Boston Flora

Thursday, January 23, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern – Longest Blooming Perennials, Online

For a garden that stays colorful all season, long-blooming perennials are a great choice. These plants offer consistent flowers from early summer to the first frost, providing lasting beauty with minimal effort. They attract pollinators, add variety, and reduce the need for frequent replanting, making them a practical option for maintaining a vibrant garden throughout the growing season. This Chicago Botanic Garden class on January 23 will be taught online via Zoom. All registrations must be submitted online two days before your class starts. Registered students will receive login instructions one day in advance.

Jacob Burns, curator, plant collections, Chicago Botanic Garden, is the instructor. $32 for CBG members, $40 for nonmembers. Register at www.chicagobotanic.org

Wednesday, January 29, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern – Unraveling Botanical Names, Online

Scientific names offer precision and accuracy when identifying plants, but they can also intimidate even the most seasoned gardener. Mt. Cuba’s conservation scientist, Élan Alford, PhD, breaks down the various components in a Latin binomial, including why plants are named in this way and what a Latin name can teach us about a plant. This introductory course leaves you well prepared for any magazine article, nursery catalog, or class with a strong Latin component.

Élan Alford, Plant Conservation Scientist at Mt. Cuba Center, earned a B.S. in Ecology & Evolution at the University of Pittsburgh and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Ecology at Colorado State University. Élan initially worked in ecological consulting where she conducted rare plant, habitat, and wetland surveys. With survey knowledge she aided clients to achieve their projects in a regulatory-compliant manner. After seeing many remarkable sites during her private-sector career, Élan transitioned from finding practical and responsible environmental solutions in development to a conservation-centered approach. Now Elan focuses on using survey and data to tell native plant stories.

This Mt. Cuba Center program takes place online on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. $25. Register at https://mtcubacenter.org/event/unraveling-botanical-names-online/

Tuesday, January 21, 7:00 pm Eastern – Teaching Science Standards with Native Plants, Online

Calling all educators, caregivers and camps. For your New Years Resolution, resolve to incorporate a free curriculum and native plants into your academic plans with this Grow Native Mass webinar on January 21.

Join educator and nursery owner Jocelyn Demuth to explore her new science curriculum Five Hundred Yard Field Trip. Developed with grant funding from the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, these curricula include ready made lessons, activities, and reading practice designed to help students create a habitat using native plants and learn about the ecosystem created. The units are leveled by age group, comprised of modules that can be used as stand-alone lessons, and reference grade level science standards for MA and other states. All lessons are free to download and instructors can take advantage of grant funds to obtain free native plants to use in their projects.

This is a great opportunity for teachers, parents, and caregivers to learn more about this great resource, and ask questions of its creator!

To register, head to grownativemass.org/our-programs/calendar

Jocelyn Demuth is an award winning English and Latin teacher who has been providing professional development to teachers for the past 25 years. Now she runs the Native plant nursery, Checkerspot Farm in Colrain Massachusetts and her educational focus has shifted to environmental education.

Saturday, January 25, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Make a Terrarium Garden

Terrariums are fun way to learn about indoor gardening and easy to maintain. During this Sweetbay Flowers and Gifts class on January 25 at 2 pm you’ll choose easy to care for mini plants to design your own little plant eco-system. You’ll also learn how to properly take care of your new container garden. We’ll be getting our hands dirty so dress appropriately.

Cost per student ($65) includes instruction and all materials. Register at www.eventbrite.com. Sweetbay Flowers is located at 478 Main Street in Wakefield.

*Please note this class takes place on the second floor of our building and requires going up a flight of stairs. All ticket sales are final, but may be transferred to someone else after purchase.

Sunday, January 26, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (Drop In) – Repot Your Own Houseplant at The Potting Bench

Drop in to Mahoney’s Garden Center, 449 Western Avenue in Boston on January 26 anytime between 10 AM – 2 PM and repot your own houseplant. They will have experts on hand to guide you on selecting the proper pot size to move into, as well as the proper potting soil. Make sure your plant is wrapped up to protect it from the cold! This is for plants currently in an 8” pot or smaller.

Soil is included with the $5 cost. You may register in advance HERE through Eventbrite.

REMINDER: Tropical plants are sensitive to the cold. When you bring your plant in for repotting, please be sure to protect your plant with a cover such as a paper or plastic bag, a box or a pillowcase.

Thursday, January 30, 7:00 pm – Penguin Adventures in the Falkland Islands

Join wildlife photographer Shawn Carey for a photographic journey through the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) on Thursday, January 30 for a close up look at the several species of penguins and tips for planning your own travels. Co-sponsored by the Watertown Free Public Library and by the Brookline Bird Club, the event takes place at 7 pm at the library, 123 Main Street in Watertown. For information call 617-972-6431.

Monday, February 10 – Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – MYCC Lobby Day

Join the Massachusetts Youth Climate Coalition as we sit down directly with our legislators to fight for state-level climate justice policy during our Youth Climate Lobby Week (week of 2/10/25). This is a great way to represent your community, have fun, and make a difference!

The Lobby Week schedule:

Monday 2/10: afternoon and evening virtual trainings on how to lobby
Tuesday 2/11 IN-PERSON LOBBY DAY: Rally & legislator meetings at the MA Statehouse
Wednesday (2/12) – Friday (2/14): virtual legislator meetings for those unable to make it on 2/11

The short link to this form is: bit.ly/mycc2025lobbyweek

This event is designed to center the voices of people ages 14-24. If you’re 25+ we still welcome your support but we will ask you to indicate that below and prepare to take on more supportive roles, like note-taker, practice legislator, moral support in meetings, help navigating the statehouse, securing in-kind donations, etc.

As always, we are advocating for policies aligned with our coalition Policy Principles. The list of actual priority bills will need to be refined once they have been filed in mid-January. Regardless we know already we’ll be asking for:

Inclusive & Transparent Governance
Environmental Justice
Renewable Energy
Equitable Funding
Intersectional Climate Justice & Civics Education
Nature, Land & Food-based Health

Northeast Regional Seed Club

Join the Northeast Regional Seed Club with Cape Ann Gardens using the link HERE and be a part of the local seed movement! You’ll receive 6 months of seeds (up to five packets every two months) featuring regionally grown flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits adapted for the northeastern U.S. $85 cost.

Your membership will provide critical start-up funds to support grower contributions to the 2025 list of offerings and seed contracts for the 2026 catalog. Your support is invaluable for developing this network of small-scale seed producers and launching a seed company rooted in ethical, regional seed stewardship.

Each seed variety has been grown and tested by experienced seed savers committed to ethical, regionally focused seed production. Our club members play a crucial role in this process—not just as recipients of seeds, but as active participants in the ongoing adaptation of plants to the Northeast’s evolving climate. This initiative strengthens a regional seed network, sustains small-scale producers, and advances a future where seed sovereignty is the norm, not the exception.

Monday, February 3, 6:30 pm – Curated Cuisine: Easy Weeknight Dinners

WBUR and CitySpace host an edition of Curated Cuisine on February 3 with New York Times Cooking’s Emily Weinstein, Melissa Clark, and Eric Kim. Inspired by one of The New York Times’s most popular newsletters, Weinstein’s “Five Weeknight Dishes,” the new book Easy Weeknight Dinners offers 100 fast and flavorful meals that will satisfy whether you’re seeking a standout dinner for one, crowd pleasers for picky kids or something special for company. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean that you can’t have something excellent to eat.

Weinstein will be joined by popular Cooking columnists Melissa Clark and Eric Kim, who will discuss recipe writing, go-to meals and tips for easy excellence in the kitchen. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, the chefs will sign and guests will enjoy a bite from the book following the conversation. $10 (students) – $30. Register HERE.

Wednesday, January 22, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern – How Animals Overwinter, Online

Join Leah Brooks as she highlights the strategies and adaptations that native animals use to survive the winter. Unlock the secrets of frogs that freeze, mammals that hunker in hollows, butterflies that bunk under bark, and more! This Mt. Cuba Center program takes place online on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. $25. Register at https://mtcubacenter.org/event/how-animals-overwinter-online/

Leah Brooks is the Public Programs Coordinator at Mt. Cuba Center. She has dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware in Environmental Science and Wildlife Ecology. She is a Delaware Master Naturalist and Vice Chair of the Delaware Invasive Species Council. She’s an avid contributor to the Delaware Native Plant Identification and Exchange group on Facebook. Her passion is sharing the joy of nature and native gardening with ot