Boston Flora

Saturday, January 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – New-Wave Gardening: Designing Perennials with a European Flair

While most of us are familiar with the English borders and cottage gardens, designing and planting by habitat is a continental European ecological approach to combining perennials. Consider the gardens of European designer Piet Oudolf and learn about this cutting-edge design concept that has widely influenced European gardens for many years, in this Berkshire Botanical Garden class to be held Saturday, January 21, from 10 – noon. Robust, low-maintenance plants are selected and grouped according to their ideal growing situation. Robert Herman, an American who managed one of the top European perennial plant nurseries, will explain the habitat concept and design strategy and feature gardens from some of the foremost European designers.

Robert Herman has over 30 years of experience as a professional horticulturist, almost 7 of which were spent in Europe as “Meister” for the Countess von Zeppelin Nursery in Germany. At the Missouri Botanical Garden he served in the horticulture and education departments and lead White Flower Farm in Litchfield, Connecticut as Director of Horticulture. He frequently lectures at plant conferences and botanical gardens in North America and Europe. His articles have appeared in American Nurseryman, Fine Gardening, the German magazine Garden and Landscape, and the Hardy Plant Society Journal in England. BBG member price $22, non-members $27, and you may register on-line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.Â Below is an image of the “Lady’s Mantle path” into the German nursery that Robert Herman managed for seven years.

Thursday, January 19, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Why We Need Wilds in the City

Dan Driscoll, Director of Recreational Facilities Planning, MA DCR and featured green space advocate in “My Green Manifesto,” will speak about the need for accessible, “wild” spaces in the city. He will talk about his work along the Charles River to transform a polluted, once feared space into a home for urban wildlife and an opportunity for human discovery and peace. The program will take place Thursday, January 19, from 6:30 – 8:30 at the BNAN office, 62 Summer Street in Boston. Registration required. To register and for more information email info@bostonnatural.org or 617-542-7696.

Thursday, January 19, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Sustainable Practices for Ecosystem Restoration

Groundscapes Express has worked on many ecosystem restoration projects throughout the region. Groundscapes’ approach treats the whole site as an ecosystem or a sub-watershed for greatest success. Projects implement best practices for improved water quality, soil compaction, invasive species, and erosion control. At this Roundtable presentation on Thursday, January 19, from 1 – 3:30 pm at the Wellesley College Botanic Gardens’ Visitors Center, 106 Central Street in Wellesley,, John Engwer will describe ecosystem restoration projects at sites including Wellesley College, Kent Hospital, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, Mount Auburn Cemetery, and Fresh Pond Reservation.Â Though the sites differ widely, the issues of soil compaction, stormwater management, and invasive species control are common to all.Â Registrations are limited – call 617-436-5838, or email ela.info@comcast.net.Â $20 ELA or Wellesley Friends of Horticulture member price, $25 for nonmembers.

Tuesday, January 17, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm – How to Build Your Social Media Fan Base

Join Boston Park Advocates for the third Capacity Building Workshop in the 2011-12 series! On January 17th Derek Lumpkins from Discover Roxbury & Lauren Patrick from the Boston Parks Department will lead a workshop on How to build your Social Media Fan Base (facebook & twitter). Find out how to build your fan base, how to keep them engaged, and how often you should be communicating with them! Socializing and pizza at 5:30; workshop starts promptly at 6:00pm. RSVP: Ivett@bostonparks.org or 617-442-4141. The event will take place at BNAN offices, 62 Summer Street, 2nd Floor, in downtown Boston.

Saturday, January 14, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm – Winter Tracking

Join Charley Eiseman from Northern Naturalists for an afternoon of tracking at Rocky Woods in Medfield, Massachusetts on Saturday, January 14 from 12 – 3. Participants will search for signs of local mammal species, from mink to moose. Immersion in the tracking experience will allow both beginners and experienced trackers to expand their skills. By looking at the footprints and other traces that animals leave behind, we will investigate the interactions taking place across the landscape. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn from each other about mammals, insects, winter plant identification, bird vocalizations, and other natural history tidbits.Â Pre-registration required – call 508-785-0339, or email charlesrivervalley@ttor.org. Photo from www.myworldwithaview@blogspot.com.

Saturday, February 18, 2:00 pm – The World According to Dirr: Trees and Shrubs for the 21st Century

Plan now for an important horticultural lecture in February. Noted author, educator and researcher Michael Dirr, Ph.D. will present The World According to Dirr: Trees and Shrubs for the 21st Century at the Berkshire Botanical Garden’s 2012 Annual Winter Lecture on Saturday, February 18, beginning at 2 pm.

Dirr’s illustrated lecture will weave a tapestry rich in topics befitting an American icon of horticulture, complete with his signature humor and style. The endearing noble trees, trends in woody plants and the back story of the landscape industry, including plant breeding and development, are among the topics he will present.

Dr. Dirr’s influence in horticulture is far reaching. A prolific author and exceptional hybridizer, he has dedicated his life to educating the public about the importance and use of woody plants in the landscape. In addition to his many well-known books, his newly published Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs continues to set the gold standard for horticultural reference. Known alternately as the modern father of woody plants and the hydrangea guru, his contributions to the world of horticulture are remarkable.

Following the lecture, all are invited to a reception and book signing of Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs and the Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Call the Garden today to reserve your advance copies!

Lecture generously sponsored by Hunter Boot.Â (Snow date: Sunday, February 19)Â The event will take place at Monument Mountain Regional High School, Route 7 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.Â BBG member price $35, nonmembers $42, group rates available.Â Call 413-298-3926 for more information, or email rparow@berkshirebotanical.org.

Thursday, January 12, 8:30 am – 12:00 noon – Creating Healthy, Safe and Livable Communities: Bridging the Gap Between Public Health and Community Development

There will be a free joint program of the North Shore Community Health Network and the NCHC Northeast Prevention Institute on Thursday, January 12, from 8:30 am – noon at the Peabody Marriott, 8 Centennial Drive in Peabody, entitled Creating Healthy, Safe and Livable Communities: Bridging the Gap Between Public Health and Community Development.Â What does it mean to “design” a healthy community? Why is it important? Where do you start? A panel of experts from community development and public health will share their knowledge and experience in developing projects and policy-making that make community and regional health a priority. The morning will begin with breakfast and networking within and across sectors. Local case studies will be presented by the panel followed by roundtable discussions to encourage new ideas, concepts and the building of knowledge in this area. You will walk away with: – greater understanding of the impact planning and policy (inherent in community development, housing, transportation, etc.) can have on public health – strategies for creating partnerships and strengthening role of public health in planning – concrete tools and resources that can be used to achieve effective outcomes – ideas for reprogramming and leveraging existing funds to support integration of public health and community development This workshop is funded in part by the North Shore Community Health Network (NSCHN).

Panel Presenters: – Lea Susan Ojamaa, Division of Prevention and Wellness, MA Department of Public Health – Stephen Winslow, Senior Project Manager, City of Gloucester Mass in Motion – Mariana Arcaya, Public Health Manager, Metropolitan Area Planning Council – Eric Halvorsen, Transit Manager, Metropolitan Area Planning Council – Heather McMann, Executive Director, Groundwork Lawrence.Â For more information, contact Kirsten Doherty at 978-722-2861, or email her at kdoherty@glfhc.org.

Thursday, January 26 – Sunday, January 29 – Flora in Winter

Spring arrives early at the Worcester Art Museum for the 10th Anniversary of Flora in Winter, the premier floral design event of the year. Skilled arrangers from across New England create clever, provocative interpretations of works from the Museum’s collection, and it’s a feast for the eyes and spirit in the middle of winter! Floral-inspired family fun, festivities, lectures, music, demonstrations, and so much more. The Worcester Art Museum is located at 55 Salisbury Street in Worcester, and tickets ($14) are available at the door. For more information, visit www.worcesterart.org.

Saturday, January 14, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Where’s The Front Door? Designing the Front Yard Garden

Join landscape architect David Dew Bruner at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Saturday, January 14, from 10 – 1, for a look at the front yard. Consider the history of the front yard and apply some basic principles to enhancing the use of this often ignored space. Learn how to reclaim the front yard as a viable/functional space to be used by the family. Issues covered will include front entrances, gardens, privacy, and what to do with that garage door!Â Participants should bring a photograph of their front yards. Several will be selected to illustrate common design challenges and simple solutions.

David Dew Bruner is an award winning landscape architect and fine artist with over 35 years of experience ranging from Deputy Administrator of Riverside Park, NYC, to amusement park design, historical restoration and all scales of residential design. Originally from New Orleans, he has a BLA and a BFA from LSU as well as a MLA form the University of Massachusetts.Â BBG member price $37, non-member price $45, and you may register on line at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

Thursday, January 26, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Designing Paradise

The New England Landscape Design & History Association (NELDHA) cordially invites you to its first meeting of 2012, featuring a “Slide Slam” focusing on the theme Designing Paradise.Â Share garden and landscape photos – from a recent trip or completed project – with fellow members.Â Choose 8 – 10 slides (we still use these?) or PowerPoint visuals of a garden or landscape you would like to share and save to a portable memory stick.Â AV equipment will be provided.Â The event will take place Thursday, January 26, from 3 – 5 at the Fishbowl, The Boston Architectural College, 320 Newbury Street in Boston.Â RSVP to Laurie Pazzano at 781-893-7185, or email her at lpazzano@hotmail.com.Â Photo below taken in Magnolia, Massachusetts.