Boston Flora

Tag: BNAN

  • Eugenie Beal Honored by The Trustees of Reservations

    The Trustees of Reservations, the nation’s oldest regional land trust and non-profit conservation organization, recently honored retiring Board Member Eugenie Beal at the organization’s annual meeting and dinner held on September 25th at the Boys & Girls Club in Leominster.

    Eugenie “Genie” Beal has served on The Trustees of Reservations’ (The Trustees) Board of Directors since 2006. She received The Charles Eliot Award from The Trustees in 2007 in recognition for championing the cause of conservation in Boston for more than 30 years. As chair of the Board of Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), her leadership was pivotal in crafting the affiliation of BNAN with The Trustees of Reservations. She was the first chairwoman of the Boston Conservation Commission in the 1970s, founding Director of the Boston Environment Department, Special Assistant to the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs, and a founder of Boston Natural Areas Fund (now BNAN) in 1977. Under Ms. Beal’s leadership, the mission of BNAN also embraced community gardens and greenways and became one of the leading urban open space organizations in the country. She was also founder of both the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and the Arboretum Park Conservancy and served as chairwoman of the Common Committee for the Friends of the Public Garden. The American Society of Landscape Architects also honored Beal’s extensive dedication and contributions to the Boston landscape at their centennial in 1999.

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay sends its congratulations to Ms. Beal, who is a shining example of the power of the individual volunteer. The terrific photo below is by Peter Vanderwarker.

  • Saturday, June 12, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Growing Vegetables in Containers

    City Natives, 30 Edgewater Drive in Mattapan, is the location of a second class on Saturday, June 12, from 1 – 2:30, this time dealing with the subject of container gardens, which offer many benefits to the urban gardener in terms of beauty, practicality, and most importantly, produce close at hand.  Jo Ann Whitehead, BNAN Garden Educator, will cover the techniques used to design, create, and maintain successful container vegetable gardens.  Reservations required.  Call BNAN at 617-542-7696, or email info@bostonnatural.org.

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3214/2404775807_bf8b8c81e7_m.jpg

  • Saturday, June 12, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Vegetable Garden Basics

    The Boston Natural Areas Network will help you maximize your vegetable garden experience on Saturday, June 12, from 10 – 11:30 am at City Natives, 30 Edgewater Drive in Mattapan.  Learn about soil building, plant spacing, water conservation, and how to develop a garden schedule.  Jo Ann Whitehead will give you answers regarding crop rotation advantages, succession planting, and ideal planting times for the season.  Reservations required. Call BNAN at 617-542-7696, or email info@bostonnatural.org.

    http://2hlfarms.com/images/Vegetable-Basket.jpg

  • Saturday, March 27, 9:00 am – Birding Belle Isle and Vicinity

    Belle Isle Marsh Reservation on Bennington Street in East Boston is known as one of Massachusetts’ birding hot spots.  Join DCR and Boston Natural Areas Network to look for snipe and waterfowl on Saturday, March 27, beginning at 9:00 am.  Binoculars will be available to borrow.  Boston Natural Areas Network, organized in 1977, works to preserve, expand and improve urban open space through community organizing, acquisition, ownership, programming, development and management of special kinds of urban land – Urban Wilds, Greenways and Community Gardens. In all of its endeavors, BNAN is guided by local citizens advocating for their open spaces and assisting them to preserve and shape their communities.  For more information, log on to www.bostonnatural.org.

    http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/metroboston/maps/bellisle.gif

  • Saturday, March 20, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – Boston Natural Areas Network 35th Annual Gardeners Gathering

    On Saturday, March 20, from 11 – 5, the Boston Natural Areas Network will hold its signature event at the Curry Student Center, Northeastern University, Boston (pictured below).  Join over 300 community and backyard gardeners for plenary sessions, workshops, community gardener awards, information gallery, door prizes, and much more.  Contact Jo Ann Whitehead at joann@bostonnatural.org, or call 617-542-7696, x 15 for more information.  This event is free.  To see a map of the event location, log on to www.bostonnatural.org.

    http://www.northeastern.edu/campustour/images/currycenter178.jpg

  • Saturday, September 26, 10 am – 2 pm – Fall Harvest Festival and Perennial Swap

    Bring plants to swap and share, get gardening advice, or bring your over-sized produce to enter in the Incredible Crop Olympics, at Boston Natural Areas Network’s Fall Harvest Festival and Perennial Divide, Saturday, September 26, from 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, at BNAN’s City Natives Nursery, 30 Edgewater Drive in Mattapan.  Admission is free.   Divide your crowded perennials and bring pre-divided plants to the free plant swap.  Bring your own containers. Volunteers will answer plant care questions, and you may purchase fresh, local produce and native plants.  Tour the vegetable display beds and visit the woodland garden.

    Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), organized in 1977, works to preserve, expand and improve urban open space through community organizing, acquisition, ownership, programming, development and management of special kinds of urban land –

    In all of its endeavors, BNAN is guided by local citizens advocating for their open spaces and assisting them to preserve and shape their communities.

    For more information, call 617-542-7696, or email info@bostonnatural.org.