Boston Flora

Month: April 2020

  • Wright-Locke Farm Online Seedling Sale

    Each year Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester sells organic seedlings during spring to help you start your gardens off on the right foot. Think herbs, peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and more. Normally we sell these seedlings during our opening Spring Fling Weekend — this year we are making our seedlings available to order online so we can avoid creating crowds and spread everyone’s pickups out. 

    • Check our website, https://wlfarm.square.site/ for what is available and what is “coming soon,” then place your order via credit card
    • Please disregard the message at checkout that tells you your order will be ready the Friday of the week you order (oh the woes of website limitations).
    • Watch for your confirmation e-mail. It will have a link for you to signup for a pickup time-slot in May.
    • The week of your pickup, we will send you a reminder email with more details on how to conduct your pickup safely and easily.
       
    • Start Gardening!

    Order your seedlings Here
    If you have questions for our farmer about planting seedlings or plant varieties, she will be holding casual Q&A sessions via Zoom over the next month or so. Signup for a Q&A session here.

  • Message from the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts

    In an effort to mitigate the COVID-19 risk to our members and follow State and National mandates about group gatherings, all GCFM Programs and Events for the remainder of the 2019-2020 calendar are cancelled including: 

    Landscape Design Workshop, Gardening School, Designing Workshop, Flower Show School, Environmental Workshop, SE District Spring Meeting, Middlesex Spring Meeting, Wallack Lecture, Horticulture Morning, Garden Consultants, Landscape Design Consultants and Judges Council Meetings.

    The GCFM Annual Meeting scheduled for 6/3/2020 is also cancelled. 

    Lyn Hoyt will be available by email:  gardenclubfedma@gmail.com 

    phone 781-237-0336

    9am-2pm, Tuesday-Thursday 

    We will be working to reschedule any and all programs whenever possible. 

    For refunds please contact the Program Coordinator associated with the event and/or mail a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) to her with your details. Wallack Lecture refunds will be administered upon receipt of the tickets and SASE. Mail items to: Ann Webster 16 Brent Road Lexington, MA 02420

    Thank you for your patience. Please refer to gcfm.org for additional updates. We hope that you will put your new found extra time to good use in your gardens and remember to join the Native Plant Challenge!

    Reputable Resources for the latest information:

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    The World Health Organization (WHO)

    Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)

    Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. www.gcfm.org

  • The Best Gardening Movies

    Farm Coast Editorial compiled a list of The Best Gardening Movies, not documentaries, on its blog: https://www.farmcoasteditorial.com/blog/gardening-movies The list includes movies that “actually showcase the act of gardening within a movie setting.” Most are available on Netflix, Amazon or Hulu – the Farm Coast Editorial post dates from 2019 so you may have to do a bit of searching. Enjoy!

  • Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm & Sunday, May 3, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Lenox Garden Club Daffodil Show – Cancelled

    Held in conjunction with the Garden’s annual Roy Boutard Day, The Berkshire Botanical Garden is pleased to once again feature a Daffodil Show on display May 2, 1 – 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 3, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  in the Center House. Hosted by the Lenox Garden Club, this judged show includes design, horticulture, and photography divisions.

    Admission is free. For more information visit www.berkshirebotanical.org

  • The Insider at Heritage Museums & Gardens Podcast

    The Insider at Heritage Museums & Gardens is a weekly podcast series, which takes a deeper dive into the museum’s gardens, exhibits, events, behind-the-scenes work and more!  New episodes will be released every other Wednesday through November.  Subscribe to the Insider podcast on YouTube, SoundCloud, and Itunes. Right now hear an interview with Heather Mead, Director of Visitor Engagement, an interview with David Camp, Principal of Dirtworks, PC, designer of the Gardens of the Senses, and an interview with Les Lutz, Director of Horticulture, to name a few options available now at https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/theinsider/

  • OSV Permits On Sale Now

    Take your truck oversand adventure on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. With thousands of acres of open space to explore, you can find your own peaceful spot for fishing, nature viewing, beach exploration, swimming, or a family adventure.  The Trustees announce the 2020 OSV Permits are available for purchase now. Visit http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/cape-cod-islands/osv.html

  • Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, May 3, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Seven States Daffodil Show – Cancelled

    Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and Sunday, May 3, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Seven States Daffodil Show – Cancelled

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    The annual Seven States Daffodil Show at Tower Hill Botanic Garden on May 2 & 3 features hundreds of cut daffodil flowers in vibrant colors ranging from cream, lemon, and orange, to pink, red, and green.  Free with admission to the garden. For more information visit http://towerhillbg.org

    Image result for cut daffodils

  • Tuesday, April 28, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Bird Monitoring and Habitat Assemblages Webinar

    By identifying the song of a warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus) in a riparian stream habitat, or that of a Black-throated green warbler (Setophaga virens) in a mixed coniferous-hardwood forest, an observer can deduce characteristics about the habitat. Monitoring birds in an area over a period of time can help us understand the habitat type, quality, and management. This Native Plant Trust online class with Bud Sechler on April 28 from 10 – noon will explore assemblages between Massachusetts Natural Community types and the bird species found in those community types, as well as structural components that are critical for these bird species. Please note: Due to the COVID-19 threat, this class will now be conducted as a live webinar. $30 for NPT members, $36 for nonmembers Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/bird-monitoring-and-habitat-assemblages/

  • Thursday, April 22, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Introduction to Butterfly Watching Webinar

    Join Athol Bird and Nature Club president Dave Small on Thursday, April 22 Eastern Daylight Savings Time, to learn about the life cycle, Identification terminology, best equipment to bring (binoculars and camera) and the families of butterflies you can encounter here in the North Quabbin. Be ready as temperature warm and butterflies begin to emerge, any days that are sunny and 60 degrees will bring out butterflies. This webinar is co-hosted by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust. And special thanks to the Massachusetts Butterfly Club. Use the link below to sign up. 

    https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_40iChhrNS16cHe7R5_k0AA

  • Thursday, April 30, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Building the Green Industry: Live Webinar

    Based on his article, Sus-tain-a-bil-i-ty: Discovering the True Definition, Defining the New Paradigm, Trevor Smith shares his award-winning approach to collaborations, community outreach, and professional training as a map to secure the green infrastructure we need and to build a green industry workforce. You will learn opportunities, challenges, and strategies to guide your own projects in the green industry.

    Due to the COVID-19 threat, this April 30 Ecological Landscape Alliance class will now be conducted from 10:30 – 1:30 EDT as a live webinar.
    All registrants will receive instructions explaining how to participate.

    Instructor Trevor Smith is the founder and Lead Designer at Land Escapes Design Inc. For 20 years Trevor has worked to improve our planet and our community through ecological landscape design and education.  Trevor is a regular contributor to landscape publications; and is a frequent lecturer at industry events. As a company, Land Escapes Design Inc. has led the way in Green Stormwater Infrastructure as well as regenerative land care throughout New England. Trevor is a LEED Green Associate, Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist, Accredited Organic Land Care Professional, Certified Rainwater Harvesting Installer, Certified Green Roof and Wall Installer, Certified Porous Pave Installer, Certified Landscape for Life Trainer, National Green Infrastructure Certified Professional Trainer.

    As past President and current Board member of the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA), Trevor and ELA work to bring vital information, resources and educational materials to the landscape design community. Cosponsored by the Native Plant Trust. Purchase tickets ($45 for members of sponsoring organizations, $54 general public) online at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/building-the-green-industry/