Boston Flora

Tag: ELA

  • Tuesday, October 4, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Eco Tour: Ecological Maintenance Techniques at Mass Audubon

    At Mass Audubon Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, well-maintained trails wind through serene forests of deciduous and evergreen trees, across meadows, and around ponds and vernal pools. Located just six miles from downtown Boston at 10 Juniper Road in Belmont, this unique 90-acre natural oasis offers recreation and environmental education for all ages. With a wide range of habitats, maintenance on this property is diverse, challenging, and never ending but careful planning along with well-executed ecological practices are proving successful.

    Join tour guide Sandy Vorce on Tuesday, October 4 at 3 pm to learn about the innovative landscape maintenance techniques that the Mass Audubon staff and volunteers practice to keep the landscape healthy and beautiful.

    Landscape maintenance topics included on the tour:

    Invasive plant control and meadow maintenance – both handled with the help of Habitat’s Goats
    Stormwater management – dealing with drought and deluge
    Lawn maintenance using push mowers to reduce noise and emissions
    Recycling organic matter – techniques that plan ahead for climate change
    Weed management using Habitat staff and volunteers

    Sandy Vorce is the property manager at Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. Sandy tends everything from gardens to goats and enjoys working with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds in caring for the property and its’ inhabitants. She is a former Ecological Landscape Alliance board member and now participates with local Land Trusts and Friends groups. $23 for ELA members, $33 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/eco-tour-ecological-landscape-maintenance-techniques-at-audubon-habitat/#sthash.HACXWB8J.dpuf

  • Tuesday, September 20, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Webinar: Reawakening Large Landscapes, Activating the Space

    The September 20 webinar on Reawakening Large Landscapes is sponsored by the Ecological Landscape Alliance and presented by Sandy Vorce, Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.

    Large landscapes pose challenges – but also opportunities. In this presentation, Sandy Vorce invites us to expand our landscape vision to more fully engage visitors. Through sights, sounds, and design options (beyond plant material), landscapes can educate, entertain, and inspire. There are many ways to activate the space, draw visitors in, and enrich the experience: from easily implemented ideas such as expanded signage, pollinator gardens, and edible landscape elements to surprisingly effective options like on-site bee keeping or the use of goats and sheep to control invasive plants.

    Sandy is the property manager at Mass Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. Sandy tends everything from gardens to goats and enjoys working with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds in caring for the property and its’ inhabitants. She is a former ELA board member and now participates with local Land Trusts and Friends groups.
    – See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-reawaking-large-landscapes-activating-the-space/#sthash.bHdwXvbS.dpuf   ELA members free, nonmembers $10.

  • Saturday, July 23, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Wildlife Haven at Turkey Hill Brook Farm

    Turkey Hill Brook Farm is a small “habitat” farm in the Worcester Hills (88 Wire Village Road in Spencer) that has been landscaped for wildlife and sustainability since 2004. Invasive plants have been strictly controlled, conventional exotic landscaping plants have gradually been replaced with site-appropriate natives, and local native plant communities have been encouraged to make a return.

    The farm features several very different habitats (open meadow, woods, pond and stream), each supporting a diversity of adapted plants along with their co-evolved wildlife species. Other areas used for horses, chickens, food production, recreation, and a small native plant nursery are managed with as few outside inputs as possible, with an emphasis on function, aesthetics, and wildlife support. Enjoy an Ecological Landscape Alliance two-hour tour of this peaceful farm on Saturday, July 23 beginning at 10 am, and feel free to bring a picnic to eat lunch afterwards. The site is hilly, so wear good walking shoes.

    Ellen W. Sousa owns Turkey Hill Brook Farm, a native plant nursery and habitat farm in Spencer, Massachusetts and is the author of The Green Garden: A New England Guide to Planning, Planting & Maintaining the Eco-friendly Habitat Garden. She provides coaching and design services to clients to guide them in the design and construction of landscapes that support pollinators and biodiversity. Ms. Sousa is also an overseer and instructor for New England Wild Flower Society. $23 for ELA members, $33 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/wildlife-haven-at-turkey-hill-brook-farm/#sthash.vnH3tmEn.dpuf

  • Saturday, June 18, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Eco-Tour: Recreation Lake Shore Restoration at Lake Massapoag

    Like many New England towns, Sharon, MA has its own recreational jewel, a small lake where children learn to swim and sail, enthusiasts fish, and kayakers and canoeists paddle. In heavy use since Colonial times, Lake Massapoag had developed worn and depleted areas along its shoreline, especially at the town park where dumping of beach sand and cutting of typical lakeside vegetation created their own problems.

    What are some of the ways a lakeside recreation area can be ecologically restored while maintaining recreational uses? Join landscape architect, Amanda Sloan, on June 18 from 10 – 12 to learn more about how she met the challenges of this lakeside park. Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and learn about techniques for restoring shore plants, stopping erosion, controlling storm water, meeting ADA accessibility, addressing the challenge of Canada geese, and more.  Image from www.sustainablesharon.org.

    For more than 22 years, Amanda Sloan, RLA, ASLA, has worked to bring beauty as well as function to the design of parks and trails throughout New England. Amanda combines her background in natural science, community design, and art on projects such as school and playground gardens, lakeside parks, recreation sites, rain gardens, and home landscapes. Amanda is currently a landscape architect with BETA Group where she specializes in rain garden design and native plants. $22 for Ecological Landscape Alliance members, $32 for nonmembers.  See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/recreational-lake-shore-restoration-lake-massapoag/#sthash.2YIRFpqs.dpuf

  • Sundays, June 5 and 12, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Herbaceous Native Plants for Professionals

    Join Dan Jaffe and the Ecological Landscape Alliance for this two session class (June 5 and June 12, 10 – 3) to learn about the best native plant materials available today for use in the design and landscape trades. Covering everything from plants for tough spots to specialty plants for specific habitats, this class will add a host of less familiar native herbaceous species to your plant palette.  Cost is $162 for ELA members, $190 for nonmembers, and will be held at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Street in Framingham.  Register at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/herbaceous-native-plants-for-professionals-2/#sthash.mwsUTONP.dpuf

  • Wednesday, January 20, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm – “Beyond LID” Green Infrastructure

    Low Impact Development (LID) has become an increasingly widespread sustainable approach to site planning and stormwater management design. In this Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar on Wednesday, January 20 from 2 – 3, Jonathan Ford, PE and Brian Kuchar, PE, RLA, will review the fundamental LID principles, then demonstrate innovative “beyond LID” advancements including neighborhood scale environmental design, “lovable” infrastructure, bioretention and permeable pavement case studies in various contexts, bioretention planting approaches, and solutions to address perceived LID stormwater maintenance and operation challenges.

    Brian Kuchar has over 18 years of experience in the combined fields of site engineering and landscape architecture including: site inventory assessment and planning, park and trail design, erosion control, stormwater management, green infrastructure, ecological and stream bank restoration, land management planning, public outreach, and construction administration. Brian has been employed in both the public and private sectors and has experience with a broad range of projects including multi use paths, park and riverwalk design, land use management, stormwater retrofit, green infrastructure and ecological restoration. He collaborated with the EPA on the development of a handbook for urban green infrastructure and stormwater retrofits as part of the EPA’s Green Infrastructure Municipal Handbook Series. Brian is a registered landscape architect as well as a registered professional engineer and a LEED accredited professional, and previously served as an adjunct professor in the Landscape Architecture Department at the University of Rhode Island.

    Jon Ford, PE, is a Senior Project Manager at the Horsley Witten Group. His planning and design approach is based on the principles of New Urbanism and the belief that compact, walkable neighborhood design creates vibrant, livable places in balance with nature. Mr. Ford is a Knight Fellow in Community Building at the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, co-founder and past President of the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), and on the faculty of the Form Based Codes Institute. His projects have won numerous awards, including a CNU New England Award of Excellence, Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence Silver Medal, and Boston Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award. He serves on the Board of Directors of the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism, Ecological Landscape Alliance, and Blackstone Parks Conservancy. Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers – See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/beyond-lid-green-infrastructure/#sthash.ai2ui447.dpuf 

  • Wednesday, January 13, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm – Large-Scale Landscapes Symposium

    On January 13, 2016 (Snow Date January 14), join ELA and Wellesley College for a symposium on the development and maintenance of large-scale landscapes that utilize fewer inputs, are designed and maintained with the environment in mind, and become more sustainable over time. Experts who work daily in successful, sustainable large-scale landscapes will lead four presentations and one panel discussion. If you are a landscape professional responsible for planning and maintaining the landscapes of college campuses, municipal parks, cemeteries, public gardens, land trusts, private estates, or other large landscapes, join ELA as we explore ecological options for large-scale landscapes with a distinguished lineup of presenters. Included in the program are Ronnit Bendavid-Val of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Addressing Wear and Tear in High Use Areas, a panel discussion on Maintaining the Maturing Landscape with Mark Richardson, Horticulture Director of the New England Wild Flower Society, Ray Oladapo-Johnson, Director of Park Operations at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Sue Pfeiffer, an arborist at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, and John Olmstead, Wellesley College Landscape Manager. Also featured is a talk on Designing Rain Gardens for Long-lasting Success with Clay Larsen, Healthier and Lower-Cost Lawns with Chip Osborne, and Reawakening Large Landscapes: Activating the Space with Sandy Vorce of Audubon’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary. Fees $85 – $110. For complete information and registration visit http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/large-scale-landscapes-symposium/

  • Thursday, November 5, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm – Season’s End Summit: Digging Into the Layered Landscape

    Thursday, November 5, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm – Season’s End Summit: Digging Into the Layered Landscape

    Landscapes are a delightful blending of form and function. An ecological landscape is that and more. Join us for the 6th annual ELA Season’s End Summit to explore the many layers of the landscape with our distinguished lineup of presenters. On November 5th,from 8 – 4:30 at the Community Harvest Project Barn, 37 Wheeler Road in North Grafton, we will reconnect with colleagues, reflect on the past growing season, and get inspired for the next.

    Reviving the Naturalistic Garden presented by: Mark Richardson
    Exploring the Rich Layers in the Meadow presented by: Rebecca Lindenmeyr
    Optimizing Ecological Value in the Layered Landscape presented by: Lauren Chase Rowell
    Creating Beauty in Every Layer presented by: Julie Moir Messervy (pictured below)

    $85 – $110 per person registration – See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/seasons-end-summit-digging-into-the-layered-landscape/#sthash.6nCgK2X8.dpuf

    Julie-Moir-Meservy-Ken-Burris-until-Dec-2016

  • Thursday, September 24, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Designing Successful Rain Gardens for Civic Sites Webinar

    Rain gardens, as part of modern storm water management systems, rely on plant material for soil stabilization, contaminant filtering, nutrient absorption, and to slow rainwater for infiltration. Well designed rain gardens (with the appropriate plant material) can greatly improve the results of green infrastructure and ensure their long-term success. Selecting appropriate plants for rain gardens and other vegetated storm water management systems is a critical first step to their success. Beyond plant selection, proper site preparation and a comprehensive maintenance plan are critical components of a successful rain garden.

    In this Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar on September 24 from 1 – 2 pm EDT, Amanda Sloan describes the elements that go into a successful rain garden project. Amanda Sloan, RLA, ASLA, has worked for over 22 years to bring beauty as well as function to the design of parks and trails throughout New England. Amanda combines her background in natural science, community design, and art on projects such as school and playground gardens, lakeside parks, recreation sites, rain gardens, and home landscapes. Amanda is currently a landscape architect with BETA Group where she specializes in rain garden design and native plants. Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers. See more at: http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-designing-successful-rain-gardens/#sthash.o0RY98CA.dpuf

  • Thursday, August 6, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – A River Runs Through It: Daylighting the Neponset River at Gillette Stadium

    More than a decade ago, the New England Patriots constructed the new Gillette Stadium. A significant side project was the restoration of a long stretch of the Neponset River adjacent to the new stadium’s parking lot. In the 1940’s, racetrack construction on the site had forced the river underground. Gillette Stadium needed parking and the silt-clogged system needed daylighting and restoration. The daylighting project removed two blocked culverts and reconnected disrupted sections of the river, diverting flow back to river’s historic alignment. Wetland mitigation and flood control provided major drivers for this fast-tracked project that proceeded from concept to implementation in less than one year. Learn more and register today for this Ecological Landscaping Alliance talk and tour. Sponsor organization member price $22, nonmembers $32. Brady sitings not guaranteed. Co-hosted by the Southern New England Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. Rain or shine, bring a bag lunch. Register online at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/a-river-runs-through-it-daylighting-of-the-neponset-river-at-gillette-stadium/