Boston Flora

Month: March 2017

  • Monday, April 17, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – The New American Chestnut

    Much work has gone into attempting to bring back the American chestnut (Castanea dentata), decimated by the exotic chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) beginning in the late 1800s. Breeding by crossing and back-crossing with Japanese and Chinese species has produced positive results, but genetic engineering is proving more viable. William A. Powell, MD, PhD, Director, Council on Biotechnology in Forestry, SUNY, Environmental Science and Forestry and Co-Director, New York State American Chestnut Research and Restoration Program, has been involved in transgenic research that has produced a tree that is 99.999% American chestnut, and will speak about this work and the possibilities for reviving a species once ubiquitous in eastern North American forests. The New American Chestnut lecture will take place Monday, April 17 beginning at 7 pm in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum.  Fee: Free for Arboretum members and students, $10 nonmembers. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.  Image from www.nature.com.

  • Tuesdays, April 25 – May 16, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm, or Wednesdays, April 26 – May 17, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Wildflowers of New England

    New to the world of native plants? There’s no better way to study the region’s flora than in the field. In this New England Wild Flower Society four part class, we will learn to identify New England’s native plants by studying their habitats at Garden in the Woods. The class will examine family characteristics, growth patterns, and key identification features of flowers, leaves, and stems. Bring a hand lens and Wildflowers of New England. The Wild Flowers of New England sessions take place at Garden in the Woods Tuesdays, April 25 – May 16 from 6:30 – 9, and are taught by Neela de Zoysa. $136 for NEWFS members, $170 nonmembers. Register online at www.newfs.org. There is a second Wildflowers of New England class which begins on 4/26/17, during the day, from 10 am – 12:30 on April 26 – May 17. Image from elkmoundwildflowers.com.

  • Saturday, April 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – From Seed to Seedling

    Growing a plant from seed to seedling to maturity is a bit magical, very satisfying, and always educational. With a talk and hands-on activities, Sean Halloran will explain seed biology, conditions needed to trigger germination, and techniques for starting various types of plants, annuals (including vegetables), trees, and shrubs from seeds.

    This Arnold Arboretum workshop is for beginners and those who have been frustrated in past attempts to transform seed to seedling. Students will leave class with a selection of seeds raring to grow. Aftercare will be necessary. The workshop will take place Saturday, April 1 from 10 – noon in the Dana Greenhouse, 1050 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, and is $35 for Arboretum members, $45 for nonmembers. Register online at www.my.arboretum.harvard.edu. Image from www.planetnatural.com.

  • Garden How-To Free On Line Workshops

    Horticulture Magazine’s free online Smart Gardening Workshops give you access to great garden speakers from the comfort of your own home. They have no new workshops scheduled at this time, but you can access recordings of past workshops at http://www.hortmag.com/smart-gardening-workshops. Here is a sampling:

    Put Texture to Work in Your Garden

    Texture is so much more than a soft and fuzzy leaf – it’s a design workhorse able to solve a wide range of everyday garden problems. Drawing from her latest book, Refresh Your Garden Design, Rebecca Sweet shares her best strategies to use texture in a garden, in ways that are inspiring and easy to put into practice.

    Garden Design Quick Fixes with Color

    Horticulture columnist and professional landscape designer Rebecca Sweet shows how one of the most powerful elements in your garden—color—is the answer to many common garden problems. Learn just how easy it is to transform gardens that seem cramped, uninviting and disjointed into the garden you’ve always wanted through the use of colorful (and strategic) illusions.

  • Thursday, March 30 – Wednesday, April 5 – In The Garden COGdesign Online Auction

    The Community Outreach Group for Landscape Design online auction “In the Garden” will take place March 30 – April 5, 2017.

    Offered will be design software, museum memberships, landscape services, books, garden items, and much more.

    For more information, go to the COGdesign website, http://COGdesign.org.

  • Tuesday, April 4, 6:30 pm – Tiffany’s Parakeets: The Story of a Window

    Visit the Ayer Mansion, 395 Commonwealth Avenue, on Tuesday, April 4 for a lecture by Nonie Gadsden, the Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, who will speak on Tiffany’s Parakeets: The Story of a Window, as part of the Ayer Mansion 2017 Lecture Series.  $35.  Wine and cheese reception begins at 6:30 with the talk beginning at 7.  Register online at www.ayermansion.org, or call 617-536-2586.

  • Thursday, June 8 – Saturday, June 10 – “Be Inspired”: A Celebration of Floral Design

    Please join the Gore Place Society this June to celebrate Spring into Summer.  “The Monticello of the North” will host an elegant cocktail party and dinner the first evening of the three day event which will bring a wonderful audience to Waltham.  The preview cocktail party and dinner in the tent take place Thursday, June 8 – reservations required.  The public exhibition begins Friday, June 9 from 10 – 5, and will include Beer and Blooms.  The public exhibition continues Saturday from 10 – 4, and reservations will be required for Saturday’s Tea in the Carriage House.

    The show is open to all floral minded artists, garden club members, horticultural students, gardeners, and professional and novice designers.  This is NOT a juried show.  There is no entry fee for this exhibition.  All submissions are required to be refreshed as needed for the duration of the three day show.  All work must comply with the guidelines.  All designers will receive a $25 participation award and one complimentary ticket for the preview cocktail party.  Designers may purchase an additional cocktail party ticket.  To participate, email scottclarke249@gmail.com or call 781-894-2798 no later than April 1, with your name and contact information.  Spaces are limited.

    There will be a change for a People’s Choice Award for all designers.  Visitors will vote for their favorite flower arrangement, and there will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners.  The award, minus the $25 Participation Award, is $100 for 1st, $75 for 2nd, and $50 for 3rd.

  • Tuesday, April 4, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Seed: The Untold Story

    Few things on Earth are as miraculous and vital as seeds, treasured since the dawn of humankind. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared.

    SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.

    The April 4 screening at the Arnold Arboretum will begin at 7, and will be followed by a discussion led by Barry Logan, Visiting Scientist, Arnold Arboretum, and Professor of Biology, Bowdoin College. Free. For more information visit www.my.arboretum.harvard.edu.

  • Wednesday, June 28 – Thursday, July 6 – Highlights of Scotland

    Join the Friends of Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, and visit awe inspiring gardens of Scotland June 28 – July 6.  The tour is coordinated by Hidden Treasures Tours & Brightwater Holidays.  The complete itinerary may be found at http://hiddentreasurestours.com//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Scotland-2017.pdf.

    In Edinburgh you will stay at the Jurys Inn, and will visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Holyrood Park, then on to Aberdeen and the garden at Pitmuies House and Brechin Castle. Continue north to Dunnotar Castle, Leith Hall House, Kildrummy Castle, and a private garden of Tillypronie.  Further destinations are Crathes Castle, the Explorer’s Garden, Drummond Castle, Branklyn Gardens (pictured below), Glendoick Garden Centre, and the Gardens of Falkland Palace.  You will also visit Crawick Multiverse and the Garden of Cosmic Speculation.  This is truly a splendid trip.  Prices are from $4,150 per person, air not included.

    Contact kari@hiddentreasurestours.com, or call her at 573-303-2872 to register, or for more information.

  • Wednesday, April 5, 6:00 pm – 7:30 p – Pansy Wreath Workshop

    On Wednesday, April 5 from 6 – 7:30, come to Weston Nurseries of Chelmsford and celebrate the coming of Spring. Starting from a moss form, we will help you to create a colorful and unique decorative item to last the entire season. Pansy Wreaths can adorn your door or table!

    Fee: $50/person. REGISTER ONLINE at www.westonnurseries.com and pay when you arrive for class. You may also call 508-293-8091 and make a reservation. We require registration at least 24 hours in advance to reserve a spot in this workshop. The nursery’s address is 160 Pine Hill Road in Chelmsford.