Daily Archives: March 18, 2014

Wednesday, April 2, 7:00 pm – American Oaks: A Genus to Love

March 18, 2014 by Boston Flora

American Oaks are diverse, display complex ecological relationships, and play an important role in ecosystem stability.Â Join Grow Native Massachusetts on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 pm at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway in Cambridge, to examine this wonderful genus, with an emphasis on the oaks of eastern North America.

Tim Boland, Director of the Polly Hill Arboretum in Martha’s Vineyard, will discuss their evolutionary history, importance to flora and fauna, and challenges in a rapidly changing climate. They also have a deep connection to humanity, and are revered for their resilience, age, and multiple uses. Admission is free.Â Image from www.forestertreeservice.com. For more information visit www.grownativemass.org.Â

Tuesdays, April 1 – June 3, 9:00 am – 11:30 am – Botanical Drawing

March 18, 2014 by Boston Flora

Taking your inspiration from the historical tradition of botanical illustration, learn to draw botanical specimens in a wide range of drawing media, including graphite, pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor pencil. In this 10 week, Cambridge Center for Adult Education class, you will look at the work of great botanical illustrators. You will explore composition and personal style as you execute carefully observed perceptual drawings. The instructor, Sean Dunstan-Halliday, will supply some plants, but you also will be asked to bring in specimens. The class includes excursions to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. The first class will take place Tuesday, April 1 at 42 Brattle Street in Cambridge. The tuition is $249, and you may sign up at www.ccae.org. Thank you Meg Muckenhoupt for the tip.

Saturday, March 22, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm – 2014 Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference

March 18, 2014 by Boston Flora

The 24th Annual Massachusetts Land Conservation Conference, Healthy Land – Healthy Communities, will take place Saturday, March 22, from 8 – 4 at the Worcester Technical High School. One Skyline Drive in Worcester. This annual, day-long training and networking event provides land trust board members and staff, parks administrators and advocates, colleagues from federal, state and local government agencies, students, and philanthropists an opportunity to participate in a full day of workshops and discussions that focus on fostering healthy communities in Massachusetts through land conservation. Join your colleagues in land conservation and acquire the information, skills, and connections you need to be most effective.

This year’s Keynote Speaker is Dr. Eric Chivian, Nobel Laureate, Founder of Harvard Medical School’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, Director of The Program for Preserving the Natural World, and heirloom apple farmer, pictured below.

Registration is $42 for MLTC members, $62 for non members, and $30 for students.Â Register online at http://www.massland.org/conference.