January 8, 2017 - Boston Flora

Saturday, January 29, 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Open Top Terrarium

January 8, 2017 by Boston Flora

On Sunday, January 29 from 12:30 – 2:30 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, learn how to plant, and maintain, a miniature garden in a bowl. Plant an attractive 8″ open-topped glass container with a selection of decorative slow-growing plants, then design a landscape for your indoor garden. Choose from a selection of polished stones, river pebbles, sea glass, shells, lichen covered twigs and decorative mosses to create a living picture that will delight your eye all winter long. With a little water and occasional pruning, your open terrarium will give you many months of pleasure. Please be sure to bring a pair of floral scissors to class. All other materials included. THBG members $60, nonmembers $75.

Betsy Williams teaches, lectures and writes about living with herbs and flowers. A gardener and herb grower since 1972, Betsy trained as a florist in Boston and England. She combines her floral and gardening skills with an extensive knowledge of history, plant lore and seasonal celebrations. Betsy is the author of several books on the uses and stories of herbs and flowers. She has appeared on the Discovery Channel and greater Boston cable stations as well as local and national radio talk shows. Betsy lectures and teaches locally and nationally.

Tuesday, January 10, 7:30 pm – Unraveling the Evolutionary History of Caddisflies

January 8, 2017 by Boston Flora

Caddisflies are the 7th most diverse insect order in terms of species and the most diverse of the strictly aquatic insect orders. They are well-known amongst amateur and professional entomologists alike for their remarkable tube case and fixed retreat making behavior. Despite intense study over decades, the relationships among morphologically and behaviorally distinct suborders remains contentious. In this presentation, I will discuss the natural history of caddisflies in light of new results from large phylogenetic analyses.

The talk at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology by Paul Frandsen of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 is free and open to the public. The meeting is readily accessible via public transportation. Parking is available in the Oxford Street Garage with advance arrangement, as described here, or (usually but not always) at spaces on nearby streets. Everyone is also welcome to join us for dinner before the talk (beginning at 5:45 PM) at the Changsho, 1712 Mass Ave, Cambridge.

CEC meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from October through May. The evening schedule typically includes an informal dinner (5:45 to 7:15 PM) followed by our formal meeting (7:30 – 9:00 PM). The latter begins with club business and is followed by a 50 minute entomology related presentation. Membership is open to amateur and professional entomologists. Image from www.britannica.com.