Boston Flora

Tag: groundcovers

  • Wednesday, June 26, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm – Choice Groundcover Garden Walk

    Join senior horticulturist Dan Bouchard for a guided educational walk through the Sedgwick Gardens at Long Hill, 576 Essex Street, Beverly on June 26 at 4 pm. While you stroll through the gardens Dan will share his extensive knowledge to point out interesting and unusual groundcovers that are both native and exotic. As you look at the groundcover, Dan will discuss the attributes, growing conditions, habits, and spreading characteristics of each plant.

    This is a great walk to learn more about groundcovering plants either for your own home garden or general interest! Please plan to meet in front of the greenhouse when you arrive.

    Pre-registration is required. Refunds must be requested 7 days before the program date. $15 for Trustees members, $25 for nonmembers. Register at https://thetrustees.org/event/417310/

  • Friday, June 7, 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm Eastern – Groundcovers: Great Alternative to Turf Grass, Online

    Groundcovers are low-growing plants that serve many purposes in the landscape. These lovely low-growers limit weed growth, stabilize slopes, add texture to your garden, and more! Kathy Jentz, author of the new book, Groundcover Revolution, will cover several of these beautiful, hard-working plants, including several native plant selections. This US Botanical Garden online workshop will be held June 7 at noon. Register HERE

  • Monday, September 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm – Deer-Resistant Native Groundcovers Webinar

    Effortless and Evergreen— Move over pachysandra, myrtle, and mulch. Discover the many native groundcovers that are easy to grow, shunned by deer, and offer year-round interest. Create a living mulch that provides seasonal beauty, is beneficial to wildlife, and moderates soil temperature and moisture.

    Melissa (Missy) Fabel is a native plant designer, consultant and writer. She has a certificate in Field Botany from the New York Botanical Garden and a certificate in Gardening with Native Plants from the Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College, where she also teaches and is a Steering Committee member.

    This Ecological Landscape Alliance Webinar will take place September 14 from noon – 1 and is free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-deer-resistant-native-groundcovers/#get-ticket

  • Tuesday, July 25, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Alternatives to Traditional Lawns

    According to NASA scientists, in the United States more surface area is covered by lawn than by any other single irrigated crop. Traditionally managed lawns are resource-heavy, requiring irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive in our climate. Despite the “costs” lawns and turf are a predominant feature of the landscape and are valued for recreation as well aesthetics. With growing environmental awareness along with new regulations, it is imperative that responsible homeowners as well as lawn and turf professionals manage lawns and turf in the most ecological manner. Following emerging best practices, it’s possible to create healthy lawns and turf that are functional and aesthetic and are managed in a way that eliminates negative impact on health and the environment, meets regulatory guidelines, and is cost effective.

    When considering ecological lawns, one solution that is gaining momentum is to reduce or remove lawns in favor or more biodiverse alternatives. On Tuesday, July 25, at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, from 1 – 5, join New England Wild Flower Society for a full afternoon of lectures.

    Ecological Lawns – No Longer an Inferior Compromise by Joe Magazzi (Not Yet Confirmed)

    Joe Magazzi from Green Earth Ag & Turf will discuss best practices for ecological lawns including updates on organic fertility, with a focus on using soil biology to reduce fertilizer inputs. He will also briefly cover advances in biologicals for lawn disease and pest control. Organics and IPM are no longer a compromise, this is quickly becoming the best practice.

    How Do Plant Nutrient Regulations Affect Me? by Mary Owen

    Developing and implementing a soil and nutrient management program based on best management practices is critical to the proper management of turf with environmental protection, natural resource preservation, and economic viability as priorities. Regulations regarding the sale, use, and application of fertilizer and nutrients on non-agricultural turf and in the landscape have been enacted by many states and communities. Mary Owen will provide an overview of how the new legislation impacts homeowners and landscape practitioners and will discuss strategies for implementing best nutrient management practices for turf with protection of water resources as the priority.

    Protecting Pollinators – Proposed Legislation: Information and Impact by Dan Bensonoff (Not Yet Confirmed)

    What are neonicotinoids and how are they currently regulated? Neonicotinoids are a synthetic form of nicotine that attacks receptors in insects’ nervous systems. Unfortunately, this broad-spectrum (harmful to most insects), systemic (taken up by all plant parts, including roots and flowers), and persistent pesticide (sticks around in the environment for a long time) is also harming our pollinators. The European Union suspended most uses of these pesticides in 2013 but the US EPA opted to allow current uses of neonicotinoids to continue while it conducts reviews through 2019. Proposed Massachusetts legislation H.4187 would regulate Neonicotinoids including: mandatory applicator training/certification, application timing, establishment of a commission to investigate pollinator health, and notification of pollinator risk to property owners. Dan Bensonoff from NOFA will discuss the proposed legislation including the ways that this would protect pollinators.

    Kill Your Lawn by Mark Richardson

    Even if sustainable lawn management is being used, fuel for power mowers, toxic emissions, water consumption, and your weekend time are all part of the cost of lawn maintenance. Mark Richardson introduces us to an ecological approach that is gaining momentum, to reduce the size or eliminate lawns. Smaller lawns that are replaced with more biodiverse native plants can benefit the environment while saving time, energy, and expense. Aesthetically appealing and ecological alternatives include native groundcovers, meadows, and mixed gardens with perennial and shrubs.

    $30 for NEWFS members, $40 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/alternatives-to-traditional-lawns.

  • Saturday, September 17, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Perennial and House Plant Sale

    The Somerville Garden Club will hold a Perennial and House Plant Sale on Saturday, September 17, from 9 – 1 at Statue Park in Davis Square, Somerville.  Enjoy a wide variety of house plants, sun and shade loving perennials, shrubs, herbs and groundcovers, ranging from old-fashioned favorites to connoisseur plants – all reasonably priced.  Proceeds help support the free lectures and public plantings sponsored by the non-profit Somerville Garden Club, so let’s all get out and support our sister club.  For more information visit www.somervillegardenclub.org.

  • Monday, July 18, 5:30 pm – Groundcovers: Ubiquitous to Unique

    Low growing plants that cover the ground without resorting to continued weeding and mowing are important to Mount Auburn’s ecologically sustainable horticultural practices. Join Frances Doyle and Jim Gorman for a walk on Monday, July 18, beginning at 5:30 pm, featuring this sometimes overlooked group of plants. Fee: $5 members; $10 non-members. To register, or for more information, call 617-607-1952, or log on to www.mountauburn.org.

  • Tuesday, February 1, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Native Groundcovers

    Groundcovers act as living mulches, preventing erosion and soil compaction, while conserving moisture and moderating soil temperatures. Beyond strictly practical considerations are the aesthetic delights of groundcovers—they bring refreshing seasonal changes and a pleasing rhythmic interplay of form, texture, and color to the ground plane. This New England Wild Flower Society workshop, led by Laura Eisener on Tuesday, February 1 from 7 – 9 at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, is appropriate for garden designers, landscapers and homeowners, and focuses on the attributes and availability of native plants for groundcover use.$22 for NEWFS members, $26 for non-members. Log on to www.newfs.org to register.  Bunchberry image below from The Down East Dilettante.