Daily Archives: February 25, 2014

Wednesday, March 12, 6:00 pm – Evolutionary Forces in Humans and Pathogens

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Have you been watching Helix on the SciFi Channel? This Evolution Matters Lecture on Wednesday, March 12, beginning at 6 pm, will appeal to you. The genome revolution has created unprecedented opportunities to study human biology, evolution, and infectious diseases. Geneticist Pardis Sabeti, Associate Professor, Center for Systems Biology at Harvard University, and a member of the Department of Immunology and Infection Diseases at Harvard School of Public Health, will discuss the rapidly emerging techniques and resources her lab is applying to advance our understanding of natural selection in the human genome and the genomic evolution of microbial pathogens such as Lassa virus, Ebola virus, Plasmodium falciparum malaria, and Vibrio cholerae.

The Evolution Matters Lecture Series is supported by a generous gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit.  Free and open to the public. The talk will be held at the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street. Free event parking in the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

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Wednesday, March 5, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Best New Plant Varieties for 2014

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If you enjoy the White Flower Farm mail order catalog, then this Evening Garden Club of West Roxbury presentation on Wednesday, March 5, beginning at 7 pm, is a “must.” The presenter will be Barbara Pierson, WFF nursery manager for 15+ years. Barb is a graduate of Cornell’s School of Horticulture and has appeared on radio, TV and in The New York Times. She is responsible for trialing all of the plants that White Flower Farm sells — which makes for some extraordinary photographs and great insights into what to buy (and what to avoid) for 2014, as well as plants being trialed for 2015 release. In early 2013 Barb gave this presentation to a packed house at Tower Hill Botanic Garden. Her presentation to our club will be her ONLY appearance in MA this year – don’t miss it!  Location: Elks Lodge, 1 Morrell St., West Roxbury, MA. Cost: $10 at the door (one lucky attendee will win a $50 White Flower Farm gift card).  For more information please visit http://gcfm.org/eveninggcwestroxbury/Home.aspx

 

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Monday, March 3, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – The Swan Boats

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The Swan Boats are some of the most historic figures in the Boston Public Garden, but do you ever wonder where they came from? Lyn Paget is the fourth generation of Swan Boat operators, dating back to 1877. Originally started by Lyn’s great grandfather, Robert Paget, and preserved by her great grandmother, Julia Paget, the Public Garden’s Swan Boats are enduring and iconic symbols of Boston.

Initially starting out with one row boat, the Paget family adopted a number of paddle boats and christened them with the now iconic Swan imagery. Inspired by “Lohengrin”, an opera based on the medieval German story in which the protagonist traverses on a boat that is pulled by a swan, the Swan Boats are an important part of the Public Garden’s history.

While the Swan Boats may not be in operation until April, the opportunity to learn more about them is coming up. On March 3rd, the Connolly branch of the Boston Public Library will be hosting a talk given by Lyn Paget on the Swan Boats. This will be a great chance to learn about the Swan Boat’s history, the Paget family’s traditions, and practices behind a quintessential Boston activity that has been enjoyed by Bostonians and visitors alike for over 136 years.

This lecture is free of charge on March 3rd at 6:30 to 7:30 at the Connolly Branch of the Boston Public Library, located at 422 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain. This event is recommended for young adults, college students, adults and seniors and is sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.

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