Boston Flora

Month: July 2025

  • Thursday, July 31, 7:00 pm – Sing for Science

    Meet at the intersection of science and art for a SubSpace event on July 31 presented by the Museum’s Center for the Environment. This special evening features a live taping of Sing for Science, the acclaimed podcast that brings musicians and researchers together for conversations that spark curiosity, creativity, and connection. oin the Museum’s Center for the Environment for a special live taping of the acclaimed Sing for Science podcast, featuring Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and passionate gardener Neko Case in conversation with celebrated ecologist Rebecca McMackin. Together, they’ll explore the rich interplay between music, native plants, and ecological restoration — highlighting how creativity and care shape our relationship with the natural world.

    Moderated by Sing for Science host Matt Whyte, this conversation promises insight, inspiration, and an unforgettable blend of art and science. $15. Get tickets at https://www.mos.org/events/subspace/sing-science-featuring-neko-case-and-rebecca-mcmackin

    Listen to full episodes of the podcast on Spotify, and sign up for the Sing for Science newsletter here. Sing For Science is supported in part by a grant from the Simons Foundation.

  • Wednesday, September 17, 7:00 pm Eastern – Birdability’s Virtual Book Club, Online

    Birdability is thrilled to continue the Birdability Book Club. Birdability is dedicated to making birding and bird activities more accessible for everyone, especially individuals with disabilities. The Birdability Book Club is an extension of this commitment, providing a welcoming space for participants to connect, share experiences, and explore the world of birds through the lens of literature. The book club will meet every other month on the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time/6:00 P.M. Central Time/5:00 P.M. Mountain Time/4:00 P.M. Pacific Time.

    On September 17, the discussion will center on Birding for a Better World: A Guide to Finding Joy and Community in Nature, by Molly Adams and Sydney Golden Anderson. Participation in the Birdability Book Club is open to all, and attendance is virtual, making it accessible to birders from diverse locations and backgrounds. To join the club, register for the upcoming session here. You will receive an email with the log-in information for the Zoom virtual meeting.

  • Dr. Jonathan Foley to Receive the Native Plant Trust’s Founders’ Medal Award

    Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization dedicated exclusively to native plants, proudly announces the celebration of its 125th anniversary. As part of this milestone, the organization will honor acclaimed climate scientist Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, with its prestigious Founders’ Medal at a gala in Boston this fall. This 125th anniversary marks both a historic legacy and a bold vision for the future—one grounded in the belief that native plants are essential to solving the climate and biodiversity crises.

    The 125th Anniversary Gala will take place on Tuesday, September 30 from 6 – 9 at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston. In addition to honoring Dr. Foley, Native Plant Trust will recognize longtime supporters Abby and Peter Coffin for their extraordinary contributions to the organization’s mission. The Coffins embrace the principles of Native Plant Trust with inspiration, sincerity, and generosity of spirit. Together, they are tireless advocates for protecting and conserving the land and waterways of our nation. The evening’s theme, “Sowing the Seeds for Our Future,” reflects Native Plant Trust’s enduring
    commitment to ecological resilience through native plant conservation. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/125th-anniversary/125th-anniversary-gala/

  • Wednesday, August 6, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Lessons from Stoneleigh: Reimagining Traditional Landscapes with Native Plants

    Join the Polly Hill Arboretum and Ethan Kauffman on August 6 at 5:30 pm for the Annual David H. Smith Memorial Lecture, Lessons from Stoneleigh: Reimaging Traditional Landscapes with Native Plants. The program will be held at the Arboretum, 795 State Road in West Tisbury, and is $10 for PHA members, $15 for nonmembers. Please Pre-Register

    With a 150-year history as a private estate, Stoneleigh: a natural garden became one of the newest public gardens in the Philadelphia region in 2018. Informed by the growing understanding of the connectedness of all living things, a vision arose during the transition: to reimagine a historical landscape as an ecologically vibrant wonderland of native plants. Relying on both tried-and-true gardening techniques and intrepid experimentation, the emerging garden is an exuberant exploration of cultivating native plants in the modern landscape.

    Join Stoneleigh Director Ethan Kauffman as he reveals the unexpected plants, expressive design philosophy, and unconventional practices that are driving Stoneleigh’s exciting transformation.

  • Sunday, August 17, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Wild Sounds: Exploring Nature through Amplified Listening at Garden in the Woods

    Connect with your creative impulses in this exclusive deep-listening workshop, facilitated by sound designer and 2025 Visiting Artist Skooby Laposky. Discover the unheard patterns and activities at Garden in the Woods, and practice using geophones, parabolic mics, and other listening tools that Skooby uses for his nature-based sound projects.

    The Native Plant Trust special event takes place Sunday, August 17 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham from 10 – 3, is $100, and you may register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/wild-sounds-exploring-nature-through-amplified-listening-at-garden-in-the-woods/

  • Thursday, August 14, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern – Garden Club Flower Photography Class, Online

    Please sign up for the New England Garden Clubs’ 2025 photography Zoom webinar workshop on Thursday, August 14 at 4 pm. The topic is Flower Photography: Mastering Composition, Exposure, and Depth with Your Camera and Smart Phone. The class is taught by Lisa Cuchara, internationally renowned photographer-writer. The cost is $10, and the Zoom will be recorded. The link to the workshop is https://www.lisatom.photos/photo-events/cuchara-gardenclub-august14. After registering, you will receive an email with a link for joining the webinar. You’ll receive a reminder one week, one day, and one hour before the webinar starts.

  • Bio-Absorption (Rain Garden) Unveiled at Marble House

    The new bio-absorption garden – aka rain garden – next to the Marble House visitor parking lot in Newport was officially dedicated in June, though with recent rains it had already been doing its job of preventing stormwater runoff.

    A project of Scenic Aquidneck (The Preservation Society of Newport County, Aquidneck Island Land Trust, Preserve Rhode Island and the van Beuren Charitable Foundation), the garden was constructed by O’Connor Design Build in Middletown.

    This 2,800-square-foot garden will capture and filter stormwater runoff, reducing pollution and mitigating flooding. It is functional and environmentally friendly but also beautifies the space with an array of new native plantings that will promote biodiversity while attracting birds and pollinators. Preservation Society CEO Trudy Coxe noted that this new rain garden is the latest in a series of important projects completed by Scenic Aquidneck. Others include rebuilding hundreds of feet of stone wall, a project to bury power lines along Second Beach in Middletown, documenting historic barns across Aquidneck Island and pushing for historic tax credits at the state level. For more information on properties managed by The Preservation Society of Newport County, visit https://www.newportmansions.org/. Photo credit to Natasha Harrison of the Newport Tree Conservancy, far left.

  • Thursday, July 31, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – The Art of Fine Gardening, Online

    The Garden Conservancy is sponsoring a Zoom on July 31 – register HERE. On the occasion of his long-awaited debut book about his pre-eminent landscape design firm in the North Shore of Chicago, Open Days Garden Host Craig Bergmann and his Head Gardener Russell Buvala will discuss their company’s process of design, installation, and maintenance. Additionally, they will highlight a few of their favorite garden profiles and personal garden experiences. For more than four decades, Bergmann has been recognized for establishing a true dialogue between the garden and the architectural site. Revered as a plantsman, Bergmann layers his designs with vibrant blooms and textured foliage. The Art of Fine Gardening features twenty gardens that span his career and are located in the North Shore. A special chapter is dedicated to the Gardens at 900, the historic estate designed by architect David Adler, which he developed and reimagined as a series of lush private garden rooms with hedges, towering topiary, and perennial borders, interspersed with classical figures and ornament.

    With a passion deeply rooted in the harmony of design and nature, Craig Bergmann’s award-winning work is a testament to his skill, innovation, and commitment to sustainability. At the heart of his practice is a profound respect for the natural world, seamlessly integrated with the architectural heritage of each space. Russell Buvala has been Head Gardener for Craig Bergmann Landscape Design Inc. for the last 37 years. As Head Gardener, he oversees the company’s garden care division, leading a team of gardeners and florists in the stewardship of over 150 gardens throughout the Midwest.

    Participants in this webinar have the option to purchase a copy of the book, The Art of Fine Gardening: Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, and receive complimentary admission to the webinar. Price ($60 public, $50 Garden Conservancy Members) includes book, free shipping, and webinar admission. A recording of this webinar will be sent to all registrants a few days after the event. The recording link will expire after 30 days. We encourage you to register, even if you cannot attend the live webinar. 

    If you’d like to purchase webinar admission only, please click here.

  • Tuesday, July 29, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Eastern – The Harms of Mosquito Spraying, Online

    Aaron Anderson of The Xerces Society will present a free online talk on The Harms of Mosquito Spraying on Tuesday, July 29 from 7 – 8:15 pm. To receive the link to this free presentation, email officemanager@grownativemassachusetts.org.

    Aaron Anderson works with the public and Xerces staff to reduce pesticide use in residential landscapes, including promoting alternative pest control measures and pollinator-friendly gardening practices. Prior to joining Xerces in 2022, he researched pollinator conservation in urban landscapes, restored habitat for several endangered butterfly species, and worked in insect biocontrol. In 2021 he was an AAAS Mass Media Fellow at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he reported science and business stories. Aaron has a PhD from Oregon State University, and outside of work you can probably find him riding his bike, science writing, or fiddling with old cameras.

  • Sunday, August 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon Eastern – All-Star Plants for Home Gardening, Online

    Whether you are just beginning your gardening journey or looking for expert advice on how to make your garden more robust, this New York Botanical Garden online class will provide a detailed overview of a variety of shrubs, perennials, and annuals that have been identified as winners in horticultural competitions. We’ll cover growth and maintenance tips so that you can make most of these plants in your home garden. The live session on August 3 at 10 – 12 Eastern is taught by Lorraine Ballato, and is $59 for NYBG members, $65 for nonmembers. Register at www.nybg.org.