Brookline

Saturday, January 11, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm – Under the Stars @ Larz

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The Friends of Larz Anderson Park and the Brookline Greenspace Alliance co-sponsor a free night of skating in partnership with the Brookline Parks & Recreation Department on Saturday, January 11 from 5:30 – 9:30 at the Jack Kirrane Rink at Larz Anderson Park in Brookline. There will be a figure skating show with a host of medalists beginning at 6:30. Cider and pizza provided. Visit https://www.facebook.com/p/Friends-of-Larz-Anderson-Park-100069066083158/ or email friendslarzandersonpark@gmail.com

Saturday, June 17, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Lush, Lovely, and Lawn-Free Gardens

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There is an exciting new trend in ecological landscape design that goes by many names lawn-free, no-mow, or lawn-alternative gardens. The incentives are many: lower maintenance, water conservation, reduced fertilizer/chemical use, increased biodiversity/habitat, and the greatest incentive – the stunning diversity of gardens!

Carol Spitzer has been designing lawn-free gardens for many years and invites you to join her on Saturday, June 17 from 5 – 7 on a unique walking tour in Brookline Village. On this tour, we will walk through three different front yards where the existing lawns were removed and replaced with shrubs, perennials, groundcovers, and walkways. In all three projects, there were existing trees and plants that were incorporated into the new landscape.

Each lawn-free project is different and comes with its own unique set of challenges. One of Carol’s projects included side-by-side condos whose owners had differing opinions about plant materials. A second project required a more welcoming landing and front steps, as well as a new walking path to the driveway. In addition to these three gardens designed by Carol, we will walk down an adjacent street, to view several other examples of lawn-free front yards.

Lawn-free gardens require a fraction of the maintenance time of traditional lawns; provide a rich palette of color; introduce contrasting textures and fragrance; and increase curb appeal. Join us to explore lawn-alternative gardens and consider the rich tapestry that awaits in your own yard makeover.

If you toured these gardens with Carol a couple of seasons ago, join us again to view the changes taking place as these landscapes continue to grow and thrive. Registrations are limited, reserve your space today! Ecological Landscape Alliance members $20, nonmembers $30.

Carol Spitzer has been designing residential gardens in Brookline, Newton and greater Boston since 2002. She is a graduate of the Landscape Institute and has a commitment to use ecological design approaches and native plants whenever possible. Carol recently shared her landscape expertise in the ELA Newsletter article: Small Urban Gardens: Big Challenges, Greater Rewards. She may be reached at Carol Spitzer Landscape Design.

See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/lush-lovely-lawn-free-gardens-2/#sthash.LlUTIbXP.dpuf

Wednesday, March 11, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm – The Brookline Troika: Olmsted, Richardson, Sargent and the Planning of a “Model Community”

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The Massachusetts Historical Society presents The Brookline Troika: Olmsted, Richardson, Sargent and the Planning of a “Model Community” on Wednesday, March 11, at their offices at 1154 Boylston Street, with a reception at 5:30 and lecture at 6:00.  Keith Morgan, Director of Architectural Studies at Boston University is the featured speaker.

Derived from the recently publish book, Community by Design: The Olmsted Office and the Making of Brookline, Massachusetts, this lecture will explore the close and dynamic relationship of the country’s leading landscape architect, architect, and horticulturalist in the evolution of Boston’s premier suburb. These three men lived within easy walking distance of each other in the Green Hill section of Brookline and used their private residences and landscapes as teaching and professional spaces as well. Their friendships and (occasional) conflicts informed the character of the suburban development for a community that called itself “the richest town in the world” and believed that its model was worthy of emulation.

Keith N. Morgan is a Professor of the History of Art & Architecture and American & New England Studies at Boston University, where he has taught since 1980. He currently direct BU’s Architectural Studies Program and is a former national president of the Society of Architectural Historians. Written in collaboration with Elizabeth Hope Cushing and Roger Reed, Community by Design was published in 2013 by the University of Massachusetts Press for the Library of American Landscape History and received the Ruth Emery Prize of the Victorian Society in America.

This series has been made possible by the generous underwriting of Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects and is cosponsored by the Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Nichols House Museum. $10 fee (no charge for Fellows and Members of the MHS, Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Nichols House Museum.) Register online at https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/EventDetail.asp?cguid=76FBBAD5-59FC-442D-8347-A5AE40DBF561&eid=50859&sid=28E3AC1C-BE75-4D62-BB6E-EC1C9D0EE6AB

Thursday, September 13, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Landscape Restoration: Hall’s Pond Sanctuary

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Hall’s Pond is one of two natural ponds remaining in Brookline. The sanctuary contains diverse ecosystems including a pond, wetlands, an upland area, a formal garden area, and a short trail around the pond with wetland overlooks. The sanctuary has undergone major landscape renovation featuring restoration in the uplands to remove invasive plant species and replant with native species. Register today for this Thursday, September 13 free program sponsored by the Ecological Landscaping Association by visiting https://www.eventville.com/catalog/eventregistration1.asp?eventid=1009649.  Great blue heron photo from www.essentialbread.com.

Friday, August 31 – Sunday, September 30 – Echoes of the Olmsted Elm: Works from RISD’s 2011 Witness Tree Project

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The Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site, in collaboration with the Rhode Island School of Design’s Witness Tree Project and the Friends of Fairsted, is pleased to present an exhibit of artworks produced from the wood of the historic Olmsted Elm that graced the landscape at 99 Warren Street, Brookline, Massachusetts until March 2011, when it succumbed to old age, a serious fungal infection, and exposure in recent years to Dutch elm disease. Echoes of the Olmsted Elm: Works from RISD’s 2011 Witness Tree Project will take place in the rehabilitated barn at Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline from Friday, August 31 through Sunday, September 30. The exhibit will be open to walk-in visitors on Thursday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as well as Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The regular on-site tours taking place Wednesday through Sunday will also make stops at the exhibit. Finally, a special opening reception for the public will be held the evening of September 14. For further information, please call 617-566-1689 or visit, www.nps.gov/frla starting in mid-August.

Monday, March 19, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Muddy River Restoration Project Maintenance and Oversight Committee Annual Meeting

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The Muddy River Maintenance and Management Oversight Committee (the “MMOC”) consists of Secretary-appointed citizen members of the original Emerald Necklace Citizens Advisory Committee (the “ENCAC”) appointed to represent the public to protect the significant investment of over $90 million and ensure that improvements are properly maintained for many years. Other members are various organizations representing the myriad of cultural, educational and medical institutions in the area, the City of Boston and the Town of Brookline (the “Proponents”), and DCR. Other members of the MMOC come from Boards and Commissions and organizations with related interests. In effect, MMOC is a separate entity serving as ombudsman for the public, with frequent meetings and site visits to oversee and guide the performance of the Proponents.  The MMOC will hold its Annual Meeting on Monday, March 19 at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which is an awfully good reason to go.  RSVP to brilliant@fenwayculture.org.  Photo courtesy National Park Service, Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site.

Saturday, March 27, 1:00 – 2:30 pm and 3:00 – 4:30 pm – Seeding Workshop Sessions at Allandale Farm

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Join the experts at Allandale Farm, 259 Allandale Road, Brookline on Saturday, March 27 for a hands-on demonstration of seeding vegetable starts for your home garden. You’ll begin with a brief discussion on seed selection and equipment and then dive right in to planting. Allandale Farm will provide seeding pots/trays and germinating mix. Bring your own seeds or purchase seeds from the hundreds of varieties they will have available for you at the farm. Materials fee of $10 is payable on the day of the workshop. Email allandale@allandalefarm.com to sign-up for either session #1 ( 1 – 2:30 pm) or #2 (2:30 – 4 pm).

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