Boston Flora

Category: Volunteer Opportunity

  • Saturday, April 25, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Annual Muddy River Cleanup of Charlesgate – POSTPONED

    Join the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and partners throughout the Charles River watershed for the Annual Charles River/Muddy River Cleanup on Saturday, April 25, from 9 – noon. 

    Give back to your community and enjoy the beauty and wildlife of the Emerald Necklace parks while picking up litter, removing invasive species and assisting with park maintenance.

    Registration for the Muddy River Cleanup is open. All volunteers must indicate their preferred park on the on line form. All non-profit, family and individual volunteers must indicate the size of their volunteer group. A donation of $5 per volunteer is requested for non-profit, family and individual volunteers.

    Please contact Julia Damiano, Land Stewardship Coordinator, with any questions.

    Register on line at https://www.emeraldnecklace.org/event/mrc2020/

  • Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 pm – Dog Park Focus Meeting for Charlesgate – Postponed

    Join The Charlesgate Alliance for a presentation by Landing Studio of design ideas and discussion of the dog park component of the revitalized Charlesgate Park. This meeting will be at 91 Bay State Road, Seminar Room, at 6:30pm. For more information email charlesgatealliance@gmail.com.

  • Help Protect Patten Hill in Shelburne Falls

    Mass Audubon has an opportunity to protect 67 stunning, hilltop acres adjacent to High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary in Shelburne Falls. But to make it happen, they need your help to raise $430,000 by June 2020.

    The generous support of many individuals helped protect 167 acres of the Patten Hill property in 2016. Today, help is needed to permanently conserve the rest of the farm and preserve the legacy of open space for future generations.  

    This spectacular property boasts views of the mountains in all directions—Mount Greylock to the west, Mount Monadnock to the east, Mount Tom to the south, and the Green Mountains of Vermont to the north.

    Protecting this property will result in more than 1,000 connected, protected acres. In addition to the long-distance views, it contains important grassland bird habitat, forest and a stream corridor that includes a series of beaver ponds. The parcel will connect the 792-acre High Ledges with the undeveloped 574-acre Shelburne Falls Fire District land (a public water supply property) and the 221-acre Davenport Farm, creating the type of wildlife corridor that is essential to accommodating wildlife movement in the age of climate change.

    In addition, purchasing Patten Hill will safeguard the drinking water supply by protecting the streams and ponds that drain into the North River and the Shelburne Falls public water supply lands, maintain increasingly rare grassland habitat, enhance the popular public trail system, and preserve the outstanding views to and from the property. Give online at www.massaudubon.org or call Liz Albert at 781-259-2104 or email lalbert@massaudubon.org.

  • Thursday, March 5, 10:20 am – Tree Removal Hearing: South Station

    In accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 87, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will hold a public hearing on a request to remove four public shade trees at South Station. The request is for the removal of four elm trees measuring 4 and 5 inches dbh (diameter at breast height) adjacent to the Michael J. Dukakis Transportation Center at 245 Summer Street due to the South Station Air Rights Project. The hearing will be held by the City of Boston’s Tree Warden (or designee) in the 3rd floor Conference Room of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, Roxbury.  Public testimony will be taken at the hearing, or may be provided prior to the hearing in writing to the Tree Warden, Boston Parks and Recreation Department, 1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd floor, Roxbury, MA 02118 or by emailing parks@boston.gov with “South Station Tree Hearing” in the subject line. A final decision regarding the request will be made within two weeks of the hearing.  For further information, please contact the Tree Warden at 617-635-7275.

  • Ducklings on Parade

    It is with great excitement that we announce a new project that Garden Club of the Back Bay friend Nancy Schon is involved in, and it requires your help! 

    As you may know, her Make Way for Ducklings sculpture is decorated or dressed regularly and mysteriously (and lovingly) with seasonal, holiday, sporting, or special events outfits. We have all been enchanted with these surprise hats, outfits or decorations!

    In consultation with her publisher, she has been asked to create a charming book showing photographs of the Ducklings wearing different outfits.

    So, we need your photographs!

    Working together with her publisher’s staff, Nancy will choose a diverse representation of all photos submitted. Please choose the most interesting and engaging photograph and of the best quality possible.

    To submit your photo: Click on this link https://nancyschon.typeform.com/to/IhTbAA

  • Native Plant Garden Design Challenge

    Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces the launch of a two-year collaboration with the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts (GCFM). The initiative anticipates reaching more than 11,000 member gardeners throughout the state, spreading the message of native plants to 147 communities.

    The collaboration, called the Native Plant Challenge, sets goals for garden clubs throughout the state to learn about native plants, identify ones appropriate for their locations, and design and implement native plant gardens in their communities. “Native plants provide significant ecological and aesthetic value to our landscapes. The Native Plant Challenge will educate thousands of people on how to encourage healthier environments and ecosystems in Massachusetts,” says Courtney Allen, Native Plant Trust’s Director of Public Programs.

    Under the leadership of GCFM president Bonnie Rosenthall, the Native Plant Challenge supports GCFM’s century-long mission to assist member clubs with education and appreciation of horticulture, landscape and floral design, gardening and environmental concerns.

    As part of the initiative, Native Plant Trust is making available special resources to GCFM member clubs, including an online course “Designing with Native Plants” and selected plants from Nasami Farm, its nursery in Whately, MA. Participants may also access Native Plant Trust’s public resources, including the online Plant Finder, a tool to help gardeners discover plants native to New England that will thrive in specific garden conditions, while meeting practical and aesthetic preferences.

  • Native Plant Trust Volunteer Opportunities for 2020

    Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announces volunteer opportunities for 2020. Volunteer initiatives span the region and include openings in field conservation, horticulture, and educational outreach. Training begins in Winter 2020. Volunteering with Native Plant Trust offers adults a unique chance to learn about native plants from experts, to make a difference locally and regionally by supporting the environment, and to build community and friendships with others who share their interests. All volunteer opportunities come with complimentary training and enrichment.

    Plant Conservation Volunteers (PCV) training is in March and April 2020. PCVs help conserve native flora by participating in plant monitoring, seed collection, and habitat management throughout New England. Interested applicants should have some botanical knowledge, a strong commitment to native plant conservation, good observation skills, and a sense of adventure.

    Community Outreach Volunteers support Native Plant Trust by sharing information about the organization’s work and resources at events in their local areas. Requirements: Community Outreach Volunteers should be active in their local communities or willing to be more engaged, attend, or serve on the planning committee for large/community events. They must enjoy interacting with the public.

    Garden Guides offer visitors a personal introduction to Garden in the Woods, the renowned botanic garden of Native Plant Trust and sharing the beauty and importance of native plants. Requirements: Garden Guides should enjoy interacting with both people and plants, and enjoy learning and sharing that knowledge. They must be comfortable spending extensive time outside.

    For more information about volunteer programs at Native Plant Trust or to apply, please contact publicprograms@NativePlantTrust.org or visit http://NativePlantTrust.org/about/volunteer.

  • Monday, January 20, 2020 – Deadline for National Garden Clubs Poster Contest

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the National Garden Clubs, Inc. are giving students the opportunity to demonstrate through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles. Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!Smokey Bear is recognized nationally and internationally as the symbol for fire prevention. The original Smokey Bear appeared in 1944. Smokey’s message, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires!” encourages personal responsibility for fire prevention. Smokey Bear teaches children and adults to be careful with campfires, barbecues, trash fires, and matches. Lend a Hand, Care for the Land!Woodsy Owl is America’s icon for the conservation of the environment. Since 1971, Woodsy has helped parents and teachers inspire children to observe, explore, and care for the environment. He challenges children to “Lend a Hand, Care for the Land!” and to take an active role in caring for the land through recycling, reusing, and reducing waste, planting and caring for trees, using resources wisely, and not littering. Visit www.gardenclub.org to find more information and recent National winners under Youth Programs Visit www.gcfm.org to see recent state contest winners. Open to children in first through fifth grades.

  • Monday, December 2 – Thursday, December 5, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm – Holiday Wreath Making

    Monday, December 2 – Thursday, December 5, 8:00 am – 7:00 pm – Holiday Wreath Making

    The Parish of The First Lutheran Church of Boston will again host The Garden Club of the Back Bay for wreath making on the lower level of Church, 299 Berkeley Street (on the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough Streets). We are very, very grateful. Please note that we are setting up the space on Sunday, December 1 and will be ready to work first thing Monday morning!  Monday participation by as many of you as possible is critical to our success. The hours are as follows:

    Monday, Dec. 2 – 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (decorating)
    Tuesday, Dec. 3 – 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (decorating)
    Wednesday, Dec. 4- 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (decorating, delivery)
    Thursday, Dec. 5- 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (decorating, delivery, clean up)

    Please come to the side door on Berkeley Street. We’ll post a sign. Coffee and baked goods will be available each morning, and catered lunches will be delivered all four days. Dried materials and fresh greens can be delivered to the Church no earlier than Monday, December 2. Please have all decorations cleaned down – branches cut down, dead leaves removed – so we can contain the mess we inevitably make. Delicate materials can be laid flat in sweater boxes or gently stacked in cardboard containers. We are going to need as many dried items as we can collect, and we especially want interesting fresh evergreen boughs and holly. Sturdy pine cones were in short supply at the end of last year, and we did a wholesale cleaning out of old dried flowers and dried fruit before storing supplies, so a fresh batch will be welcome.

    Bring clippers and scissors if you have them, labeled with masking tape for ease of identification. Aprons are also a good idea. Dress comfortably! We need everyone’s help, whether you decorate, deliver, organize, make telephone calls confirming delivery, or sweep. Contact info@bostonflora.com if you can take a delivery shift. Otherwise, we’ll see you on Monday. Non Club members are welcome to join us. Thank you.

  • Saturday, July 20 – Wednesday, July 24 – Greater & Greener 2019, An International Urban Parks Conference

    Greater & Greener 2019 – Exploring Natural Connections, will take place July 20 – 24 in Denver, Colorado. This International Urban Parks Conference is presented by the City Parks Alliance. The Toro Urban Park Innovation Award, which recognizes innovation in park management and practices, is presented. Participants will explore the Denver Metro Parks System, and there will be an opportunity to give back to the conference host city during a Volunteer Service Day.

    For more than a decade, Greater & Greener has been the leading international conference for urban park leaders, city planning and design professionals, public officials, advocates, funders, and innovators to explore the role of parks and recreation in addressing some of the biggest challenges facing 21st Century cities. The highly curated sessions, workshops, and tours facilitate an honest dialogue around solutions, cross-sector and peer-to-peer networking, and tools for building successful park partnerships.   

    Greater & Greener 2019: Exploring Natural Connections is presented by City Parks Alliance, the only independent, nationwide membership organization dedicated solely to urban parks. The conference will bring together more than 1,000 leaders from parks and recreation, public works, transportation, city planning and other municipal agencies, mayors, advocacy and funding organizations, community leaders, designers and landscape architects, real estate developers and other stakeholders involved in city building.

    Greater & Greener explores how urban parks can be designed, developed, programmed, funded, and sustained to meet increasing city demands. By expanding the discussion to new audiences and emphasizing the relevance of urban parks to engage leaders from across sectors, Greater & Greener aims to inspire reimagining of parks in a broad new context of economic, environmental, and social opportunities. 

    The Denver metropolitan region is one of the fastest growing in the U.S., due in part, to the city’s ongoing commitment to an outdoor urban lifestyle. The entire city is our venue as historic vision and modern execution of the Denver park system provide first-hand examples of urban park planning, partnerships, design, and programming.

    Over the five days of the conference, attendees can visit and experience the inspiring Denver metro area, including its impressive mountain parks, through our Weekend Tours. They can learn and engage in our breakout sessions, then enhance their learning through our Mobile Workshops. Or invest in networking with peers and across sectors at our special events. On the final day, it is time for our International Forum, where attendees can get an in-depth look at select projects and models from around the globe. To register, visit https://www.greatergreener.org/conference/schedule-at-a-glance