Explore spectacular scenery and a geologic overview of Iceland in a virtual field trip on April 7 led by volcanologist Kirt Kempter, who has led more than 30 tours to the country for the Smithsonian since his first visit in 1995. Geologic highlights include the boundary between North American and Eurasian plates; unusual volcanoes that form beneath vast glaciers; famous volcanic eruptions including those of the small island of Heimaey in 1973 and ice-capped Eyjafjallajökul in 2010; and older historic eruptions that affected global climate and human populations. Kempter employs maps, photographs, diagrams, and Google Earth images to spotlight the key features that make Iceland a bucket-list destination for all geologists. This Smithsonian Associates program is $25 for Smithsonian members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at www.smithsonianassociates.org. Below: Kvernufoss waterfall in Iceland (Photo: Kirt Kempter)
This year, following on from the Gardens Trust’s successful 2022 series on the rose, in partnership with the Historic Roses Group, the Gardens Trust is happy to announce a new rose-related lecture series, again with the HRG, this time including an international slant.
With speakers hailing from Iceland to Australia, via England, Italy and the USA, these talks are wide-ranging. We begin with a portrait of a popular 19th century rosarian who loved riding as much as roses, knew everyone on the literary scene, was a celebrity preacher and organized the first ever National Rose Show in London. An account of a hillside rose garden in Italy which started as a collection of pots on a terrace in Rome; how to grow roses in the Arctic Circle and ‘down under’ on a working Australia farm; the intriguing stories behind the names of some romantic heritage roses; and where to find a unique UN Food and Agriculture Organization collection of the other – edible – members of the rosaceae family continue the series. We finish with practical advice about training and pruning your climbers, whether roses or wisterias, from a professional horticultural gardener, the latest in three generations of market gardeners and a shows organizer and designer whose sumptuous stands have won medals for the Historic Roses Group at the Hampton Court Flower Show.
This ticket costs £28 for the entire course of 7 sessions or you may purchase a ticket for individual sessions, costing £5. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link 2 days prior to the start of the talk, and again a few hours before the talk. A link to the recorded session (available for 1 week) will be sent shortly afterwards. Register through Eventbrite HERE or visit https://thegardenstrust.org/events-archive/page/3/
Week Four is an exploration of roses for cold, wet and windy gardens, with Vilhjálmur Lúðvíksson
his presentation describes the climatic and environmental challenges facing gardening in Iceland and will explain the opportunities provided by recently successful efforts in afforestation in providing shelter that allows the cultivation of ornamental plants like roses. Only a small fraction of roses available today can be successfully grown in Iceland. We represent a marginal market to rose producers and there is no interest in breeding roses that can survive here.
The Rose Club of the Icelandic Horticultural Society (IHS) was established in 2002. Its role will be explained, with an overview of some varieties and classes of roses now grown successfully – or unsuccessfully – in Iceland, plus where they come from. Recent efforts in rose breeding by local amateurs and semi-professionals will be described, plus the main challenges that face us as a result of extreme variability of our climate, during summers more than winters – and the importance of finding the right cultivars.
Dr Vilhjálmur Lúðvíksson is a chemical engineer, educated at the University of Wisconsin, USA. He was CEO of the Icelandic Research Council from 1978-2004, and is a former President of the Icelandic Horticultural Society (IHS) and past Chairman of the IHS Rose Club. His professional life was devoted to industrial development, the shaping and implementation of science and technology policy in Iceland from 1968 – 2010. As a member of the Nature Conservation Council Dr Lúðvíksson has been involved in the Icelandic conservation and afforestation movement seeking and testing biodiverse forestry varieties suitable for Icelandic conditions.
Married with two children, Vilhjálmur has spent over 60 years establishing a 17ha woodland garden on family land severely affected by centuries of overgrazing which destroyed vegetation and caused extensive soil erosion. Recently he has sought new opportunities in gardening provided by the shelter from growing forests. This includes ornamental trees and bushes, fruit trees, rhododendrons and roses.
Join women traveling together for Serendipity Traveler’s 2018 Iceland summer small group tour to this naturally beautiful island and meet a puffin or two. Let your spirit soar with nature during our 2018 women’s tour of Iceland’s renowned glaciers, geysers, and waterfalls along the Golden Circle. It’s summer in Iceland, the land of the Midnight Sun, when the wildflowers are blooming in the meadows, temperatures are warmer, days last forever, and the waterfalls are beyond one’s wildest imagination. Iceland is one of those places where our packing list says bring a woolen hat, gloves and jacket for the winds along with your bathing suit. Of course, we will dip in the notable Blue Lagoon, walk the trails to thunderous waterfalls, photograph the fields of wildflowers blooming, and sample what makes Iceland the place that is wild, wooly and wonderful. It’s the land of fire and ice and the land of glaciers and geysers. Reserve your 2018 adventure to Iceland today. Serendipity Traveler, a specialty tour company for women traveling alone, offers itineraries that are thoughtfully crafted to provide women with the best traveling experiences wherever we go. The curated itinerary gives you a generous idea of what to look forward to and what to plan on. There will be spontaneous elements that will happen as we travel. You will add the rest when letting the essence of serendipity weave a rich tapestry of memories long after we all have said goodbye. Serendipity Traveler offers all women personal service, unparalleled value, and exceptionally fine travel in small groups.Our small group women’s 2018 tour to Iceland is 6 days and includes comfortable boutique accommodations with your own private room and no additional single supplement $5895.00. Walking tours,extensive island touring with excellent naturalist local guides including the Golden Circle, The notable Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and Iceland’s Southwesterly region, visits to numerous landmarks and stunning locations of interest, National Parks, glaciers, waterfalls, UNESCO World Heritage sites, all breakfasts, two lunches and our welcome and farewell dinners are included. Reserve now for Serendipity Traveler’s sampler of fire and ice touring Iceland in summer 2018. Complete details at http://www.serendipitytraveler.com/destinations/womens_tour_iceland
Iceland abounds in natural splendor: waterfalls and glaciers, panoramic views and otherworldly landscapes. It is a land of Northern Lights and midnight sun. And it is the realm of one of the world’s most charming and iconic birds: the Atlantic Puffin. But Iceland is home too much more. During the summer months, Iceland’s round the-clock sunlight draws in a panoply of birds: razorbills and guillemots, phalaropes and godwits, plovers and terns, all accompany the puffins in nesting frenzy. Come along with wildlife photographer and Mass Audubon instructor Shawn Carey on Wednesday, November 9 as he shares images and stories from his journey across Iceland, from the island of Flatey, to the bird cliffs of Latabarg, to the Reykjavik peninsula. We’ll visit fjords, mountains, grasslands, and lava fields. And we’ll come face-to-face with Atlantic Puffins. So join The Athol Bird & Nature Club as we explore the wildlife and wonder of Iceland and discover why it’s a place no birder should miss. As usual, we will hold our annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. in Liberty Hall at the Athol Town Hall (584 Main St.), with the program at 7 p.m.
Reservations are required for the dinner and must be received by Tuesday, November 3. To reserve, call Cindy Hartwell at 978-544-5783, or email cindyhartwell56@gmail.com.
She will call or email you back with a confirmation of your reservation. No reservations are necessary for the program. The event will also feature our always popular
tin can auctions; participants are encouraged to bring an item to donate. Image from www.birdingtrail.is.
Nature lovers grab your binoculars and cameras and come explore Iceland with the Pacific Horticulture Society July 2 – 11, 2016! This trip is an introduction to the magical island country of Iceland with its astonishing natural phenomena, Viking history, arctic plants, wildlife, and creative ecologically conscious populace.
Iceland has captured people’s imagination since Jules Verne first wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1871 and today more visitors than ever travel there. Its second largest city, Akureyri, was just named the #1 European destination by Lonely Planet travel guides.
Icelanders pride themselves on their geography and you’ll learn why as you experience dramatic waterfalls and fjords, high sky countryside, glaciers and geysers, and birds of all types. You’ll visit a cliffside puffin rookery that extends almost 7 miles with birds so tame you can almost pick them up with your bare hands.
You’ll learn about the native plant collection at the botanical garden in Akureyri just 30 miles from the Arctic Circle. This outstanding garden also boasts a large collection of introduced plants that are carefully watched to see how they handle Iceland’s long-day summers and dark winters. And you’ll see examples of sod-thatched homes dating back to early European roots.
With more landscape architects per capita than any other European nation, Iceland’s buildings and landscape reflect both aesthetic ingenuity and a strong sense of sustainability—water tanks in one Reykjavik building hold a million gallons of geothermally heated water.
Join us with Icelandic naturalist Siggi Tomasson to experience this country’s majesty and beauty first hand. Visit www.pacifichorticulture.orgfor complete details.
