Boston Flora

Tag: Cornell University

  • Thursday, March 9, 6:00 pm – Lewis Mumford’s Green Urbanism

    The Friends of Fairsted Lecture Series continues on Thursday, March 9 at 6 pm at the Wheelock College Brookline Campus 43 Hawes Street, Brookline, with a talk by Aaron Sachs, Professor of History and American Studies, Cornell University.

    In his early writings, Mumford accompanied his critique of modern cities with a positive, constructive vision for how people might design and occupy urban spaces more sustainably. This talk reconsiders Lewis Mumford’s writings of the 1930s as an early exemplar of green urbanism, in line with current trends in urban ecology and design.

    An environmental historian, Aaron Sachs investigates nature and culture from multi-disciplinary perspectives, looking at how ideas about nature have changed over time and how those changes have mattered in the western world. He is the author of The Humboldt Current: Nineteenth-Century Exploration and the Roots of American Environmentalism (2006) and Arcadian America: The Death and Life of an Environmental Tradition (2013). Sachs supports innovative history writing with co-editor Jonathan Demos through Yale University Press’s New Directions in Narrative History series, and serves as the faculty sponsor of Historians Are Writers (HAW), bringing together Cornell graduate students who believe that academic writing can be moving on a deeply human level. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Reserve online at http://friendsoffairsted.org/programs/ or 617-566-1689, ext. 265.

  • Thursday, March 9, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Lewis Mumford’s Green Urbanism

    Friends of Fairsted present Lewis Mumford’s Green Urbanism with Aaron Sachs, Professor of History and American Studies, Cornell University. Seating is limited and reservations are required. The event takes place at Wheelock College, Brookline Campus, 43 Hawes Street, Brookline, MA 02446.

    Reserve online at http://friendsoffairsted.org/programs/register/or 617-566-1689, ext. 265.

  • Wednesday, October 12, 10:00 am – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ginkgo, but Were Afraid to Ask

    Wednesday, October 12, 10:00 am – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ginkgo, but Were Afraid to Ask

    Join The Garden Club of the Back Bay and Dr. Peter Del Tredici of the Arnold Arboretum on Wednesday, October 12 at 10 am at The College Club of Boston, 44 Commonwealth Avenue, for an in-depth look at one of the most ancient and fascinating trees on the planet. Peter has been studying the natural history and evolution of this tree for the last twenty-five years and is a world authority on the subject. His travels have taken him to remote areas in southwest China in search of wild-growing Ginkgos as well as to old estates and botanical gardens in Europe and the United States. Peter has also studied the cultivation of the Ginkgo for ornamental purposes as well as for the production of leaves to make an extract that some people take to improve their memories.

    Peter Del Tredici holds a BA degree in Zoology from the University of California, Berkeley (1968), a MA degree in Biology from the University of Oregon (1969), and a Ph.D. in Biology from Boston University (1991). He retired from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in 2014 after working there for 35 years as Plant Propagator, Curator of the Larz Anderson Bonsai Collection, Editor of Arnoldia, Director of Living Collections and Senior Research Scientist. Dr. Del Tredici taught in the Landscape Architecture Department at the Harvard Graduate School of Design from 1992 through 2016 and is currently teaching a course in urban ecology in the Urban Planning Department of MIT. He is the winner of the Arthur Hoyt Scott Medal and Award for 1999 presented by the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College and in 2013 he was awarded the Veitch Gold Medal by The Royal Horticultural Society (England) “in recognition of services given in the advancement of the science and practice of horticulture.”

    Dr. Del Tredici’s interests are wide ranging and include such subjects as plant exploration in China, the root systems of woody plants, the botany and horticulture of magnolias, stewartias and hemlocks, and the natural and cultural history of the Ginkgo tree. His recent work is focused on urban ecology and has resulted in the publication of the widely acclaimed Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field Guide (Cornell University Press, 2010) as well as a GPS-based mobile app, “Other Order” which interprets the Bussey Brook Meadow section of the Arnold Arboretum (with Teri Rueb). He lectures widely in North America and Europe and is the author of more than 130 scientific and popular articles.

    Garden Club of the Back Bay members will receive separate notification of this October meeting. If you are not a Club member but are interested in attending, please email info@bostonflora.com. This lecture is part of our 2016/2017 series on The Prehistoric Garden.

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  • Saturday, January 11, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Small-Space Garden Solutions

    When space and time are limited, you need the best performing plants for your patio, beds and borders. Berkshire Botanical Garden will hold a class with Barbara Pierson on Saturday, January 11, from 10 – 12, entitled Small-Space Garden Solutions, particularly applicable to those of us who garden in the City. Barb will highlight new varieties of edibles and annuals for containers, as well as some of the must-have, easy-care classics. “Compact” is the buzzword in breeding today for perennials and shrubs. She will highlight the top picks for performance and hardiness.

    Barbara Pierson is the nursery manager for the prestigious White Flower Farm Nursery in Litchfield, CT. She holds a degree in horticulture from Cornell University and has worked at WFF since 1998. Barbara is a popular speaker at horticultural conferences and has appeared as a guest on TV and radio. She is quoted widely in the print media and was the lead horticultural resource for a 2010 New York Times garden series.  BBG member price $25, non member $30.  Register online at www.berkshirebotanical.org or call 413-298-3926, x 15.

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  • Friday, November 15, 7:30 pm – Maize, Mysteries of an Ancient Grain

    Edward S. Buckler is a Research Geneticist at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Adjunct Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Cornell University. On Friday, November 15, beginning at 7:30 at the Smith College McConnell Hall Room 103 at The Botanic Garden of Smith College, 16 College Lane in Northhampton, he will be talking about genetic diversity of corn and how this diversity is the product of evolution and adaption over the last 5 million years and how it provides the potential for creating a more sustainable crop to satisfy nutritional needs facing many parts of the world. The lecture is free.

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  • Thursday, November 15, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Park and Public Garden Design: Trends for the 21st Century

    The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America invites members and guests to its Fall Lecture and Luncheon on Thursday, November 15, at The Country Club, 191 Clyde Street in Brookline.  The guest speaker will be Don Rakow, who will speak on Park and Public Garden Design: Trends for the 21st Century.  Don Rakow is the E.N. Wilds Director of the Cornell Plantations, including botanical gardens, a 150 acre arboretum and over 4,300 acres of natural areas of Cornell University.  Don also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.  His own research focuses on the history and management of public gardens, and their role in human culture.  Don is the lead author of the textbook Public Garden Management, and is also writing a book on the evolution of European botanical gardens.  $50 lecture and luncheon, $25 lecture only.  If you are a member of a garden club affiliated with The Boston Committee, and have not already responded to your written invitation, send a check made out to The Boston Committee of the GCA and mail it to Karen Gregg, 238 Commonwealth Avenue, #5, Boston, MA 02116 by November 10.  All reservations will be held at the door.  If you are not a member but wish to attend, send your check as set forth above, and please note on your check that you have been referred by The Garden Club of the Back Bay.

  • Saturday, August 4, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Celia Thaxter’s Restored Historic Appledore Island Garden

    Tour participants will depart Saturday, August 4 at 8 am on the R/V Gulf Challenger from New Castle, NH destination: Appledore Island, Isles of Shoals. With tours lead by trained UNH Marine Docents, participants will enjoy a day’s walking tour on Appledore Island, featuring Celia Thaxter’s restored historic Island Garden made famous in Celia’s book, An Island Garden, published in 1894. The walking tour will include visits to popular coves popularized by Celia’s well-known artist friend Childe Hassam, an American Impressionist who studied under Monet.

    Tour will include a brief glimpse into the workings of the Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML). SML is a world-renowned field station specializing in education and research focused on marine science.

    This is an all-inclusive tour which includes your R/T boat fare, luncheon, all tours, and day parking in New Castle, NH. Appledore Island is an extremely-rugged landscape with uneven, slightly steep, rocky paths. There are no paved roads or paved walkways. All tour participants must be 18 years of age or older and should be in good physical condition. The majority of the day is spent walking (limited seating available on the vessel), and participants are required to stay with tour leader for the duration of the time on Appledore Island.

    Depart from: Judd Gregg Marine Research Complex, 29 Wentworth Road, Fort Point (adj.to USCG Ft. Constitution), New Castle,NH. Sponsored by the Shoals Marine Laboratory and Cornell University. Contact Pam Boutilier at shoals-lab-east@cornell.edu, or call 603-430-5220.

  • Saturday, February 25, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Big, Bold and HOT!

    Summer bulbs make great standouts in the late summer garden. Join expert horticulturist Barb Pierson, Garden Manager for White Flower Farm, located in Litchfield, CT for an informative lecture/demonstration on this hot topic at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Saturday, February 25, from 10 – noon. Learn about the best of the bunch including Cannas, Dahlias, Eucomis and more. See why summer bulbs are among the most exotic and exciting plants in our gardens. This lecture will cover top tips for growing and storing, and Barb will be bringing some great varieties for sale following the lecture.

    Barb Pierson  holds a degree in horticulture from Cornell University and has worked at WFF since 1998. She is a popular speaker at horticultural conferences and has appeared as a guest on TV and radio. She is quoted widely in the print media and was the lead horticultural resource for a 2010 New York Times garden series.  BBG member price $25, non-members $30. To register, visit www.berkshirebotanical.org, or email info@berkshirebotanical.org.

  • Horticulture Distance Learning Courses Through Cornell University

    The world renowned Cornell University Department of Horticulture offers hands-on, online courses for gardeners and professionals.  All courses feature practical activities because the faculty believes learning by doing is key to any successful online horticulture course.

    Web based instruction is a great way to learn about horticulture, but it is no substitute for acquiring skills by doing.  Dr. Ken Mudge began developing online courses more than 10 years ago for the Department of Horticulture.  You won’t just read about grafting, cutting and related propagation strategies.  Online lectures, virtual field trips, discussions and quizzes are among the activities that will engage you in the history, botanical principles, and horticultural applications.  Class size is limited.  To facilitate online discussion, a different topic is each week’s focus, but you can log on at your convenience anytime during the week.  The only prerequisites are a computer with an Internet connection and a willingness to learn.  Many online students have never taken an online course before.  Cornell provides a tutorial to familiarize you with the instructional web site, and is happy to help you through any technology problems you may encounter.  These courses do not carry academic credit, but upon completion, students receive a Certificate of Completion and qualify for Continuing Education Credit.

    A new session begins January 25 and runs through March 15.  Two of the announced courses, Botanical Illustration I: Basic Drawing Techniques, and Botanical Illustration II: Working with Watercolor, each cost $500, and questions on the course may be sent to me14@cornell.edu.  Other proposed courses are Plant Propagation and Organic Gardening, tentatively scheduled for late winter.  To be notified about these two courses, email mw38@cornell.edu.  For complete information on Cornell’s online program, log on to www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/hort/teaching/distance-learning/.