Friday, November 17 – Photo Submission Deadline for Charles River Watershed

Calling all photographers––do you love to photograph the scenes, plants, and wildlife of Charles River? The Charles River Watershed Association is so pleased to announce the first annual 2023 Charles River Photo Contest.

Submit your photos today––share your top three images with us by Friday, November 17th for a chance to win exciting river-themed prizes and features on our digital channels. Submit today at http://www.crwa.org/photocontest

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Garden Club of the Back Bay Holiday Wreaths – Remembering Laurie Carter Noble

In 2023, long time Garden Club of the Back Bay member Laurie Carter Noble passed away. Laurie will be remembered for many things, but she was especially noted for her beautifully designed and heavily decorated holiday wreaths created for the Club during its annual wreath week sale. The example below is an unexpectedly restrained design from 2014. A remembrance of Laurie may be found at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chatham-ma/hannelore-noble-11367075 Laurie always said the Season didn’t begin until she spent four days immersed in greens, cones, and ribbon in the basement of The First Lutheran Church of Boston. To order a 2023 wreath, visit https://gardenclubbackbay.org/store

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Wednesday, November 15, 7:00 pm – Say NO to Rat Poison

In recent years, Massachusetts has been hit by a string of high-profile wildlife deaths due to rodenticide poisoning, such as Mystic River watershed resident MK the bald eagle this past March. However, incidents like these point to a wider epidemic taking place out of the spotlight. Climate change, a construction boom, and increased human density have led to a dramatic rise in rats in metro areas like Boston. Rat poison usually is the main method for dealing with the problem. But these poisons are killing local wildlife and pets and endanger our young children, while not actually proving at all effective in reducing rodents. In this free November 15 Wright-Locke Farm presentation at 7 pm in the All Seasons Barn, Save Arlington Wildlife founder Laura Kiesel will review facts about rodenticides and their effects on our health and the environment, while offering practical solutions for people to protect their communities from these dangerous poisons.

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Sunday, November 19, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Your Story in Seeds

Hudson Valley-based artist-miniaturist Sergey Jivetin will once again bring his seed stories project to Garden in the Woods on November 19 at 11. Sergey will hand-engrave seeds with illustrations based on narratives about plants and their deep connection with farmers, seed savers, naturalists and enthusiast gardeners who nurture and preserve them. If you would like to share your personal story of such a relationship between plants and people, bring a relevant seed and Sergey will illustrate your individual story into it. 

There will be a limited number of customized seed engravings created for people who would like to bring sentimental seeds and share a relevant story. For this first-come, first-serve program, you must sign up in advance for your 45-minute time slot. $26 for NPT members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/your-stories-seeds/

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Wednesday, November 15, 6:00 pm – Back Bay Fens Pathways Community Design Meeting, Online

Please join a community design meeting on November 15 with the City of Boston Department of Parks and Recreation. The project scope includes rehabilitation of pathways at the Back Bay Fens to improve accessibility and site conditions. This historic park is under the jurisdiction of the Boston Landmarks Commission. The project includes the assessment and prioritization of pathway work, as well as Boston Parks standard project design work. The project will also include items along and adjacent to pathways, such as site furnishings, utilities, and plantings. Read more at https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/improvements-back-bay-fens-pathways

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Saturday, November 18, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Holiday Market at the Eustis Estate

Join Historic New England on November 18 from 10 – 3 for the Fourth Annual Eustis Estate Holiday Market. Enjoy a festive atmosphere and get in the holiday spirit at the 1880s estate. This open air market features a variety of local craftspeople selling unique holiday gifts including jewelry, fiber art, and foodstuffs.  The Eustis Estate is located at 1424 Canton Avenue in Milton.

Members: free; Nonmembers: $5. Log in or join now to have your discount applied at checkout. Register HERE.

Due to limited capacity, we recommend that you purchase your timed tickets in advance. Please call 617-994-5914 for more information.

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Thursday, November 16, 6:30 pm – Our Artificial Nature: Perspectives on Design for an Era of Environmental Change

On the tenth anniversary of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities, the Druker Design Gallery exhibition Our Artificial Nature: Perspectives on Design for an Era of Environmental Change aims to situate emerging research within a history of design and solidify a dialogue around a new ecological paradigm. Carson Chan, Director, Emilio Ambasz Institute for the Joint Study of the Built and Natural Environment and curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, will engage GSD faculty in a conversation about past design speculations, current research, and practice.

The conversation will address the cultural, social, and technological processes emerging within design discourse that aim to address ecological imperatives. The event will call attention to the idea that design practice is the creation of the artificial, as well as the imagination of our constructed environment in a moment when our designed and natural worlds are fused. Both the event and exhibition aim to situate current research within a history of design for environmental change, framing new paradigms for environmental design.

This event is part of ArtsThursdays, a university-wide initiative supported by Harvard University Committee on the Arts (HUCA). Free and open to the public in the Gund Hall Piper Auditorium at the Harvard Graduate School of Design on November 16 from 6:30 – 8. For complete information visit www.gsd.harvard.edu

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Wednesday, November 15, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Closing the Loop in Landscapes: Enhanced Sustainability with Roots, Wildlife, and Healthy Soil, Online

Traditionally, many resources are used to keep landscapes looking lush and healthy. Tremendous amounts of water are used to irrigate lawns and garden beds. Every year we cover our landscapes with yards of mulch to keep weeds at bay and retain soil moisture. However, we can lower our water bills, stop the annual mulch delivery, and have gorgeous healthy gardens by creating an ecosystem that ultimately cares for itself. The incorporation of native plants attracts wildlife and feeds the soil, the foundation of healthy plants. In this session, you will learn how to identify plants to enhance sustainability; how to naturally enhance soil health; and how to design with techniques that encourage wildlife and minimize water use. This American Horticultural Society online lecture takes place Wednesday, November 15, at 7 pm Eastern. $10 AHS members, $15 nonmembers. Register at www.ahsgardening.org

Marie Chieppo is a landscape designer who works with nature and interconnecting systems to enhance biodiversity and the overall health of the environment. With an initial background in public health policy and research, she has designed beautiful resilient landscapes for over twenty years through her business, EcoPlantPlans. Her most recent work focuses on sustainable solutions for plastic plant containers. Chieppo is an Ecological Landscape Designer and Accredited Organic Land Care Professional.

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Wednesday November 15, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Head Gardeners at Historic Sites: Kate White at Branklyn Gardens, Online

The Gardens Trust Wednesday webinar series this Autumn will focus on head gardeners working at historic sites. This is the first lecture of the second set of five talks, exploring how individual head gardeners are balancing the heritage of their site, the wishes of its owner(s) and their own interests and experience. We’ll hear about the role from both seasoned head gardeners and those more recently appointed. Learn about the challenges they face, including climate change, as well as the joys of horticulture and heritage. you may purchase a ticket for the entire course of 5 sessions at a cost of £20 via the link here. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session (available for 1 week) will be sent shortly afterwards.

Branklyn Garden near Perth in Scotland was developed in the 1920s and has an emphasis on Himalayan flora. Occupying only two acres, but with over 6000 current plant accessions, Branklyn is a garden packed with interest throughout the year. This talk will look at the challenges and opportunities of managing such a diverse plant collection and explore the history of this unique place within the portfolio of National Trust for Scotland gardens.

Kate White is the new head gardener at Branklyn. She originally studied Crop and Soil Science and worked in organic agriculture for seven years before deciding to change careers. Armed with qualifications in horticulture and garden history from RBGE, she has taken on various roles, including as Head Gardener at Cowden Japanese Garden and Bannockburn House Trust, and also works in adult horticultural education and volunteer training.

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