Boston Flora

Month: April 2018

  • Wednesday, May 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Evoking Nature: Form and Function on the High Line

    Wednesday, May 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Evoking Nature: Form and Function on the High Line

    The High Line in Manhattan was born of a city that is constantly reinventing itself. Built on a mile-and-a-half long elevated railroad, this dynamic landscape was inspired by the tenacity of plants in its industrial setting, and it uses a matrix of perennial and woody plants to evoke a natural landscape. Wildly successful and overwhelmingly popular, caring for this garden in the sky poses unique challenges. Andi will describe how her team uses traditional and innovative horticultural techniques, how they work to promote the park’s biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and how they foster an emotional connection to nature in this challenging urban environment.

    As Director of Horticulture for the Friends of the High Line, Andi Pettis leads a world-class team of gardeners who care for this beloved elevated park in Manhattan. Andi’s horticulture career in New York City spans nearly two decades, including work in both private and public garden settings, park management, and teaching at the New York Botanical Garden. Join Grow Native Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 2 at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, at 7 pm for a free lecture featuring Andi Pettis. For more information visit http://www.grownativemass.org/programs/eveningswithexperts. Photo by Liz Ligon of Ms. Pettis carrying a tote bag designed for the Friends of the High Line by Diane von Furstenburg.

  • Wednesday, April 25, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Nibbling on Natives in Your Backyard

    There’s an increasing interest among homeowners, property managers, and others in utilizing more native species in their landscaping to attract and sustain beneficial insects and pollinators as well as to provide food and shelter for birds and other animals. Yet, for some people, these reasons alone may be insufficient motivation to “go native.” Perhaps knowing that many native species can be eaten by people will provide the additional incentive you need to add native species to your yard. Join Russ Cohen on Wednesday, April 25 at 7 pm at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield, Massachusetts for a 90-minute slide show featuring at least two dozen species of native edible wild plants suitable for your own landscape, or for nibbling as you encounter them in other locales. Russ will supply helpful handouts and bring along samples of goodies made from foraged edible native species for participants to taste. Cosponsored by New England Wild Life Society and the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the lecture is $20 for members of sponsoring organizations, $24 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/nibbling-on-natives-in-your-backyard-and-beyond

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  • Friday, May 4, 6:45 pm – Patterns and Changes in the Flora of Franklin County, Massachusetts

    Dr. Robert Bertin, Anthony and Renee Marlon Professor in the Sciences, Biology Department, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, Massachusetts, will speak to the New England Botanical Club on Friday May 4 at 6:45 pm on Patterns and Changes in the Flora of Franklin County, Massachusetts. In a departure from the usual venue, the meeting will take place at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Street, Framingham. For complete information visit http://rhodora.org.

  • Thursday, May 3, 6:00 pm – Apples: A New England History

    Rowan Jacobsen, author and Knight Science Journalism Fellow, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will speak in the Geological Lecture Hall of the Harvard Museum of Natural History on Thursday, May 3 at 6 pm on Apples: A New England History.

    No other fruit embodies the horticultural and cultural range of the apple. Originally from the mountains of Kazakhstan, apples have seduced bees, intoxicated monks, nourished colonists, and inspired artists, from Paul Cézanne to Rudolf Blaschka, who created Harvard’s collection of botanically precise glass apples (now on view in the Glass Flowers gallery). James Beard Award- winning author Rowan Jacobsen will discuss his book, Apples of Uncommon Character, and will explore the surprising ways in which the apple has shaped New England history. A tasting of heirloom ciders from Vermont’s Eden Specialty Ciders will follow the talk.

    Advance registration required at https://hmnh.harvard.edu/Apples.   Free and open to the public. Free event parking at 52 Oxford Street Garage. Reception sponsored by the Harvard Chapter of Sigma Xi
.

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  • Tuesday, April 24 – Wednesday, April 25, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Spring Blooms in Graphite and Watercolor

    Join botanical artist Helen Byers in this two-day workshop at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 24 and 25 from 10 – 4, to draw and/or paint anemones, daffodils, early tulips, or another spring blossom of your choice. Helen’s demos and personalized instruction will cover step-by-step processes of detailed botanical art techniques using graphite in combination with watercolor. (Returning students may substitute colored pencil for graphite, if they wish.) To see examples of Helen’s work and slideshows from her courses, go to http://helenbyers.com

    A supplies list will be sent to registrants. THBG members $150, nonmembers $165. Register at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—spring-blooms-in-graphite-and-watercolor

    Helen Byers is an award-winning artist and educator whose botanical drawings and paintings have been internationally exhibited, published, and held in private collections. In recent years she has taught often at Tower Hill, as well as at Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Fruitlands Museums, Tin Mountain Conservation Center (NH), and Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center (NM).

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  • Sunday, April 22, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Herbs for the Home Garden

    The flavor and fragrance of fresh herbs dress up even the simplest meals. Herb plants are beautiful and useful additions to the home landscape. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden workshop on Sunday, April 22 from 1 – 4 will focus on ten common culinary herbs: basil, dill, parsley, oregano, chives, sage, savory, mint, garlic and rosemary. Skills taught will include growing herbs from seeds, transplants, division and cuttings; overwintering rosemary indoors, and tips for preserving herbs. Participants will take home a seed flat of assorted basil varieties.

    Instructor Christie Higginbottom has worked as a costumed interpreter at Old Sturbridge Village since 1981. From 1984 to 2004 she coordinated the historic horticulture program researching, planning and planting the re-created kitchen and flower gardens at the museum’s historic households. She also supervised the Village’s Herb Garden collection, a garden exhibiting over 300 varieties of historic herbs. From 2004 to 2006 she researched and developed a series of self-guided walking trails interpreting people and the environment in the early 1800s. She researched and designed the 2007-2009 exhibit “Taking Root: Gardening in Pots in the early 1800s.” Now retired from full-time work at OSV, she continues to work in costume part-time and to present garden programs for the Village.

    $35 for THBG members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—herbs-for-the-home-garden

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  • Wednesday, May 16 – Thursday, May 17 – Coalition of American Horticultural Societies Annual Meeting

    Annual meeting of representatives from national plant societies to share strategies for growth and communication. This year the meeting on May 16 and 17 is hosted by Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Please join the Coalition of American Horticultural Societies’ Facebook group for more information.

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  • Saturday, April 21, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Daffodil Day

    Tower Hill’s field of over 25,000 daffodils is a must see for anyone eager to bridge the gap from winter to summer. Discover the inspiration these flowers provide by sketching, writing poetry, or taking photos for our contest. Children will love the daffodil parade, sing-along, and story walk. Enjoy fun activities throughout the day and learn about the enormous diversity of daffodil types and the best ways to grow them at home. Daffodil Day takes place this year on Saturday, April 21 from 10 – 4, and is free with admission to the Garden, located at 11 French Drive in Boylston. We hope the cold spring doesn’t delay the bloom, but the day will happen rain or shine. For more information visit http://towerhillbg.org.

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  • Saturday, April 28, 9:30 am – 11:00 am – Creating a Landscape for Your Table

    On Saturday, April 28, from 9:30 – 11 at Hollister House Garden in Washington, Connecticut, learn how to create a landscape for your table that goes far beyond the usual cut flower arrangement. Well know designer and artist Chris Zaima will demonstrate the art of using miniature potted plants and succulents to make unique, sophisticated centerpieces. Following his talk and demonstration Chris will work with participants to create table landscapes to take home. Please bring your own container, suitable for a table centerpiece. All other materials will be provided. HHG Members $75; Non-Members $85. Register online at https://hollisterhousegarden.org/events/creating-landscape-table/

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  • Monday, April 23, 7:00 pm – Native Plants for New England Gardens

    Porter Square Books, 25 White Street in Cambridge, will host Mark Richardson and Dan Jaffe on Monday, April 23 at 7 pm for a talk and book signing. This is the essential gardener’s guide to growing native in New England. Plants native to New England evolved to thrive in local conditions and survive harsh seasons. Native Plants for New England Gardens culls the expertise of the New England Wild Flower Society to help anyone create lovely, hardy gardens that will tolerate drought, resist disease and encourage biodiversity. This handy guide to 100 great native flowers, ground covers, shrubs, ferns, and grasses that will thrive in New England gardens features practical information accompanied by beautiful color photography. Find and nurture the native plants that your garden is missing–the planet will thank you.

    New England Wild Flower Society Director of the Botanic Garden Mark Richardson studied ornamental horticulture at the University of Rhode Island and holds a master’s degree from the University of Delaware’s Longwood Graduate Program. Native Plants for New England Gardens is a product of his passion for public horticulture. Photographer and author Dan Jaffe earned a degree in botany from the University of Maine, Orono, and has years of nursery and plant sales experience. He is the official propagator and stock bed grower of the New England Wild Flower Society.

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