Boston Flora

Month: May 2019

  • Thursday, May 23, 5:30 pm – 7:45 pm – Spring Greeting from Woodland Wildflowers

    Please join Grow Native Massachusetts on May 23 at 5:30 at the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Medford for this intensive workshop program, taught by Meredith Gallogly.

    Every spring in New England, we are greeted by a beautiful bouquet of flowers blooming throughout our woodlands. Many of these plants emerge early to soak up the sun before the forest canopy has fully leafed out, and quite a few species have co-evolved with early-emerging insect pollinators, resulting in unique, interdependent life cycles. Spring wildflowers are often delicate in appearance, belying their amazing toughness and adaptability.

    Join Meredith in a diverse and beautiful area of the Fells to get to know some of these flowers, and learn the best ways to incorporate them into a designed landscape.

    Meredith Gallogly is the Manager of Programs at Grow Native Massachusetts. She is a skilled botanist, and much of her plant identification knowledge comes from her explorations of metro-Boston area parks and reservations. She holds a B.A. in Biology from Smith College.

    This workshop will be conducted entirely in the field. Enrollment is limited to 15. Continuing education credits will be available. $28 for Grow Native Massachusetts members, $38 for nonmembers. To register call 781-790-8921 or visit www.grownativemass.org.

  • Saturday, May 19, 9:00 am – Plant the City

    Did you know that there are farmers in the City of Boston?

    Join Youth Engagement and Employment and Food Access at 9 am on May 18 to help provide healthy food options for your community by planting fruits and vegetables to be harvested and shared with your neighbors this summer. Come learn about urban farming and plant healthy food for your community! The event is Citywide: Allston, Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Brighton, Charlestown, Chinatown, Leather District, Downtown, East Boston, Fenway, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill, North End, Roslindale, South Boston, South End, West End, and West Roxbury.

    Free breakfast and lunch, and free swag. These are volunteer hours. RSVP at https://www.boston.gov/calendar/plant-city-1

  • Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19 – Gore Place Plant Sale

    Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19 – Gore Place Plant Sale

    This year’s offerings at the Gore Place Plant Sale May 17 – 19 feature vegetable garden transplants including many varieties of hard-to-find hybrid and heirloom tomatoes, heirloom annuals, herbs, and beautiful perennials.

    It’s not only the large selection that makes this sale special; it’s also the chance to speak with gardener Scott Clarke. Scott knows a lot about these varieties, and he’s eager to share his knowledge with you! Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18 from 8 am to 4 pm and Sunday, May 19 from 8am to 1pm, at 52 Gore Street in Waltham.

    Please, bring your own box for transporting your purchases. Free to attend.

  • Thursday, May 16, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Meeting Our Climate Future

    Join The Emerald Necklace Conservancy on May 16 at 5:30 pm for Meeting Our Climate Future: Lessons in Public-Private Parks Partnerships, a free, public discussion on the shared goals of public parks departments and private parks organizations, as well as the role of partnerships between these two groups in preparing for our climate future. The event will take place at the offices of the Event Sponsor Wilmington Trust, 280 Congress Street, Suite 1300, in Boston. Register at www.emeraldnecklace.org.

    Featuring:

    Kathryn Ott Lovell, Philadelphia Parks Commissioner and 2019 Party in the Park Liff Spirit Awardee
    Commissioner Lovell will discuss highlights of her signature achievements with the City of Philadelphia Parks Department and at her previous role with the Fairmont Parks Conservancy. Additionally, Kathryn will highlight the City of Philadelphia’s leading work on climate readiness with its Stormwater Management programs, in which Philadelphia will invest $2.4 billion in the coming years.

    Chris Cook, Chief, Environment, Energy, and Open Space; Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, Boston
    Chief Cook will present the City’s climate-ready vision to enhance Boston’s waterfront through accessible green space, infrastructure improvements and more.

    Karen Mauney-Brodek, President, Emerald Necklace Conservancy
    Karen will discuss the history America’s first “green infrastructure” project – the Emerald Necklace and the Muddy River – as well as their ongoing restoration. She will also touch on plans for a more resilient Charlesgate Park and highlight other past and proposed partnerships.

  • Saturday, May 18, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Spring Plant Sale at Newton Cemetery and Arboretum

    Celebrate National Public Gardens week May 13-19th this year by joining us for the Friends of Newton Cemetery Spring Plant Sale, Saturday May 18th from 10am-4pm. Join us by the Murdock Fountain to shop for annuals, perennials and houseplants that have been grown in our own greenhouse on the grounds. There will also be pollinator plant seeds available to purchase. Proceeds from the sale support the Pollinator Garden!  For more information visit www.newcemcorp.org

  • Sunday, May 12, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Duckling Day

    Sunday, May 12, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Duckling Day

    The Friends of the Public Garden invite you to Duckling Day on Sunday, May 12, the classic Mother’s Day event hosted by Friends of the Public Garden. Duckling Day is not only a Boston tradition, but it’s also a major fundraiser to keep our iconic parks beautiful. Registration is still open and the event runs from 10 – 12:30, rain or shine. Register ($35) at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/events/ducklingday/

    A beloved tradition for more than 30 years, Duckling Day celebrates the children’s classic book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Every year, over 1,000 people meet up and parade through Boston’s most picturesque parks, dressed like characters from the story. Led by the Harvard Marching Band, the parade will begin on the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and end in the Public Garden near the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculpture. Bring your camera – the parade is possibly the most adorable thing you’ll ever see!

    Prior to the parade will be Playtime on the Common, a vibrant array of family entertainment including crafts, face painters, a magician, circus games, and more.  All families are welcome to decorate their wagons or strollers, bring a picnic, and enjoy springtime in Boston’s most beloved parks.

    The Friends thanks event sponsors KinderCare Learning Centers, bostoncentral, and BostonParents Paper, along with media sponsor WCVB 5

  • Sunday, May 19, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm – Rattlesnake Gutter

    The Native Plant Trust, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions and guide George LoCascio, will lead a walk on May 19 from 12 – 3 at Rattlesnake Gutter in Leverett, Massachusetts. Discover spring ephemerals along the historical road of this important habitat. This little-known nook features impressive calcareous rock cliffs and enchanting wooded areas. Will we find hordes of rattlesnakes? Probably not, but we will find some excellent native plant specimens! $28/$35. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/rattlesnake-gutter/

  • Wednesdays, May 15 – June 12, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Smartphone Photography: Spring Close-Ups

    Capture the magic of the season with your smartphone. Lilacs, azaleas, horse chestnuts, redbuds, and more will be flowering and leaves will have recently unfurled, providing a perfect venue for close-up photographs.

    Professional photographer Nancy Katz will teach you that you don’t need fancy equipment or lenses to come in close to shoot these exquisite plants. You need your smartphone and an understanding of shooting macro (close up) and how to enhance the images with your phone’s editing capabilities and a great App, aptly named Snapseed. Most of the time will be spent outdoors, except when working on Snapseed in small groups. The class will take place on three Wednesdays, May 15, 29, and June 12, from 1:30 – 3:30 at the Arnold Arboretum 125 Arborway.

    Fee: Arboretum member $65, nonmember $84

    Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

  • Thursday, May 16, 1:00 pm – What Plants Talk About

    The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History presents a free with Museum admission Nature Screen Even on May 16 at 1 pm entitled What Plants Talk About. Hard core science is effortlessly integrated with a light-hearted look at how plants behave, revealing a world where plants are as busy, responsive and complex as we are. From the stunning heights of the Great Basin Desert to the lush coastal rainforests of west coast Canada, plant ecologist J.C. Cahill and a variety of other experts in plant communication take us on a journey into the “secret world of plants,” revealing an astonishing landscape where plants eavesdrop on each other, talk to their allies, call in insect mercenaries and nurture their young. It is a world of pulsing activity, where plants communicate, co-operate, and sometimes wage all-out-war. Come along for the ride and discover that plants are a lot less passive and a lot more intelligent than you think. For more information call 508-896-3867, ext 133.

  • Wednesdays, May 22 – June 26, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – The Art of Conservation: Watercolor

    Develop deep botanical knowledge through art! Learn to observe plants and grow an understanding of basic watercolor techniques. This Native Plant Trust six session course at Garden in the Woods May 22 – June 26 from 10 – 12:30 will address opaque/transparent washes, value, and color intensity through exercises en plein air. Taught by Cecilia Sharma, the class is $198 for NPT members, $240 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/art-conservation-watercolor/