Through November 11 – Victorian Veggies

Nineteenth-century seed companies distributed humorous illustrated trade cards depicting vegetables with human features to advertise their businesses. This Tower Hill Botanic Garden exhibition displays enlarged reproductions of these cards. The exhibition, running through November 11, is mounted in the Alice Milton Gallery and is free with admission to the gardens, located at 11 French Drive in Boylston. For more information, hours, and directions visit www.towerhillbg.org.

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Monday, November 19, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Thanksgiving Pumpkin Flower Arranging – CANCELLED

THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND NO NEW DATE HAS BEEN SET. WE WILL ANNOUNCE ANY RESCHEDULED DATES. The Garden Club of the Back Bay announces a special “pop-up” evening flower arranging class for our members, to be held Monday, November 19 from 6 – 8 at April 23 Florist, located at 221 Newbury Street in Boston. Newbury Street’s newest flower shop, April 23 Florist puts a new spin on floral design that is a remarkable and rewarding creative experience for everyone. They offer an array of classes, such as floral afternoon tea class, scented candle class, floral painting class, floral design, wedding and special event classes. This evening event is limited in size and, if the class sells out, another class may be held on Tuesday, November 20 during the afternoon, but only if the Monday night class is full. If you’d like to be put on a list for the afternoon session, or if you are not a Garden Club member but wish to be put on a wait list for either class, email info@gardenclubbackbay.org. The cost of the session, which includes all supplies (plus some prosecco and cheese) is $70 per person, and you may register at http://gardenclubbackbay.org/shop/

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Saturday, November 17, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Herbal Extractions

Join Jamie Samowitz, educator and herbalist, at 1 pm on November 17 at Berkshire Botanical Garden for a hands- on exploration of the world of herbal extractions. Home herbalism straddles the line between food and medicine. By extracting herbs into oil, vinegar, and alcohol, we gain access to the herb’s nutritional and medicinal qualities. And by making our own nourishing and delicious products with aromatic, tonic, and bitter herbs, we become empowered to take our health into our own hands. We will learn to make three categories of herbal extractions: infused oils (including culinary, fragrance, and medicinal oils), infused vinegars, and tinctures. As a class we will make a spiced bitters tincture that will serve as both a health-supporting digestive aid and a warming remedy for a cold winter’s day.

Jamie Samowitz is Co-Director of Roots Rising at Alchemy Initiative. She is a home herbalist and currently in training as a clinical herbalist through David Winston’s Center for Herbal Studies. She enjoys foraging for wild food and medicine and sharing her love of the natural world with her students and community.

Kitchen classes are sponsored by Guido’s Fresh Marketplace. $95 for BBG members, $105 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

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Monday, November 12, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – A Garden in the Machine: The Back Bay Fens

In merging hydraulic engineering with landscape design, Olmsted helped to redefine the role of public space in urban areas. Join the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site staff as we explore how sanitation – and imagination – helped create the Back Bay Fens. Note: This is Veterans Day observed. Meets at the Shattuck Visitor Center, 125 The Fenway, Boston. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/frla/special-events.htm

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Thursday, November 15, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – 2018 Friends of the Public Garden Members Reception

The Reception is full, but contact Rachel Hangley below for membership information. Marie Law Adams and Dan Adams, founders of Landing Studio, will be discussing their vision and design for Charlesgate Park and sharing the community-led plan to revitalize this long-neglected area. Reclaiming the lost segment of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall at the intersection of three historic park spaces; the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Fens, and the Esplanade, their innovative plan will create new multi-modal connections to reconnect the park systems of Boston.

Landing Studio is an architecture and urban design practice. Their work is focused on the design of industrial and infrastructural systems in cities through shared-use landscapes, buildings, light installations, festivals, exhibitions, tours, and industry/community operations agreements. Additionally, Dan is the Director of the School of Architecture at Northeastern University, and Marie is a Lecturer in Urban Design at MIT.

The event takes place Thursday, November 15 from 6:30 – 8:30 at The Omni Parker House, 60 School Street, Boston. Contact Rachel Hangley at the Friends if you’d like to inquire about your Membership status: 617-723-8144 or email: rachel@friendsofthepublicgarden.org. Not a Member yet or need to Renew? You can join today. Click on https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/2018/10/09/november-15th-2018-members-reception-2018/ to join or renew your membership.

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Monday, November 12, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Terrarium and Wine Night

Join the Boston Center for Adult Education at 122 Arlington Street in Boston on Monday, November 12 for the BCAE Terrarium and Wine Night. Sit, relax, enjoy some wine, and flex your creative muscle by designing and crafting your own terrarium – the perfect centerpiece, desk decoration, or thoughtful home made gift. Instructor Jimmy Guzman will lead the way.

Jimmy N. Guzman, M.S. possesses an impressive breadth of experience in the hotel, catering, floral, and events industries having performed executive roles for various firms in and around Boston. His background includes: General Manager of a hotel and restaurant, Retail Manager for Winston Flowers‘ two acre flagship property in Chestnut Hill, Operations Manager for Off the Vine Catering, and Sales & Marketing Manager for an event design firm.  JNG Event Consulting grew out of Jimmy’s immense desire to assist industry professionals with all aspects of event execution as well as to provide consultation on how to market their firms. Jimmy’s love of design and his love of people, lend passion to his work and he is able to contribute his expertise to events of all sizes.

$32, plus a $25 materials fee. For more information visit https://bcae.org/product/terrarium-and-wine-night-11-12-2018/

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Wednesday, November 14, 10:00 am – Phenology and Biodiversity Research at Mount Auburn Cemetery

Brooks Mathewson, MFS, and ecologist, educator, and photographer, and Paul Kwiatkowski, Conservation and Sustainability Manager at Mount Auburn Cemetery, will each speak to the Garden Club of the Back Bay about ongoing studies at Mount Auburn Cemetery, at our November meeting on November 14 at 10 am at The College Club of Boston, 44 Commonwealth Avenue.  Mr. Mathewson will discuss Phenology, a branch of science dealing with the relation between climate and biological phenomena, such as bird migration and plant flowering. Mr. Kwiatkowski will give an overview of the Citizen Science Project and biodiversity research taking place at Mount Auburn Cemetery.  Club members will receive separate notification of this meeting, which will be followed by an optional lunch. If you are not a member of the Garden Club and wish to attend, please email info@gardenclubbackbay.org.  Photo by Brooks Mathewson.

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Tuesdays, November 6, April 2, and May 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Designing Workshop

The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts invites you to participate in a three session Designing Workshop, to be held November 6, April 2, and May 14, from 10 – noon, at the Gardens at Elm Bank Hunnewell Building, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley. The cost for the three sessions is $140. To register, and for complete information, email Margo Yei at margo_yei@verizon.net.

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Wednesday, November 14, 6:00 pm – Origins of the Green Revolution: Hybrid Seeds, Hunger, and Mexico-India Cooperation

Gabriela Soto Laveaga, Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University, will speak on Wednesday, November 14 at 6 pm (site to be determined) on the Origins of the Green Revolution: Hybrid Seeds, Hunger, and Mexico-India Cooperation.

As a devastating famine gripped India and Pakistan in 1966, a cargo of hybrid wheat seeds from Mexico arrived one fateful day on India’s coast. The seeds were first planted across the Punjab region using new agricultural methods, including intensive fertilizers and irrigation. The crop’s high yield surprised farmers and helped save many from hunger that year. Gabriela Soto Laveaga will talk about the origins of these hybrid seeds, their role in the Green Revolution, and the unexpected technological, environmental, and social impacts they had on both Mexico and India. Free and open to the public. Free event parking available at 52 Oxford Street Garage

Presented in collaboration with the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. For updates on venue, visit https://hmnh.harvard.edu/green-revolution

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Wednesday, November 14, 6:00 pm – Athol Rocks! One Billion Years as Seen in Local Rocks and Landscape

Amazing events have shaped the rocks and landscape of this part of Massachusetts. Attend the Athol Bird and Nature Club Annual Dinner Meeting on Wednesday, November 14 to hear all about it.

Continents have collided and split. Dinosaurs lived here. Great glaciers have left their mark on the landscape. Learn about these events and see and feel samples of some interesting geologic specimens (such as the rare Jurassic armored mud balls) in this presentation by Professor Richard D. Little. This 60 minute power point program will include handouts and samples. Copies of Professor Little’s books and DVDs will be available for purchase at a discount. Richard D. Little, Professor Emeritus, Greenfield Community College, has presented numerous programs about the region’s amazing geologic heritage and has authored several books and articles, and produced two video programs available on DVD. He leads “Fantastic Landscapes” tours within the United States, Iceland, and Scotland.

As usual, ABNC will hold its annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. in Liberty Hall at the Athol Town Hall (584 Main St.), with the program at 7 p.m. Reservations are required for the dinner and must be received by Tuesday, November 3. To reserve, call Cindy Hartwell at 978-828-7665, or email cindyhartwell56@gmail.com. There will be two dinner options available stuffed chicken or vegetarian lasagna  – please indicate your preference when making the reservation. She will call or email you back with a confirmation of your reservation. No reservations are necessary for the program. The event will also feature the always popular tin can auction; participants are encouraged to bring an item to donate.

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