Boston Flora

Saturday, July 31, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Iris Society Plant Sale

Now is the time to plant irises!

Select from many gorgeous irises — bearded and Siberian — at great low prices, all grown in New England by members of the Iris Society of Massachusetts . There will be information on planting and care. Come early for the best selection. Cash or checks only. The event takes place July 31 from 11 – 3 at Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road in Concord. For more information call 781-643-5945, or email sbcummer@msn.com

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Tuesday, August 3, 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm – BERDO and Beyond, Online

What must a city actually DO to get to a Carbon Free Future? Come to the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay’s second Climate Action Webinar on August 3 at 4 pm to learn more about Boston’s Forward-Thinking Answer. Boston Emissions Reporting Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) – is a transformative carbon reduction piece of legislation filed in City Council on June 16. The Council voted unanimously to approve taking the next step, which is to hold a public hearing.

Speakers will be Councilor Matt O’Malley, City Council President, author of the original BERDO in 2013, and Chief Sponsor of the New Version, and Alison Brezius, Director of Climate and Environmental Planning for the City of Boston, Loie Hayes, representing Green Energy Consumers, BCAN (Boston Climate Action Network), and BCEC (Boston Clean Energy Coalition. The moderator is Michael McCord, Chair of the NABB Green Committee. RSVP by August 3 here to receive the Zoom link to the webinar.

Wednesday, August 11, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Plein Air Watercolor Painting in the Garden

Explore the Berkshire Botanical Garden through the pleasure of watercolor painting with artist Ann Kremers on August 11 from 10 – 1. The class will work outdoors translating the vistas and details of the garden into paintings. Each session will begin with discussion of student work, demonstration, and a helpful assignment. Ann offers encouragement and suggestions throughout the painting sessions to help each person find their way to express the Garden. Beginners and experienced painters are welcome. Additional information can be found on our website. Ann Kremers lives and works in Bennington, Vermont. She studied art at the University of Michigan and has continued to research, experiment and discover new things about art making throughout her life. Walking in the beautiful landscape where she lives and looking at the world wherever she finds herself provides continuing inspiration and learning experience. Click here to be added to the waiting list for this class.

Thursday, July 29, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Nature of Summer, Online

Summertime in Massachusetts is filled with unique seasonal wonders and mysteries. What insects can you hear, and do you know how to tell the temperature by crickets chirping? Why do we see turtles sitting on top of logs on sunny summer days? What animals are raising their young and how do different wildlife species survive in summer conditions? Learn the how and why of summer phenomena, as well as ways to explore, enjoy, and protect nature close to home. This July 29 online presentation sponsored by Mass Audubon Education will be taught by Patti Steinman, Doug Lowry, and Lucy Gertz. $10.

A portion of this program is funded through the generosity of the Alvarium Foundation. You will receive the Microsoft Teams Link to log into the program in your confirmation. An email reminder will also be sent to you 24 hours before program start. Register now with our secure payment portal.

Thursday, August 5, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Invasive Plant Species Management & Native Plant Restoration, Online

Join The Trustees, wetland scientist Michael DeRosa and master gardener Catherine Carney-Felman, for a virtual lecture on August 5 between 6 – 7 all about invasive plant species management and native plant restoration.

Using the foundation of works by Dr. Douglas Tallamy (Bringing Nature Home, Nature’s Best Hope, The Nature of Oaks) we will discuss the importance of identifying and managing invasive plant species in our own yards and re-establishment of native species in a collective effort to restore the caterpillar and insect populations that form the basis of our interconnected food webs. We will also discuss some invasive plant removal and management techniques and consider native plants that we can all use to form the important plant communities that can be easily incorporated in our home and neighborhood landscapes.

Virtual lecture attendees are welcome to a complimentary tour of our wetlands gardens at Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens, date to be announced.

Michael DeRosa is a Professional Wetland Scientist and population ecologist specializing in ecological restoration. He is a Licensed Site Professional and manages hazardous waste site evaluations, assessments, and remedial actions within the Commonwealth and a LEED Accredited Professional under the US Green Building Council. Mike incorporated DeRosa Environmental Consulting, Inc. in 1994 and has cultivated the company into a diversified group of scientists that develop ecologically based solutions to the environmental problems of the day.

Catherine Carney-Felman, M. Ed., Master Gardener, NOFA Certification, Member of the Ipswich Conservation Commission, Board Member of the Ipswich Humane Group, Principal of Shamrock Acres Environmental Landscape Company, volunteer in charge of the nature gardens at the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and Ipswich River Watershed Association, writer, lecturer, and speaker on many environmental, gardening and animal subjects, unabashed tree hugger and animal rescuer.

This lecture will be held on Zoom. Space is limited; pre-registration is required by clicking HERE.

For more information please contact tickets@thetrustees.org

Thursday, July 29, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden Virtual Tour

With all the limited travel opportunities right now, the Canadian Botanical Garden Society (CBGS) has decided to bring the gardens to you in collaboration with the Canadian Garden Council. We have invited our colleagues at Destination/Botanical Gardens, located along the Canadian Garden Route, to offer virtual garden presentations that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

Our next Virtual Garden Presentation Tour will be on Thursday, July 29th with a presentation tour of MUN Botanical Garden with guest presenter, Todd Boland, B.Sc., M.Sc. Horticulturist.

Located in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden is the province’s premier botanical garden.

A place to explore and play, the MUN Botanical Garden has cultivated gardens and meandering trails nestled in our spectacular boreal forest. You’ll discover beautiful displays of native and exotic plants, perennial and vegetable gardens, with a few surprises along the way!

Explore five breathtaking trails that wander through trees, waterways, wetlands and scenic vistas. Be immersed in nature with over 250 species of vascular plants, 120 species of birds and 26 species of butterflies.

Devoted to RESEARCH and EDUCATION, the Garden has been developed to display plants native to the province and cultivated plants suitable to the local climate and to provide access to a number of habitats through a system of trails.

The Garden is a not-for-profit charity as part of the university’s inclusive community, which creates and inspires understanding, appreciation, and conservation of plants in gardens and natural areas to further Memorial’s mission of research, education and engagement.

Todd Boland has been gardening for over 40 years. Todd is currently the research horticulturalist at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Botanical Gardens. As a result of his love of gardening, he is the author of several books, including Favourite Perennials for Atlantic Canada, Wildflowers of Nova Scotia, Wildflowers of New Brunswick, Wildflowers and Ferns of Newfoundland, Trees and Shrubs of the Maritimes, and Trees and Shrubs of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Free Register HERE.

Wednesday, July 28, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Eco-Answers with an ELA Eco-Pro, Online

Do you have a question about how to manage or maintain edibles in your yard and gardens?
Is successfully growing edibles a challenge that you are facing this summer?

Join the Ecological Landscape Alliance and native edible plant specialist, Dan Jaffe Wilder online on July 28 at 6:30 Eastern time to ask your questions and get professional advice to help solve your problems. During this 90-minute Zoom live forum, Dan will provide answers to some common questions, and possibly some not so common questions. Dan will share information dealing with edible plants in your gardens and landscapes, including nut-producing trees, berrying shrubs, and some common and not so common annual vegetables.

Dan will start the evening with brief opening remarks and then jump right into your questions for the bulk of the Q&A session. Some topics that Dan can address are:

Edible plants in containers
Native and perennial edibles
Organic soil amendments
Growing food in less-than-ideal conditions
Natural pest controls
Weeding strategies
And more…

Please send your questions in advance so that Dan will know where to focus his attention. Also send photos of the plants in question to provide some reference and to add interest to the discussion. Email photos along with your questions to: penny@ecolandscaping.org. We will also be taking questions throughout the event.

Once you are registered for Eco-Answers with the ELA Eco-Pros, you will receive an email with the Zoom Webinar link. Open only to ELA members – join now and register for this free evening event.

Photographer, author, and plantsman Dan Jaffe Wilder has over fifteen years’ experience with ecological horticulture. He is a propagator of native species, the photographer and co-author of Native Plants for New England Gardens, and a lecturer on numerous topics including pollinators, sustainable landscape practices, foraging and cultivation of edible species, low-maintenance horticulture, among others. He has developed a native plant horticultural database (https://plantfinder.nativeplanttrust.org/Plant-Search) and has years of nursery management experience. Dan earned a degree in botany from the University of Maine, Orono, and an advanced certificate in Native Plant Horticulture and Design from Native Plant Trust (formerly New England Wild Flower Society). He is the Horticulturalist and Propagator for Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary in Wales, MA and is currently building his own home-scale homestead, growing and foraging numerous edible species, preserving and cooking whenever possible, and raising small animals.

Tuesday, July 27, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Rural Cemeteries of America: Origins of the City Park, Online

In the mid 1800s, with disease and overcrowding plaguing urban centers across America, cities throughout the country decided it was time to change how it buried its citizens. The solution: the creation of a new type of burial ground known as the rural cemetery, which consisted of beautifully landscaped grounds outside of city centers filled with wondrous sculptures, stunning vistas, and beautiful architecture. Why did these cemeteries become many cities’ most visited attractions, and what role do they play in modern times? This is the story of the rural cemetery and incredible impact they had on the country.

Join New York Adventure Club online on July 27 at 5 as we explore the history and lasting legacy of America’s rural cemeteries —19th-century burial grounds located outside major cities that not only became peaceful places to mourn loved ones, but also inspired the city park movement, which led to the development of public green spaces such as Central Park.

Led by cemetery expert John Semlak, our exploration of rural cemeteries across American cities will include:

An overview of urban areas throughout 1800s America and why green space was so hard to come by
The early development of the rural cemetery, from why rural cemeteries became incredibly popular leisure destinations to how they can trace their roots to Europe
A close look at the most important rural cemeteries throughout the country, from Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts to Woodlawn Cemetery in New York City
A discussion around some of their most famous permanent residents
The significance of rural cemeteries, from how they led to the city parks movement to why they continue to draw visitors today

Afterward, we’ll have a Q&A with John — any and all questions about rural cemeteries are welcomed and encouraged! Can’t make it live? Don’t worry, you’ll have access to the full replay for one week! $10. Register HERE.

Wednesday, July 28, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Founding Planters: James Arnold, Benjamin Bussey, and the Birth of the Arnold Arboretum, Online

Join The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University online on July 28 at 4 pm to hear the stories of how the philanthropy of Benjamin Bussey and James Arnold created and shaped the Arnold Arboretum, leaving a legacy of precious open space for the City of Boston and all to enjoy. These two foundational gifts not only established the Arboretum we know today, but also launched it as an institution within Harvard University and the City of Boston that is now almost entirely funded by present—and past—philanthropy. Lisa E. Pearson, Head of the Library and Archives, will share a historical perspective, with Ned Friedman, Director of the Arnold Arboretum following to offer his vision for expanding the vibrancy and relevancy of the Arboretum into the next century. To close, Tanya Rotolo, Harvard’s Assistant Director of Planned Giving, will provide information on planned giving strategies and resources available for creating new legacies for the Arboretum’s future. Register (free) at https://arboretum.harvard.edu/events/event-signup/?id=36749

Wednesday, July 28, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Creating a Climate for Change Through Art & Science

Visit Highfield Hall & Garden in Falmouth on July 28 at 5:30 under the Highfield tent for an installment of a special summer series featuring Emil Ruff, Assistant Scientist: “Microbial ecology and ecophysiology.” at Ecosystems Center and Josephine Bay Paul Center, Marine Biological Laboratory. The series is held in collaboration with the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole Oceanographi Institution, and the Woodwell Climate Research Center.

The series will explore the synergies between art and science as a way to communicate important issues surrounding the environment and planetary health while inspiring change and stimulating action. In conjunction with two exhibitions at Highfield, SEAChange: Meditations on Sustainability and Turn the Tide: Courtney Mattison, participating artists and scientists will discuss a range of topics, including ocean acidification and coral bleaching, biofuels and the Blue Economy, mapping as an artform and a communication tool, plastics in the ocean, and art as means to amplify science and transform how we learn about the world.

ADMISSION IS FREE, PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED Register online now or give us a call at 508-495-1878, ext. 2

Lecture series is sponsored by the Woods Hole Foundation and the Brabson Library and Educational Foundation.