Mushrooms are tremendously diverse and play an important ecological role. In this June 19Native Plant Trust class at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, we will first learn about basic fungal biology and identification from Thomas Roehl and then head out to the Garden for a mushroom foray. After lunch, we will identify our finds using field guides and microscopes. Bring a bag lunch and a hand lens if you have one. $100. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/mushrooms-for-beginners-2/
Join Dr. Danielle Stevenson – environmental toxicologist, applied mycologist, and founder of @caer.earth – for a free online conversation hosted by @theodorepayne, The Theodore Payne Foundation. The talk will originate in California so please be aware of the time.
Decades of human activity and development can leave behind contaminants that are difficult to see but may affect the health of our soils. This raises important questions:
What defines soil health? When should we be concerned about contamination? What happens to soil after a wildfire? How does that compare to an urban conflagration? How can fungi help restore damaged soils? What steps can we take to evaluate risks and create safer outdoor spaces for our homes, families, and communities?
Drawing on her work at the intersection of toxicology, ecology, and fungal science, Danielle Stevenson will describe how fungal networks can help break down pollutants and support healthier, more resilient landscapes.
Whether you’re stewarding a home garden, schoolyard, community space, or landscape recovering from fire, this webinar offers valuable, science-based insights into assessing soil health, understanding contamination risks, and supporting ecological recovery. Register Here at Caer Earth.
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime American Horticultural Society voyage through the legendary landscapes of Greece, where ancient history, horticultural heritage, and breathtaking coastal scenery converge. Traveling aboard the Emerald Azzurra, a private, 50-cabin luxury mega-yacht, you’ll experience a complete circumnavigation of the Peloponnese peninsula, exploring iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites, hidden harbors, and coastal villages rarely visited by larger ships.
From the sacred sanctuaries of Olympia and Delphi to the medieval hilltop city of Mystras and the tranquil gardens of Athens and Kardamyli, each day offers insight into Greece’s deep cultural and botanical roots. Along the way, enjoy expert lectures, private garden visits, and authentic culinary experiences.
Hosted by Panayoti Kelaidis, an award-winning horticulturist, educator, and AHS Liberty Hyde Bailey Award recipient, this journey offers rare opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection in one of the world’s most storied landscapes. Dates are September 17 – 26, 2026.
Explore the art and science of integrating water into landscape and garden design during this Longwood Gardens comprehensive course led by Nick Arcuri and Nicole Roche of Fluidity Design. The fully online course will take place August 6 – September 3, live streamed. $179. For complete information, prerequisites, and registration visit https://longwoodgardens.org/events-performances/events/designing-water-landscape
From ancient aqueducts and Mughal reflecting pools to contemporary rain gardens and ecological water features, delve into the rich history, meaning, and expressive potential in working with water, by exploring its evolving role in aesthetics, place-response, sustainability, and function. Explore key design principles and the basics of effective construction, including space analysis, purpose, water action, detailing, engineering, and construction. Whether you’re creating a tranquil backyard pond, a fountain for a public space, or a sustainable drainage system, this course equips you with the foundational tools to bring your vision to life—creatively, technically and responsibly.
Experience a stunning field of thousands of blooming sunflowers available for display and pick-your-own. Join the Massachusetts Horticultural Society at the Garden at Elm Bank in Wellesley to be a part of one of the newest and closest sunflower fields to Boston. Admission includes pick-your-own sunflower stems, access to the 1.3 acre display area, and access to the 36-acre Garden at Elm Bank.
The Plantastic Podcast is a show for plant killers, green thumbs, and everyone in between. Listen along as Dr. Jared Barnes deconstructs the practices of the best plantspeople of our time so that you can better cultivate your plants and yourself. Recent episodes include a conversation with Heather Holm on Pollinators and Native Plants, Shelby Radcliffe on Designing with Florida Natives, Tim Boland on Lessons from the Polly Hill Arboretum. and Shaun McCoshum on Natural Habitats and Wildlife Gardening. His website, Meristem, will link you to his blog and podcasts,
Jared Barnes, Ph.D., started gardening when he was five years old, and since then he has enthusiastically pursued how to best cultivate plants and cultivate minds. He currently fulfills those passions as an award-winning associate professor of horticulture at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX where he stewards the Plantery, SFASU’s student botanic garden. He writes a weekly newsletter titled plant•ed that was featured in the NY Times, hosts The Plantastic Podcast, and gardens with his wife Karen and daughter Magnolia at their smallholding Ephemera Farm which was featured in the 2025 book Gardens of Texas by Pam Penick.
He obtained his Ph.D. in horticultural science from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC; he interned the summer of 2008 at The Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA; and he has traveled around the US and into eleven countries to gain a national and global perspective of horticulture.
Recent awards include the 2021 Stephen F. Austin State University Teaching Excellence Award, 2019 Perennial Plant Association’s Academic Award, the 2017 Keep Nacogdoches Beautiful Sustainability Award, the 2016 Perennial Plant Association’s Young Professional of the Year, and a member of GPN’s 2016 Class of 40 Under 40.
