Boston Flora

Category: Field Trip

  • Saturday, July 9 – Thursday, July 14 – Gardens of Portland, Oregon

    Join Pacific Horticulture Society members and friends on a fabulous garden tour to Portland, Oregon July 9 – July 14. Visit nine private gardens featuring creative use of plant materials. The gardens range from a small, exquisite, designer’s city garden, to artist, landscape architect Jeffrey Bale’s mosaics and stonework in his own “heavenly paradise”, featured in many magazines and books, to an urban farm complete with chickens, ducks, bees, vineyard and aquaponic herb garden, to woodland gardens and a quirky garden shown on Canadian television, where “plants and art mingle”.  For more information please contact Sterling Tours – Portland, at 619-299-3010, or log on to www.sterlingtoursltd.com/Portland2011.html. Photo of Portland’s Japanese Gardens from Savvy Style at Bella Figura.

  • Saturday, February 12, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Dwarf Conifer and Juniper Collection via Snowshoes

    Join Jen Kettell on Saturday, February 12, from 10:30 – 12:30 for a tromp through the dwarf conifer and juniper collections on snowshoes. She will help you identify common conifers, share the stories behind the plants, impart the history of the two collections, and describe the microclimate in this part of the Arnold Arboretum.

    Bring your own snowshoes, a travel mug for hot cocoa after the hike, and dress warmly! This tour is not suitable for cross-country skis. Plan for a walking tour in the event that there is no snow. Sunglasses are recommended.

    Space is limited. (Note: this description updates the description printed in Silva.) $20 Arboretum members, $24 nonmembers. For more information email adulted@arnarb.harvard.edu, or call 617-384-5277.  Photo by Steve Greaves.

  • Tuesday, February 15, 1:00 pm – Conifers: Suviving Winter with Grace

    The “flowering plants” that get all our attention during the growing season have finally cleared the stage. It’s now time to see another group of plants shine.

    Mount Auburn’s conifer collection is notable for its diversity (nearly 80 different types) and depth (more than 1,500 plants). Some of the specimens are truly unique for their great age, impressive size or rarity.

    On Tuesday, February 15 at 1 pm, join Dennis Collins, Mount Auburn’s Horticultural Curator, for a walk to see and learn about some of the many conifers that make up this ancient and sometimes under-appreciated group of plants. $5 for Friends of Mt. Auburn, $10 non-members. Call 617-607-1982, or log on to www.mountauburn.org for more information, or to register.

  • Wednesday, February 16, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon – Wintry Wednesday

    Join Historic New England on Wednesday, February 16, from 10:30 – noon at Phillips House, 34 Chestnut Street in Salem, for Wintry Wednesday.  Follow the Phillips family on a wintry jaunt around New England during school vacation week.  Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while viewing film clips of the family engaged in their favorite winter activities.  Tour the House and see Phillips family items, such as sporting equipment, postcards, photographs, and artwork, not usually on display.  Co-sponsored by the Salem Parks and Recreation Department, the program fee is $5 for Historic New England members and $10 for nonmembers.  For more information, log on to www.historicnewengland.org, or call 978-744-0440 to purchase tickets.  Photo by massmatt at www.flickriver.com.

  • Saturday, January 29, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – St. Moritz Winter Wonderland

    St. Moritz, you say?  Switzerland?  No, Quincy, Massachusetts.  This hiking field trip with The Friends of the Blue Hills is a real eye-opener.  The St. Moritz area of Quincy was once the home to a huge winter carnival where elite athletes would perform, and locals could recreate. Join a DCR Ranger and discover the interesting history of this winter wonderland and explore its remnants, including where a 60-foot long 100-feet high ski jump once stood, on an easy hike.  Meet on Saturday, January 29 at the Shea Rink parking lot at 651 Willard Street in Quincy for this 2 hour excursion into the past.  For more information, click on to www.friendsofthebluehills.org. Although we couldn’t find an image from St. Moritz, Quincy, below is a vintage shot of ski jumping  courtesy of www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu.

  • Saturday, January 29 – Sunday, January 30, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm – Fire and Ice

    Old Sturbridge Village embraces the joys of an old fashioned winter with a “Fire and Ice” celebration, complete with ice skating, sledding on vintage 1830s sleds, and horse-drawn sleigh rides, on Saturday, January 29 – Sunday, January 30, 9:30 – 4. Visitors can watch the Mill Pond ice harvested with vintage ice-cutting tools and learn how early New Englanders cut blocks of ice and shipped them around the world before the invention of electrical refrigeration. Afterward, guests can warm up with hot cider, stories, songs and fireside tales at the Bullard Tavern. For details: 800-733-1830; www.osv.org.

  • Wednesday, January 19, 10:00 am – Introduction to Wildflowers in Winter Workshop

    Learn to recognize the characteristics of native wildflowers in winter in their dormant, leafless state.  Specimens will be examined in class, supplemented by slides.  This Connecticut Botanical Society workshop will be held at Lockwood Farm Cottage in Hamden, Connecticut, on Wednesday, January 19, beginning at 10 a.m., and is limited to 15 participants.  Please register with the workshop leader, Carol Levine,  at www.ct-botanical-society.org.  If you are not a CBS member, there will be a $15 fee, which includes a one year membership in the Connecticut Botanical Society.  Snow date: January 26.  For more information, email lemmon@snet.net.

  • Saturday, January 1, 12:00 noon – First Day Hikes 2011

    The Friends of the Blue Hills invites you for First Day Hikes 2011, beginning with free hot & hearty soup at noon. All hikes begin at 1:00 pm. Meet at the Houghton’s Pond main parking lot at 840 Hillside Street in Milton. Celebrate the New Year in the Blue Hills. This is twentieth year of our annual New Year�s tradition! Join the fun. Warm up with a free cup of hearty soup, then stretch your legs on a variety of guided hikes suitable for all ages and abilities. A great way to jump start the year! For more information, call 617-698-1802, or log on to www.friendsofthebluehills.org.

    Friends of the Blue Hills

  • Sunday, January 2, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Spectacle Island Seafarer’s Island Holiday

    The Friends of the Boston Harbor Islands will sponsor its first boat cruise of 2011 on Sunday, January 2, from 11 – 3.  Explore Spectacle on your own or take a tour with a FBHI volunteer.  Pack a picnic.  There will be access to the indoor Visitor Center, and a book and merchandise sales table for the consumer among you.  Depart from UMass Boston Fox Point Pavilion.  Parking there is $6, or take a frequent shuttle bus from JFK/UMass on the Red Line.  Cost of the excursion is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and FBHI members, $20 for children 3 – 12 and students with ID, $17 FBHI members’ children.  You may register online ($2 surcharge) at www.fbhi.org.  Photo by Sina.

  • A Calendar of Three Family Holiday Events

    There are many places to go and things to see in the month of December, and here are three family friendly expeditions:

    ZooLights, through January 2. This winter wonderland attracts thousands of visitors each year who get into the holiday spirit by strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Upon entering the Zoo, guests will visit Yukon Creek, which not only features dazzling holiday lights but is also home to bald eagles, porcupines, lynx, a gray fox and reindeer. Children will want to make sure they visit with Santa, who awaits their arrival in Santa’s Castle. Jolly Old St. Nick will be available for photos through Dec. 23. After visiting with Santa, enter a magical holiday world filled with fairy tale characters and dancing plush animals. Location: Stone Zoo., 149 Pond Street. Time: 5 – 9 p.m. Cost: weeknights, $5; weekends, $6. Information: 781-438-5100 or visit www.stonezoo.org.

    Christmas Festival of Lights at Edaville USA in Carver, Massachusetts, through January 2. Visit the largest light display in New England with over 7 million lights throughout the park, a 2-mile train ride, animated holiday displays, an indoor play area and visits with Santa. Picture below is of the carousel. See website for schedule of events. Location: 5 Pine Street. Time: weekdays, 4 – 9 p.m; weekends, 2 – 9 p.m. Cost: adults, $18; children under 12, $16. Information: 508-866-8190 or visit www.edaville.com.

    Gardens Aglow Celebration of Lights in Sandwich, Massachusetts, through December 19. Heritage brings warmth and merriment during a multi-weekend event with grounds and gardens aglitter in a seasonal lights display. The museums will feature decorated Christmas trees and a gingerbread exhibit. Santa will visit for photo opportunities in the Model T and drop-in craft activities will be offered. The Museum Store will be open and Blossoms Café will offer treats. Dates: November 26-28, December 3-5, 10-12, 17-19. Location: Heritage Museums and Gardens, 67 Grove Street. Time: 5-9 p.m. Cost: Adults, $6; youth age 4 to 12, $2. Information: 508-888-3300 or visit www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/