Boston Flora

Month: October 2025

  • Thursday, October 23, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Refreshing Your Garden Design: New Challenges, New Visions, Online

    After a few seasons of beauty and ecological contribution, some landscapes can become overgrown and no longer serve their original intention. What is the next step? How do you create a revised vision for new circumstances in your existing green space? Join AHS on October 23 at 1 pm Eastern online to study examples of the garden revitalization process and to apply the steps to your own landscape, including how to identify your current garden challenges, set new objectives, re-assess your site, and determine which plant material and design concepts to maintain or change. We will also address key design principles and site preparation tips for installation.

    Cheryl Salatino is a New England based landscape designer, educator, and native plant enthusiast. She started Dancing Shadows Garden Design twenty years ago to offer clients a more thoughtful and purposeful design aesthetic. What continues to inspire this designer is how the beauty and value of nature endlessly challenge, surprise, and teach us. Salatino received her certificate in landscape design from the Radcliffe Seminars Landscape Design Program of Harvard University. She has earned the status of Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist by the MA Nursery & Landscape Association and completed the UMASS Green School program in Landscape Management. She has also earned an Advanced Certificate in Horticulture and Design as part of the Native Plant Trust educational certificate program.

    $30 for AHS members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/ahs-live-refreshing-your-garden-design-new-challenges-new-visions/

  • Sunday, October 19, 1:30 pm – Martha’s Vineyard Crop Hunger Walk

    In the face of the continuing and rising needs of hungry people around the world, in our nation, and on Martha’s Vineyard, especially in a time of natural disasters, wars, economic despair, cuts in humanitarian aid, and millions of displaced people, Martha’s Vineyard Crop Hunger Walk remains steadfast in its commitment to raising money in the fight against hunger through annual hunger walks. Over the course of 34 years, the MV CROP Hunger Walks have raised almost $700,000 (to be exact: $699,914) to benefit the poor and hungry around the world and on Martha’s Vineyard. Last year, we once again were one of the top walks in the nation, raising $41,130 – our best total ever and 30th highest in the country. We’re grateful for all our walkers and donors who join us year after year. We will gather at 1:30 pm at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven. Walkers will start in two or three stages as soon as each team has assembled and checked in. At the end of the walk, walkers will be welcomed back with a Walk Day Festival with music, food, and fun for all. We will gather at 1:30 pm at St. Augustine’s Church in Vineyard Haven. Walkers will start in two or three stages as soon as each team has assembled and checked in. At the end of the walk, walkers will be welcomed back with a Walk Day Festival with music, food, and fun for all. For more information, and to register, visit https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/event/marthasvineyard

  • Wednesday, November 19, 7:00 pm Eastern – Birdability Book Club: The Comfort of Crows

    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.

    The November 19 session will discuss The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year, by Margaret Renkl. 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.

  • Wednesday, October 15, 1:00 pm Eastern – Craze for Collecting: She Sleeps on a Volcano! Online

    Were they intrepid explorers and suppliers of beauty and scientific advancement, or imperialist plunderers and destroyers of fragile environments? The reputation of plant-hunters as brave adventurers tracking down botanical wonders has taken something of a battering in recent years. Make your own mind up about their role and continuing importance as The Gardens Trust shares some plant-hunter stories in this new five part series. Learn about the exploits of the late-18th century ‘father’ of modern plant-hunting and the adventures of a once-celebrated woman who led botanical expeditions to the Andes. Hear tales from those who’ve followed in the footsteps of famous collectors, revisiting the native habitats of exotic plants which are now staples in the British garden, and ponder on ideas about the very different role of collectors today in plant conservation and public education. This ticket is for this individual session and costs £8. Register through Eventbrite HERE. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days (and again a few hours) prior to the start of the talk, and a link to the recorded session will be sent shortly after each session and will be available for 2 weeks.

    Amongst the famous plant-hunters that Britain produced the name of Dora Stafford is ignored. Yet, in the 1930s she managed a syndicate of wealthy collectors and botanical gardens to fund her expeditions to the Andes mountains, in southern Peru. Miss Stafford’s plant-hunting exploits made sensational headlines in newspapers and amazed readers in society magazines. A plant catalogue card from Highdown Gardens sparked a three-year investigation by the speaker into related archival materials: letters, newspapers and 90-year-old pressed flowers. Each piece contributing to a larger historical jigsaw of the remarkable Miss Stafford. Discover her other surprising horticultural/botanical links with Enfield, Kew Gardens and the alpaca trade from Arequipa in Peru. This is a work in progress.

    After 20 years working in museum exhibitions, Hamish MacGillivray became a curatorial freelancer evolving into a story hunter. He now helps volunteer groups in south-east England discover hidden stories in archives or museum stores. He became fascinated exploring links between horticulture, botany and social history when working at Great Dixter House and Gardens and later for the National Trust (Chartwell), Highdown Gardens and Cranleigh Heritage Trust.

    For more information, please visit https://www.acmemuseumservices.co.uk/about/

  • Thursday, October 16, 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm – Boston Public Market Harvest Party: 10th Anniversary

    Join Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover Street in Boston, on Thursday, October 16th, for our annual Harvest Party, a celebration in support of the Boston Public Market’s mission to cultivate a diverse community around food. Enjoy bites from our food entrepreneurs, craft libations featuring local spirits, live music & more. This year, we’re celebrating 10 years of the Boston Public Market! We’re thrilled to unveil our 10th Birthday Harvest Party, featuring a spectacular lineup of entertainment.

    Dinner (5:30 – 7) kicks off the evening in our Entrepreneurship Tent on The Rose Kennedy Greenway with an intimate buffet dinner showcasing the signature cuisines from BPM food entrepreneurs alongside local libations. After dinner, join the 10th Birthday Bash inside the Market, with continued access to the Entrepreneurship Tent and lounge featuring an exclusive open bar all evening long. Guests will also receive swag bags, special gifts, and enjoy a private, behind-closed-doors look at the Market and get the chance to meet the makers. Dinner tickets also include admittance to the Bash (7 – 9: tickets $50) Guests to the Bash will be invited to celebrate a “taste of the Market” with delicious bites from our food entrepreneurs, one drink ticket featuring craft beverages, live music and dancing, silent auction prizes, and photos with BPM’s annual GIANT pumpkins. A cash bar will be available for additional beverage purchases. Tickets are available through Eventbrite HERE.

    Proceeds from your ticket contribution will directly benefit our Community Engagement Fund, which helps  fulfill our mission and offer free, public educational experiences at the Market for our local community, and further support the entrepreneurs and small business owners that make the Market a special place.

  • Friday, October 17, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – 2025 Food and Wine Dinner at Bettini for Island Grown Initiative

    Join friends for an unforgettable evening of fine food, wine, and celebration on Martha’s Vineyard on October 17.

    Culinary Creations Prepared by:
    Celebrity Chef Jon Ashton (jonashton.com)
    Guest Chef Alex Pineda of Qué Mas in Beverly, MA (quemasrestaurant.com)
    Executive Chef Juan Martinez of Bettini Restaurant

    5:00 pm: The evening begins with a lively cocktail reception in the beautifully renovated Menemsha Room, where guests will mix and mingle while enjoying an open bar and three exquisite appetizers — each crafted by our featured chefs.

    7:00 pm: Step into Bettini Restaurant for an elegant four-course dinner. The menu will be brought to life by the wit and culinary talent of Celebrity Chef Jon Ashton, the artistry and passion of returning Guest Chef Alex Pineda, and the culinary expertise of Harbor View Hotel’s Executive Chef Juan Martinez — together showcasing exceptional flavors and beautiful wine pairings.

    8:30 pm: To finish, indulge in a decadent dessert accompanied by an après-meal liqueur tasting.

    9:00 pm: If the night calls you to stay a little longer, the festivities will continue at Bettini Bar with a cash bar.

    To foster an engaging and memorable experience, seating will be offered in an elegant communal setting. To make a reservation, please call 508-627-3761, email bettini@harborviewhotel.com, or book on OpenTable. $375 per peerson includes tax and gratuity.

    A portion of proceeds supports Martha’s Vineyard Island Grown Initiative in building a resilient local food system, expanding food access with dignity, and providing community-wide food education.

  • Friday – Sunday, October 24 – 26 – Boston Chapter of Ikebana International Show & Sale

    Ikebana (Japanese for “arranged flowers” or “living flowers”) has been practiced in Japan for centuries and is now practiced worldwide. Members of Boston Chapter #17 of Ikebana International participate in three of the many schools of Ikebana. The Ikenobo school is the oldest of the schools, dating back to the 1400s, and considers itself the origin of Ikebana. Ikenobo emphasizes the Rikka and Shoka styles, in both traditional and modern forms. The Ohara school, founded in the 1890s, emphasizes naturalistic arrangements and created the popular Moribana style. The Sogetsu school, founded in the 1920s, emphasizes personal expression through Free Style arranging.

    Members of Boston Chapter #17 of Ikebana International are pleased to display arrangements and give demonstrations representing these three schools of Ikebana at Tower Hill. Free with Admission to Tower Hill. Hours are Friday, October 24, 12 – 5, Saturday, October 25, 10 – 5, and Sunday, October 26, 10 – 4. For details on hours of special demonstrations and workshops, visit https://nebg.org/shows/

  • Now Through October 18 – Minificence: Libby Ellis Photography Exhibit

    If you find yourself on Martha’s Vineyard this fall, you are warmly welcome to experience award-winning photographer Libby Ellis’s new collection of black-and-white photographic portraits of garden-grown flowers. Interweaving “little particles of dream,” Ellis has reenvisioned the Kunstkammers, or Collector’s Cabinets, in the reading room at The Carnegie, part of the Vineyard Preservation Trust, in the seaside village of Edgartown.

    Libby Ellis is a photographer creating contemplative photographic portraits of garden-grown flora. Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries in the US and Europe, including the Saatchi Gallery in London. Ellis’s flora portraits have been awarded distinguish by the Royal Horticultural Society and can be found on exhibit in the permanent collections of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Harvard Divinity School.

    The free exhibition is mounted at 58 N. Water Street in Edgartown. For more information visit https://vineyardtrust.org/event/minificence-by-photographer-libby-ellis/

  • Saturday, October 11, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Eco-Tour of Native Shrubs & Shrublands

    Join Dan Wilder for a tour of one of his favorite sites with fantastic shrub diversity in Brimfield, Massachusetts, on October 11. Free for Ecological Landscape members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/

  • Tuesday, October 14, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – The Mystic: In Color

    The Mystic River Watershed Association Annual Meeting will take place Tuesday, October 14 from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at Mass General Brigham at Assembly Row in Somerville. All are welcome. For information visit https://mysticriver.org/