Boston Flora

Friday, May 2 – Sunday, May 4 – Art in Bloom 2025

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Celebrate spring’s arrival with Art in Bloom at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston! This beloved event showcases the expertise of New England garden clubs, professional designers, and MFA floral volunteers, who create interpretive arrangements inspired by artworks from the collection. Enjoy dozens of bold arrangements throughout the building, along with special events, guided tours, dining, and shopping. This year’s event takes place May 2 – May 4 during Museum hours. Specific lectures and workshops may be found at https://www.mfa.org/event/special-event/art-in-bloom. Highlights include Sandra Sigman Master Classes on Saturday, May 3 at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm (members $300, nonmembers $325), a Member Night on Saturday May 3 from 6 – 10, and a community installation with Jimmy Guzman all weekend, which allows visitors to assist him as he builds botanical pieces in Gallery 168.

Streaming Now – The Salmon Forest Project

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Indigenous leaders and researchers collaborate to show how traditional knowledge and western science can work to restore the connections that sustain salmon and thousands of other species living in their delicate forest environments. The movie can be streamed at https://salmonforestproject.ca/

Directed by acclaimed British Columbia filmmaker Bill Heath, The Salmon Forest Project documentary delves into the intricate relationship between Pacific salmon, forests, and the Heiltsuk people in the coastal rainforests of British Columbia. It features insights from UBC Faculty of Forestry experts Dr. Teresa Ryan (Sm’hayetsk; Tsm’syen) and internationally celebrated author Dr. Suzanne Simard.

Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm Eastern – Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard, Online

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A recent report commissioned by Friends of the Earth found that the U.S. food retail sector’s use of pesticides on just four crops could result in $219 billion in financial, climate, and biodiversity risks between now and 2050. The report identified $34 billion in biodiversity risks associated with pollinator-harming pesticides. Friends of the Earth’s Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard shows that major U.S. food retailers are increasingly acknowledging the role pesticides play in biodiversity loss. Since 2018, thirteen of the retailers ranked on the scorecard have established policies aimed at reducing toxic pesticides in their supply chains, signaling a significant shift taking place across the food retail sector. These efforts follow a multi-year campaign led by Friends of the Earth and supported by over 100 environmental, public health, farmer, and farmworker organizations across the country. Yet, despite this promising trend, efforts fall far short of what is needed to address this massive liability. Join Dr. Kendra Klein online on April 29 at 7 pm Eastern to learn more about the findings of the report and what companies are doing. This free Zoom is presented by Grow Native Massachusetts and you may register at www.grownativemass.org

Kendra Klein, PhD is Deputy Director of Science at Friends of the Earth. She leads research on pesticides, environmental health, and sustainable agriculture. Prior to joining FOE, she held positions at Physicians for Social Responsibility, Health Care Without Harm, and Breast Cancer Action. Klein is a Switzer Environmental Fellow and her work has appeared in publications including The Guardian, The Nation, and Gastronomica. She holds a BA from Miami University of Ohio and a PhD in Environmental Science, Policy & Management from UC Berkeley.

Monday, April 28, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Brookline Greenspace Alliance Annual Meeting

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The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance will be held on Monday, April 28, 5:30–7:30 PM, at Boston University’s Wightman House, at the corner of Monmouth Street and Hawes Street. BGSA members and the public are invited.

Nancy O’Connor, former chair of Brookline’s Park and Recreation Commission, will speak on What I Learned in Twenty-Seven Years on the Park and Recreation Commission.

The agenda also will include election of members of the BGSA Board of Directors and a vote on proposed amendments to the BGSA bylaws. Many amendments are technical corrections. Others are updates that reflect changes since the bylaws were drafted in the late 1980s, particularly the now-widespread use of email and virtual meetings.

The bylaw amendments and an explanation are available here:
https://www.brooklinegreenspace.org/pdf/2025%20Bylaw%20changes%20explained.pdf

Please email info@brooklinegreenspace.org to let us know if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and whether you are a BGSA member. Because we will be voting on bylaw amendments, we need to know how many members will attend. BGSA members are defined as (1) any individual who has made a financial contribution of at least $25 since January 1, 2024; (2) representatives of Park Friends groups (one representative and one vote per group); and (3) members of the BGSA Board of Directors. Nonmembers may attend the meeting but may not vote. If you are not sure of your membership status, please email info@brooklinegreenspace.org to inquire.

Sunday, April 27, 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm – Pop-Up Springtime Stroll and Brunch at Powisset Farm

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In this special seasonal pop-up event, join The Trustees at Powisset Farm in Dover for a perfect springtime Sunday morning. You’ll begin with a leisurely stroll around the farm with Ranger Stacie to soak in the season and hear about how spring is appearing across the property. Then, you’ll meet Chef Thi in the historic barn’s kitchen to sit at communal dining tables and experience a beautiful, bountiful brunch filled with spring’s best ingredients. Trustees members $80, nonmembers $95. For complete menu, and to register, visit https://thetrustees.org/event/427271/

Tuesdays, April 15 – June 3, 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm Eastern (but recorded) – Chocolate: From Commodity Crop to Ephemeral Luxury, Online

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Chocolate. The word evokes images of rich desserts, steaming bowls of hot cocoa, and artistic displays of delicious truffles. The so-called “food of the gods” may be the most universally loved food in the world. What consumers experience as an ephemeral indulgence is also a crucial commodity crop for 5 million cacao producers worldwide, as well as the basis of global chocolate and confectionery markets valued at approximately $100 billion.

To love chocolate is to know it deeply enough to make informed decisions when buying and consuming it. In this Stanford University online continuing education course on Tuesdays, April 15 – June 3, we will explore the historical, cultural, and scientific implications of our society’s fascination with chocolate. Together, we will learn how cacao and chocolate move from the farm to your palate, engaging with questions of tropical agronomy, international trade and manufacturing, global politics, contemporary ethics, and social justice. Of course, the most satisfying way to learn about chocolate is by eating it. The course will include guided tastings to help you develop a comprehensive understanding of how chocolate is not just one flavor but rather a gateway to many sensory experiences. This course is for people who seek to be more confident in their ability to navigate chocolate products and who want to be more thoughtful about their chocolate consumption.

Tuition $425. Recordings will be available. Register HERE. This course includes optional chocolate tastings. The cost will be approximately $150–$200. Enrolled students will receive information about how to order.

Faculty:

Carla D. Martin is a lecturer at Harvard and the founder and president of the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing inequality and information asymmetry throughout the cacao and chocolate value chain. She lectures widely and has taught extensively in African and African American studies, critical food studies, social anthropology, and ethnomusicology. Martin has received numerous awards in recognition of excellence in teaching and research.

José López Ganem is the director of innovation at the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute and an instructor at Boston University. He is also a trained sensory professional in the fields of cacao, chocolate, tea, sake, and wine via the Culinary Institute of America and Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

Thursday, April 24, 7:00 pm Eastern – Ecological Maximalism with Kinetic Plants, Online

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Join Grow Native Massachusetts and Nicholas Anderson to learn about his practice of ecological maximalism, which centers on embracing abundant, charismatic native weeds to coauthor ecological succession, and transform our landscapes at the pace and urgency required to confront the joint crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. This very popular program was given in person at the Arnold Arboretum last year, and now you will have the opportunity to join online on April 24 at 7 pm Eastern. $28 for Grow Massachusetts members, $38 non-members. Register at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar

Thursdays through Sundays, April 18 – May 11 – Naumkeag Daffodil & Tulip Festival

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The Daffodil & Tulip Festival at Naumkeag returns for its 6th year on Thursdays through Sundays, April 18 – May ll. Stroll through the 8 acres of the Trustees’ world-renowned gardens artfully decorated with daffodil, tulip and minor bulbs as we celebrate the return of Spring to the Berkshires. The 48 acre estate in the heart of Stockbridge will come to life with the colors and spirit of spring. There will be a plant sale, food, and refreshements for sale on site. Advanced purchase of timed tickets is required – tickets will not be sold on site. Member adults $15, nonmembers $25, children FREE. To learn more, reserve tickets, and for more information on parking and weather cancellations visit https://thetrustees.org/event/427419/

Saturday, May 10, 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Explorers Garden Tour

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The Explorers Garden rests in a microclimate just below the summit of Bussey Hill. This nearly five-acre site provides ideal growing conditions for many species that have been challenging to grow in less protected areas of the Arboretum. As such, it has proven to be a perfect testing ground for plants collected in the expeditions of E. H. Wilson in the early 1900s to the NACPEC (North America-China Plant Exploration Consortium) expeditions of our own time. Join docent Marie Herbert on May 10 at 1 pm for a guided tour to learn more about some of the plants showcased in this special collection and to hear stories of the plant exploration expeditions that brought them to the Arboretum. This tour will include paved roads and woodchip paths. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and closed toe walking shoes. Tours may be canceled in cases of the following weather conditions: severe wind, snow, ice, thunder or lightning events; temperatures over 90 degrees; temperatures below 20 degrees; or other weather events at the discretion of Arboretum staff. In the case of cancellation, you will be contacted by Arboretum staff no later than 2 hours before the start of the event. If you have questions about the status of a program, please email or call the Visitor Center at (617) 384-5209 between 10:00am and 4:00pm. Free but register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu. Meet at the Centre Street Gate.

Tuesday, April 15, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern – Wonderlands: British Garden Designers at Home, Online

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The Garden Museum is delighted to host the official launch of garden writer Clare Coulson’s new book, Wonderlands: British Garden Designers at Home, showcasing the stunning private gardens of eighteen leading landscape architects and garden designers. The event will be streamed online on April 15 from 3 – 4 pm Eastern, and is £10 Livestream.

With breathtaking photography by Éva Németh, the book offers a rare glimpse into the inventive and idiosyncratic ways these designers craft their own gardens, some of which have been photographed for the first time.

Miranda Brooks, one of eighteen designers featured in the book, will join Clare in conversation to discuss her career in landscape, which has taken her from apprenticing with Arabella Lennox-Boyd to founding her eponymous landscape studio in New York, where one of her first commissions was to create a garden for Anna Wintour.

Miranda’s gardens are distinctive yet completely timeless, with a deep sense of the pastoral and a connectivity to nature. Alongside discussion of her design practice, the talk will also cover her latest project developing the gardens and landscape at her home in Gloucestershire, which includes an expansive kitchen garden, herbaceous borders and meadows, all of which is managed biodynamically. Book at https://gardenmuseum.org.uk/events/talk-wonderlands-british-garden-designers-at-home/?mc_cid=40c0190e3d&mc_eid=03faa403db