Daily Archives: September 8, 2014

Tuesday, September 23, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Organic Lawns at the Rose Kennedy Greenway

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The Rose Kennedy Greenway is the mile-long ribbon of green that replaced Boston’s elevated Central Artery when Route 93 was moved underground as part of the Big Dig.

This is Boston’s only organically maintained Public Park and one of a handful of organically maintained urban parks in the United States. Children and pets can play freely and safely on our lawns without the worry of chemicals or pesticides, because the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy manages the parks organically. “Our plants are healthier, more resilient, and better able to withstand the wear of public use.” The Conservancy’s practice of not using herbicides and toxins also ensures that run-off from the parks will not pollute Boston Harbor or harm the delicate marine life.

Organic turf and weed management practices include carefully planned mowing height to deter weed development, alternating mowing patterns to avoid compaction, and the regular practice of maintaining mowing equipment to ensure blade sharpness which properly cuts turf resulting in less stress and less opportunity for disease issues. The Conservancy uses alternative means of weed control including flaming, hand removal, and products that use clove oil or citric acid. These methods utilize heat and naturally occurring compounds to disrupt plant cell activity in weeds. Annual spring and fall lawn care applications include aeration of lawns to alleviate compaction with the addition of compost top dressing and humates and over seeding to promote dense turf development. We apply organic fertilizer 4 times a year: Spring, summer, early fall and mid-fall.

Join Ecological Landcape Alliance tour guides Conservancy Superintendent of Horticulture, Stuart Shillaber and Horticulture Foreman, Anthony Ruggiero for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Greenway focused on the organic lawn care program.

Anthony Ruggiero, is the Horticulture Foreman at the Conservancy and is responsible for the direct oversight of the Horticulture crew and the day to day horticulture activities on the Greenway. Anthony also manages the Organic Program and the Irrigation System of the Greenway. His previous experience includes working in all aspects of the Green industry specializing in Sustainable and Organic Landcare. Tickets are $20 for ELA members, $25 for nonmembers. Call 617-436-5838 or visit the website below.
– See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/organic-lawns-at-the-rose-kennedy-greenway/#sthash.trlIsEr2.dpuf.

Monday, September 22, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Urban Greening for Urban Birds

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What are the needs of an urban bird? What can be done to increase the diversity of avian and other species living in the city? The highly managed nature of a city landscape provides biologists with some unique opportunities to understand both the role of humans in altering patterns of biological diversity and the role of behavior in limiting animal distributions. Join the Arnold Arboretum on Monday, September 22, from 7 – 8:30 in the Hunnewell Building for a lecture by Dr. Paige Warren, Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. A guiding principle for Paige Warren’s research is that the typical indices of urbanization, such as human population density, describe only a portion of the habitat structure that is important for wildlife. Paige Warren has recently analyzed 150 years of documented changes in the bird communities of Cambridge and examined a variety of Boston’s green spaces to determine ways to improve and increase habitat for year-round as well as migratory birds and other city-dwelling animals. She will speak about her research, done locally and around the country, to understand processes generating and maintaining biological diversity in a world that is becoming increasingly dominated by humans. Fee $5 Arboretum member, $10 nonmember. Register on line at https://my.arboretum.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?EventID=1.

Saturday, September 20, 11:30 am – 3:00 pm – The Ferns of Horn Pond Mountain

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Ferns have been around for more than 300 million years, and in that time the diversification of their form has been phenomenal. Join Don Lubin and the New England Wild Flower Society on Saturday, September 20 at 11:30 am as Don investigates the ferns of Horn Pond Reservation in Woburn, MA. Horn Pond is crossed by rocks such as diorite and gabbro, making it a great home for ferns that prefer a “sweeter” habitat. We hope to see two Asplenium species, two Woodsias, and a Selaginella, as well as numerous more common ferns. Expect some climbing and off-trail hiking. Bring a hand lens if you have one, and any fern fronds you would like Don to identify. $33 for NEWFS members, $40 for nonmembers.  Register at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/ferns-of-horn-pond-mountain.