Boston Flora

Month: December 2012

  • Sunday, December 30, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Party Plants

    Once a month, the Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Gardens host a free program for families to discover, through art, culture and science, just how fantastic plants can be. Drop in any time between 1 – 4.  Just think of all the holidays that wouldn’t be the same without some special plant!  On Sunday, December 30, the Friends will take a trip around the world and the calendar to see what plants are important in the celebrations of many cultures.  For directions, or more information, visit www.wellesley.edu/wcbgfriends, or call 781-283-3094.

  • Wreath of the Day – Statement in Plaid

    Wreath of the Day – Statement in Plaid

    This beautiful plaid ribbon was a favorite of our designers this year, but sadly was in short supply.  We wish we could guarantee our customers the ribbons they see on this website from year to year, but our suppliers carry different product each season:

  • Tuesday, December 11, 7:30 pm – Exploring Insect Biodiversity in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

    The next meeting of the Cambridge Entomological Club will be held on Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30 PM in room 101 of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Oxford Street, Cambridge. Gary Alpert and Piotr Naskrecki will present a talk entitled Exploring Insect Biodiversity in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.

    Gary Alpert and Piotr Naskrecki will present a photo essay of a recent field expedition to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for the purpose of collecting ants and katydids. We will hear about field trips by helicopter, protection by armed national park guards and other adventures.

    The meeting is free and open to the public. Snacks will be provided and you are also welcome to join us at 6:00 PM for an informal pre-meeting dinner at Cambridge Commons restaurant.

  • Wreath of the Day – Historic Newburyport

    Wreath of the Day – Historic Newburyport

    Not all of our wreaths stay in the Back Bay.  This country style wreath will be featured on a door in historic downtown Newburyport.  The checked ribbon isn’t entirely traditional, but worked beautifully with natural branches and cones.  Note the use of additional greens supplementing the balsam, adding depth to the design:

  • Give a Gift on the Wild Side!

    We have received the following from our friends at the MassWildlife  District Office which may be of interest to holiday shoppers out there:

    Now is the time to consider a wildlife-related gift for the outdoor or wildlife enthusiast on your holiday list! The following suggestions from the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) are suitable gifts to consider for all ages.

    A 2-year subscription to Massachusetts Wildlife magazine ($10) delivers eight full-color issues of the Commonwealth’s best wildlife publication. For the budding conservationist, try a copy of the Critters of Massachusetts book ($5). Critters is a great gift for the curious youngster or the beginning adult naturalist with an interest in backyard wildlife and beyond. For the more advanced naturalist, the Field Guide to Dragonflies and Damselflies ($20) or A Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools ($12) might be just the ticket. In-depth descriptions and detailed photographs help the reader identify and learn more about these creatures. For the budding herpetologist, there are a couple of options: The Field Guide to the Reptiles of Massachusetts features information on breeding, feeding habits, range, habitat, and conservation issues. This unique issue of the Massachusetts Wildlife Magazine is $3 per copy and also offers spectacular color photos of the various species, including color and pattern morphs of those species with variations and a list of key features that allows you to identify any native snake or turtle (except sea turtles) found in the Bay State. The turtle enthusiast in your life may also enjoy the Introduction to the Threatened Turtles of Massachusetts ($5), a video available from the DFW’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program. Go to www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/publications/publications_home.htm or call the West Boylston Field Headquarters at (508) 389-6300 for further purchase information.

    The sportsman or sportswoman in your life will appreciate a 2013 hunting, fishing, or sporting (combination) license and any stamps they will need. Remember that freshwater fishing licenses for minors ages 15-17 years of age are free! (Minors under 15 do not need a license to fish.) Beginning December 1, 2012, 2013 licenses are available for sale online or through license vendors throughout the state. License purchases support the DFW’s fish and wildlife conservation, management, and habitat protection programs in Massachusetts.

    Give them the gift of the outdoors! Purchase a gift certificate for one of the 2013 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, workshops. Workshops on skills such as animal tracking, shooting, fishing, kayaking, and photography are designed for adults and families new to that particular skill. The 2013 schedule of workshops will be posted in January.A terrific outdoor experience for teen girls and boys is the Junior Conservation Camp, a two-week overnight camp session packed with outdoor skills learning such as shooting, fishing, canoeing, and camping and field trips with biologists. The camp is located in Chesterfield and will be held in August. Go to http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/education/jr_conservation_camp.htm.

    For the person who has everything, make a donation in his or her name to support one of the following two funds. Wildlife habitat protection can supported by donating to the Wildlands Fund, a fund dedicated to acquiring important wildlife habitat open to wildlife-related recreation. Send the honoree’s name with a check made out to “Comm. of MA – DFW Wildlands Fund” and send it to: DFW Wildlands Fund, DFW Field HQ, 100 Hartwell Street, Suite 230, West Boylston, MA 01583. The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund supports efforts to protect rare and endangered wildlife. A donation in the form of a check made out to “Comm. of MA – NHESP” can also be sent to the DFW Field HQ in West Boylston.

  • Wreath of the Day

    Wreath of the Day

    It’s that time of year again, when we showcase one of The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s holiday wreaths from the 2012 season each day through the New Year.  We are so pleased with this year’s project outcomes, both financially and artistically.  Each day we’ll share a bit of the information and stories from wreath week, and today we’ll start with a wreath designed for a new customer, a real estate agency in the South End.  The managers wanted a pair of wreaths for the front windows on Tremont Street, something to bring attention to their storefront.  One of the pair is shown below.  Note the use of feathers:

  • Thursday, December 13, 6:00 pm – History of The Commonwealth Avenue Mall

    Garden Club of the Back Bay past President Margaret Pokorny will speak on the History of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Thursday, December 13, beginning at 6 pm at the Boston Public Library main branch, Boylston Street, Boston.  The illustrated lecture is based on Margaret’s research during her years of graduate study, and most practically on her work as Chair of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee (CAMC). Margaret explains the role of the committee in this way: “CAMC does all of the tree care: planting, pruning, and disease control. There are 600 trees on the Mall of about six different species of major shade trees. In the 1960’s when over half the trees on the Mall were lost to Dutch Elm Disease a memorial tree program to replant was begun by Stella Trafford, a founding member of the Garden Club. Over 200 new trees have been sponsored by neighbors and we are almost at the point of having a waiting list for new trees. There are five sponsorship opportunities($3,000) for this coming spring. For many years CAMC has conducted a Dutch Elm Disease program that injects the most vulnerable trees each year. This program on the Mall alone costs about $30,000 per year, but has resulted in the saving of many of the big old trees. As an auxiliary to this program, this year we did a specialized structural pruning program on all the remaining elms both for their health and for the safety of park users. This was in addition to our regular yearly pruning of other species for thinning, shaping, removal of dead wood, and crown reduction. This ongoing work has resulted in less tree damage due to storms than any other downtown park.”  The public is invited to this free program. Photo below shows the Mall in progress in 1872.

  • Saturday, December 15, 7:00 am – Christmas Bird Count

    Join this “Citizen Science” project, the longest continuously running bird data in the area. Contact Dave Small for additional information and to participate in this nationwide annual event: 978-413-1772 or dave@dhsmall.net. Note: team leaders and participants will meet this year at the Millers River Environmental Center 100 main Street Athol (Cinnamon’s is closed and not available) We will meet between 6:00 and 7:00 and plan to hit the field by 7:00 am. We’ll have coffee available and we are looking for a few volunteers to make a breakfast dish to share. Please let me know if you have a good dish you can provide we can pick up the day before and heat up that morning at the Center.

  • Sunday, December 9, 5:00 pm – Kindling of the Boston Menorah at Copley Square

    Come to Copley Square on Sunday, December 9 at 5 pm for the kindling of the Boston Menorah, sponsored by Boston Chabad.  For more information visit www.BostonChabad.org, or call 617-383-7022.

  • Saturday, December 8, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, and Sunday, December 9, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – New Bedford Preservation Society’s Holiday House Tour

    To herald the holiday season, residents of New Bedford’s historic neighborhoods will once again be opening their beautifully restored homes for the New Bedford Preservation Society’s signature fundraising event – the 21st Annual Holiday House Tour. The elegant parlors of the magnificent Rotch-Jones-Duff House will be featured along with several historic residences that have never before been open for the tour, all beautifully decorated for the holidays. An unlimited array of design ideas abound in the varied architecture and interiors which are as diverse as the owners. Advance tickets: $19; $17 Society Members.  At the door, ALL tickets: $23

    • Start at the Wamsutta Club, 427 County Street, New Bedford
    • Pre-tour brunch ($17) on Sunday from 11am-1pm (reservations recommended but not required, call 508.997.7431)
    • Holiday Raffle will be held at the club during tour hours
    • Spot the Peppermint Pig Scavenger Hunt