Boston Flora

Tuesday, May 3, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Garden Club of the Back Bay Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of The Garden Club of the Back Bay, Inc. will be held Tuesday, May 3 beginning at 5 pm at The College Club of Boston, 44 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Officers for 2022-2023 will be elected, and proposed grants will be announced and approved. The meeting is open to the public but we require advance notice of attendees, so we ask for responses by April 18. Respond by clicking HERE. The College Club subscribes to the City of Boston “B Together” policy regarding vaccination and masking.

Sunday, April 24, 12:00 noon – 5:00 pm – Hope for (some) Herps, Live and Online

The Ware River Nature Club’s Annual meeting will be held on Sunday, April 24th, noon – 5 p.m at Hartman’s Herb Farm in Barre. Featured speaker Tom Tyning will present Hope For (some) Herps: The Twisting Saga of Conservation for Un-loved Species. The presentations will also be available for viewing on Zoom.

In general, the study of amphibians and reptiles has lagged far behind that of other vertebrates, and even of many invertebrates. We still lack basic knowledge of the distribution of many of our species, not to mention their population levels, trends, or natural fluctuations. Yet despite regular setbacks, insights continue to unfold that provide some hope for conservation.

This presentation will highlight relevant trends in herpetological research, areas of field work where any of us can contribute, and a conservation outlook for selected species in our region. The complex intersection of science, speculation, politics, and history have made the study of local amphibians and reptiles both imperative and filled with roadblocks. But, for those who revel in the April chorus of spring peepers or relax at the sight of a sun-basking turtle, field observations will continue to encourage an energetic and positive hope for all components of healthy landscapes, including the herps. Tom Tyning is professor of environmental science at Berkshire Community College, former field biologist and master naturalist for the Mass Audubon Society, author of A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles, and founder of the Berkshire Natural History Conference. Tyning brings his authority and enthusiasm to everything he does, from teaching, to work on Salamander Tunnels in Amherst, to research on the local rattlesnake and butterfly populations.

Special guests Natasha Nowick and Alexxia Bell of Turtle Rescue League will present TURTLE 911 and be accompanied by some native turtles in their care. The Turtle Rescue League is a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center dedicated to the protection of our native turtles.

In addition to a delicious meal and a chance to visit with fellow nature-lovers, attendees will have a chance to bid on an eclectic array of auction items.

We ask that you be “vaxxed to the max” if you plan to attend in person. We’re also planning to offer remote viewing of the guest speakers. Check for updates and register by contacting @ Ware River Nature Club. $40 for Ware River Nature Club members, $45 for nonmembers. Zoom presentation only: $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers.

Monday, April 25 – Monday, September 12 – Plant Families, Self-Paced, Online

What are the underlying evolutionary relationships and patterns in plants? In this Native Plant Trust online foundational course, you will learn the botanical terms used to describe plants and flowers, the evolutionary/phylogenetic basis for classification, and the identifying characteristics for several major plant families common to New England. With diagrams, images, and further resources offered to reinforce the concepts, you will apply the new material through indoor and outdoor assignments and peer forums. This Basic Certificate online core course is self-paced; a facilitator will guide you in your learning, review your assignments, and answer your questions. Click here to download the syllabus. It typically takes at least 12 hours to complete. Taught by Neela de Zoysa, the class is available April 25 – September 12.

$150 for NPT members, $200 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/plant-families/

Thursday, April 21, 2:00 pm – Ecological Horticulture in an Evolving World, Online

Horticulture is a practice that is as ancient as civilization. But modern ecological and political drivers demand we adapt to these changing times. Gardeners now want to help the environment with their practice, rather than dominate it; with that, many of our gardening techniques are falling into question. Why do we mulch? Why do we cut back in spring? And where do we learn new strategies for stewardship in a rapidly evolving world? On April 21, join the Garden Conservancy to find out more.

Rebecca McMackin has been trying to answer these questions as well as asking many more. Through her work at Brooklyn Bridge Park and in private practice, she works to develop and share techniques for ecological horticulture: a field which centers the dynamics among plants, animals, and fungi, while still creating and maintaining aesthetically stunning gardens. In this presentation, Rebecca will discuss the evolution of this work, as well as the new ways gardeners share knowledge in this rapidly developing field. Rebecca is an ecologically obsessed horticulturist and garden designer. She has spent the last decade as Director of Horticulture of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where she manages 85 acres of diverse parkland organically and with an eye towards habitat creation for birds, butterflies, and soil microorganisms.

DATE AND TIME
Thursday, April 21
2:00 p.m. Eastern

LOCATION
Live on Zoom

REGISTRATION
$5 Garden Conservancy Members
$15 General Admission

A recording of this webinar will be sent to all registrants a few days after the event. We encourage you to register, even if you cannot attend the live webinar.

Members of the Frank & Anne Cabot Society for Planned Giving have complimentary access to Garden Conservancy webinars. All Cabot Society members will automatically be sent the link to participate on the morning of the webinar. For more information about the Cabot Society, please contact Sarah Parker at sparker@gardenconservancy.org or 845.424.6500, ext. 214.

Wednesdays, April 20 – May 4, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Super Small Space Veggie Gardening, Online

Whether you have a terrace, rooftop, or tiny backyard, learn how to grow the most veggies in the space you have. Discover the best practices for successful small-space gardening from soil preparation to container selection and bed design, crop choices, and tips for high-yield results. Get your season started with smart seed ordering, growing and choosing the right transplants, and strategizing for irrigation, pest management, and more. Class includes time to tailor lessons learned to your particular garden space. This three session New York Botanical Garden class taught by Annie Novak begins April 20 and continues each Wednesday through May 4, from 6 – 8. $169 for NYBG members, $185 for nonmembers. Register HERE.

Mondays, April 25, May 9, May 23, and June 6, 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Native Herbaceous Plant Materials: Early Season

Over the course of the spring, we will examine a wide variety of native plants for gardens and discuss each plant’s cultural and habitat needs as well as its importance to wildlife. The class at Garden in the Woods will cover 90 species and include tips for growing them. You will learn to identify native plants in the New England gardening palette, become familiar with each plant’s appropriate use, and identify each plant’s role in the ecosystem in terms of attracting pollinators and other wildlife. NPT members $180, nonmembers $220. Register online at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/native-herbaceous-plant-materials-early-season/

Honoring Julia Donahue, Welcoming Alexander Leventhal

The Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit bids farewell to founding President Julia H. Donahue, who since 2009 has steered the not for profit group and with her Board and Partners has ensured that the Mounted Unit has remained actively on patrol. In Julia’s letter to her supporters, she says “Thanks to our combined efforts and sheer persistence over the years Mystic, Baron, Remington, Otis, Frederick, Winston and Liberty remain in our Parks every day. Accompanied by their trusted Mounted Park Rangers, these horses and the Unit have not missed one day of work in the parks during the Covid-19 pandemic.” The Garden Club of the Back Bay has worked with Julia over the years and congratulates her on a job well done.

Incoming President Alexander Leventhal took over the role as President on February 23. We urge you all to support the Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit. For information on how you can help, contact them at info@friendsofthebprmountedunit.org, or visit their website https://friendsofthebprmountedunit.org/

Wednesday, April 20, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Romanticism at Innisfree, Online

Those who know his work think of landscape architect Lester Collins as a modernist, even a minimalist. Those who know Innisfree think of its connections to the gardens of ancient China and Japan. Innisfree and Collins’ larger body of work nevertheless draw deeply on the ideas and ideals of Romanticism, celebrating nature and the deep, emotional connection between humans and the natural world. Using Innisfree as the nexus, landscape curator Kate Kerin will introduce these ideas as a continuum rooted in 18th century Europe, flowering in the 19th century Hudson Valley with the likes of Andrew Jackson Downing, Frederick Law Olmsted, and artists of the Hudson River School, and very much alive today with growing interest in nature conservation, nature’s role in human health, and nature-based gardening strategies.

Kate Kerin has spent her career studying, preserving, teaching about, and designing landscapes. She has a particular interest in garden history. Kate has been working with Innisfree since 2012.

The Zoom lecture will take place April 20 at 1 pm Eastern, and is free to Innisfree members, $15 for nonmembers. Register HERE

Thursday, May 5, 7:00 pm – Good Eats 4: The Final Chapter

Porter Square Books is delighted to present an evening with Alton Brown for Good Eats 4: The Final Years. Join us at the Somerville Theatre to celebrate the release of this fourth and final installment in the iconic Good Eats cookbook series with a live Q&A moderated by one lucky audience member! A book signing will follow the talk.

This event will take place on Thursday, May 5 at 7pm] at the Somerville Theatre. Purchase a ticket here: Alton Brown for Good Eats 4: The Final Years Tickets May 05, 2022 Somerville, MA | Ticketmaster. This event will sell out quickly.

An all-new collection of must-have recipes and surprising food facts from Alton Brown, drawn from the return of the beloved Good Eats television series, including never-before aired material, this long-anticipated fourth and final volume in the bestselling Good Eats series of cookbooks draws on two reboots of the beloved television show by the inimitable Alton Brown—Good Eats Reloaded and Good Eats: The Return. With more than 175 new and improved recipes for everything from chicken parm to bibimbap and cold brew to corn dogs, accompanied by mouthwatering original photography, The Final Years is the most sumptuous and satisfying of the Good Eats books yet.

Brown’s surefire recipes are temptation enough: the headnotes, tips, and sidebars that support them make each recipe a journey into culinary technique, flavor exploration, and edible history. Striking photography showcases finished dishes and highlights key ingredients, and handwritten notes on the pages capture Brown’s unique mix of madcap and methodical. The distinctive high-energy and information-intensive dynamic of Good Eats comes to life on every page, making this a must-have cookbook for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

Alton Brown was directing TV commercials when he got the crazy idea to go to culinary school and reinvent the food show. The result: Good Eats, which has kept Brown gainfully employed for more than 20 years and earned him a Peabody Award. Along the way he also hosted Iron Chef America, Cutthroat Kitchen, and Feasting on Asphalt. Brown’s live culinary variety shows have played to sold-out theaters across the United States. He lives in Marietta, Georgia. For more information visit https://www.portersquarebooks.com/event/alton-brown-good-eats-4-final-years-somerville-theatre

Saturday, April 23, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm – Desktop Orchids, Online

Get pro tips on how to care for orchids in less than optimal environments. Barbara Schmidt, award-winning exhibitor at the Philadelphia Flower Show and author of Orchid Care: For the Beginner, will walk you through which orchid genus will fare best in your indoor environment, as well as how to ensure your orchids have what they need to grow and bloom.

If you like, you will also be able to show your own orchids to Barbara via Zoom, so she can help you identify and/or troubleshoot your orchid in its home environment. This special New York Botanical Garden webinar will take place on April 23 from 11 – 1, and is $55 for members, $59 for nonmembers. Register HERE.