Boston Flora

Saturday, January 18, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Eagles in Winter

On Saturday, January 18, from 10 – 1, the Northfield Mountain Center will sponsor a free program at the Quabbin Reservoir Visitor Center in Belchertown. Join them for an adventure focusing on eagles in winter. Where do they go and why? What challenges do they face prior to returning to their nests in late winter? This program will take place at Quabbin Reservoir, one of the most popular wintering areas in the state for bald eagles. Visit the Enfield Lookout to search for eagles as well as other wildlife with Jim Lafley and Northfieldâ€™s Kim Noyes. A short walk in search of animal tracks and sign will warm us up before heading indoors. Dale Monette, Program Coordinator for the Massachusettsâ€™ Department of Conservation and Recreation at Quabbin, has been involved with the restoration program since its beginning thirty years ago. Join Dale for a presentation on Massachusettsâ€™ successful eagle restoration program and the fascinating life history of the bald eagle.Â Bring lunch, binoculars (a spotting scope if you have one) and dress warmly. Call 1-800-859-2960 to register, or for more information. Photo of Enfield Lookout from www.masslive.com.

Tuesday, February 4, 10:30 am – The Pollinator Garden

Following the rhythm of the seasons, celebrated landscape designer Kim Smith presents a stunning slide show and lecture demonstrating how to create a welcoming haven for bees, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife with Kim Smith, author and filmmaker. The program will take place in Room 204 of Acton Town Hall, 472 Main Street, Acton, on Tuesday, February 4 beginning at 10:30 am, and is free, sponsored by the Acton Garden Club.Â Photo below by Kim Smith.

Wednesday, January 29, 7:00 pm – Symphony of the Soil

Join The Arnold Arboretum on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 pm to explore the complexity and mystery of the miraculous substance, soil. Drawing from ancient knowledge and cutting edge science and filmed on four continents sharing the voices of some of the worldâ€™s most esteemed soil scientists, farmers and activists, the film Symphony of the Soil, by Deborah Koons Garcia, portrays soil as a protagonist in our planetary story. By understanding the elaborate relationships between soil, water, the atmosphere, plants and animals, including humans, we come to appreciate the complex and dynamic nature of this precious resource. Soil is alive, and its health and survival are intricately connected to that of all life. The free program will take place in the Cahners Theater, Museum of Science, Boston, and will feature a panel consisting of Thomas J. Akin, Conservation Agronomist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service;Â Serita D. Frey, PhD, Professor of Soil Microbial Ecology, University of New Hampshire and Research Faculty, The Harvard Forest ; Jim Ward, Farmer and Owner, Ward’s Berry Farm, Sharon, Massachusetts.Â Registration for this program begins on Wednesday, January 15 at 9:00 am at www.mos.org.Â Presented with the Museum of Science. This program is free thanks to the generosity of the Lowell Institute.

Saturday, February 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Botany in Art: A Botanical Tour of the Worcester Art Museum

Judith Sumner, Ph.D, botanist, author, and past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker, will conduct a Tower Hill Botanical Garden tour entitled Botany in Art: A Botanical Tour of the Worcester Art Museum, on Saturday, February 1, from 10 – 12. Meet at the Worcester Art Museum for a gallery tour with a different twist. Explore the collection for botanical images, from the bonsai and lingzhi fungus of the Chinese jade collection to the stylized fruit depicted in the highly regarded Antioch mosaics. Paintings also reveal subtle botanical symbolism, such as the wildflowers that appear in the Renaissance religious art. Investigate floral paintings and tulipomania, idealized landscapes of the 19th century, and John Singer Sargent’s painting of Lady Warwick ( a Socialist who later abandoned society and founded a women’s horticultural college). Â Co-sponsored with New England Wild Flower Society. $24 for members of THBG or NEWFS, $29 for non members.Â Register by clicking here.

Friday, February 7, 9:00 am – Garden Writers Association Region 1 Meeting

Garden Writers Association members, Region 1, will meet during New England Grows on Friday, February 7 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on Summer Street, receiving complimentary registration for all three days of the trade show. Guest speaker: Kevin Sprague of Studio Two in Lenox, Massachusetts, will speak on Making the Web Work for You. Participation is by pre-registration only. For information about New England Grows, visit their website at www.newenglandgrows.org. For information about GWA, call 806-832-1870, or visit www.gardenwriters.org. Cost, before January 17, is $40 for GWA members, $55 for nonmembers. After January 17, the price is $50 for GWA members and $65 for nonmembers.

Wednesday, February 5 -Friday, February 7 – New England Grows

Since its inception in 1993, New England Grows has become the most well attended green industry event in the Northeast.Â New England Grows, running February 5 – 7 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, is known for its world-class educational seminars, and an exposition that showcases the most cutting-edge products and services available.

Proceeds from New England Grows go directly back to the industry to support the work of these and other green industry organizations, including yearly research grants to the region’s cooperative extension programs. Funds from the show also support related community-based programs, such as the Boston Schoolyard Initiative. The show’s format and educational content is continually updated to meet current industry needs and bring inspirational thinking to participants.Â Visit website, www.newenglandgrows.org to register, or for more information.Â Cost, through January 15, $49 per person.Â After January 15 the cost rises to $69 per person.

Wednesday, January 15, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Barton Cove Eagles: The Year of Three

Join William Dean, author, amateur photographer, and nature enthusiast, for an amazing look at the Barton Cove eagle nest during the 2013 breeding season. For the first time since the nest was constructed 25 years ago, three eaglets successfully fledged from the nest. This program will provide a beautiful look at the Barton Cove eagles with a photo and video presentation, interspersed with stories and observations. Mr. Dean enjoys sharing his passion for these remarkable birds that he has photographed and observed for the past seven years. Please visit his website at www.cutloosewildlife.com. The free program will take place on Wednesday, January 15, from 7 – 8:30 at Northfield Mountain, 99 Millers Falls Road, Northfield, and you may preregister by calling 1-800-859-2960.Â Image from www.old-print.com.

Wednesday, January 15, 7:30 pm – The Recovery of Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons in Massachusetts

Andrew Vitz, DFW State Ornithologist, will present to the Menotomy Bird Club at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, January 15 at the Fox Library community room in Arlington. Fox Library is located at 175 Massachusetts Avenue on the corner of Cleveland Street. Take the side entrance on Cleveland Street; the community room is downstairs. The meeting is open to the public; however, the location is not handicapped accessible.Â Â The Menotomy Bird Club is dedicated to making birding accessible to everyone in the Mystic Valley Watershed. They have no dues, and all activities are free and open to members and non members alike. All activities are posted on the web page, but they encourage people to join the Arlington Birds Listserve to get reminders of events as well as discussion of birds and birding in the area (subscribe by sending message). Birding trips are planned throughout the year with a concentration during Spring and Fall migrations.Â Email Marj@mrines.com for more information.

Tuesday, January 14, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Rain Gardens to the Rescue

The North Andover Garden Club will meet Tuesday, January 14, from 7 – 9 at St. Michael’s Parish Hall, Main Street, North Andover, and the featured speaker will be Donna Williams. Donna is a Board Member of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. This is an informational meeting about the MA Rain Garden Campaign to help reduce polluted runoff flowing into our water resources. Gardeners,homeowners, and business owners are invited to learn what they can do on their own property to reduce the stormwater impact to Massachusetts waterways, and how to enhance rainfall, reduce runoff, and save money on your water and sewer bills.Â The meeting is open to the public.Â For more information visit www.northandovergardenclub.com.

Tuesday, January 21, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Learn to Make Mozzarella with Fiore Di Nonno

Join the Culinary Guild of New England on Tuesday, January 21 for a mozzarella-making demonstration and tasting at Fiore Di Nonno in Somerville.Â Lourdes Smith is opening her award-winning shop’s doors to CGNE members and friends, to share her family’s secret to delicious, homemade mozzarella.Â At this exclusive event, Smith and her fellow cheesemakers will share techniques learned from Smith’s grandfather, which have been perfected over many years.Â Two batches of mozzarella will be made, which will then be enjoyed with some freshly baked bread and wine. Fiore Di Nonno is located at 561 Windsor Street, B-305 in Somerville.Â Â $20 fee.Â Sign up here.