Boston Flora

Category: Volunteer Opportunity

  • Wednesday, December 1 – Deadline for Submission for Annual Botany Story Slam

    Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces an open call for storytellers for its annual signature event, The Botany Story Slam, which will take place on Saturday, February 26, 2022, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event is currently planned as an in-person event at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA; however, storytellers from around the world are welcome to submit their tales for the chance to share their stories using video technology.

    A story slam is a competition in which each storyteller has minutes to share an experience on a chosen theme, with the audience interacting and voting on their favorite tale. Winning stories may be aired on the radio. We are seeking exciting, well-presented stories 5-10 minutes in length about plant adventures. Storytellers may include botanists, horticulturists, farmers, land managers, plant researchers, environmental educators, rangers, or similar plant-related professionals. For submission instructions, please email education@NativePlantTrust.org by December 1, 2021, with the subject line “Story Slam Submission.” Storytellers will be selected and notified on a rolling basis and must be available to present at the event on February 26, 2022, either in person or virtually. In past years, storytellers have included:

    Wambui Ippolito, horticulturist, landscape designer, international speaker, and founder of the BIPOC Hort Group, a multicultural professional horticulture community.

    Ted Elliman, botanist and author of Wildflowers of New England and co-author of Grasses, Sedges, Rushes: An Identification Guide.

    Kelly D. Norris, award-winning plantsman, author of New Naturalism: Designing and Planting a Resilient, Ecologically Vibrant Home Garden, and former Director of Horticulture and Education at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.

    C.L. Fornari, host of GardenLine on WXTK FM radio, co-host of the award-winning podcast Plantrama and author of eight books, including Sand & Soil: Creating Beautiful Gardens on Cape Cod and the Islands.

    Dwayne Estes, Executive Director of Southern Grasslands Initiative, Professor of Biology and Director of the Herbarium at Austin Peay State University, Principal Investigator for the Center of Excellence for Field Biology, and author of Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee.

  • Charlesbank Landing at The Esplanade

    The Esplanade Association announces a $20 million gift commitment made to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that will fund the establishment of Charlesbank Landing, a two-acre riverfront park enhancement on the historic Charles River Esplanade in Boston.

    As featured by The Boston Globe, this “gift would fund $12 million in improvements, including a new year-round visitors center, in a two-acre area along Storrow Drive where the Lee Pool once stood until the Department of Conservation and Recreation leveled the long-neglected complex nearly two years ago. The association plans to raise another $2 million for an endowment, and at least $6 million to cover operations and maintenancefor the site over the next three decades.”

    This gift will be funded by donations from members and supporters of the Esplanade Association and represents one of the largest private gifts to the Commonwealth’s state parks system in history.

    The Esplanade needs YOUR HELP to transform this two-acre area of the Esplanade. Join your fellow community members in voicing your support for Charlesbank Landing today!
    VOICE YOUR SUPPORT!
    Charlesbank Landing Landscape Plan. Courtesy of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

  • Saturday, November 6, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – The Great New England Pumpkin Pie Contest

    Thanksgiving is America’s quintessential, original holiday. It creates a continuity in the American experience. From one generation to the next we pass on the family traditions, stories, heirloom china, and of course favorite recipes. Pumpkin pie takes a top spot in our hearts and on our tables.

    Plimoth Patuxet Museums is delighted to gather the New England region around a very special table on November 6 this fall, featuring YOUR pumpkin pie. Is anything more classically Thanksgiving!? To celebrate this favorite fare and mix in some fun, Plimoth Patuxet Museums has baked up a delectable opportunity for you! We are delighted to host The Great New England Pumpkin Pie Contest. Enter your best-baked creation to win one of the top three prizes in each category. Complete details, biographies of celebrity judges, and fees ($6 entry fee per contestant) can be found by clicking HERE. Contact Christina Coleman, ccoleman@plimoth.org, with any questions! Or call Christina at 508-746-1622 x8107. Registration Deadline October 30.

  • Thursday, October 14, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – COG Annual Project Showcase, Online

    Join Community Outreach Group on ZOOM next week for its ANNUAL PROJECT SHOWCASE with special guest speaker Representative Nika Elugardo, MA 15th, Thursday, October 14, 6-7pm.

    Additionally, Cogdesign is accepting applications for new green space projects through October 31st. Do forward our Call for Projects to colleagues you think might be interested in this pro bono opportunity. Although the pandemic has slowed some of the work, it has not curtailed our commitment to our community partners and their projects.
    Projects are accepted based on need. We hope to take on 4-5 new projects this Fall. Call or email Jennifer Kimball with any questions.

  • The Campaign to Save Moraine Farm: Revitalizing and Unifying an Olmsted Masterpiece

    Nestled on 175 acres along Wenham Lake in Beverly is Moraine Farm, a Frederick Law Olmsted masterpiece landscape designed in 1880. Moraine Farm is, “the finest existing example of Olmsted’s approach to planning a country estate,” according to pre-eminent Olmsted scholar Charles E. Beveridge.

    In the past 150 years, the estate has been fractured into parcels owned by different families, a private school, Project Adventure, and The Trustees. Remarkably, Olmsted’s design has remained largely unchanged over that time, making it a rare gem among the estates created by the father of American landscape architecture. According to Beveridge:

    “Moraine Farm was a forerunner for that greatest of Olmsted’s ventures in the designing of private estates and retains more of his spirit than any other residential design still in existence today.”

    The Trustees owns four small disparate parcels on the property, and today we have the opportunity to acquire the key central plot of land that includes scenic Wenham Lake access, the main estate house, tea garden, terrace, and areas most intensely designed by Olmsted.

    Acquiring this 66-acre parcel is the culmination of a decades-long effort by The Trustees to reunite and restore this historic property and open it to public access for the first time.

    Providing people with Moraine’s sweeping views, winding trails, and lush Olmsted landscape lies at the heart of our mission to create publicly accessible open space in iconic places.

    For the project details and purpose statement, and to learn how to contribute to this project (it’s Olmsted 200, remember!), visit www.thetrustees.org

  • Saturdays, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 8, and November 13, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Emerald Necklace Volunteer Mornings

    Assist Emerald Necklace staff and volunteer leaders with park maintenance, ecological restoration and invasive species management work! Tasks can range from trash cleanups to invasive plant species removal to plantings. We will work throughout the Emerald Necklace (from Charlesgate to Franklin Park) on various restoration and maintenance projects throughout the year. Bring long pants, closed toe shoes, hat, all weather clothing, snack, sunscreen and a water bottle. All necessary tools, gloves, and instruction will be provided. Projects are weather dependent. Questions – Contact us at volunteer@emeraldnecklace.org for more information.

  • Through Monday, May 31, 5:00 pm Deadline – 2021 Spotlight on Natives Photo Contest

    Wherever you live, The Ecological Landscape Alliance invites you to share the beauty of native plants in your area. Send us your most inspiring photographs of individual native plants or native plants communities in either natural or garden settings and you’ll be entered to win a one-year ELA membership. The contest runs from April 1st through May 31st. ELA will include the winning images in the June issue of the ELA Newsletter and post winning photographs (with attribution) on ELA’s Facebook page and website throughout the year. There is evidence that regularly spending time in nature benefits one’s mental and physical health and overall sense of well-being. Those benefits are especially important now – and a walk with your camera breaks no rules of social distancing. If Spring has not yet arrived in your area, why not spend time remembering warmer days by perusing your photos from past gardening seasons? You might discover some excellent contest entries in your collection!

    Photo submission requirements and contest guidelines are found at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/2021-spotlight-on-natives-photo-contest/

    First place winners in each category will receive a one-year Professional membership to ELA. If the winner has a current ELA membership, the membership will be extended for one year. Value $100. Up to two additional photographs in each category will be recognized as honorable mentions and will win $50 credit for books in the ELA bookstore or ELA logo merchandise. Prizes will be announced in the June issue of the ELA Newsletter and featured in an article and on the ELA website.

    Richard_Rappleyea_Photo

  • Friday, April 30 – Massachusetts Arborists Association Arbor Day of Service

    Mark your calendar now and watch for details about the Massachusetts Arborists Association’s Arbor Day of Service celebration on Friday, April 30, 2021.  MAA’s popular community service event will be held at the historic Ames Estate and Community Park in Easton, MA. Details will be found at https://massarbor.org/Arbor_Day_Home_Page_2021

    First settled by Oliver Ames, 35th Governor of the Commonwealth, this 36-acre bucolic estate is now a well-loved green space regularly enjoyed by community members under the stewardship of The Trustees. The property has a significant number of full-growth specimen trees that reflect the ongoing commitment of the Ames family members to arboriculture. Dramatic examples include Kentucky coffee tree, magnolia, cucumber magnolia, Stewartia, beeches, sweet gum and columnar maple. 

  • Monday, April 19 – Saturday, April 24, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Muddy River Cleanup

    The Muddy River Cleanup is a part of the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup; this event takes place throughout the Charles River Watershed and builds on a national effort as part of American Rivers’ National River Cleanup® which, to date, has removed over 25 million pounds of trash from America’s waterways. From 2016 to 2019, the Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup was recognized by American Rivers for the Most Pounds of Trash Collected and Most Volunteers Mobilized.​

    The Charles River Cleanup brings together over 3,000 volunteers each year to pick up litter, remove invasive species and assist with park maintenance along all 80 miles of the Charles River. Residents are drawn to the popular Charles River Cleanup from a desire to give back to their community while enjoying the beauty and wildlife along the river. Volunteers hold onto the connections they establish during this day of stewardship by returning to the Charles to exercise, play and enjoy nature throughout the year. Register for the cleanup here!

    Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, The Emerald Necklace Conservancy has adjusted the traditionally one-day event to span a week (April 19, 2021-April 24, 2021) in order to promote social distancing among volunteers.

    All cleanup events will take place from 10:00AM-12:00PM throughout the week.

    Monday, April 19, 2021: Back Bay Fens, Olmsted Park

    Tuesday, April 20, 2021: Charlesgate, Jamaica Pond

    Wednesday, April 21, 2021: Justine Mee Liff Park, Olmsted Park

    Thursday April 22, 2021: Riverway, Franklin Park (Shattuck Picnic Grove)

    Friday, April 23, 2021: Charlesgate, Justine Mee Liff Park

    Saturday, April 24, 2021: Back Bay Fens, Franklin Park (Valley Gates)

    The Conservancy has been closely monitoring health and safety guidelines set by the City of Boston, the Town of Brookline, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since the beginning of the pandemic. All programs and events that we have follow our Conservancy COVID-19 policies.

    All volunteers will be required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing during the event. We advise that volunteers who feel ill within 72 hours of the event do not participate.

    All volunteers will be required to sign a COVID-19 volunteer waiver, along with our standard volunteer waiver, in order to participate. In order to follow event size requirements, we will cap each cleanup site at 25 volunteers. For groups interested in participating that are over 25 people, we will require that they split their group between multiple cleanup sites. For more information visit https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/volunteer/muddy-river-cleanup-2021/?bblinkid=249471968&bbemailid=29894011&bbejrid=1903405101

  • Massachusetts Residents Urged to Report Sightings of Invasive Spotted Lanternfly

    Two dead bugs recently found in eastern Massachusetts have state agricultural officials sounding the alarm about an invasive pest with a big appetite for grapevines, hops and fruit trees.

    Spotted lanternflly populations have grown explosively in Pennsylvania since their discovery in the state in 2014. Since then, infestations of the sap-sucking insects, native to Asia, have broken out in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia and Connecticut.

    The dead Massachusetts specimens, found in Milford and Norwood, came on materials shipped from Pennsylvania counties currently under a spotted lanternfly quarantine, said Jennifer Forman Orth, a biologist with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

    State agricultural officials are urging anyone who has received goods or materials — such as plants, landscaping materials, or outdoor furniture — from a state with a known spotted lanternfly infestation to carefully check the materials, including any packaging, for signs the insects. Although the main host plant of the spotted lanternfly is tree-of-heaven, a deciduous tree native to China — itself a rapidly growing invasive species here in North America — the voracious pest feeds on over 100 different plant species. Residents should look for large, gray insects, about one inch long, with black spots and red underwings, or inch-long, rectangular yellowish-brown egg masses covered with a gray waxy coating. Egg masses may be found on any flat surface.

    Adult lanternflies damage plants by feeding on the sap and excreting honeydew, according to a fact sheet issued by the Massachusetts Introduced Pests Outreach Project. The honeydew then causes sooty mold and attracts other insects that may also cause damage to the plant.

    Residents who suspect they have encountered the pest should take a photo or collect the specimen, and report any potential sightings via the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources online reporting form, available at: massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/spottedlanternfly.html. The coronavirus pandemic has contributed to the need for increased vigilance because many residents across the state have been improving their outdoor spaces with new outdoor furniture, play structures and gazebos, as well as trees and shrubs for landscaping, officials said. When shipped from places with spotted lanternfly infestations, these products, and the vehicles used for transportation, can unintentionally carry the pest into new areas.