Boston Flora

Month: February 2017

  • Saturday, February 25, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Design with Water in Mind

    On Saturday, February 25 from 9 – 12 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, learn techniques to help you direct, store, and use water in your garden with instructor Amy Nyman. We’ll discuss practices that can be applied to all conditions, from extremely dry soil to soil that inundates during storms. We’ll begin with an overview of site analysis, discuss various water management systems, and conclude with native plant selections suitable for various sites. $39 for NEWFS and co-sponsor Ecological Landscape Alliance members, $47 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/design-with-water-in-mind  Image from www.houzz.com.

  • Saturday, February 25, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Maple Sugaring at Home

    Join the Berkshire Botanical Garden staff on Saturday, February 25 from 1 – 3 for a workshop on Maple Sugaring at Home. Learn how to identify suitable trees, the when and how of collecting sap, the boiling down process for the home setting, and preserving the syrup for year-round use.

    Participants will install spiles, develop collection schedules, and boil down maple sap to syrup. A tasting will follow. Dress for the outdoors. BBG members $25, nonmembers $30. Register online at www.berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-298-3926.  Image from www.motherearthnews.com.

  • Saturday, February 25, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Thaw: Photography by Jenine Shereos Artist Reception

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden will mount an exhibition of the photographs of Jenine Sherios, work resulting from a site-specific, ephemeral installation featuring frozen plants and flower specimens at Jamaica Pond in Boston.  Meet the artist at a reception on February 25, from 5 – 7.  Free with admission.  For more information visit www.towerhillbg.org.  Photo copyright Jenine Shereos.

  • Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Nature’s Temple: Complex Old Growth Forests

    An old-growth forest is one that has formed naturally over a long period of time with little or no disturbance from humankind. They are increasingly rare and largely misunderstood. Joan Maloof, Professor Emeritus at Salisbury University, Maryland and Founder and Director, Old-Growth Forest Network, makes a heartfelt and passionate case for their importance, defining old-growth and providing a brief history of these fragile ecosystems that now exist only in scattered fragments. She will describe how the life forms in an undisturbed forest—including not only its trees but also its insects, plant life, fungi, and mammals—differ from the life forms in a forest manipulated by humans. The lecture will take place in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum on Wednesday, February 22 beginning at 7 pm. Fee Free for Arboretum members and students, $10 nonmember. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277. Image from www.nature.org.

  • Thursday, February 23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Mass Hort’s School Garden Conference: Beyond Education

    The Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s third annual school garden conference at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, on Thursday, February 23 will feature workshops that explore regional best practices for planning and running a garden that will not only meet educational goals, but also provide opportunities for a diverse student body, and make connections within the school community and beyond. A variety of workshops will support interested parents and volunteers, teachers, and administrators – those who have established gardens and those just breaking ground.  The event will run from 9 – 4 (blizzard day February 24), and the cost includes morning coffee and lunch.  $45 for Mass Hort members, $60 for nonmembers.  Register at www.masshort.org.

  • Tuesday, February 28, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – An Evening with Jose Duarte of Taranta

    Join The Trustees of Reservations on Tuesday, February 28th for the launch of The KITCHEN’s newest series where we will be partnering with some of the region’s most celebrated chefs who source from New England’s local farmers, fishermen and artisans. We will kick start the series with Jose Duarte, owner of Taranta in the North End, one of the few “sustainable restaurants” in the world.

    Meet Boston Public Market vendors and taste Jose’s delicious menu inspired by his Peruvian heritage and his mastery of Venezuelan and Italian culinary traditions. Enjoy a seated dinner while you watch Jose make each dish, taste six courses with wine pairings, and delight in learning from one of Boston’s innovative culinary leaders. Attendees will also enjoy an open bar serving New England craft beers from Hopsters Alley and wine selections from the Massachusetts Wine Shop.

    Signature Chef Tasting Series
    An Evening with Jose Duarte of Taranta and Boston Public Market Vendors
    Tuesday, February 28th 6:00 – 9:00PM
    The KITCHEN at The Boston Public Market | 100 Hanover Street | Boston

    Single Event Tickets: Trustees members $160; Nonmembers $200 Register online at http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/greater-boston/event-30141.html?

  • From the Archives: The Dog Police

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay supported the passing of Boston’s “Pooper Scooper” ordinance in 1979, but problems persisted, and in January of 1983 member Selma Friedman introduced a proposal to deputize  block dog watchers to apprehend and embarrass offenders.  “Mention was made that owners often do not realize that their dog is polluting the soil and hence slowly killing the tree; they often state they think the opposite.”  Signs were discussed, but because of strict signage rules in the historic district the idea was abandoned.  Three members then agreed to contact the Boston Ledger regarding the possibility of an article promoting adherence to the law.

    There is no evidence in the archives that such an article ever materialized. The concept of a Garden Club militia tracking down puppy-owner offenders is wildly comical.   In recent years we began our tree fence program, encouraging individuals, businesses and condominium associations to purchase our pre-approved and beautiful tree fences, protecting our trees and beautifying the neighborhood.  To learn more about, and to order such a fence, visit https://bostonflora.com/tree-fence-project/. Image courtesy of www.dogtrainingacademy.org.

  • Saturday, February 18, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm – Urban Homesteading Festival

    The homesteading movement is all about self-sufficiency, characterized by growing and preserving food, and conjuring up images of greenhouses, gardens, and cellars filled with dusty jars. But what about us city-dwellers? How can we move towards self-sufficiency and embrace this movement without packing up and moving to rural America?

    The KITCHEN at The Boston Public Market, Slow Food Boston, and The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) are jointly hosting The Urban Homesteading Festival on Saturday, February 18th from 11 – 4 at The KITCHEN at the Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street, to train Boston urbanites how to modify traditional homesteading techniques to work in an urban setting. The Conference will showcase six different topics. Session topics will include stocks & bone broth, food preservation techniques, home brewing, urban gardening, home made cheese, and working with herbs. Each session will be led by a leading expert who will walk attendees through the steps to making each product at home. Sessions will include demonstrations, tastes of finished products, and time for Q&A. Bring a notebook and prepare to learn A LOT. Each hour-long session will be packed with tips and tricks, recipes, and answers to all your burning questions. $28 – $48 – register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/urban-homesteading-festival-tickets-31082660073?aff=PR

  • Garden Club of the Back Bay Member Glenda Mattes Publishes Touching Dirt, Volume I

    Garden Club of the Back Bay member Glenda Mattes writes, in the introduction of Touching Dirt, Volume 1, that “Family history is my passion partly because I believe that our present is shaped by the past.”  This is a family history discovering the origins, stories, descendants and siblings of Jans Garrelts and Christina Hagen of Ostfriesland, George Milton of Banffshire, Scotland, Evan Nightingale, Ann Kollin, David Williams and Elizabeth Nightingale of Cardiganshire, Wales.

    Learn about the East Friesian Tea Ceremony, with recipes, the travels of Jan and Christina Garrelts, including time spent living with their four children in a dugout in Barton County, Kansas in the 1870’s, and stories of Evan (a Civil War casualty) and Ann Nightingale.  There is much more to interest and delight.  The book, which prints in 3 – 5 days, may be ordered at http://www.lulu.com/shop/glenda-garrelts-mattes/touching-dirt-v-1/hardcover/product-22884916.html

  • Thursdays, February 16 and 23, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm – Designing Gardens for Small Spaces

    Small garden spaces present the designer with the challenge of how to realize big ideas in tight quarters. Yet small sites don’t mean the garden must lack interest. This two part New England Wild Flower Society hands-on design workshop with Cheryl Salatino will tackle the garden as a composition by exploring enclosed space, lighting, plant characteristics, and personal expression. Class will be held Thursdays, February 16 and 23 at Garden in the Woods, from 8:30 am – noon. $120 for NEWFS members, $144 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/designing-gardens-for-small-spaces.  Image from www.shelterness.com.