Boston Flora

Tag: Ecological Landscape Alliance

  • Tuesday, June 10, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm Eastern – Science in Action: 10 Years of Restoring Native Plant-Pollinator Functional Diversity at Breakneck Hill, Online

    Plant-pollinator diversity is declining at an alarming rate worldwide. The continued loss of native plant-pollinator diversity poses a significant threat to health and integrity of terrestrial ecosystems due to the fundamental functional role that ‘pollination products’ play in supporting wildlife diversity across trophic levels. Habitat loss and degradation are widely thought to be significant drivers of pollination system decline; however, surprisingly few current habitat management plans focused on pollinator restoration are based on empirical data, making them ineffective at attracting and sustaining imperiled species. In this talk, Dr. Rob Gegear will discuss how he has used a data-driven, species-level ecological approach to successfully restore native plant-pollinator functional diversity at Breakneck Hill, a 40 acres of conservation land located in Southborough MA. He will also highlight how ‘eco-technology’ and crowdsourced data collection was used to dramatically reduce the amount of time required to develop and implement effective management strategies for imperiled systems. This Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar will be held Tuesday, June 10 at noon. Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at www.ecolandscaping.com

  • Saturday, June 7, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm – Eco-tour – Native Shrubs and Shrublands: Lessons from Nature

    The Ecological Landscape Alliance will sponsor a tour on June 7 at 10:30 am in Brimfield. Join Dan Wilder for a tour of one of his favorite (and unknown) sites with fantastic shrub diversity in Brimfield, Massachusetts. We will explore a shrub-dominated community to discuss the role of shrubs in natural landscapes and see what lessons we can employ in residential landscapes. Location will be confirmed after reservation. Dan Jaffe Wilder is an ecologist, horticulturist, and botanist with over fifteen years’ experience working with native plants and their associated ecology. His work has ranged from classrooms to nurseries to botanical gardens to wildlife refuges specializing in native plant ecology, propagation, wildlife habitat construction, and native edible landscapes. Dan is currently the Director of Applied Ecology for the Norcross Wildlife Foundation whose mission is to protect, enhance, and expand wildlife through conservation, education, and support. A prolific photographer and author Dan’s book Native Plants for New England Gardens was released in 2018.

    FREE for ELA members $10 for non-members. Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/eco-tournative-shrubs-and-shrublandslessons-from-nature/

  • Friday, May 2, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm Eastern – Native Shrubs: The Unsung Heroes of Ecological Landscapes, Online

    Native shrubs don’t get nearly enough attention. They offer immense ecological value, amazing fall colors, tasty berries and nuts, hosts for rare caterpillars, fantastic flowers, and make great additions to ecologically minded landscapes. Join Dan Wilder, Ecological Landscape Alliance board member and Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation for this May 2 online lecture that aims to encourage you to pay more attention to the ecological value of shrubs.

    FREE for members $10 for non-members

    Register on Eventbrite

    Dan Jaffe Wilder is an ecologist, horticulturist, and botanist with over fifteen years’ experience working with native plants and their associated ecology. His work has ranged from classrooms to nurseries to botanical gardens to wildlife refuges specializing in native plant ecology, propagation, wildlife habitat construction, and native edible landscapes. Dan is currently the Director of Applied Ecology for the Norcross Wildlife Foundation whose mission is to protect, enhance, and expand wildlife through conservation, education, and support. A prolific photographer and author Dan’s book Native Plants for New England Gardens was released in 2018.

  • Thursday, April 3, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern – A Small Backyard Natural Swimming Pool, Online

    Natural swimming pools are great for cooling off, diversifying habitat, and creating beauty in the garden, but they can seem out of reach for some because of the cost to install and maintain. Learn about Ecological Landscape Alliance’s Education Committee member Jennifer H. Campbell’s experience building and nurturing a small, informal natural pool at her home in northwestern New Hampshire, powered by a bubble pump system and native plants, for a fraction of the cost of traditional natural pools.

    The April 3 webinar is FREE for ELA members $10 for non-members

    Register on Eventbrite

    Jennifer H Campbell made a mid-life change of career 20 years ago to ecological landscape design based in Northwest NH and Southeast Vermont. She is a graduate of the Conway School of Landscape Design 2007 and holds a Certificate in Native Plant Studies from the Native Plant Trust.

  • Wednesday, March 12, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern – Greening Public Spaces: The Green Roof Bus Shelter Project, Online

    Join The Native Plant Trust and Trevor Smith, Design and Education Manager at Weston Nurseries, and past president of the Ecological Landscape Alliance, to learn more about his efforts to build thirty green roofs for bus shelters throughout the city of Boston, in conjunction with Mayor Michelle Wu’s commitment to green infrastructure. In addition to describing the history of this project and the process of building a green roof, Trevor will share the insights he has gained while pursuing this work. The talk will take place on Zoom on March 12 at 6 pm Eastern, and is $17 for NPT members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/greening-public-spaces-the-green-roof-bus-shelter-project/

    A recording of this class will be available to all registrants for two weeks after the class.

  • Wednesday, February 26 – Friday, February 28, 11:00 am – 8:00 pm Eastern – 2025 ELA Annual Conference and Marketplace, Live and Online

    We hope to see you at ELA’s Annual Conference scheduled for February 26, 27. and 28, 2025! Day 1 & 2 of the conference will remain virtual on Qiqochat to facilitate greater access and participation. Each day of virtual learning will consist of a number of concurrent presentations organized across three educational tracks.

    The last day of the conference, we are organizing in-person member meet ups to build on the momentum from last year and continue expanding our community! This conference will give the ELA community a chance to engage and reflect on where the industry has been, to hear lessons learned, to prepare and adapt for the future, and to inspire each other to do all that we can to build and maintain resilient landscapes that work in harmony with the life that supports them. 

    Remember all presentations will be recorded and made available to registrants after the conference. You can enjoy the event live, and then revisit presentations at your leisure. Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/ela-2025-annual-conference-eco-marketplace/

  • Friday, February 23, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Embracing Eco-Friendly Landcare Practices on Cape Cod

    Join a lively discussion with an introduction by Marie Chieppo, along with a post-conference event hosted by the Ecological Landscape Alliance, Kristin Adres, and Julie Esteves. The February 23rd event takes place at 10 am at the Mass Audubon Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, 345 Bone Hill Road in Barnstable. Coffee and breakfast snacks are included – please bring your own cups. Register at http://tinyurl.com/ycp2e75y

  • Saturday, February 17, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – The Supply and Demand of Straight Native Species

    Instructors Marie Chieppo and Jasmine Callahan will discuss the recent surge in demand for straight native species by homeowners and others who are invested in the campaign to attract birds and insects that depend on straight species for food and habitat on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon. Why does this void exist and what can we expect down the road? The class includes a presentation and interview, with discussion and Q&A to follow.

    Marie Chieppo has written articles for the Ecological Landscape Alliance and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers on the topic. An experienced ecological landscape designer, Marie also works in the retail sector at Hyannis Country Garden on Cape Cod. Jasmine Callahan is a former owner of Blue Stem Nursery and now the owner and propagator of Dragonfly Natives.

    The class takes place at Berkshire Botanical Gardens in West Stockbridge, and is $40 for BBG members, $60 for nonmembers. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org

  • Saturdays, January 20 & 27, and February 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eastern – Plant Nutrients, Online

    What are mineral nutrients and how do plants use them? What are the signs of deficiencies and toxicities? In this Native Plant Trust three part online course on January 20 & 27 and February 3 from 10:00 – noon, you will learn some mineral nutrient foundations through an overview of soils, chemistry, and plant anatomy. We will explore how plants acquire, use, and translocate mineral nutrients.

    We will also learn skills to identify how mineral nutrients are impacting a plant’s health and how to remedy plants suffering from improper nutrition. Please note: NPT does not make video or audio recordings of classes or programs available after the fact, because it believes education is interactive, with instructors and students building a community and culture of learning.

    The class is taught online by George LoCascio, a horticulturist and soil specialist. $90 for NPT members, $108 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/plant-nutrients/

  • Wednesday, July 12, 6:00 pm Eastern – Plant Layering for More Color, Diversity, & Habitat, Online

    Learn how to enhance the landscape you already have. Identify your yard and garden’s (boring) gaps and explore native plant options for a variety of seasonal colors and wildlife benefits. These choices increase the diversity of your landscape, as well as create healthier habits for many species. This Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar takes place Wednesday, July 12 at 6 pm Eastern.

    Presenter Michele Chalice is an Environmental Landscape Designer with a Master’s degree in Resource Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture. She practiced as a licensed Landscape Architect for three decades in Chicago, IL, and Madison, WI before coming to Keene, NH. Michele now owns Healthy Home Habitats, a consulting firm that works with clients in the Monadnock region, designing yards and gardens that shift traditional landscapes into habitat-enhancing spaces with a variety of native plants. She offers public programs on regenerative, sustainable, and ecologically-friendly landscape management and design topics. She also offers hands-on workshops at the Healthy Home Habitats’ urban demonstration gardens in Keene. You can find Healthy Home Habits on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

    Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/2023-webinar-plant-layering/