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.
A Boston Harbor cruise highlighting the real history of the British evacuation of Boston in 1776 with live historical music takes place March 7, sponsored by Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park.
The Evacuation Day Cruise is a two-hour excursion through the Boston Harbor that tells the story of the Siege of Boston (June 1775 to March 1776). Park rangers will provide historical narration of events as we pass key landmarks, all while navigating the waters the British used to evacuate town.
The trip will begin at Long Wharf, cruise by the Charlestown Navy Yard with the view of the Bunker Hill Monument, pass Fort Independence (Fortress William in 1776) with a view of the Dorchester Heights, and cruise by several harbor islands including Little Brewster, home of Boston Light. Swinging around Little Brewster, we will head back to Boston with entertainment by the duo Tobias Tripp and Prudence Merriweather for a 3:00pm return to Long Wharf.
On this cruise you will enjoy:
Narration by local historians
Boston Harbor Islands park staff available for questions
Period music and merriment aboard the cruise
Views of Boston Light, America’s oldest light station
Full bar and other refreshments available for purchase onboard
This event is a part of Rev250 – Unfinished: America at 250
The American Revolution remains unfinished. Early revolutionaries engaged in deep debates about how voices are heard and what liberty looks like. While the founding generation set forth one set of answers to these questions, they did not resolve the debates. Every subsequent generation has continued to grapple with these fundamental questions.
Unfinished: America at 250 is a partnership of historical and cultural institutions, National Park Service sites, historians, and changemakers. This partnership harnesses the stories of the past and activates historic spaces to provoke community conversations about the ongoing American Revolution. Make your voice heard – especially if you are dissatisfied with the direction we’re going. Tickets are $15. Register at www.bostonharborislands.org
The Berkshire Botanical Garden’s Annual Bulb Show returns to the Fitzpatrick Greenhouse now through March 20, from 9 – 4. Creating this burst of color begins quietly in late summer, when our horticulture staff selects and orders the season’s bulbs. Planting begins in the fall in the Lexan Greenhouse — tulips first, then daffodils and finally the smaller bulbs that round out the collection.
From there, the bulbs spend weeks in cool rooms beneath the Center House, where temperatures remain close to 42°F to simulate winter. Tulips need about 15 weeks of chilling, daffodils 12, and grape hyacinths 10. Staggered planting ensures a steady succession of blooms throughout the month-long show.
As their chilling period ends, the bulbs move back to the Lexan Greenhouse to “wake up.” Over several weeks they send up shoots, leaf out and eventually burst into color. Before they’re displayed in the Fitzpatrick Conservatory, each pot is topped with moss, pine needles or nut shells, and the display team adds finishing touches, including succulents, branches, even small stumps, to create depth and contrast.
When the show opens, the conservatory becomes a bright, fragrant haven. Its intimate scale invites visitors to lean in close for a fully immersive, “face-in-flowers” moment. For more information visit https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/bulb-show-2026
Plan ahead – the 2026 Nantucket Daffodil Festival is coming April 24 – April 26. The 49th Annual Daffodil Show by the Nantucket Garden Club will be held in the greenhouses at Bartlett’s Farm on Saturday, April 25 from 2-5pm & Sunday, April 26 from 10am to 3pm. This year’s theme is “It’s Daffy Time… Let’s Dance!” Visit town early to view 100 decorated vintage cars line up on Main Street: staging begins at 9:30 AM. The parade starts at noon, with cars driven in a loop downtown before heading up Orange Street and out to ‘Sconset. Parade participants only park on the right; spectators may set up their picnics on the left. A Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event. If you stay in town for Daffy Saturday, you can participate in the Daffodil Hat Pageant at 10 am, the Children’s Beach Bike Parade at 10:35 am, and NiSHA’s Daffodil Dog Parade shortly after 12 noon. The Morris Dancers are sure to show up & perform. Bring a blanket and set up a picnic for family and friends on the lawn at Children’s Beach.
Complete information plus recommendations on where to stay (book early!) may be found at https://daffodilfestival.com/
Join The Wild Wonder Foundation for its 2026 Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Adventures, including Hog Island Nature Journaling Summer Camp in Maine on May 31-June 5 with Charlotte Belland @bellandpixel and Michael Boardman @mboardmanart!
It will be a Puffin Party! Join this birding and nature journaling adventure at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine, a historic location for birders and nature lovers. With a rich legacy in American ornithology, Hog Island is a fantastic setting to immerse yourself in the world of birds. Explore the region’s stunning beauty through guided walks, boat tours, field sketching, and evening speakers.
Registration is open, and our trips often sell out in days. Folks on our mailing list are the first to hear when signups open. You can sign up for our mailing list at wildwonder.org/subscribe
Led by experienced and engaging educators, Wild Wonder Nature Journaling Retreats offer you the opportunity to deepen your nature journaling practice while inspiring you, challenging you, and encouraging you to connect with nature, other nature journalers, and yourself. The vibe is joyful, kind, enthusiastic, supportive, and fun…and nature journalers of ALL experience levels are welcome!
In 2026, we are excited to offer five retreats: (plus a Sandhill Crane Adventure!)
— Sandhill Crane Migration Celebration in Nebraska: March 20-22 with John Muir Laws
—Point Reyes National Seashore, CA: April 27-30, with John Muir Laws and Catherine Hamilton
—Hog Island, ME: May 31-June 5, Charlotte Belland and Michael Boardman
— Wolf Ridge, MN; July 12-17 with John Muir Laws and Roseann Hanson
— Olympic National Park, WA: August 16-21 with John Muir Laws, Debby Kaspari, and Maria Coryell-Martin
—Sierra Nevada, CA: October 13-18, with Kate Rutter and Rob Wade
Visit wildwonder.org/adventures26 or wildwonder.org/events to learn more. Registration will open later this month, and our trips often sell out in days. Folks on our mailing list are the first to hear when signups open.
he Northeast’s Premier B2B Industry Trade Show, where Brands Meet Buyers, takes place June 17 and 18 at Three County Fair, 54 Fair Street in Northampton.
Break up the winter doldrums by getting outside and learning winter tree identification from Polly Hill Arboretum Director of Grounds & Facilities, Ian Jochems. Participants will learn how to use the characteristics of bark, twigs, buds, and more to identify common deciduous and evergreen trees.
For the first seasonal tour of the Polly Hill Arboretum in Martha’s Vineyard of 2026, take a walk through the Arboretum Woods with PHA Director of Grounds & Facilities, Ian Jochems. Ian will discuss basic tree identification; a primer for his in-depth Winter Tree ID workshop on February 21! The walk is included with the $5 admission fee (free for PHA members). Meet at the Arboretum Visitors Center.
Join The Trustees for a very special evening hike on January 22 at 4:15 to hear the owls who might be out and about in the dark winter woods and fields of Appleton Farms in Ipswich. This hike will take place along the trails of Appleton, known to have multiple species of owls. Before our hike, you’ll learn about wintertime nocturnal animals and what to listen for on your journey. Then, we’ll embark on a 45-60 minute hike as we follow some of Appleton Farms’ most beautiful trails to see what we can hear.
Pre-registration at https://thetrustees.org/event/442872/ is required. Recommended for ages 9 and up. This hike begins at the Appleton Farms Farmhouse/ Offices parking lot.
Be sure to wear weather-appropriate clothing and boots or shoes that are appropriate for hiking in potentially wet, snowy and muddy spots, or over uneven terrain. Please bring a flashlight, as this part of the property is away from lights. All hikes are weather permitting.
Space is limited for this event and pre-registration is required. Member adult $15, nonmember adult $20; member child $10, nonmember child $15.
Join Brookline’s Town Arborist and Tree Warden Jack Schleifer for a winter tree identification walk. Jack will share insights on how to identify tree species in the winter. The walk will start at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 11, at the Longwood Green Line “D” branch MBTA station and will last approximately 90 minutes. After the walk, participants are invited to enjoy hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire in a historic house in the Longwood neighborhood. Spaces for this walk are limited. Advance registration is required. If you would like to join the January 11 walk, please email info@brooklinegreenspace.org to let Jack know how many people to expect.
