Boston Flora

Tag: Cuba

  • Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 pm – Birding and Beyond in Cuba, Online

     Birding and Beyond in Cuba will allow us to “visit” a number of key bird-locations on the island – Viñales, Zapata, Guanahacabibes, Cayo Coco, Baracoa, Topes de Collantes, and Havana – as well as examine opportunities for “connecting” with our counterparts in Cuba. We will look at these fascinating birds, places, and people in terms of advancing bird-education, conservation, and responsible eco-tourism. Our two presenters wish to convey to you some of the birds, nature, and potential on the island, opportunities that can be found at one of our country’s closest neighbors. Presenters: Paul J. Baicich and Soledad Pagliuca. This Athol Bird & Nature Club virtual event is free.


    Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PAz9lD3LTFq1LHXuRVal7g 
    After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

  • Sunday, February 18 – Thursday, March 1 – Eastern Cuba: Natural & Cultural Wonders

    PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS TRIP WAS ANNOUNCED PRIOR TO HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA – CONTACT HOLBROOK TRAVEL FOR UPDATED INFORMATION. Join Pacific Horticulture February 18 – March 1 as we return to Cuba to explore the eastern end of the island. With a vibrant history and culture, Eastern Cuba is home to an abundance of endemic species and pristine natural preserves. Accompanied by expert in-country guides, we’ll explore forests, beaches, waterfalls, and breathtaking landscapes, as we visit some of the region’s most historic cities. See the ecosystems of Pinares de Mayarí and Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, where high levels of endemism translate to unique species found nowhere else. Discover Baracoa, Cuba’s oldest city, and Santiago de Cuba, the country’s first capital and the birthplace of the Revolution. You’ll also have the chance to explore the region’s breathtaking forests, beaches, waterfalls, and mountains.

    Richie Steffen, Director/Curator of the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden and co-author of The Plant Lover’s Guide to Ferns, will escort this tour. Land cost for Pacific Horticultural Society members $5,320 per person, single room supplement $600. Non-member price $5,420. For complete information visit http://www.holbrooktravel.com/where-we-travel/americas/cuba/cuba-pacific-horticulture-society-natural-and-cultural-wonders-eastern  

  • Friday, January 6 – Sunday, January 15, 2017 – Travel to Cuba

    Friday, January 6 – Sunday, January 15, 2017 – Travel to Cuba

    Join the New England Wild Flower Society for a People-to-People Exploration of Cuba with a botanical slant. January 6-15, 2017, the Society will travel on a General License with the U.S. Treasury Department to take friends and members on a People-to-People exploration of Cuba. On this unique and fascinating program, we begin our tour in Old Havana and continue to the Jardin Botanico Soledad, the Escambray Mountains, and the Spanish colonial cities of Cienfuegos and Trinidad. Havana’s old town is rich with culture, music, museums, architecture, and more. We will explore Cuba’s diverse landscapes, including the plains or llanos, ideal for growing sugar cane, and the mountain regions. The complete brochure is available at www.newfs.org.  Register at http://www.betchartexpeditions.com/cen-sa_cuba2017.htm. Fee is $4,495 per person twin share plus air fare from Miami to Havana (approximately $650) plus a $250 per person donation to NEWFS. This price is based on a minimum of 17 paying participants. Single supplement is $795.

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  • Thursday, April 28, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm – Agroecology in Cuba and Beyond

    In November 2015 Wellesley College Botanic Garden Fellow Katie Goodall had the opportunity to attend the International Agroecology Conference in Guira de Melena, Cuba, which brought together farmers, peasants, agroecology promoters, facilitators, scientists, students, and others interested in the development of agroecology throughout the world.  In addition to talks, Katie and the other participants visited farmer cooperatives in several provinces.  Katie will relate her experiences at the Wellesley College Science Center, Room SCI-278 on Thursday, April 28 from noon to 1:30.  Friends of Wellesley Botanic Garden fee is $15, non-members $20, and the price includes lunch.  Register by calling 781-283-3094 or email wcbgfriends@wellesley.edu.

  • Friday, March 4 – Monday, March 14 – Horticultural Trip to Cuba

    Join the Pacific Horticulture Society March 4 – 14, 2016 for a cultural journey with a botanical slant. Our itinerary begins with a tour of Havana whose old town is rich with culture, music, museums, architecture, and more. Your travel around this island nation continues to Zapata National Park, the Escambray Mountains, and the Spanish colonial cities of Cienfuegos and Trinidad, where you’ll see Cuba’s diverse landscapes, including the plains or llanos, mountain regions, and coastal wetlands.

    Throughout your journey, there will be special emphasis on meeting the people of Cuba—botanists, environmentalists, teachers, scientists, students, and national park personnel—and learning about their lives and work, culture and traditions.

    During your stay in Cuba, you’ll:

    Explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Old Havana and Trinidad.

    Spend time in the Spanish colonial city of Cienfuegos, on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its representation of a19th century Spanish city.

    Visit leading botanic gardens where you’ll see amazing plant collections that thrive in this climate.

    Explore the mountain station at Topes de Collantes, and take in the extraordinary views from these highest peaks in the Escambray.

    See the extraordinary plant life in the Sierra del Escambray, including Cuba’s national flower, the white mariposa (Hedychium coronarium).

    Learn about Las Terrazas reforestation project, the site of Cuba’s earliest surviving coffee plantation and today a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

    See the orchids at the Orquideario Soroa with it collection of 700 species in a hillside garden (pictured, from www.thecubanhistory.com).

    Visit Vivero Alamar, an impressive project for sustainable agriculture in suburban Havana where fresh vegetables and fruits are grown for the community.  For costs and complete itinerary visit www.pacifichorticulture.org.

  • December 4 – 15, 2014, or February 5 – 16, 2015 – Discover Cuba!

    WAITING LIST ONLY for the December trip, reservations available for the February trip. Pacific Horticulture Society has just renewed its People-to-People US travel license to Cuba granting permission to take friends and members on what promises to be a rich cultural journey with a botanical slant. Our itinerary includes Havana, Zapata National Park— the finest wetland in the Caribbean with over 900 indigenous plant species and 175 unique birds, the city of Cienfuegos—”pearl of the south” and home of the former Harvard Botanic Garden, the Sierra del Escambray Mountains, and the World Heritage City of Trinidad.

    Throughout our journey, there will be a special emphasis on meeting the people of Cuba: botanists, environmentalists, teachers, scientists, students, and national park personnel.

    Steve Gerischer, PHS board member, will escort the December tour, and Josh Schechtel will escort the February tour. See more at: http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/tours/discover-cuba-3/#sthash.PzQGZOEJ.dpuf.

  • February, 2014 – People to People Tour of Cuba

    The Pacific Horticulture Society is thrilled to offer a third Cuba tour in February, 2014, escorted by PHS board member Katherine Greenberg.   The People-to-People Exploration of Cuba begins in Havana. You’ll visit botanic gardens, a community project for sustainable agriculture, as well as the reforestation project at Las Terrazas, Orquideario Soroa, and the vast wetlands of Zapata National Park, the mountain station at Topes de Collantes, and the extraordinary plant life in the Sierra De Escambray.  The itinerary also includes the fascinating colonial cities of Trinidad and Cienfuegos on the south coast.   The tour is pending renewal of Pacific Horticulture’s travel license.  Space is limited to twenty people and is expected to fill quickly.  For more information contact Betchart Expeditions at 800-252-4910 or www.betchartexpeditions.com.

    http://images.travelpod.com/tw_slides/ta01/011/176/in-topes-de-collantes-n1-trinidad.jpg

  • Saturday, January 5 – Saturday, January 12 – Cuba Photo Expedition

    Travel to Cuba January 5 – 12, 2013 with professional photographer and past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker Rich Pomerantz, and the Center for Cuban Studies.  This trip is designed for the enthusiastic travel photographer who wants to take better travel photos.  Based in Havana, enjoy visiting coffee plantations, local markets, fishing villages, the Vinales World Heritage site (below), Las Terrazas, Pinar Del Rio and more.  Visit the studios of contemporary photographers, painters, and ceramists.  Meet local farmers, merchants and residents.  This is officially a “people-to-people” trip, and the emphasis will be on meeting and learning about the Cuban life.  $3,750 per person, double occupancy, or $4,050 single, includes round trip flight from Miami to Havana, lodging and breakfast, some dinners, tour guide, transportation to planned activities and group and one on one photo consultation.  To reserve your spot or for more information call 212-242-0559, or visit www.cubaupdate.org.  Photo from www.greatarchaeology.com.