Boston Flora

Tag: Arnold Arboretum

  • Thursday, July 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Ornamental Vines

    Come to the Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton on Thursday, July 14 between 10 and noon to explore the ornamental characteristics of climbers like honeysuckle, wisteria, clematis, and other (unique!) lesser-known species. In the indoor hour long talk, you will learn how vines climb, the support structures needed for each type of vine, best planting practices and maintenance. Jen Kettel, horticulturist, arborist and teacher, formerly the Arnold Arboretum’s Horticulturist, will be our instructor for this exciting new program. We will take to the paths along the formal and kitchen gardens and find examples of what you might like to do at home. This Trustees of Reservations program is $9 for TTOR members, $15 for nonmembers. Register by calling 508-636-4693, x 5003, or email bradley@thetrustees.org. Image from www.americanmeadows.com.

  • Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm – Mary Vaux Walcott: The Audubon of Botany

    The Friends of Wellesley College Botanic Garden, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and the New England Wild Flower Society will co-sponsor Mary Vaux Walcott: The Audubon of Botany, on Wednesday, July 13 beginning at 7 pm in the Arnold Arboretum’s Hunnewell building, 125 Arborway in Boston.  Mary Morris Vaux Walcott (1860 – 1940) was a gifted artist whose stunning watercolors comprise a catalog of North American wildflowers.  This talk by biographer Marjorie Jones reveals rich intersections of history, religion, politics, women’s studies, science, and art during the transformative times in which Walcott lived.  View the “Woody Plants” exhibition by the New England Society of Botanical Artists, on display July 8 – September 11 in the Hunnewell Building lecture hall.  Members of sponsoring organizations – free; nonmembers $5.

  • Through July 3 – TimeLine(s): Drawing Nature

    As an Artist-in-Residence at Caldera in Deschutes National Forest, Oregon and the White Mountain National Forest Artist-in-Residence program, New Hampshire, Kyle Browne investigated the organic world of nature with the simplicity of drawing, observation, and meditation. In her Time-lapse Drawings, Browne seeks to unearth and capture the unobserved moment and change that occurs within a site-specific setting. Once a site is chosen, the shadows are duplicated repeatedly on paper, building levels of graphite to catch the intangible, fleeting moments of time. Her Time-lapse Drawings were born from spending time at the Arnold Arboretum before she began her residency at the White Mountain National Forest, where they were continued.

    Browne’s work, Hidden Cartography of Beetles, encourages the viewer to examine a world of secret dialogues, symbols, and the map-making of wood-boring beetles. Deep in the Deschutes National Forest, Browne utilized charcoal, graphite, and pastel, printing in the field, then creating stark and stunning designs on paper.

    Browne has been awarded six residencies, received a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, and is a candidate for an MFA at the School of Visual Arts, New York City. Her work will be on exhibit in the Hunnewell Building Lecture Hall at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University through July 3. For more information call 617-524-1718, or email arbweb@arnarb.harvard.edu.

     

  • Monday, June 13, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm – Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies

    For centuries, the beauty of fireflies has evoked wonder and delight. Yet for most of us, fireflies remain shrouded in mystery: How do fireflies make their light? What are they saying with their flashing? And what do fireflies look for in a mate?

    Join Sara M. Lewis, PhD, of the Evolutionary and Behavioral Ecology Department of Tufts University on Monday, June 13 at 7 pm at the Arnold Arboretum for a presentation as she dives into the fascinating world of fireflies and reveals the most up-to-date discoveries about these beloved insects. Hear dramatic stories of birth, courtship, romance, sex, deceit, poison, and death among fireflies.

    Following the lecture, look for fireflies at the edge of the Arboretum’s wet meadow. Sarah’s recently published book, Silent Sparks, will be available for sale and signing. $5 for Arboretum members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

    cropped-header-v41

  • Monday, May 23, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm – Will the Bats Come Back? Confronting White-Nose Syndrome

    Have you noticed the decline in bat populations? White-nose syndrome (WNS) has killed more than 5.7 million bats in eastern North America. Named for the white fungus found growing on the muzzle, wings, and exposed skin of hibernating bats, WNS is associated with extensive mortality of bats in eastern North America.

    First documented in New York in the winter of 2006-2007, WNS has spread rapidly across the eastern United States and Canada. At some hibernation sites, 90 to 100 percent of bats have died.

    On Monday, May 23, beginning at 7 pm in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum, 125 Arborway in Jamaica Plain, Christina Kocer of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will speak about this fungal disease, where it may have come from, the dynamics of infection and transmission, and the search for a way to control it. She will also speak of ways to support bat populations in your neighborhood. $5 for Arboretum members, $10 for nonmembers. For more information call 617-384-5277, or email adulted@arnarb.harvard.edu.

  • Tuesday, May 17, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Garden Day at Show House

    Expert horticulturalists will present throughout the day On Tuesday, May 17 under a lovely white tent. Tea and treats will be available for purchase. Your $35 ticket includes one time entrance to Decorators’ Show House 2016 at the 1854 Greek Revival Nathaniel Allen House in West Newton and access to all Garden Day presentations. Boston Junior League Members with a Season Pass for Show House 2016 are invited to join all Garden Day festivities. Purchase tickets online at www.jlboston.org.

    10:00 am – Container & Small Space Gardening
    Edward MacLean, MCLP
    www.pottedup.com

    POTTED UP is an “intimate” landscape design firm. From design to installation, they work closely with their clients to create beautiful garden spaces that reflect their sense of style, enhance their enjoyment of the landscape and offer years of joy. POTTED UP was founded by Landscape Designer Ed MacLean, MCLP. Nearly a decade ago, Ed faced the challenges associated with transforming his own roof deck into an urban oasis. Ed quickly realized the limited resources available to the urban gardener and the challenges that faced them and created POTTED UP to meet those needs. Ed holds a certificate in Landscape Design from The Landscape Institute Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and is a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional.

    11:30 am – Flower Arranging
    Lucinda Y. Larson, Floral Designer
    Business (617)696-9765 Cell (617)921-2775

    Lucinda started her floral design and arranging career in 2000 after twenty years in senior financial management. She is a Senior Associate at the MFA and belongs to the Junior League and Milton Garden clubs. She does flower arranging demonstrations as well as events, weddings and funeral flowers for people who are connected to her business by word of mouth. Her arrangements have graced Green Sales, Annual Forbes House tour, galas, openings, Show Houses and St. Michael’s Flower Guild.

    1:00 pm – Bonsai Gardening
    Glen Lord, Horticulturist and Bonsai Expert

    Glen Lord is an avid bonsai artist with over 15 years in the art form. He spent seven years teaching and making bonsai at Bonsai West, the oldest bonsai nursery in the Northeast. He is also the bonsai specialist for the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection that is housed at The Arnold Arboretum. Bonsai is the ancient Japanese method of growing and caring for a tree whose growth is restricted by the size of the shallow pot in which it is planted and by the pruning of its branches and roots. In this presentation Glen Lord, who consults for the Arnold Arboretum’s bonsai (Japanese) and penjing (Chinese) collection of dwarf potted plants, will speak first about the history of bonsai. He will then demonstrate the methods employed in creating and caring for a bonsai.

    2:00 pm – Landscape Design & Planting
    Christine Paxhia, Brush Hill Garden Guru
    www.brushhillgardenguru.com

    Christine Paxhia is a life long gardener who turned her passion into a garden design and coaching business. After 30 years in corporate America, she became a Principal Master Gardener. She spends much of her time designing garden beds, and redesigning landscapes that have become old and overgrown. Her specialties are shade gardens, sun gardens and planters.
    On Garden Day, she will talk you through a few basic principals of designing and planting a garden bed for the shade and for the sun. She will discuss how to determine the site, preparing the site, soil and plant selection.
    Christine will do a planter demonstration with seasonal plants.

    160428 - Garden Day May 17

  • Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Nature’s Ambassador: The Legacy of Thornton W. Burgess

    Wednesday, May 18, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Nature’s Ambassador: The Legacy of Thornton W. Burgess

    Do you recall tales of Old Mother West Wind, Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, Reddy Fox, Grandfather Frog, or Jerry Muskrat? For over 100 years, the animal books and stories of beloved children’s author Thornton W. Burgess have delighted millions of children and their parents; more than of half his seventy books remain in print today.

    However, there was much more to Burgess, the man, than just a writer of children’s books: he was a dedicated naturalist who was honored by prestigious scientific institutions for his advocacy of wildlife and conservation practices that resonate today. His books, syndicated columns, and radio programs both entertained and educated children, introducing them to wildlife habitat, species extinction, and roadside litter.

    In Nature’s Ambassador, Christie Lowrance explores Burgess’s life and legacy, from his Cape Cod childhood to the present. Christie will speak on Wednesday, May 18 in the Hunnewell Building at the Arnold Arboretum beginning at 7 pm. Free for Arboretum members, $5 for nonmembers.  Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

  • Sunday, May 8, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – 108th Annual Lilac Sunday

    Sunday, May 8, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – 108th Annual Lilac Sunday

    Boston’s beloved tradition of Lilac Sunday has been celebrated at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University since the early 1900s, and continues to delight visitors from all walks of life each year. On May 8 from 10am to 3pm, the Arboretum invites nature lovers and garden enthusiasts to explore the Arboretum landscape to view one of the world’s most significant collections of lilacs at their peak of bloom. More than a premiere horticultural event, Lilac Sunday also honors the Arboretum’s 134-year partnership with the City of Boston and its commitment to community education and engagement. As New Englanders herald the coming of spring, Lilac Sunday invites the public to appreciate the beauty and importance of plants at this time-honored and family-friendly festival.

    The Arboretum’s one-of-a-kind lilac collection numbers some 369 plants representing nearly 170 different kinds of lilacs. Together, they provide a season of color and scent that extends up to six weeks each spring. As in recent years, Lilac Sunday 2016 falls on Mother’s Day, making the occasion even more special and memorable as a family destination. The event is free, though donations to the Arboretum are appreciated. Additional information about lilacs (Syringa spp.) and the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum is available on the Arboretum website.

    Lilac Sunday showcases Boston’s unique learning landscape in bloom and offers fun, outdoor explorations for the entire family. Scheduled activities range from themed tours of lilacs and other special plant collections to an array of activities for families and children. A consortium of nearly twenty food trucks organized by Food Truck Festivals of America—including savory tacos, fall-off-the-bone BBQ, vegetarian treats, and French macaroons—will offer a wide variety of menu options from 11am to 3pm, and picnicking is allowed at the Arboretum on this special day only. Visitors are encouraged to take public transportation. The MBTA Forest Hills station on the Orange Line is nearby, and several bus lines serve the Arboretum area. Parking is limited to available curb space on streets surrounding the Arboretum perimeter.

    Founded in 1872 as the first public arboretum in North America, the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is a leading center for the study of biodiversity and a treasured Boston landscape open free to the public year round. One of the most comprehensive and best documented collections of temperate woody plants in the world, the Arboretum promotes the understanding and appreciation of plants through world-class research, horticulture, and educational programs for all ages.

  • Saturday, April 30, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Maples, Roses and More

    Join Arnold Arboretum docent Rhoda Kubrick on Saturday, April 30 at 1 pm for this tour of the Arboretum’s large maple collection and adjacent Bradley Rosaceous Collection (rose garden). The tour combines a discussion of plant families and origins with the enjoyment of springtime — new leaves and flowers. If time permits, you will climb Beech Path to Explorers Garden and see another wonderful paperbark maple. In case of inclement weather, contact 617.384.5209. Free. Meet at the Hunnewell Building.

  • Sunday, May 1, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Bird Nest Botany

    Birds’ nests are the architectural wonders of the animal kingdom, constructed mostly of plant materials.

    In Judith Sumner’s May 1st slide-illustrated lecture at the Arnold Arboretum, beginning at 2:30, we will explore various types of nests and the botanical materials used in their construction. When incorporated into nest structure, stems, leaves, and fibers have anatomical and structural properties that defy harsh weather and rigorous use.

    We will also examine the biologically active plant material used to line nests, which may have antibiotic and insecticidal properties. Join us for a fascinating look at nest form and function, with particular attention to plant structures and their adaptive re-use in nest construction. Fee $5 for Arboretum members, $10 for nonmembers.  Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277. Image from www.unschoolrules.com.