Join Green Cambridge for a week of free educational walks in the Alewife Brook Reservation, April 20 – 24. Learn about invasive plant species, local history, native biodiversity, and how to participate in the City Nature Challenge bioblitz on Friday, April 24. For complete information visit https://www.greencambridge.org
This September 24 Berkshire Botanical Garden class will focus on the identification features, ecological impacts and population trends of many of the invasive trees, shrubs, vines, and herbaceous plants that grow in forests, fields and wetlands in Berkshire County. The class will include a morning presentation and an afternoon in the field investigating invasives in a variety of habitats. We will look at both widespread and less common species of invasives.
Ted Elliman worked for many years for Native Plant Trust as a staff botanist, invasive species program manager and as an instructor of botany, ecology and conservation. His book, The Wildflowers of New England, an identification guide to much of the region’s native flora, was published in 2016 by Timber Press. In the 1980s, Ted started and directed an environmental education and wilderness adventure center in the Berkshires. Since the mid-1990s, he periodically has led natural history tours to southwest China, where he worked for two years as a teacher and forest ecologist.
Invasive plants continue to be one of the main threats to the ecological integrity of natural communities and to populations of rare plants. Native Plant Trust’s Ecological Programs Coordinator, Bud Sechler, examines different strategies to combat invasive plants, drawing on invasive plant management experiences with Native Plant Trust, the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group, and the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord Watershed Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. The webinar takes place November 18 from 1-2 and is $12 for NPT members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/strategies-invasive-plant-management/
Looking for New Ideas? Solutions? Inspiration? From the practical to the applicable, join the Ecological Landscape Alliance in March for the 26th Annual ELA Conference & Eco-Marketplace at the UMass Campus Center, Amherst, MA. Immerse yourself in a two-day exploration of ecological concepts as our speakers share their experiences and expertise.
Forests and natural systems are under enormous pressure from the effects of climate change, insect damage, invasive plants, and rapid urbanization. What can you do to protect these systems? Join us to learn more about how to restore lost ecological connections, better manage urban land, and create beautiful, highly functioning landscapes!
Wednesday features two educational workshop tracks. Track One – explore soils from “micro to macro” with a dive into the intricacies of soil…. hear about the latest research, and learn how to apply new practices for results in the landscape.
Track Two explores the detailed workings of meadow ecosystems and what it takes to make a successful meadow project and more.
Thursday offers a broad range of sessions. Delve into landscape design elements from native shrubs to playscapes and larger ecological landscapes, including rain gardens and modern agricultural models. Enjoy a presentation or join an idea exchange to engage with your peers on timely topics.
Registration fees range from $20 to $330. Register online and get complete details at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/ela-conference-eco-marketplace-2/
This Massachusetts Horticultural Society talk at The Gardens at Elm Bank on February 20 at 7 pm will be an introduction to common invasive plants found the Northeast. Horticulturist and Ecological Landscaping Alliance Board member Bruce Wenning will discuss why these new pests of the landscape are dangerous to the ecology and sustainability of unmanaged landscapes, and what you can do to manage these plants at home.
$15 Mass Hort member, $20/general admission. To register for this class, click here.
The New England Botanical Club will host an away meeting in western Massachusetts on June 1 and 2. Field trips are being planned for both Friday and Saturday to botanical hot spots around the Northampton area. On Friday afternoon-evening, there will be a reception and open house at the Smith College Botanic Garden in Northampton from 4-6PM, followed by a lecture by Dr. Gretel Clarke, Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, on Invasiveness of intra-versus inter-continental exotic plants in New England: Implications for Assisted Migration. On Saturday, there will be two workshops:
Bryophyte Identification with Sue Williams – This workshop, based at Smith College’s MacLeish Field Station in Whately, MA, will provide an introduction to the basics of bryophyte ecology and identification. The workshop will begin with a short hike through an old hemlock and sugar maple forest area with a diverse assemblage of bryophytes. Samples will be collected for later observation and identification at the Bechtel Environmental Classroom building at the MacLeish Field Station; dissecting microscopes will be available. This workshop will run until mid-afternoon, please bring a bagged lunch.
Herbarium Skills with Roberta Lombardi – This workshop, based at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst Herbarium, will focus on the techniques involved in collecting, pressing, mounting, and preserving plant specimens for herbarium collections. The workshop will start with a short field foray, after which participants will return to the UMass Herbarium to work with plant specimens, walk through the steps involved in mounting and labeling specimens, and get an overview of how large herbarium collections are organized and managed. This will be a valuable workshop for those interesting in formally documenting their local flora or preparing voucher specimens of plant species documented in their research.
Saturday’s Field Trips include:
Montague Sandplain and Will’s Hill – The trip will begin with a walk through the pitch pine-scrub oak communities of the Montague Sandplain, with huckleberry, chokeberry, sand cherry and others in flower, and passing through a well-managed population of native blue lupine. Next, we will traverse a powerline corridor over Will’s Hill, with species of “rich & rocky” sites like yellow star-grass, red columbine, and perfoliate-leaved bellflower, plus a healthy population of American bittersweet. As time & interest permit, we may also visit a few rich seepy sites on the forested portion of the Hill, with abundant spicebush, nodding trillium and others. Also be prepared for incidental reptiles and birds! Plan on 2.5-3 miles walking on level to gentle slopes. Please bring a bagged lunch and water.
Historical Land Use Patterns and Forest Vegetation at the MacLeish Field Station (pictured below) – This field trip will explore the upland forests of Smith College’s MacLeish Field Station in Whately and Conway, MA with a particular focus on how 19th century agricultural land use patterns continue to affect plant species distributions and vegetation patterns in 21st century forests. We will explore old farm sites, see evidence of 19th century plow lines, and visit a remnant area of primary forest with increased plant diversity. Please bring a bagged lunch and water.
Botanical Foray with members of the Franklin County Flora team – This field trip will be with key contributors to the Franklin County Flora project, and will explore sites of botanical interest in Franklin County. Please bring a bagged lunch and water.
For full registration details visit http://www.rhodora.org/meetings/upcomingmeetings.html
What are invasive plant species and what harm do they do to an ecosystem? Invasive plant species are a threat to natural areas throughout the country. No habitat or region is immune from the threat of invasive species. They displace native plants, eliminate native food and cover for wildlife, and threaten rare plant and animal species. Nearly all landscapes, both private gardens and public spaces, have become the unwelcome home to many invasives.
Bruce Wenning, is an invasive plant specialist who will help to shed light on the invasive plant challenges that face most property owners. If you are a homeowner who wants to understand more about invasives, join Bruce on Wednesday, March 21 at 7 pm for this Ecological Landscape Alliance free webinar to learn:
* How to identify different types of invasive plants
* How to safely remove them your own landscape
* How different invasive plants spread
* What removal methods are effective on each
* The importance of proper disposal of invasive plants once removed
Bruce Wenning is a horticulturist at The Country Club, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where he is responsible for garden management and design, invasive species management, natural history of the grounds; and frequently lectures on horticultural subjects. Bruce’s background includes formal garden design and installation as well as public space management. Bruce has nearly 20 years of experience working with exotic invasive plant species common to Massachusetts for both private and public clients. Bruce’s career has also included several years at Massachusetts Audubon and at Land’s Sake. In addition to his general horticulture expertise, Bruce specializes in plant pest diagnostics; insect taxonomy; invasive species management; ecological landscaping consultation and design; as well as natural history. Bruce is on the Board of Directors for the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) where he has served since 2003 and is a regular contributor to the ELA Newsletter and a local publication, the Newton TAB.
Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-invasive-plants-can-done/
What are invasive plant species and what harm do they do to an ecosystem? Invasive plant species are a threat to natural areas throughout the country. No habitat or region is immune from the threat of invasive species. They displace native plants, eliminate native food and cover for wildlife, and threaten rare plant and animal species.
Nearly all landscapes, both private gardens and public spaces, have become the unwelcome home to many invasives. Ecological Landscape Alliance will sponsor a webinar on Wednesday, January 24 from 7 – 8 pm. Lecturer Bruce Wenning is an invasive plant specialist who will help to shed light on the invasive plant challenges that face most property owners. If you are a homeowner who wants to understand more about invasives, join Bruce for this webinar to learn:
* How to identify different types of invasive plants
* How to safely remove them your own landscape
* How different invasive plants spread
* What removal methods are effective on each
* The importance of proper disposal of invasive plants once removed
Bruce Wenning is a horticulturist at The Country Club, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, where he is responsible for garden management and design, invasive species management, natural history of the grounds; and frequently lectures on horticultural subjects. Bruce’s background includes formal garden design and installation as well as public space management. Bruce has nearly 20 years of experience working with exotic invasive plant species common to Massachusetts for both private and public clients. Bruce’s career has also included several years at Massachusetts Audubon and at Land’s Sake. In addition to his general horticulture expertise, Bruce specializes in plant pest diagnostics; insect taxonomy; invasive species management; ecological landscaping consultation and design; as well as natural history. Bruce is on the Board of Directors for the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) where he has served since 2003 and is a regular contributor to the ELA Newsletter and a local publication, the Newton TAB. Free. Image from http://www.notablecharacters.wordspress.com. Sign up at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-invasive-plants-can-done/
Persistent, Relentless, Tenacious…such are the words we deploy to describe our nemesis weeds and invasive species. Invasive plant species colonize degraded landscapes and overtake native plants robbing the area of critical ecosystem services. These exotic plants spread rampantly when they are free of natural checks and balances found in their native range. A handful of high-impact, aggressive non-natives affect soil health, biodiversity, and even land access. Who wants to hack their way through a tangle of unyielding multi-flora rose, common buckthorn, and oriental bittersweet? Rather than turning to chemical options, we too can draw upon Persistence, Relentlessness, and Tenacity to control these invasive plants.
In this Ecological Landscape Alliance webinar to be held Tuesday, December 12 from 4 – 5, Mike Bald will describe methods to care and control invasive plant species without chemicals. Some invasive species covered will include:
Japanese Knotweed
Glossy Buckthorn
Wild Parsnip (pictured below)
Multi-flora Rose
Oriental Bittersweet
Mike Bald has worked with invasive species since 2003 and founded his company (Got Weeds?) in early 2011. Got Weeds? is a Vermont company that uses manual and non-synthetic control methods to eradicate, contain, or suppress non-native, invasive plants. Mike believes that fine-tuned ecosystems can be protected with vigilance, persistence, patience, education, humility, respect, and cooperation. Mike’s focus is on long-term site stewardship, soil health, native plant diversity, and education of landowners. Cooperation across multiple ownerships is also crucial to the control effort. Mike appreciates the importance of healthy habitats, site specificity, and ecosystem resilience; his goal with the treatment programs at Got Weeds? is to demonstrate (with comprehensive documentation) that manual/mechanical methods can succeed over extended timeframes.
Free for ELA members, $10 for nonmembers. Sign up at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/webinar-invasive-plant-control-without-chemicals/
What’s all the fuss? Botanists, ecologists, horticulturists, and conservation professionals are united in their concern about invasive plants, but there is still some confusion about what they are and what to do about them. In this two part, New England Wild Flower Society class at Garden in the Woods on October 20 and 21, you will study the basic ecological problems created by these aggressive species and the complicated issues involved in controlling them. You will learn to identify many of New England’s invasive species through images, specimens, and a local field visit. Bring a bag lunch and a hand lens; wear waterproof shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. Friday session from 6:30 – 8:30, Saturday from 10 – 4, both led by Ted Elliman at Garden in the Woods in Framingham. $124 for NEWFS members, $145 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/invasive-plants-identification-documentation-and-control-1
