Boston Flora

Tag: botany blast

  • Tuesday, January 28, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Botany Blast: What Is Biodiversity and Why Does It Matter?

    Jake Grossman, PhD, Putnam Postdoctoral Fellow, Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, will speak in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum on January 28 at 6:30 pm.

    Most of us have an intuitive sense of what counts as “biodiversity” and why it is important to live in a biodiverse world, but these questions have also powered decades of revelatory and complex ecological research.

    Join Putnam Postdoctoral Fellow Jake Grossman for an exploration of the world of biodiversity research. Our focus will be on how scientists define and quantify biodiversity and how biodiversity loss affects the way that ecosystems work. Jake will share highlights from his dissertation research, which entailed the use of experimentally planted “forests” to study the role of biodiversity in supporting tree growth, health, and nutrient use.

    Free, but registration requested. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

  • Saturday, February 24, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Botany Blast: Woody Plant Basics

    In this Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University introductory workshop on plant structure and function, we will focus on temperate forest tree and shrub species found around the Arboretum. We will cover topics such as basic plant function and the development of flowers to fruits to seeds. This interactive session will enhance your understanding of plants and amplify future hikes in the woods or wanderings throughout the Arboretum. The class will be taught on Saturday, February 24 from 1 – 3 by graduate students, led by Cat Chamberlain. Free for Arboretum members, $10 for nonmembers. Register by calling 617-384-5277, or email adulted@arnarb.harvard.edu.  Image from www.profitableplantsdigest.com.

  • Sunday, May 7, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Botany Blast: A Look at Plant Development

    Have you ever wondered why some plants have flowers before they have leaves, while others leaf out before they flower? Looked at flower and leaf buds and asked yourself what protects them as they develop and how they know when it’s OK to open? Arnold Arboretum Director William (Ned) Friedman will lead this walk on Sunday, May 7 from 1 – 2 through the Arboretum, drawing your eye to ephemeral developments in the springtime landscape. He will look at some of the trees observed in our Tree Spotters phenology program, but will also stop to point out other trees and shrubs that show interesting morphological characteristics. Bring a loupe or hand lens if you have one. Fee Free, but registration required. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

  • Sunday, January 22, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – Botany Blast: Seeing Climate Change in Your Backyard

    Learn what you can do to help scientists in their studies of the effects of a changing climate on plants and animals. Alyssa Rosemartin of the USA National Phenology Network will speak on Sunday, January 22 at 2:30 pm in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum about the science of the seasons and the power of citizen science initiatives, like Tree Spotters. Interested in improving communication between scientists, the public and decision-makers, she will discuss how phenological data informs natural resource conservation and national policy. Learn how to gather data and engage with the scientific method in support of science’s key role in society. She will also discuss the history and future direction of the National Phenology Network and the importance of individual contributors. Fee Free, registration requested. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.