Daily Archives: October 6, 2021

Thursday, October 14, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Climate Talk: New England Alpine Plants, Online

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Tower Hill Botanic Garden is dedicated to understanding the ways climate change impacts our world and exploring methods we can use to combat its effects and improve our climate outlook. “Climate Talks” are an opportunity to connect with experts in the field to learn and understand the current effects of climate change and explore ways we can make a difference.

This October 14 online climate talk will explore the current global biodiversity crisis spurred by human-driven environmental change. This crisis make is critical for us to determine our current conservation priorities and the extinction vulnerability of rare taxa. This talk highlights a framework for understanding the climate change vulnerability of certain plant species, and a research study applying this framework to understand how rare alpine rattlesnake-root plants (Nabalus spp., Syn: Prenanthes spp.) endemic to mountains of the Northeast will respond to ongoing environmental change (pictured below). The results from this study have important implications for the management of these rare taxa. This research can give us insight into how the world is being effected from climate change and the ways our conservation plans can help us manage those effects.

Speaker Kristen Haynes, PHD is an ecologist and plant biologist whose work focuses on climate change conservation. Kristen’s interest in environmental issues began with early experiences in the Adirondack Mountains in northern New York State, and grew through involvement with her high school’s Envirothon team. Kristen studied Natural Resources at Cornell University and then pursued a PhD at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Currently, as the Assistant Director of SUNY Oswego’s Rice Creek Field Station, Kristen is co-leading a project aiming to restore native tree species to New York State’s canal region for ecosystem, climate, and cultural benefits.

Free for Tower Hill members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

Saturday, October 16, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Macro/Close Up Photography

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Spring, summer, winter, or fall, macro photography opens the door to a wonderful new world of photo opportunities. With instructor Steve McGrath as your guide, this Massachusetts Horticultural Society course at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley on October 16 at 2 pm will show you ways to use your existing camera gear to make spectacular macro photographs. The close-up world is a magical place full of pattern, color, and abstract imagery. Flowers become abstract works of art; rusty doors become textured canvasses; stones become polished gems; butterflies and other insects can become sci-fi monsters. Instructed by Steve McGrath. $32 for Mass Hort members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org

Steve McGrath is a professional freelance photographer and photography teacher who has been creating images for 20 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion, “nature photography”. Steve was an active member of the Gateway Camera Club for many years, and has won many ribbons and awards at fairs and competitions through the group and on his own. Several of his images have been published in school textbooks. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.