Friday, April 4, 6:45 pm – Learned Societies: Past, Present, and Future

Dr. Pamela Diggle, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, and the 2015 Future President of the Botanical Society of America, will speak to the New England Botanical Club on Friday, April 4, in the Haller Lecture Hall, Room 102, Geological Museum, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge, on the topic of Learned Societies: Past, Present, and Future.  The meeting is free and open to the public.  For questions, contact neystersmith@bentley.edu.

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Thursday, March 27, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Esplanade Stories

Margo Newman will share famous historical stories related to the Charles River Esplanade on Thursday, March 27, from 6 – 7:30 pm at the University Club of Boston, 426 Stuart Street.  The event is sponsored by The Esplanade Association.  For more information visit www.esplanadeassociation.org.

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Wednesday, April 2, 6:00 pm – From Darwin to DNA: The Genetic Basis of Animal Behavior

How do certain animals, such as wild mice, evolve their most critical survival traits, including skin coloration, body shape, and the ability to dig elaborate tunnels in order to hide from predators? How fast can successive generations acquire visible traits, and how do animal genes and behavior interact? Evolutionary geneticist Hopi Hoekstra, Professor of Zoology and Curator of Mammals at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, and colleagues have combined extensive field research with the latest techniques in DNA analysis to unlock one of biology’s most elusive secrets: the genes that control behavior. She will speak on Wednesday, April 2, beginning at 6 pm at the Geological Lecture Hall of the Harvard Museum of Natural History, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge. The Evolution Matters Lecture Series is supported by a generous gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit. Free and open to the public. Free event parking in the 52 Oxford Street Garage.

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Friday, March 28, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Climate Change

Join WGBH host Edgar B. Herwick III and a panel of experts — meteorologist Harvey Leonard, ocean and climate change expert Dr. Scott Doney (pictured below,)  WGBH/WCAI science editor Heather Goldstone, and director of the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management Bruce Carlisle — to discuss some of the hot-button issues surrounding climate change and what rising sea levels will mean for New England — maybe within our lifetimes. What if a Hurricane Sandy hits here? What would the city of Boston look like afterwards? Can anything be done? These and other questions will be explored at this lively discussion, which is part of WGBH’s Smart Conversation series. A short reception will follow. The event will take place on Friday, March 28 beginning at 7 pm at the WGBH studios in Allston. $25 for WGBH members, $35 for non members. Register on line at http://www.wgbh.org/support/boxoffice_climatechange.cfm.

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Wednesday, April 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Bamboo: History, Horticulture, and Invention

Susanne Lucas, Bamboo Specialist and Executive Director of the World Bamboo Organization, will speak at the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum on Wednesday, April 2, beginning at 7 pm, on Bamboo: History, Horticulture, and Invention. Bamboo has an unparalleled history; it is very old, and at the same time very new. Through its myriad uses as food, clothing, paper and shelter, bamboo has met the physical and spiritual requirements of humanity since the earliest times and played a vital role in the survival of many animals and ecosystems. As a fast growing renewable resource and in conjunction with advances in research and technology, the use of bamboo has increased dramatically, elevating its importance to human society – it can now be found in the filaments of light bulbs, the skins of airplanes and the reinforcements of concrete. Susanne will present an historical and modern view of bamboo. Her recently published book, Bamboo, will be available for purchase and signing. Free for Arboretum members, $10 for nonmembers.  Register online at www.my.arboretum.harvard.edu.

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Wednesday, April 9, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Massachusetts Agricultural History

Meg Muckenhoupt is such an extraordinarily good speaker we just had to have her again. Meg is an environmental and travel writer. Her book Boston Gardens and Green Spaces (Union Park Press, 2010) is a Boston Globe Local Bestseller, and she is co-creator of the Green Spaces: Boston app. She has appeared on NPR’s Radio Boston and WCVB’s Chronicle, and WGBH’s Forum site. She blogs at GreenSpaceBoston.com, and now is a reviewer on www.thesweethome.com. She is working on a new book on the history of Boston food, which may not be published by the date of the meeting, but which we eagerly anticipate. An optional lunch will follow the meeting, which takes place Wednesday, April 9, beginning at 10 am at The College Club of Boston, 44 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.  Garden Club of the Back Bay members will receive written notice of the meeting. Image below from www.ag.umass.edu. If you are interested in attending, please email info@gardenclubbackbay.org.

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Saturday, March 29, 7:00 pm, and Sunday, March 30, 10:00 am – 10:00 pm – Project Native Film Festival

Project Native will kick off its 4th Annual Environmental Film Festival on Saturday, March 29 at 7 pm with a special screening of Revolution, an award winning film by Rob Stewart, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.  Free, and recommended for grade 5 and up.

Then, on Sunday, March 30, from 10 – 10 at the Triplex Theatre in Great Barrington, the films begin with Flight of the Butterflies in 3D (10 am), Salmon Confidential (10:10), Carpe Diem: A Fishy Tale (11:45), Have You Seen Arana? (1:00), GMO-OMG (3:00) Backyard & Tar (5:05), Gold Fever (6:25), and Bringing It Home (8:00).  Free Admission, but seating is limited.  Tickets will be available at the box office the day of the festival.  For more information visit www.projectnative.org/Film_Festival.html.

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Saturday, March 29, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – 39th Annual Gardeners Gathering

Do you love to garden? Join over 400 community and backyard gardening enthusiasts for a full day of lectures, demos and hands-on workshops on Saturday, March 29, from 11 – 5 at The Egan Center, 120 Forsyth Street and Shillman Hall, 115 Forsyth Street at Northeastern University in Boston. Learn how to keep bees, grow mushrooms, plan your garden and more. Plus, the perennially popular community garden awards will honor Bostonians who’ve made extraordinary contributions to our gardening community. Join Boston Natural Areas Network for this special event!  For more information visit www.bostonnatural.org. 

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Saturday, March 29, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Seed Starting Workshop – POSTPONED

The Beacon Hill Garden Club planned to offer a seed starting workshop on Saturday, March 29, from 2 – 4 pm at Church of the Advent, 30 Brimmer Street, Boston, with a “seed whisperer” from the City of Boston greenhouses with excellent horticultural skills.  The session will be rescheduled.  For more information, or to register, email info@beaconhillgardenclub.org.

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Saturday, March 29, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm – Grafting Apple Trees

University of Massachusetts Extension will hold a hands-on workshop, Grafting Apple Trees, on Saturday, March 29, from 9 – 2:30 at The Farm School. 488 Moore Hill Road in Athol. Many people do not realize that all apple varieties are reproduced by grafting – they are not grown from seed. For horticultural enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying techniques to master is grafting. Wes Autio will present a hands-on workshop on “bench grafting” and “cleft grafting” of apple trees. Other grafting techniques will be discussed. Proper tools and sharpening will be included. All participants in the workshop will graft several of their own apple trees to take home.  There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch.  You may register and pay at https://classic.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1460640.

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