The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America is pleased to announce its Fall Lecture and Lunch featuring David O’Neill of the Massachusetts Audubon Society as the featured speaker. David is a Conservation Superhero: prior to his senior roles with Audubon, he served as Vice President at the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Trust, and Director of Land Use Policy and Outreach for the Urban Land Institute
Members of garden clubs who are part of the Boston Committee will receive notice of the October 29 meeting, and a link to register, but if you are missing the information visit https://bostoncommitteegca.org/
Join The Museum of Old Newbury on October 28 for a full day Conference on Newburyport and the China Trade, 1844-2024: Commerce, Diplomacy, and the Arts in the Years of the Dragon.
In 1843, Caleb Cushing of Newburyportresigned from the U.S. Congress to become America’s first commissioner to China. He arrived in China with four American warships, laden with gifts including revolvers, a telescope, and an encyclopedia, and used both threats and flattery to achieve his ends. The subsequent 1844 Treaty of Wanghia, named for the village where it was signed, was the first treaty between the U.S. and China. It was one more way in which Newburyport and the China Trade were inextricably linked.
JoinEric Jay Dolin, author of When America Met China, and Dane Morrison, author of True Yankees: The South Seas & the Discovery of American Identity, along with art, shipbuilding, and modern China experts to evaluate the impact of the China Trade on various aspects of our community, our nation, and the world.
This full-day event includes lunch and all sessions and is hosted by The Governor’s Academy, 1 Elm Street, Newbury, Massachusetts.
Tickets are $45 for Museum of Old Newbury Members; $60 for non-members. Register at www.newburyhistory.org
The New England Garden Club Annual Meeting will take place October 23 & 24 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, Rhode Island. The New England Garden Club is a member of the National Garden Clubs, Inc. To learn more about the history, and to download past minutes and registration information, visit https://newenglandgc.org The organization is the umbrella organization for the state federations of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Join The Peabody Essex Museum for the fourth annual Preservation in a Changing Climate conference, hosted by Salem Preservation Partners. This day of thought-provoking talks aims to advance mitigation and adaptation strategies that address impacts of climate change on historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods.
Join us for case studies, conversations and panel presentations, beginning with a keynote from Massachusetts State Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and closing with remarks by National Park Service Superintendent Jennifer Hardin at the National Park Service Armory Visitor Center. Conference sessions will take place at PEM. Closing reception and remarks will take place at the National Park Service Armory Visitor Center across the street from PEM.
Registration is $50 per person. Registration includes all conference events, optional historic house tours on September 17, light refreshments and a boxed lunch. All lunches include water, chips and a choice of Spinach Cranberry Salad (vegan, with cheese on the side), Falafel Wrap (vegan) or Harvest Chicken Salad Wrap.
All museum galleries will be closed for the duration of the conference. Registration includes all conference events, optional historic house tours on September 17, light refreshments and a boxed lunch. All lunches include water, chips and a choice of Spinach Cranberry Salad (vegan, with cheese on the side), Falafel Wrap (vegan) or Harvest Chicken Salad Wrap.
All museum galleries will be closed for the duration of the conference. Specific details and ticket purchasing may be found at www.pem.org. Questions? Contact lela_clawson-miller@pem.org
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) announced that The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Botanic Garden have been selected to partner with BGCI to host the 9th Global Botanic Gardens Congress in Chicago in summer 2027. The Congress is held every three to four years and is the only global congress dedicated to botanic gardens. This will be the first time it will be held in North America in 27 years.
Delegates from among the world’s 3,000 botanic gardens will participate in the conference with a theme focused on the role that botanic gardens play in habitat restoration in the wild, as well as in urban built environments. “As we navigate the impacts of climate change, there has never been a more urgent need to revive damaged habitats than now,” said Jill Koski, president and CEO of The Morton Arboretum. “This international congress will amplify the research and conservation work being done in the world’s botanic gardens that is essential to ecosystem restoration.”
The Congress will bring together botanic garden professionals and other stakeholders from around the world to discuss the many facets of habitat and ecosystem restoration that botanic gardens are engaged in. “The conference provides botanic gardens with a meaningful opportunity to showcase their expertise in plant science, conservation, horticulture and educational outreach to deliver impactful insights for species and habitat conservation,” said Jean M. Franczyk, president and CEO of the Chicago Botanic Garden. “We’re eager for our colleagues to visit Chicago and share our challenges, showcase successes and innovative new programs, and forge collaborative solutions to address the world’s pressing environmental issues.”
The Morton Arboretum is a globally recognized leader in tree research, conservation, and education, contributing scientific knowledge and technical experience to secure the future of trees locally, nationally and worldwide. The Chicago Botanic Garden is a world-renowned living museum that helps build healthier communities through urban agriculture, offers lifelong learning opportunities, leads pioneering plant conservation research and showcases the beauty of horticulture.
The Congress will be held at a downtown Chicago location, with the Arboretum and the Garden hosting programs and events at their sites during the event. Tours throughout the state will connect attendees with regional hubs of biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration.
“Chicago’s motto is the latin phrase Urbs in Horto, City in a Garden,” Koski said. “We look forward to showcasing the many beautiful and unique natural spaces the city and surrounding suburbs have to offer this international audience of botanic garden colleagues.” For more information visit www.chicagobotanic.org
The Boston Harbor Women of Color Coalition (BHWOCC) and Professionals of Color in the Environment (POCIE) are collaborating for Netwalk in Nature on Friday, July 12th on Peddocks Island from 9am-5pm.
Netwalk in Nature is a professional development experience like no other! We’re taking over Peddocks Island to connect with each other and the outdoors by exploring the many career opportunities available on Boston Harbor and the greater environmental field. Join us to connect directly from folks at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the National Parks Service, Massport and more while they take us around the island and share their professional experience and insights working on the water. You can also look forward to an engaging and relevant workshop with POCIE CoFounder Nia Keith, discussing strategies to navigate white dominated office spaces.
This event is perfect for folks who are eager to learn more about the vast array of career opportunities and connections in the outdoors, people looking to network with both BHWOCC and POCIE members, and those looking to enjoy nature alongside other passionate people of color.
We’ll have lawn games, food, headshots and more for a FREE DAY of connecting, networking, and career growth! RSVP HERE
This event is made possible through the Boston Harbor Island Partnership Innovation Island grant, thank you to all involved in making this opportunity possible.
Register today for this year’s Perennial Plant Symposium at The Hunnewell Carriage House, The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street, Wellesley. The program is a joint presentation by The Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Perennial Plant Association. Featured speakers this year are Trevor Smith of Weston Nurseries, Holly Greenleaf of Greenleaf Design, LLC, Toshi Yano of the Perfect Earth Project, and Evan Abramson of Landscape Interactions. Register at https://www.masshort.org/perennial-plant-symposium-2024 Breakfast and lunch are included.
The Dublin Seminar for New England Folklife (founded in 1976) is pleased to announce Into the Woods: New England Forests in Fact and Imagination, to be held June 28-29, 2024 at Historic Deerfield, 80 Old Main Street in Deerfield. The annual Dublin Seminar is a meeting place where scholars of all kinds—academics, students, museum and library professionals, artisans and craftspeople, educators, preservationists, and committed avocational researchers—join in deep conversation around a focused theme in New England history, pooling their knowledge and exchanging ideas, sources, and methods in a thought-provoking forum. This year’s program will address the rich and varied histories of the relationship between the peoples of New England and adjacent areas and their forests. The seminar will explore the economic, cultural, and social significance of trees and forests in New England history; anyone interested in parks and conservation, visual and literary representations of wooded landscapes, indigenous relationships with forests, wood-dependent industries, and folklore involving New England’s woods and forests will find plenty of interest in this two-day program.
Come enjoy learning the basics of floral design at the Plymouth Library, Fehlow Meeting Room (1st floor), 132 South Street, Plymouth, on June 26 from 2:30 – 4:30. Demonstrations by experienced floral designers, who are National Garden Club (NGC) Flower Show Judges. $25 per person (members of Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts clubs, please). Send check with name, address, phone number and Garden Club to Nancy Costa at 130 Knott Avenue, Sandwich, MA 02563
The Arnold Arboretum is among five New England gardens hosting the 2024 annual conference of the American Public Gardens Association in Boston this summer. Public garden professionals from around the country and around the world will come together between June 24–27 to participate in the annual gathering, which is also hosted by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Mount Auburn Cemetery, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, and The Trustees. Rooted in Resilience: A Sustainable Future for Gardens will be held at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza, a block away from Boston’s famous Public Garden. Hundreds of public horticulture professionals are expected to attend for a week of professional development sessions, networking events, garden tours, and more. The 2024 Presenting Partner is the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.
The 2024 Conference theme highlights Boston’s historic resilience and the city’s story of overcoming adversity and adapting to change. From playing a crucial role in the American Revolution to surviving disasters, Boston has always persevered and emerged stronger. Today, Boston demonstrates its adaptability through various sustainable initiatives, including ambitious urban forestry goals and a plan to become carbon-neutral by 2050. In Boston, resilience and social justice are intertwined, driving the city’s commitment to building a sustainable and equitable society.
The conference theme showcases the parallel between Boston’s remarkable resilience and the concept of sustainability within the realm of gardens. Public gardens play a vital role in promoting sustainable practices and empowering the next generation of environmental stewards. Through a range of green initiatives, including sustainable horticultural practices, educational programs, and community engagement, public gardens are building stronger communities, promoting access to green spaces, and connecting people with nature.
Participants will enjoy over 80 professional development sessions and workshops in five Specialty Tracks—Education and Science, Garden Management, Horticulture, Plant Collections and Conservation, and Public Engagement—in addition to tours of local public gardens, professional workshops, and special events at the host gardens.
Registration is now. Non-member registration is available for $100 more than the member rate. Two- and One-Day registration options are available.Visit the APGA website for more information.
