Join the Boston Police Department and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bays Block Captains of Back Bay for an evening walk through our neighborhood parks on Monday, March 23rd at 5:30 pm, starting at Copley Square Park and heading to the Commonwealth Ave Mall. (Rain Date: Tuesday, March 24th)
Meet local officers, share observations about park conditions and safety, and connect with neighbors working together to keep Back Bay welcoming for everyone.
Todd Longstaffe-Gowan’s online talk for The Garden Conservancy on March 24 at 2 pm Eastern will focus on and celebrate the evanescence of London’s vast and varied garden legacy. Our fascination with lost gardens is more than a mere pervasive wistfulness for the past or a vague longing for vanished paradise—it is often fueled by our interest in reconstructing worlds that supply us with a powerful means of making sense of the past, and a way of reading history. London gardens, often shut off from the continuum of everyday life around them, and so allowing particular scope for individual experimentation, readily encapsulated attitudes to the design and use of open spaces that now often seem eccentric and improbable. The gardens he will examine range from the capital’s humble allotments and defunct squares to amateur botanical gardens, princely pleasure grounds, artists’ gardens and private menageries gardens that have either vanished or that have changed beyond recognition. Lost Gardens will seek to remind us of what a precious asset gardened greenspace is, and how it has contributed over the centuries to the quality of life and well-being of generations of inhabitants of the Metropolis. $5 Garden Conservancy members, $15 General Admission. Recording will be available to registrants for one week following the live lecture. Register at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/events/web26-lost-gardens-of-london
Come see the Berkshire Botanical Garden through the eyes of our talented students. This exhibition, running through April 19 at the Leonhardt Gallery, showcases artwork inspired by BBG art classes, celebrating the colors, forms and spirit of the natural world. From striking landscapes to playful, imaginative pieces, each work celebrates the joy of exploring nature through art.
Opening reception is Friday, April 3, 5 to 7 p.m. Exhibition hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m, Tuesdays through Sundays. The Gallery is closed on Mondays. Thank you to Floret Flowers for the image below.
Join Dan Wilder for a two-part series sponsored by the Ecological Landscape Alliance dedicated to growing and cooking some of his favorite native edible plants. In the first session Dan will introduce viewers to various edible plants and discuss growing conditions, sustainable and seasonal harvest, and ecology. The following session will be centered around one or more in-season plants where Dan will guide viewers through various preparations. From scrambled eggs with wild leeks, to groundnut chips, to cocktails full of bee balm, viewers will learn how to create garden-to-table fare with native plants!
Dan Jaffe Wilder is an ecologist, horticulturist, and botanist with over fifteen years’ experience working with native plants and their associated ecology. His work has ranged from classrooms to nurseries to botanical gardens to wildlife refuges specializing in native plant ecology, propagation, wildlife habitat construction, and native edible landscapes. Dan is currently the Director of Applied Ecology for the Norcross Wildlife Foundation whose mission is to protect, enhance, and expand wildlife through conservation, education, and support. A prolific photographer and author Dan’s book Native Plants for New England Gardens was released in 2018.
The Friends of the Public Garden will hold its 56th Annual Meeting on April 14 at 6 pm at the UMass Club of Boston, One Beacon Street. Members, supporters, partners, and park neighbors are invited to attend the Friends Annual Meeting. The evening features the President’s summary of the last year, an annual financial report, and the presentation of the Parks Champion Award, followed by a reception with light hors d’oeuvre. We will also recognize the 2026 Henry Lee Fund for Boston Parks grant awardees, with the opportunity for attendees to learn about their projects. All are welcome to attend.Please note this is a rescheduled date, in consideration of the observation of Passover. Register at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/events/annual-meeting/
Join the Norcross Wildlife Foundation on March 28 at 10 am Eastern either online or at their headquarters at 30 peck Road in Wales, Massachusetts to hear James Gardner, aquatic ecologist specialist in environmental DNA (eDNA) and currently working with Norcross for a hybrid webinar that will introduce the concept of eDNA and demonstrate its use in assessing biodiversity before dam removals, informing restoration planning, and guiding future monitoring in the Vinica Brook watershed. RSVP using the QR code or https://forms.gle/kfTv4rjkc9uNEyoG9
Explore how to design an urban garden with an ecological mindset. This Native Plant Trust online session on March 26 from 5 – 6:30 will be led by landscape designer Shoma Haque. Students will learn the basics of gardening, plant choices, and design while keeping biodiversity and resource conservation in mind. New and experienced gardeners will learn how their gardening practices can have a positive impact on biodiversity even in small(er) urban spaces. $30. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/hor2116-urban-gardening/
The Trustees website for pre-ordering native plants, veggie starts, straw, and garden supplies from the Spring Plant Sale is now open. Visit https://shopthetrustees.org/pages/city-natives-plant-sale. Online pre-order pickup dates are Tuesday, May 12, Thursday, May 14, and Friday, May 16 from 9 – 3. In-person shopping begins Friday, May 22 and continues on Saturday, May 23, Friday, May 29, and Saturday, May 30, also from 9 – 3, at the City Natives Nursery, 30 Edgewater Drive in Mattapan.
Join Allandale Farm for our annual Seed in the City March 21st, 10am and 1pm at Allandale Farm in Brookline. Sign up at allandalefarm.com/community-events
Our seed starting workshop covers all the essentials from selecting the right seeds and seedling care to when to transplant your seedlings outside. Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned pro, all are welcome! We will provide seedling trays/domes, labeling materials, growing mix, and our expert guidance. Bring your own seeds – even old seeds! We’re hoping this event be a seed swap too! Don’t have your own seeds? We have them for sale in our store and/or check out Boston Public Library Seed Libraries.
A NABB members-only gathering takes place on March 29 at The Newbury Boston. Indulge in an elegant atmosphere filled with good company, delightful drinks—including beer, wine, and a specialty cocktail—and an array of exquisite hors d’oeuvre crafted to tantalize your taste buds.
This is your opportunity to connect with fellow Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay members, both old and new, while learning about the dedicated volunteer committees that tirelessly work to enhance and preserve the charm of our historic neighborhood. Learn how you can contribute to our thriving neighborhood!
