Thursday, February 21, 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Young Friends February Social

Get out of the cold and join us for the next Young Friends of the Public Garden Winter Social at Abby Lane, 255 Tremont Street, on February 21 from 5:30 – 8:30. Enjoy drinks with Friends and generous bistro fare while supporting Boston’s historic greenspaces: the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The last Young Friends event sold out quickly, so be sure to get your tickets soon! Tickets include 1 drink and delicious handcrafted food. $25. Purchase tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/young-friends-february-social-tickets-55030584961

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Saturday, February 16, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – The Genus Geranium: Hardy Cranesbills for Every Garden

Not to be confused with the tender Pelargonium species, the hardy Cranesbills are a diverse group of plants in habitat, foliage and flower suited to practically every gardening situation. The medley of Cranesbills offers up a profusion of blooms in early summer while the fascinating foliage patterns, markings and fall color can provide three-season interest. As manager of the Countess von Zeppelin Nursery in Germany and Director of Horticulture at White Flower Farm, Robert Herman cultivated over 30 species and cultivars of the genus Geranium. He will share his knowledge and provide advice on selecting and raising some of the best plants for New England gardens, on February 16 from 2 – 4 at Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge.

Robert Herman has over 25 years of experience as a professional horticulturist, almost 7 of which were spent in Europe as “Meister” for the Countess von Zeppelin Nursery in Germany. He served in the horticulture and education departments at the Missouri Botanical Garden; at White Flower Farm he was Director of Horticulture. From 1999-2007, he lead his own international consulting business, Uncommon Plants, specializing in perennials for gardens and green roofs.

Advance registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome, space permitting. BBG members $25, nonmembers $35. Register online at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/genus-geranium-hardy-cranesbills-every-garden

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Lighting the Mall Monuments

The Friends of the Public Garden is excited to announce the launch of a plan to design and install permanent lighting of the statues on each block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The first project will be the Morison statue in the Spring of 2019, followed by the Garrison and Collins statues.

In addition to lighting installation, this project will include repointing of stonework, restoration of granite surrounds, walkways and turf around each statue as needed. The projected budget for the first three statues is $500,000.

We are currently raising funds for the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Statue Lighting. If you’d like to help, you can donate online here or by sending a check in the mail. For more information, email Margaret Pokorny at mpok384@gmail.com, or call 617-723-8144.

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Monday, February 11, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm – The Future of Environmental Protection

International cooperation on mitigating climate change has lost momentum since the US withdrew from the 2015 Paris Agreement last year. What does this mean for the health of the planet and the life it supports? Gina McCarthy, Professor of the Practice of Public Health in the Department of Environmental Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Director of the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment, Harvard University has dedicated her 35-year career in public service to environmental protection and public health. In this February 11 talk,part of the 2019 Directors Lecture Series, McCarthy will discuss current efforts at the federal level to rollback core public health protections and actions taken to counter climate change. She will also address recent attacks on the field of science. Then, looking forward, she will lead a discussion on future challenges in public health and the health of our planet.

Free, Arnold Arboretum member-only event. Registration required. Become a member by clicking here.

Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer

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Saturday, February 16, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Raising Nucs (Nucleus Colonies): A Valuable Skill for All Beekeepers

Most beekeepers lose some colonies every year and will need replacement colonies. Raising your own nucs allows the beekeeper to accomplish several things at the same time: swarming can be controlled, varroa mites can be partially managed, and great replacement colonies and queens can be produced with minimal investment. It also is a very enjoyable and rewarding pursuit. The Berkshire Botanical Garden will conduct a class on Saturday, February 16 from 10 – 12. BBG members $10, nonmembers $15. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-298-3926.

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Tuesday, February 12, 10:00 am – 11:00 am – Climate Change and the Plants of New England

Climate change is already altering the behavior of plants in New England. Learn how climate change is expected to affect the habitats and plants of the region during this century, with special emphasis on rare species. This New England Wild Flower Society class will take place Tuesday, February 12 from 10 – 11 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, and will be taught by NEWFS Director of Conservation Bill Brumback. $20 for NEWFS members $24 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/climate-change-and-the-plants-of-new-england

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Wednesday, February 6, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – The Challenge and Promise of Restoring Urban Landscapes

Human activity has degraded much of our urban landscape, making the rebuilding of native habitat on these lands an important priority. But potential restoration sites are often small and heavily altered, and questions about best strategies abound. Can these landscapes be designed and managed to support native biodiversity? How can we rebuild functioning ecosystems on them? Which target sites are practical ones, especially in this time of rapid climate change? Noted ecologist Steven Handel has been researching these challenges for most of his career and his work illustrates the surprising and significant transformations that are possible. On Wednesday, February 6 at 7 pm at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway in Cambridge, He will discuss projects that he has worked on, including Freshkills Park (a former landfill on Staten Island), Brooklyn Bridge Park, and other coastal sites. Join us to learn more about urban ecological restoration in a world that desperately needs it.

Dr. Steven Handel, Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolution at Rutgers University, is currently a Visiting Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and editor of the journal, Ecological Restoration. This free program is sponsored by Grow Native Massachusetts.

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Saturday, February 9, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Winter Tree Identification

Without their leaves, trees can be challenging to identify in the winter. However, if you consider a tree’s branching structure and buds, you can often determine its species. Former Arboretum Horticulturist and now high school teacher Sue Pfeiffer will speak on February 9 about the clues to look for and the keys available to help you definitively identify specific trees. Dress in layers for indoor and outdoor learning.  Class will end at 4 pm. Fee $40 Arboretum member; $52 nonmember.

Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

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Tuesday, February 19, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Family Owl Walk: Not All Owls Say Whooo!

Even in the midst of winter, animals and birds are out and about; owls play an important part of the ecosystem.

With puppets and activities, garden educator Kathi Gariepy will teach families about the habits and sounds of the owls of New England and then lead a walk outside to look for some of these nocturnal creatures. The event takes place at The Gardens at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, on February 19 from 6:30 – 8, and is $10 for adult Mass Hort members, $15 general public, children under 12 free.  Snowy owl image from www.massaudubon.org. For more information call 617-933-4900 or visit www.masshort.org.

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Thursday, April 11 – Saturday, April 13 – Travels Across America: Art, Nature, and the Pursuit of Beauty

For over two centuries artists, designers, and architects have drawn inspiration from the American landscape and grappled with the complexities of its evolving identity. From Audubon’s aviary imagery to the sublime paintings of the Hudson River School to the proliferation of Civil War monuments to the impact of the Centennial International Exposition, nineteenth century American and European artists both reflected and revealed the physical, social, and political landscape while simultaneously embracing global influences.

The Preservation Society of Newport County invites you to join preeminent national and international speakers for an extraordinary journey as the 2019 Newport Symposium, April 11 – 13, travels throughout the country and ventures beyond our borders to explore the artistic legacy of the nineteenth century as seen through the fine and decorative arts and architecture of the period.Thursday evening’s kickoff will be at Rosecliff and Friday and Saturday seminars and lectures will take place at the Hotel Viking. For complete information and to register, visit https://www.newportmansions.org/learn/newport-symposium

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