Boston Flora

Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19 – Gore Place Plant Sale

This year’s offerings at the Gore Place Plant Sale May 17 – 19 feature vegetable garden transplants including many varieties of hard-to-find hybrid and heirloom tomatoes, heirloom annuals, herbs, and beautiful perennials.

It’s not only the large selection that makes this sale special; it’s also the chance to speak with gardener Scott Clarke. Scott knows a lot about these varieties, and he’s eager to share his knowledge with you! Friday and Saturday, May 17 and 18 from 8 am to 4 pm and Sunday, May 19 from 8am to 1pm, at 52 Gore Street in Waltham.

Please, bring your own box for transporting your purchases. Free to attend.

Thursday, May 16, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Meeting Our Climate Future

Join The Emerald Necklace Conservancy on May 16 at 5:30 pm for Meeting Our Climate Future: Lessons in Public-Private Parks Partnerships, a free, public discussion on the shared goals of public parks departments and private parks organizations, as well as the role of partnerships between these two groups in preparing for our climate future. The event will take place at the offices of the Event Sponsor Wilmington Trust, 280 Congress Street, Suite 1300, in Boston. Register at www.emeraldnecklace.org.

Featuring:

Kathryn Ott Lovell, Philadelphia Parks Commissioner and 2019 Party in the Park Liff Spirit Awardee
Commissioner Lovell will discuss highlights of her signature achievements with the City of Philadelphia Parks Department and at her previous role with the Fairmont Parks Conservancy. Additionally, Kathryn will highlight the City of Philadelphia’s leading work on climate readiness with its Stormwater Management programs, in which Philadelphia will invest $2.4 billion in the coming years.

Chris Cook, Chief, Environment, Energy, and Open Space; Commissioner, Parks and Recreation, Boston
Chief Cook will present the City’s climate-ready vision to enhance Boston’s waterfront through accessible green space, infrastructure improvements and more.

Karen Mauney-Brodek, President, Emerald Necklace Conservancy
Karen will discuss the history America’s first “green infrastructure” project – the Emerald Necklace and the Muddy River – as well as their ongoing restoration. She will also touch on plans for a more resilient Charlesgate Park and highlight other past and proposed partnerships.

Saturday, May 18, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Spring Plant Sale at Newton Cemetery and Arboretum

Celebrate National Public Gardens week May 13-19th this year by joining us for the Friends of Newton Cemetery Spring Plant Sale, Saturday May 18th from 10am-4pm. Join us by the Murdock Fountain to shop for annuals, perennials and houseplants that have been grown in our own greenhouse on the grounds. There will also be pollinator plant seeds available to purchase. Proceeds from the sale support the Pollinator Garden! For more information visit www.newcemcorp.org

Sunday, May 12, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Duckling Day

The Friends of the Public Garden invite you to Duckling Day on Sunday, May 12, the classic Mother’s Day event hosted by Friends of the Public Garden. Duckling Day is not only a Boston tradition, but it’s also a major fundraiser to keep our iconic parks beautiful. Registration is still open and the event runs from 10 – 12:30, rain or shine. Register ($35) at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/events/ducklingday/

A beloved tradition for more than 30 years, Duckling Day celebrates the children’s classic book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Every year, over 1,000 people meet up and parade through Boston’s most picturesque parks, dressed like characters from the story. Led by the Harvard Marching Band, the parade will begin on the Boston Common at the Parkman Bandstand and end in the Public Garden near the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculpture. Bring your camera – the parade is possibly the most adorable thing you’ll ever see!

Prior to the parade will be Playtime on the Common, a vibrant array of family entertainment including crafts, face painters, a magician, circus games, and more. All families are welcome to decorate their wagons or strollers, bring a picnic, and enjoy springtime in Boston’s most beloved parks.

The Friends thanks event sponsors KinderCare Learning Centers, bostoncentral, and BostonParents Paper, along with media sponsor WCVB 5

Sunday, May 19, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm – Rattlesnake Gutter

The Native Plant Trust, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions and guide George LoCascio, will lead a walk on May 19 from 12 – 3 at Rattlesnake Gutter in Leverett, Massachusetts. Discover spring ephemerals along the historical road of this important habitat. This little-known nook features impressive calcareous rock cliffs and enchanting wooded areas. Will we find hordes of rattlesnakes? Probably not, but we will find some excellent native plant specimens! $28/$35. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/rattlesnake-gutter/

Wednesdays, May 15 – June 12, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Smartphone Photography: Spring Close-Ups

Capture the magic of the season with your smartphone. Lilacs, azaleas, horse chestnuts, redbuds, and more will be flowering and leaves will have recently unfurled, providing a perfect venue for close-up photographs.

Professional photographer Nancy Katz will teach you that you don’t need fancy equipment or lenses to come in close to shoot these exquisite plants. You need your smartphone and an understanding of shooting macro (close up) and how to enhance the images with your phone’s editing capabilities and a great App, aptly named Snapseed. Most of the time will be spent outdoors, except when working on Snapseed in small groups. The class will take place on three Wednesdays, May 15, 29, and June 12, from 1:30 – 3:30 at the Arnold Arboretum 125 Arborway.

Fee: Arboretum member $65, nonmember $84

Thursday, May 16, 1:00 pm – What Plants Talk About

The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History presents a free with Museum admission Nature Screen Even on May 16 at 1 pm entitled What Plants Talk About. Hard core science is effortlessly integrated with a light-hearted look at how plants behave, revealing a world where plants are as busy, responsive and complex as we are. From the stunning heights of the Great Basin Desert to the lush coastal rainforests of west coast Canada, plant ecologist J.C. Cahill and a variety of other experts in plant communication take us on a journey into the “secret world of plants,” revealing an astonishing landscape where plants eavesdrop on each other, talk to their allies, call in insect mercenaries and nurture their young. It is a world of pulsing activity, where plants communicate, co-operate, and sometimes wage all-out-war. Come along for the ride and discover that plants are a lot less passive and a lot more intelligent than you think. For more information call 508-896-3867, ext 133.

Wednesdays, May 22 – June 26, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – The Art of Conservation: Watercolor

Develop deep botanical knowledge through art! Learn to observe plants and grow an understanding of basic watercolor techniques. This Native Plant Trust six session course at Garden in the Woods May 22 – June 26 from 10 – 12:30 will address opaque/transparent washes, value, and color intensity through exercises en plein air. Taught by Cecilia Sharma, the class is $198 for NPT members, $240 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/art-conservation-watercolor/

Tuesday, May 14, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – How Birds Work: Eggs

Lorna Gibson, PhD, Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, MIT , will speak in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway, on Tuesday, May 14 from 7 – 8 on How Birds Work: Eggs.

How does an egg become an egg? Why do chickens continue to lay eggs day after day? What controls the shape of eggs? Why do eggs of different species of birds have different colors? And how strong are eggshells?

In this talk, which follows previous talks about bird flight, migration, and feathers, Lorna Gibson answers common questions about bird eggs.

Fee Free, but registration requested.

Wednesday, June 5, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Annual Meeting

Please join President Suzanne McCance along with the Board of Directors of

THE GARDEN CLUB FEDERATION OF MASSACHUSETTS, INC.

Wednesday, June 5th, 2019 at The Hilton Boston Dedham , 25 Allied Drive, Dedham MA 02026

9:00 – Registration, Coffee, Boutique Shopping, and Design Specialty Flower Show

9:30 – Credentials & Call to Order. Welcome, Announcements, and Business Meeting

10:30 – Keynote Speaker Professor Doug Tallamy: Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware. Author of the award-winning book ‘Bringing Nature Home’

11:45 – Awards Presentation

12:15 – Installation of new officers – Barbara May, former GCFM & NGC president

12:45 – Credentials and Announcements

12:50 – Boutique Shopping, Flower Show, and Social Hour

1:30 – Luncheon on the lawn

Please refer questions and inquiries to Nancy D’Ercole: nancy.m.dercole@gmail.com.