Boston Flora

Tag: mass audubon

  • Saturday, September 16, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Wildflowers of Fall

    Fall-booming New England natives are the swan song of the growing season, with the explosion asters, goldenrods, and others providing a last burst of color before winter. In this quick introduction to fall favorites on Saturday, September 16 from 10 – 1 at Garden in the Woods, you will learn to identify flowers, habitats, and pollinators through a combination of classroom instruction and a walk in the field at the Garden. Bring a hand lens and Wildflowers of New England. Instructor is Neela de Zoysa, co-sponsor is Mass Audubon, and the fee is $40 for NEWFS and Mass Audubon members, $48 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.newfs.org/learn/our-programs/wildflowers-of-fall

  • Saturday, August 5, 10:00 am – 3:30 pm – Old Growth Forests Walk, Talk, and Book-Signing

    On Saturday, August 5, join Mass Audubon’s Joe Choiniere, Old-Growth Forest Specialist Bob Leverett, and Old Growth Forest Network Director and Author Dr. Joan  Maloof for a morning walk at Wachusett Mountain along the trails that pass through the old growth forest area. In the afternoon, we will gather back at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston for an afternoon presentation by Dr. Joan Maloof followed by discussion and book signing. Joan is the author of Nature’s Temples: The Complex World of Old-Growth Forests. Co-sponsored with Mass Audubon.

    For the walk, meet at Tower Hill in Boylston at 9:15 am and van and car pool to Wachusett Mountain or meet at Wachusett Mountain State Reservation Visitor Center on Mountain Rd in Princeton at 9:45 am. For the talk and book-signing, meet at Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston at 2:00 pm. You may register for either the talk and book-signing only, or for the walk, talk and book signing, at https://towerhillbg.thankyou4caring.org/pages/event-registration-form—old-growth-forests-walk-talk–book-signing

  • The Garden Club of the Back Bay Announces 2017 Grants

    At the Annual Meeting of The Garden Club of the Back Bay on May 8, the membership approved the following grants for fiscal year 2017. These grants, given to organizations whose mission closely tracks our own, are in addition to $20,000 allocated directly to neighborhood tree care.  We thank all our volunteers and supporters, who make the magic happen.  Image courtesy of www.tclf.org. The following list is in alphabetical order:

    Arnold Arboretum: $1,500 for the Campaign for the Living Collections, to collect and preserve plants of critical conservation value.

    Blossom Fund of the Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America: $500

    Boston Nature Center/Mass Audubon: $4,000, to support scholarships for their summer camp.  Children range in age from 5 – 14 and are from local neighborhoods of Mattapan, Roslindale and Jamaica Plain.

    Charles River Clean Up Boat: $2,000

    Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee: $5,000 for its tree care program, including Dutch elm disease monitoring and soil improvement.

    Emerald Necklace Conservancy: $2,500, to the Olmsted Tree Society for planting a pathway tree.

    Esplanade Association: $5,000, for the 2017 critical tree maintenance program, allocated to pruning.

    Friends of Copley Square: $1,500 for treating trees for root stress, and for fertilizer and fungicide.

    Friends of the Public Garden: $5,000 for tree care and preservation of the historic elms planted on Commonwealth Avenue in the block west of Massachusetts Avenue.

    Food Project: $2,000 for building raised bed gardens for Boston residents and community centers.

    Mothers Out Front: $1,000 for educating the public on the effects of gas leaks on trees in the urban landscape.

  • Tuesday, February 14, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Weird Sex in Nature: How Plants Get It On

    It’s Valentine’s Day. What better way to celebrate than to admire the romance of plants. But plant sex? About as interesting as watching paint dry, right? Think again. The ways plants, algae, and fungi reproduce tell us a lot about how procreation has evolved over time. Join Elizabeth Farnsworth for this racy lunchtime lecture on the many interesting reproductive strategies these species pursue. Be prepared to blush. The New England Wild Flower Society class will be held at Garden in the Woods from 1 – 2:30, and is $14 for NEWFS and Mass Audubon members, $16 for nonmembers. Co-sponsored by that other edgy group, Mass Audubon. Register online at www.newfs.org.  Image from www.garden.org.

  • From the Archives: Pageant of Trees

    We have always been a “tree club” and a program from March, 1979 gives us a look at our early interest.  Albert W. Bussewitz (1912 – 1995) presented an Ektachrome (probably not even in existence anymore) slide presentation of four seasons of New England trees and their ecological importance in our natural and man-made environment.  The program addressed itself primarily to the varied habitats of our Northeast landscape, including woodlands, streets and backyard gardens.  The lecturer   created The Albert W. Bussewitz Collection at The Walden Woods Project’s Thoreau Institute Library. This collection consists primarily of Thoreau-related material written or collected by Albert Bussewitz.

    Albert W. Bussewitz — “Buzzy” — was born in Juneau, Wisconsin. He was a graduate of Northwestern College (Watertown, WI). He was a former director of a number of Massachusetts Audubon sites including Moose Hill in Sharon, Stony Brook in Norfolk, and Rocky Knoll Nature Center in Milton, and served as the 17th president of the Thoreau Society (1970-1971). After his retirement from Massachusetts Audubon, he began his long association with the Arnold Arboretum, during which he photographed, gave lectures, lead tours and created exhibits. He was awarded Master Member of the New England Camera Club Council (1980), received the Richard D. Perkins Memorial Award from the Henry David Thoreau School of Wilderness Studies, and was honored by the Arboretum as Volunteer of the Year (1993).

  • Wednesday, November 9, 6:00 pm – Birding in the Land of Midnight Sun

    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.

  • Friday, October 21, 6:00 pm, and Saturday, October 22, 5:30 pm – Halloween Happenings

    At sundown this Halloween season, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary in Topsfield will be transformed into a magical forest. Join us for a guided walk along our Halloween trail, home to some interesting creatures that come out just for Halloween. Glowing luminaries and carved jack o’lanterns will light our way. Learn firsthand about the creatures of the night on this fun family-friendly walk.

    Children and adults are encouraged to come in costume but dress warmly since we will be outdoors most of the time. The program begins in the Barn, where a variety of activities will keep children entertained before the outdoor walk.

    Allow about 1-1/2 hours total for the program. At the end of the walk, warm up by the bonfire as you enjoy fresh local cider and Halloween cupcakes made by Ipswich River volunteers. Appropriate for children ages 4-10.
    Please choose a date and an arrival time:

    Friday, October 21: 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, 7:00, 7:15, or 7:30 pm
    Saturday, October 22: 5:30, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15, 6:30, 6:45, or 7:00 pm
    Admission

    $9 per person (Audubon Society members)
    $10 per person (nonmembers) Please register early for this very popular event, and list a second time in case your first choice is filled.

    Because of the popularity of this program, we cannot accommodate extra people the night of the program. When you arrive, please check in at the Barn to receive your group number. Rain or shine.

    Advance registration required. Call 978-887-9264 to register, or visit www.massaudubon.org.

  • Thursday, October 13, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Bogs and Fens: New England’s Most Pristine Ecosystems

    Ronald B. Davis, PhD, Professor Emeritus, School of Biology and Ecology and the Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, will speak on Thursday, October 13, 7:00–8:30pm at the Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, on the topic of Bogs and Fens.

    Bogs and fens are wetlands underlain by deep water-saturated peat. In New England, at least 25 of them can be visited on boardwalks, where one can see unique assemblages of flora and fauna, including carnivorous plants, orchids, and uncommon bird species. Dr. Ronald Davis will illustrate his lecture with outstanding photographs and explain some of the unique features of these beautiful and fascinating ecosystems. Fee: Free for Arboretum members and student; $5 nonmembers. Register at my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277. Presented jointly by the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center.  Image from www.hikenewengland.com.

  • 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.