Boston Flora

Tag: Caterpillars

  • Wednesday, May 20, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Explore the Nighttime World of Caterpillars and Moths, Live and Online

    Grow Native Massachusetts concludes its 2026 free public lecture series on Wednesday, May 20 at 7 pm in person at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, 11 French Drive in Boylston, and also online. The Caterpillar Lab will present a photograph and video packed talk that explores the nighttime world of caterpillars, moths, and how to find them. Join us to learn how we can explore our own backyard habitats through the eyes of a moth, using UV and special light traps to uncover a whole new perspective. This special lecture will include time to meet a few special caterpillar specimens up close and, and chat with Caterpillar Lab educators about all things local caterpillar. In-person attendees will also get to try out blacklight flashlights!

    The Caterpillar Lab is a non-profit based in New Hampshire that fosters greater appreciation and care for the complexity and beauty of natural history through live caterpillar educational programs, research initiatives, and photography and film projects. They believe that an increased awareness of one’s local environment is the foundation on which healthy and responsible attitudes towards the broader natural systems of this world are built.

    Register at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/evenings-experts

  • Monday, September 8, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern- A Secret Neighborhood – Backyard Caterpillars in Your Autumn Landscape, Online

    Join Grow Native Massachusetts online on September 8 at 6 pm Eastern for a presentation revealing the caterpillars whose ecosystems we inhabit and our role as neighbors, stewards, and champions of these incredible insects. We live surrounded by a world shaped by insects and few are more charismatic than the caterpillar (or their moth and butterfly forms). They influence the flowers we enjoy, foods we eat, and birds we celebrate, filling every ecological niche imaginable! This interactive presentation features a few local, wild fall caterpillars who will help us tell the story of these animals in our forests and gardens. Educators from The Caterpillar Lab will share how we can manage our spaces through the fall and winter to promote more insect diversity and offer some tips and tricks for measuring our success in the spring. Attend this fall talk to learn how to promote more caterpillars, and then extend your experience by joining us next spring for a special Grow Native Massachusetts event to discover how to see the adult moths in their nighttime habitats! This is a free event, but registration required at https://grownativemass.org/Our-Programs/calendar. Photo below by Sam Jaffe.

  • Saturday and Sunday, August 19 – 20, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Live! Caterpillar Show

    Saturday and Sunday, August 19 – 20, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Live! Caterpillar Show

    Enjoy a close-up look at the most spectacular live caterpillars at the Caterpillar Show at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, on Saturday and Sunday, August 19 – 20 from 10 – 3. Sam Jaffe a naturalist, biologist, photographer, and educator, will share his Live! Caterpillar Show at Tower Hill. Jaffe, who operates the Caterpillar Lab in Keene, N.H., has an infectious enthusiasm and offers a rare chance to learn about the lives of these stunning creatures. Free with admission.

  • Sunday, August 9, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Caterpillars of Great Blue Hill

    Come with Sam Jaffe and The New England Wild Flower Society to explore Great Blue Hill and learn about its surprising caterpillars! From the ski-slope meadows to the pitch pine and scrub oak barren tops, the area is home to many strange and wonderful creatures. Past trips have uncovered the clown-eyed spicebush swallowtail, the giant polyphemus, the hydraulic tailed furcula (image from www.bugguide.net,) and the simply indescribable monkey slug. The session takes place Sunday, August 9 from 1 – 4 in Canton, Massachusetts, and is $28 for NEWFS members, $35 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/caterpillars-of-great-blue-hill. 

  • Through September 30 – Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly

    Enjoy a unique exhibit combining photography, text, and video celebrating the life story of the Monarch butterfly, now through September 30. The exhibit shares with visitors the poetry and beauty of the Monarch butterfly and expands the viewers understanding of the extraordinary life story of the Monarch.  A wealth of information is provided for the visitor interested in creating a garden designed to support adult butterflies and their caterpillars.

    Location: Matz Gallery at the Sawyer Free Library 2 Dale Avenue Gloucester, MA
    Admission: Free
    Gallery Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30-8:00, Friday-Saturday 8:30-5:00

    For more information, log on to www.kimsmithdesigns.com.

    http://www.kimsmithdesigns.com/images/Beauty.jpg