariums, grouped in an attractive dish, or in a hanging glass orb. Air plants prefer bright, filtered light and only need to be misted to keep them happy. Air plants have a wide range of colors, sizes and textures to choose from. They will even bloom!  For hours and directions, log on to www.mahoneysgarden.com.