Boston Flora

Thursday, February 13, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Frances Crane Wildlife Habitat Walk

Join Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Ecologists and Foresters from 2:00 P.M. â€“ 3:30 P.M. on Thursday, February 13 to walk the Pheasant Area of Frances Crane WMA in Falmouth and learn about habitat improvement plans. DFW has been working to improve habitat conditions for rare and endangered grassland birds on the northern section of Crane Wildlife Management Area. The next phase involves converting second growth forest on abandoned agricultural lands by clearing invading pine and oak trees and planting native warm-season grasses. Please dress warmly for the weather and wear sturdy boots. An inclement weather date is set for February 14. Contact John Scanlon at (508) 389-6324 for more information or to check on the inclement weather plan.

Directions and meeting location: From Boston area, take Route 3 to the Cape Cod Canal. At the Canal, go partly through the traffic circle to Route 6 (Scenic Hwy) west. From Route 6, follow the signs to Route 28 south, and the Bourne Bridge. Go over the bridge and continue going south on Route 28 to Route 151. Go east on Route 151. After approximately 2 miles there will be a sign for the Nickelodeon Theater on the left (north). Immediately after the theater, there will a sign for the Frances Crane WMA. Take a left (north) onto the unpaved road at the sign and follow approximately Â¼ mile to the end. This is the primary parking area for Frances Crane WMA north.

Thursday, February 13, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Garry Kessler Opening

You are cordially invited to An Exhibition of Photography and Art Tiles by Garry Kessler at The Art and Frame Emporium, 18 Lyman St., Westborough on Thursday, February 13 from 6 PM to 8 PM. The exhibition will run through Saturday, March 1. Garry is a local nature enthusiast and photographer. He will be exhibiting a collection of photographs and art tiles. The tiles are made from mosaic patterns that the artist created from butterfly pictures he has taken (and for you birders, one from a bird photo).

From the Archives: Recipes of the Back Bay

The Garden Club of the Back Bay published a cook book in the 1970’s, with recipes contributed by members. Betty Matz was then Club President, and all recipes were tested in her kitchen. Many of the recipes now betray their era – English muffin canapes, mushroom soup based casseroles, and dried processed flavoring mixes in the ingredient list. Many, however, are still delicious and classic, such as the orange dessert below contributed by former member Arlene Mannos:

Ingredients: 8 large seedless oranges, 2 cups water, 2 cups sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/2 cup Cointreau or Grand Marnier, 1 tablespoon grenadine syrup, 8 candied violets

Peel oranges, remove pith from peel, and sliver peel into fine threads. Place in saucepan with water, sugar and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer, and cook until thick and syrupy – about 30 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in liqueur and grenadine. Chill.

Remove any remaining pith from oranges (left whole), refrigerate for at least two hours, then arrange in a pyramid in a serving dish. Spoon chilled syrup over oranges, placing shredded peel carefully over each orange, and garnish with candied violets. Serves 8.

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Sunday, February 9, 10:00 am – Roses, Roses, Roses! Extend the Life of Your Rose Bouquet

Do you love getting a bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day but hate throwing them away? Join Dorothy Adams, Customer Care Supervisor at Weston Nurseries, as she demonstrates three ways to extend the life of your rose bouquet. Learn how to make Rose Potpourri, Rose and Lavender Sachets and Rose Bath Salts…all to delight any Valentine! Weston Nurseries is located at 93 East Main Street in Hopkinton, and the seminar is free.

Thursday, February 20, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – New England Wild Flower Society Volunteer Fair

The New England Wild Flower Society will host a Volunteer Fair on Thursday, February 20, from 10 – noon at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham.Â At the Fair, NEWFS staff will describe opportunities to work with the program staff,Â the conservation department, and the philanthropy department.Â Volunteers may choose from a wide variety of options, and will receive valuable training.Â Enjoy the company of like-minded people and work with one of the nation’s premier botanic gardens.Â Free, and refreshments will be served.Â If you have questions, call 508-877-7630.

Wednesday, February 26, 11:00 am – The Ants of New England

Aaron Ellison , Senior Research Fellow at the Harvard University Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts, will speak at The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s February meeting about his new guide book A Field Guide to the Ants of New England. Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus of Harvard University, has said â€œThis ground-breaking field guide not only contributes to our basic knowledge of ants, but places the ants of New England within reach of those interested in the natural history of the region.â€ Sean Menke of Lake Forest College said â€œThis goes beyond any ant book that has come before it and puts it in line with the popular and best bird books on the market â€“ readable and easy to use by non-experts.â€

The meeting will take place at 11 am (members note: the meeting starts one hour later than usual) at The College Club of Boston, 44 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Members will receive written notice of the meeting. Free for Garden Club of the Back Bay members, $5 donation requested from nonmembers. An optional lunch will follow the meeting at a separate charge. If you are not a GCBB member but wish to attend, email info@gardenclubbackbay.org.

Thursday, February 13, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Planning a Vegetable Garden from Scratch

Edible landscapes are beautiful and functional interactive spaces that nourish on many levels. Gardeners build soil and arrange plants, but we can’t control the weather. Trial and error is part of the experience for all levels. Everyone can do it! It’s a meditation on life and this Massachusetts Horticultural Society workshop on Thursday, February 13, from 7 – 8:30 at Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley, will give you the tools to get started right. To locate the garden we will discuss solar exposure and microclimates, testing for lead, and plant options for various conditions. Basic soil science will illustrate the importance of compost in correcting poor soil fertility, structure, and pH. Adam Monroy of Home Harvest will present pictures of custom gardens installed by Home Harvest to inspire the imagination. To close we will talk about building resiliency into your garden through intensive cropping patterns, diverse intercropping, cover crops, and other progressive home gardening techniques that will make your garden work for you!

Adam Gray Monroy works as a designer, consultant, and builder for Home Harvest installing custom edible landscapes in Metro Boston. With an extensive background in landscape design/build, Adam has earned degrees in horticulture, sustainable agriculture, and landscape architecture. He is passionate about growing food and integrating it into traditional landscape design.

Fee $15 Mass Hort Members; $20 non-members. Register at www.masshort.org, or call 617-933-4973.

Monday, February 10, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Floral Workshop with Wild Folk Studio

Just in time to make your honey (or yourself) a Valentineâ€™s Day arrangement, niche urban garden supply will present a floral workshop on Monday, February 10, from 7 – 9 at the store located at 619 Tremont Street in the South End. Caroline, of Wild Folk Studio, will be there to teach the basics of floral arrangement. Youâ€™ll learn how to choose the best flowers and foliage for color and texture, and how to clean, cut and clip your picks.Â Leave with a beautiful arrangement of seasonal flowers in a reusable vase and new skills to further green your home. $120. To register, visit www.nicheboston.com or call 857-753-4294.

Wednesday, February 12, 7:00 pm – Red, White and Blue: Our Presidents for You

The Garden Club of Norfolk presents Red, White and Blue: Our Presidents for You, a workshop led by Gail Tuveson and Jan Conklin. This year Gail and Jan will lead us in making an arrangement that will put a smile of the face of ole Abe and George. And again the design will be kept a secret until the last-minute! The class will take place Wednesday, February 12 beginning at 7 pm.Â Location: Norfolk Public Library Meeting Room, 139 Main St, Norfolk, MA.

Wednesday, February 12, 6:00 pm – Time Travel in Experimental Evolution

Richard Lenski, Hannah Distinguished Professor, Michigan State University, will speak at the Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street, Cambridge, as part of the Harvard Museum of Natural History’s Evolution Matters Lecture Series on Wednesday, February 12, beginning at 6 pm. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common form of intestinal bacteria that reproduces and mutates with incredible speed. This trait, along with scientistsâ€™ ability to freeze and revive organisms, makes E. coli an ideal organism for studying the evolutionary process (a form of â€œtime travelâ€). Microbiologist Richard Lenski has carried out a 25-year study of E. coli, propagating over 50,000 generations, and has discovered new insights into natural selection, adaptation, and genetic evolution.

The Evolution Matters Lecture Series is supported by a generous gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit.Â Free and open to the public.Â Free event parking is available in the 52 Oxford Street Garage.