Boston Flora

Tag: leave the leaves

  • Thursday, November 21, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Leave the Leaves, Online

    In this American Horticultural Society online talk on November 21 at 2 pm Eastern, we will explore why fallen leaves, sticks, and dead-head flowers are important to wildlife and soil fertility. Then, we will address practical concerns that arise when we keep autumn materials on home or community properties. How can careful plant selection, plant care, timing, and good landscape design help us to keep properties attractive at the same time as we practice good stewardship? This talk is accompanied by an extensive reference document. $15 for AHS members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at www.ahsgardening.org

    Kathy Connolly is a landscape designer who specializes in naturalized designs, low-impact landscape techniques, and native plants. She works with homeowners, municipalities, and organizations through her business, Speaking of Landscapes. She has a master’s degree in ecological landscape planning and design from the Conway School and is an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. Connolly has received award and recognition for her communications efforts on the topic of invasive plants.

  • Wednesday, December 1, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Eco-Answers: End of Season Maintenance, Online

    At the end of a long landscape season, it’s tempting to drop the tools, ignore those remaining weeds, and head inside for a hot tea and a good book. But spending a little time to complete some important chores before winter will yield big benefits for your spring gardening.

    For guidance on these late-season tasks, join ecological landscape designer, installer, and maintenance specialist, Kerry O’Kelly to ask your questions about wrapping up the gardening year like a professional. During this 90-minute live Zoom Q&A, Kerry will provide a quick overview of season’s-end gardening and then she will jump right into your questions for the bulk of the Q&A session.
    Some topics that Kerry can address are:

    What autumn soil management will yield beneficial results? Should new plantings have a protective winter mulch? What strategies should be considered for cages, trellises, and containers? Weeds, do the last few matter? How should hoses be stored? Can the “Leave the Leaves” strategy be too much of a good thing? What should be done with garden tools at the end of the season? What successes and failures can teach you for the next gardening year?

    Please send your questions in advance to help guide Kerry’s remarks. Also send photos of any problems or  question to provide some reference and to add interest to the discussion. Email photos along with your questions to: penny@ecolandscaping.org.
    If you don’t submit questions in advance, no problem, we will also be taking questions throughout the event.

    Once you are registered for Eco-Answers with the ELA Eco-Pros, you will receive an email with the Zoom Webinar link. Kerry O’Kelly is a landscape designer and owner of Garden Dance Landscape Design where she uses design techniques and sound ecological practices to design compelling landscapes that are organic, low maintenance, water wise, resilient, and support local ecosystems and wildlife . Kerry also works closely with other ecological landscape firms in both the design and maintenance capacities. Kerry became a Certified Master Gardener in 2009 and graduated with a Masters Certificate in Landscape Design from the Landscape Institute and the Boston Architectural College in 2013. She was certified as a NOFA Organic Land Care Professional in 2017. As part of her commitment to ecological practices, she has been involved for over 10 years with the Ecological Landscape Alliance and served on the ELA Board of Directors since 2012.

    This is an Ecological Landscape Alliance member event, and is free. To join (memberships start at $50, $25 for students), and to register, click HERE.