Learn the gentle art of making your own personalized candle at Wright-Locke Farm in Winchester on November 12.! This isn’t just about creating a beautiful candle; it’s an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply, and connect with the meditative process of creating something beautiful with your own hands.
We encourage each participant to design a unique candle inspired by a favorite memory, season, cherished event, or anything close to your heart. Whether you’re drawn to the fresh scent of spring mornings, the warmth of a cozy winter evening, or a special moment with loved ones, your candle will become a personal treasure that tells your story.
Registration Cost Tier A $95 (pay-it-forward/Cummings Foundation match!) Tier B $80 (cost to run the class) Tier C $65 (reduced price) Did you know that when you select the “Pay-it-Forward” price for any of our programs the Cummings Foundation matches those funds? A little extra goes a LONG way!
What’s included in the cost? The candle-making kit includes organic soy candle wax, high-heat jar, and wicks. The $30 cost of this kit is included in the cost of registration. Visit https://wlfarm.org/adult-education-programs/
Few cities in the world are as intertwined with water as Venice. Built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon along the Adriatic coast, Venice evolved from a marshy refuge into a powerful maritime republic—and its relationship with water has defined its history, politics, culture, and identity for more than a millennium.
Historian Dennis Romano, author of Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City, explores how the aquatic environment of the Venetian lagoon has shaped nearly every aspect of life in the city. Over the course of its 1,600-year history, citizens have regarded the surrounding waters in remarkably varied ways: as a vital safeguard and source of sustenance; a complex engineering challenge; an obstacle to be overcome; and today, an existential threat. Romano examines the physical and hydrological characteristics of the lagoon and considers how shifting perceptions of water have influenced Venice’s development, resilience, and vulnerability. Through this lens, he offers a deeper understanding of the city’s past and the urgent questions it faces in the present.
Agriculture is crucial to providing for growing human population. It is also major threat to Earth’s biodiversity. Broad conservation strategies to address this situation include land-sparing, which includes establishing reserves where human land uses are limited and natural processes are allowed to proceed, and land sharing, which seeks to improve the habitat provided by human-dominated landscapes. Prairie strips are an increasingly promoted land-sharing practice developed in the US Midwest. In this online American Horticultural Society seminar on November 20 at 7 pm, Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore will present research knowledge and gaps regarding the use of prairie strips by multiple taxa, including insects, birds, and reptiles. She will also discuss farmer interest in and barriers to establishing prairie strips.
Dr. Lisa Schulte Moore is the Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agricultural and Life Sciences in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management and director of the Bioeconomy Institute at Iowa State University. She works in large transdisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, farmers, farmland owners, and representatives of government, industry, and NGOs to foster continuous living cover on agricultural landscapes. Her research supports the development of new agricultural markets to meet societal goals for sustainable food, energy, materials, rural prosperity, healthy soil, clean water, abundant wildlife, and inspiring recreational opportunities. She is a fellow of the Ecological Society of America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and MacArthur Foundation.
You are cordially invited to the Associates of the Boston Public Library’s seventh annual Pierce Performance Series: A Revelation of Character, in collaboration with Plays in Place. This new, hour-long play explores the fraught relationship between female abolitionists Lydia Maria Child and Maria Weston Chapman. The staged readings will be held at 6 pm on November 12 and 13, and at 2 pm on November 15, at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. Free. Reserve your tickets through Eventbrite HERE.
Join five-time James Beard Award winner Dorie Greenspan on November 12 at 6:30 pm for a delectable evening celebrating her new book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes. Greenspan and chef Carla Hall serve up stories, baking wisdom, and insights into the magic behind the kinds of cakes that don’t need frosting, fuss, or special occasions—just a fork and a little hunger for happiness. Greenspan and Hall share how cake can be bound in memories and offer inspiring tips to help make each recipe—like honey-buttermilk loaf, poppyseed lemony wonder, and jammy snacking cake—to individual tastes. The evening includes a Q&A session. This Smithsonian Associates Zoom presentation is $25 for Smithsonian members, $35 for nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/dorie-greenspan
Explore the world of heirloom apples during a full day of apple-inspired discovery on November 15 at New England Botanic Garden in Boylston. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of NEBG’s Frank L. Harrington Orchard, learn how to start and maintain your own home orchard, sample rare and flavorful apple varieties, and dive into the art of cider making on Sunday November 16 with an optional off-site cidery tour. Whether you’re a backyard grower, history buff, or cider enthusiast, there’s something to savor and learn. $95 for NEBG members, $114 for nonmembers, $99 for Ecological Landscape Alliance members. Register HERE.
SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light is an annual event at Mount Auburn Cemetery that includes an outdoor journey with large-scale light and sound artworks created by MASARY, and an indoor experience with live music and candle lighting. Guests are invited to walk through the light-filled landscape, explore the Winter Solstice atmosphere, and to reflect on moments of change as the year ends and a new cycle begins. Connect to a landscape of exceptional beauty, consider an intention for the new year, or commemorate the memory of a loved one. Let SOLSTICE light your way as you encounter the unique spirit of Mount Auburn. Tickets on sale at https://www.mountauburnsolstice.org/
Join The Garden Museum on November 11 at 2 pm Eastern for the launch of the second edition of The Dynamic Landscape, a landmark book exploring ecologically inspired planting design.
The evening will be chaired by Arit Anderson, garden designer, writer, and presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World, and will bring together leading voices in the field of landscape architecture and ecological planting.
Authors Nigel Dunnett and James Hitchmough will discuss how naturalistic planting has evolved from the late 20th century into a distinctive and influential design aesthetic, shaping sustainable approaches to landscape design worldwide.
They will be joined by Dr Helen Hoyle (University of Sheffield), whose research examines the social dimensions of urban planting and our relationships with nature in cities. £10 Livestream (watch live or on demand). Book tickets HERE
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.
Proteas are iconic wildflowers from Africa (most diverse and prominent in the fynbos region) and globally beloved as cut flowers, but what are the social and environmental contexts of this trade in the Cape? In this November 12 Gardens Trust talk, Rupert will explore some of the issues in his article with Prof Dave Bek in Protean Routes: Following the Commodification Chain of the Protea Flower between South Africa and the Netherlands (Dwaalstêr Editions, 2025).
Plus, as English gardens embrace more naturalistic planting and meadows are trendy, what are the consequences in places where the more formal style of gardening and landscaping is still entrenched?
Rupert Koopman is a fynbos-obsessed botanist based in Cape Town, South Africa who uses the flexibility of freelance work to protect and increase the appreciation of South Africa’s flora. Previous roles in both government and the NGO sector focussing on the protection of South Africa’s plants, especially fynbos of the Cape, give him a good overview of the country’s green wealth. Rupert’s interests include SA’s threatened plant species, citizen science, food plants, making plant conservation more relevant and accessible to a broader audience and participating in multidisciplinary projects. Being a qualified tour guide gives him a further platform to weave history, science and current affairs into a single narrative.
Join The Friends of the Public Garden on November 14 for an unforgettable first Friendsgiving celebration! The Young Friends of the Public Garden invite you to experience a fresh, exciting twist on the classic Winter Party—hosted in a new space at 8 Park Street that sets the mood for giving, connection, and merrymaking. Enjoy a cocktail and mocktail crafted just for the evening, along with seasonal hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, Turkey Trivia (with prizes!), and other delights.
Whether you’re raising a glass, trotting out your trivia skills, or bidding for a good cause, Friendsgiving is all about celebrating community and the greenspaces we love. Tickets available at bit.ly/fopgfriendsgiving
