Boston Flora

Month: April 2024

  • Saturday, May 11, 10:00 am – Green Animals Plant Sale

    Welcome Spring! We’ll soon be working in our gardens, and what better place to get wonderful new plants and gardening tips for your home or garden than the annual Green Animals Plant Sale, sponsored by The Preservation Society of Newport County. Head on over to Green Animals at 380 Corys Lane, Portsmouth, Rhode Island on Saturday, May 11 for some great deals on Mother’s Day gifts, topiary, bedding plants, hanging baskets, perennials and more. The sale starts at 10 a.m.–get there early for the best selection! For more details, log on to www.newportmansions.org, or call 401-683-1267. Green Animals is not open for tours on Friday, May 10, in preparation for the sale. Admission is free for plant sale only, but visitors will need a ticket or Preservation Society membership to tour the topiary garden. This event will happen rain or shine.

  • Saturday, April 27, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm – 2024 In Bloom In Massachusetts

    On Saturday, April 27, 2024, Antioch University New England will return to Wright-Locke Farm for In Bloom in Massachusetts. Wright-Locke is an intriguing operating farm, backed up against a big chunk of conservation land, right-in-the-middle-of-the-north-of-Boston suburbs; but easy to access from downtown. With the collaboration of the Boston Outdoor Preschool Network, there is an excellent program line-up for this event.

    The morning keynote will be given by Ashley Brailsford, Founder of Unearthing Joy in Nashville, Tennessee. Creating nature-based curriculum and programs that center diverse cultural perspectives can be challenging, but is necessary for transforming outdoor spaces into inclusive places. This keynote will share practical strategies and examples from programs that center the stories and roles of Black, Indigenous and Other People of the Global Majority in nature education. Ashley Brailsford, PhD is an early childhood educator and nature enthusiast who launched Unearthing Joy to guide the development of culturally-centered, nature-based programming for families, community groups and organizations that center the stories and contributions of Indigenous, Black and other people of the global majority. Her experiences in teaching, professorship, curriculum development and leadership in education coupled with time spent as an outdoor guide informs her programming and development process to transform outdoor spaces into inclusive places that honor culture, explore justice and unearth joy.

    There are also a number of fascinating workshops and panels focusing on early childhood education and nature. Complete information may be found HERE. $125.

  • Wednesday, May 8, 7:30 pm – Sing For Science

    Join the Museum of Science, Boston on May 8 for a Reno Family Foundation Symposium, Sing for Science, featuring David Byrne and author Patrick Svensson. $30, including a copy of The Book of Eels. Register at www.mos.org

    Don’t miss this unforgettable night at the Museum of Science with David Byrne. The music icon will take the stage for a live conversation about what scientists and philosophers for centuries have called “the eel question” alongside perhaps the greatest cultural authority on the topic, The Book of Eels author Patrik Svensson.

    David’s interest in “the eel question” adds to an ever-increasing range of pursuits that now includes two Broadway shows and an interactive neuroscience exhibit at Denver’s Center for the Performing Arts. The Book of Eels has amassed a long list of distinctions and awards for its meditation on our enduring fascination with “the most mysterious creature in the natural world.” Even in today’s age of advanced science, no one has ever seen eels mating or giving birth, and we still don’t understand what drives them — after living for decades in freshwater — to swim great distances back to the ocean at the end of their lives.

    This live taping for the Sing for Science podcast is moderated by the show’s host, Matt Whyte. Ticket price includes a copy of The Book of Eels and book signing with the author following the taping. 

    Listen to Sing for Science on Spotify! And sign up for the Sing for Science newsletter here

    This program is part of the Museum’s Year of the Earthshot, an exploration of the climate solutions and the actions we can take now to live sustainably on Earth.

  • Thursday, May 23, 10:00 am – The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America Spring Meeting, Lecture & Luncheon – Boston’s Franklin Park: Olmsted, Recreation, and the Modern City

    The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America will hold its Spring Meeting, Lecture and Luncheon on May 23 at The Country Club in Brookline. The Guest Speaker will be Ethan Carr, author of Boston’s Franklin Park: Olmsted, Recreation, and the Modern City. Members of member clubs of The Boston Committee will receive an invitation. $30 lecture, $35 luncheon. If you are not a member, you may consider joining The Garden Club of the Back Bay, which is one of the affiliate clubs.

  • Friday, May 10 – Saturday, May 11 – Mass Audubon’s Bird-a-thon

    For 40 years, Bird-a-thon has brought birders, nature-lovers, and families together to celebrate nature and raise funds that provide essential year-round support for Mass Audubon’s conservation, nature education, and advocacy work. This year’s event will take place May 10 – May 11.

    No matter if you join for the fun of it or for the thrill of competition (or both!), every team member has the opportunity to enjoy birds while raising or donating essential funds for Mass Audubon.

    This year, we’re making it easier than ever to participate in Bird-a-thon! You can join one of 11 teams to take part in a series of birding competitions, you can fundraise for your team, you can donate to your favorite team, you can join a Bird-a-thon program, or all of the above!

    Be sure to check out the latest guidelines and awards to see what’s new this year. Visit www.massaudubon.org

  • Sunday, May 12, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Lilac Sunday

    Experience the springtime bloom of our renowned collection of over 400 lilacs. Visit for tours with Arboretum experts, hands-on children’s programming, and more. Picnicking in the Arboretum landscape is permitted on this day only, Sunday, May 12 from 10 – 3.

    Located primarily on the edge of Bussey Hill Road in the heart of the landscape, the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum is among the premier collections of these plants in North America. Of the thousands of flowering plants in the Arboretum (many of which can also be enjoyed at this time), only the lilac is singled out each year for a daylong celebration.

    Pack a picnic and make your way to the lilac collection on Bussey Hill Road. With 407 lilac plants representing 173 taxa (kinds), the Arboretum holds one of the premier lilac collections in North America. Lilac Sunday has been celebrated at the Arnold Arboretum since 1908. Join an Arboretum expert for a guided tour of the lilac collection. Tours depart between 10:00am–2:30pm from Arborway Gate and the Ponds. Access the lilac tour—as well as over 60 additional plants and areas—on our mobile app, Expeditions. The app is available in English, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese/Mandarin. You can access Expeditions through your smartphone’s internet browser or download the app from the Apple App store and the Google Play store.

  • Saturday, April 27, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm- Bay State African Violet Society Show & Sale

    What is it about African violets that has attracted so many fans and admirers? African violets are known for their unique features, vibrant colors, and beautiful blooms. The annual judged African violet show and sale by the Bay State African Violet Society, Inc. on April 27 at The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill is a much-anticipated event. See horticultural and design exhibits of African violets grown by members of BSAVS, Inc. and attend lectures/demonstrations. Learn general care of African violets and basic requirements for soil, fertilizer, watering, and light. Discover tips on how and when to re-pot and how to propagate new plants from leaves. There will also be hundreds of gorgeous named African violets for sale! There will also be a demonstration from 1 – 2 on How to Grow African Violets. From fuzzy leaves to friendly flowers, there are many reasons why African violets are among America’s most popular houseplants

    This event is included with General Admission. We recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance to secure your preferred date. You can also buy tickets in person at the Garden. Click here to reserve your tickets in advance.

  • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 30, May 1, & May 2, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Spring Ephemeral Wildflowers in Situ

    Capture the beauty of New England ephemeral plants in their naive habitat in this 3-day Massachusetts Horticultural Society class with Betsy Rogers-Knox. These special plants bloom early, before the leaf canopy shades their habitat. Starting with line drawings and a quick tonal, we’ll compose a small habitat composition using live subjects native to the area. With step-by-step instruction and demonstrations, we’ll incorporate many watercolor techniques including wet-on-wet, dry brush and everything in between. The class will meet at the Garden at Elm Bank, Cheney Room, Education Center, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley.

    Betsy Rogers-Knox earned a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from The NYBG and is enchanted by the full lifecycle of plants and their habitats. Her work has been shown widely in the US including the 13th-26th ASBA International Exhibitions, the 3rd and 4th NYBG Triennials and the RHS Botanical Art Exhibit in London in 2019 where she received the Judges Special Award for the educational and ecological value of her paintings of Beckley Bog. Her work is held in the permanent collection at the RHS Lindley Library in London and at the Hunt Institute in Pittsburgh.

    Note: This course may be taken at the Foundations-level (150) or Techniques-level (250), with appropriate completion requirements for each. Fee is $350 for Mass Hort members, $425 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org.

    Prerequisite: Suitable for artists who have completed at least two “Foundations of Botanical Drawing & Painting” classes or equivalent. 

  • Sunday, April 21, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm – The Conservation of Migration

    Since 1992, birders from around New England have come together to attend Mass Audubon’s annual Birders Meeting. We are please to announce that after a three year absence, this year’s meeting will once again be held in person at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA on Sunday, April 21 from 8 am – 4:30 pm. Please join us for The Conservation of Migration.

    Migratory birds travel short and long distances between their breeding and wintering areas, while stopping in between. The feat of migration does not come without risks. North American migratory birds have been declining for decades and are in dire need of conservation. The 2024 Birders Meeting will explore the wonders of bird migration, conservation risks, conservation needs, and the history of how we understand migration. This year’s speakers include John Rappole of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Dan Klem of Muhlenberg University, Freda Guo of Princeton University, and author Rebecca Heisman. We are happy to announce the participation of the Museum of American Bird Art as well!

    Registration ($25) link is located at www.massaudubon.org

  • Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 pm – Informational Meeting About the Charlesgate Farmers Market

    The Charlesgate Farmers Market will be held in DCR Charlesgate Park at Commonwealth Avenue between Charlesgate East and Charlesgate West. The market hours will be on Sundays between 11 am and 2 pm on Sundays, beginning June 23 through October 13. There will be an informational meeting for the neighborhood on April 24 at 6:30 pm at 400 Commonwealth Avenue.