Boston Flora

Tag: Massachusetts Audubon Society

  • Anne Brooke Begins Presidency of Friends of the Public Garden

    The board of directors of the Friends of the Public Garden has elected Anne Brooke as president. Brooke has been on the Friends board for more than six years, serving as co-chair of the Development and Membership Committees and as a member of the Executive Committee. She and her husband, Peter, live in the Back Bay.

    The Friends of the Public Garden, founded in 1970, works with the City of Boston to protect and enhance Boston’s first public parks–-the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Brooke is only its second president, succeeding founder Henry Lee.

    President Emeritus Henry Lee said, “The Friends is enormously fortunate to have someone of the intelligence, nonprofit experience, and sound judgment as Anne Brooke assuming the presidency at this important time in the organization’s life. Under her leadership I know the Friends will continue to prosper.”

    Anne Brooke said, “It is an honor for me to serve as the president of the Friends of the Public Garden. We all at the Friends look forward to continuing our work with the Parks Department. This wonderful organization has done so much for the Boston community by providing hundreds of thousands of dollars, each year, to assist the city in the care of our parks. I sincerely encourage all of our friends and neighbors here in the city to join the Friends in supporting the Boston Common, Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall so that we are able to continue to maintain, preserve and improve the quality of care for our three historic green spaces.”

    Brooke has long and varied experience as a leader in nonprofit organizations. She is active with the Massachusetts Audubon Society, where she served as a board member for twenty years and as vice-president for ten of those years. She was instrumental in establishing the Boston Nature Center in Mattapan, at the end of the Emerald Necklace. Currently she is an Overseer of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and of the Museum of Fine Arts, a Visitor to the Harvard Art Museums, and a member of the Council of Overseers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.  While living in Concord, Massachusetts, where she and her husband raised three sons, Brooke served as president of the Concord Garden Club, chairman of the Historic Districts Commission, and president of the board of the Concord Museum.

    Brooke takes the helm at an exciting time for the Friends. Last spring, the organization completed the first phase of the most ambitious project in its 42 year history, renovation of Brewer Fountain Plaza and its adjacent landscape at the southeast corner of the Common. Last year, thousands of park users enjoyed the revitalized space animated with a food truck, tables and chairs, a reading room and piano music at lunchtime. The Friends will complete this $4 million revitalization effort over the next year. Its campaign to raise funds for the project is well underway, attracting gifts of all sizes from across the community. The final project phase includes more landscaping and restoration of the historic iron fence along Tremont Street.

    The Friends continues its primary mission of funding the expert care of trees and sculpture in all three parks. This month a first phase of new tree labels in the Garden is being installed. A second major turf restoration project will be implemented on the Mall in 2013, and planning for landscape improvements to the Boylston Street boundary of the Garden has begun.

  • Through January 13 – Nests, Eggs, Heartbreak & Beauty

    A rare 19th-century book, with stunning illustrations and a dramatic history, was donated to Mass Audubon in June, and now an exhibition has been organized around it. Nests, Eggs, Heartbreak & Beauty is on view at the Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center in Canton.  Joy Kiser, whose research uncovered the story behind this remarkable volume, is the author of a new book on the subject, America’s Other Audubon.

    The historic volume bears a dry, unwieldy title, Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio. In fact, it is a compelling blend of ornithological observation and artistry, and its creation was a triumph of love through adversity.

    In 1876, 29-year-old amateur artist and naturalist Genevieve Jones saw Audubon’s Birds of America at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and conceived the idea for a companion publication—of similarly high quality—to depict the nests and eggs of American birds. Her father, who had forbidden her to marry the man she loved, financed the project to provide her a distraction from heartbreak.

    Jones’ brother Howard collected the nests and wrote the text, and she learned to draw on lithographic stones to create the printed images (which would later be colored by hand). After completing only five drawings, Genevieve died of typhoid fever, and her grieving family determined to finish the book, with her mother taking the role of artist.

    Only 90 copies of the book were printed, and fewer than 25 are known to exist today. Mass Audubon’s copy, which belonged to Howard Jones, is considered the most significant because its color plates served as the patterns for other copies, and it includes a unique gilt title-page and important manuscript material.

    In 1878, Harvard ornithologist William Brewster, who would later be Mass Audubon’s first president, described one of Jones’ drawings as “in its kind a perfect masterpiece.”
    http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Connection/Sanctuaries/Visual_Arts/exhibits.php#top

    The Mass Audubon Visual Arts Center, 963 Washington Street in Canton, is Mass Audubon’s art museum, offering exhibitions and programs that connect people and nature through art. Exhibitions are open Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5 pm. Trails through the 124-acre wildlife sanctuary are open Tuesday-Sunday and Monday holidays, 9 am – 5 pm. Admission is free to Mass Audubon members. Non-member fees are $4 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. For information: 781-821-8853 or visual-arts@massaudubon.org.

  • Saturday, November 3, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Snowy Owls: A Photography Exhibit

    Greg Lessard is a professional photographer specializing in dynamic nature and landscape images. Through years of dedication and devotion to his craft, Greg has become an artist with a unique vision and talent. He is able to captivate viewers and evoke powerful emotional responses with his art. Based in Massachusetts, Greg has established an extensive portfolio of images from New England, with an emphasis on Acadia National Park. His photographs have been shown in numerous galleries from Massachusetts to Maine, and have been published in many newspapers, magazines and web sites.

    During the fall and winter of 2011-2012, Greg turned his eye toward Duxbury Beach and the record Snowy Owl irruption, capturing this iconic northern species watching, hunting, surviving the New England winter. On Saturday, November 3,  join the photographer at 2 pm for an opening reception debuting his new photography exhibit at the North River Wildlife Sanctuary celebrating the Snowy Owl.

    Instructions and Directions: The exhibit will take place at the North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main Street in Marshfield. This is a free event. Light refreshments will be served.  Registration is required. Register online at www.massaudubon.org or call 781-837-9400 to register by phone.

  • Saturday, November 3, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Nature Journaling for Adults

    In the tradition of the early naturalists and explorers, you will be learning about the natural world by drawing and writing, listening and discovering, using your very own hand-crafted nature journal, at this Boston Nature Center class on Saturday, November 3, from 10 – noon. You will explore the sanctuary, using journals to write about and draw trees, rocks, landscapes, plants, birds, and other interesting animals. You will learn to observe the natural world more closely by using writing and drawing to describe what you see. You will use pencil, pen, colored pencils, and even watercolor in our journals, so that you can prepare for your own continued exploration of the changing seasons.

    Mass Audubon members: $7, non-members $9. Registration is required. Register online at www.massaudubon.org or call 617-983-8500 to register by phone.  Image from www.homemadesimple.com.

  • Friday, November 9, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Birds and Brew Fundraiser

    Have a hoot while supporting Boston Nature Center’s education programs, on Friday, November 9, from 7 – 10 at The Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill Street in Mattapan.  The evening will feature beer tastings with local breweries, live music, trivia contests with prizes, bird demonstrations by Blue Hills Trailside Museum, and great pub food.  For tickets please call 617-983-8500, or purchase on line at www.massaudubon.org.  This is a 21+ event and valid ID will be required.  Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door – last year’s event sold out in advance!

  • Sunday, October 21, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Fancy Fall Foliage

    The Boston Nature Center and the Arborway Coalition will sponsor a free Fancy Fall Foliage program on Sunday, October 21 from 2 – 3:30. Spring is known for its colorful flowers, but fall also has an amazing variety of color. Join us for a leisurely stroll through the meadows, forest, and wetlands to behold the vibrant red of the red maple or the bright yellow of the aspen. The program will include exploration, hands-on activities, and an art project. Preregistration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.  The Boston Nature Center is located at 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan, and you may register at www.massaudubon.org.

  • Monday, September 24, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Boston Nature Center: Urban Landscape Restoration

    Join Mass Audubon Director Julie Brandlen, along with soil and environmental remediation specialist Bruce Fulford, for a tour of the recent restorations at the Boston Nature Center (BNC) including an expanding urban orchard, green roof, butterfly garden, and BNC’s Nature Nook (below), a nature play area made from natural and recycled materials. In addition to the enriched landscape elements, BNC also features the greenest municipal building in Boston. $20 for Environmental Landscaping Association and Mass Audubon members, $25 for non members. Register today at https://www.eventville.com/catalog/eventregistration1.asp?eventid=1009614.

  • Tuesday, May 22 – Thursday, May 24 – Hands On Wetland Creation Workshop

    As part of the Spadefoot Toad Restoration Project, the Massachusetts Audubon Society, in collaboration with the Center for Wetlands and Stream Restoration, Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the SFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, will conduct a two day hands on wetland creation workshop in Barnstable on Tuesday, May 22 through Thursday, May 24.

    Isolated wetlands provide vital habitat to many species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Unfortunately, a majority of these ecosystems have been lost due to draining and filling throughout North America. These landscape modifications are now affecting recovery efforts for endangered species, reducing water quality, increasing flooding, and reducing ground water supplies. Fortunately, it’s now possible to construct ponds and wetlands that look and function similar to natural wetlands, with desired hydro-periods, aquatic vegetation, and animal life. While protection and restoration of natural wetlands remain the highest priorities, creation can be an important option where wetland habitats have been lost. This hands-on workshop is designed for individuals interested in learning how to use practical, low cost techniques for building wetlands for wildlife. Participants will see how wetland projects can be planned in forested and open areas, on vast expanses of public land, and even on school grounds to benefit plants, animals, and people. Attendees will discover how to select the best locations for building wetlands, test soils, choose construction techniques, work with heavy equipment operators, and establish native plants. Also, through a series of presentations, participants will learn about conservation efforts using reintroduction, translocation, and habitat restoration techniques and learn about Eastern spadefoot toad conservation efforts on Cape Cod. A field trip to a nearby spadefoot population is included.

    Who should attend? Biologists, foresters, hydrologists, engineers, technicians, educators, land trusts, and other non-profit and environmental org professionals.

    Cost: $240 which includes lunches on three days, hand-out materials, signed copy of the book Wetland Restoration and Construction – A Technical Guide by Thomas Biebighauser, and more!
    Location: 345 Bone Hill Rd. Barnstable, MA .  Please hurry, registration is limited to 30 participants! Visit www.massaudubon.org to download the complete brochure.

  • Saturday, March 3, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm – Mass Audubon Birders Meeting – Birds, Baleen, and 20 Years of Marine Conservation

    The Massachusetts Audubon Society will hold its 20th Annual Birders Meeting on Saturday, March 3, from 8 – 4 at The LaCava Center, Bentley University in Waltham. Registration fee, which includes lunch, is $63 for Mass Audubon members, $70 for non-members, and you may register online at www.massaudubon.org.  Sessions will include talks by Stephen Kress on Restoring Endangered Seabirds: Lessons from Puffins and Terns, Dave Wiley on Foraging Behavior of Humpback Whales in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Debi Shearwater on 35 Years of California Seabirding, and Shawn Carey and Jim Grady on Epic Journeys: Tracking the Migrations of Shorebirds in the Western Hemisphere. Additional breakout presentations will be given by Anne-Marie Runfola, Julie C. Ellis, Brian Harrington, and Joan Walsh.

  • Request For Proposals for Boston Committee Grant

    Established in 1989, The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America is a consortium of 14 garden clubs in the greater Boston area, from Buzzards Bay to the South, and coastal Maine to the north, with a total membership of 1,100 individuals. The Garden Club of the Back Bay is an affiliate member of The Boston Committee.

    Over the past years, the Boston Committee has awarded $110,000, through its Blossom Fund, to various not for profit groups in the City of Boston, for the purpose of beautifying our urban spaces. The Fund has been most effective when used to leverage larger grants. It has been at the forefront of projects such as the construction of the Blackwell Path at the Arnold Arboretum, which allows access to the Arboretum from public transportation. The Blossom Fund has helped with the construction and planting of a butterfly garden and maple tree allee at Massachusetts Audubon Society’s George Robert White Nature Center, in Mattapan. It has provided money for the restoration of the Kelleher Rose Garden on the Emerald Necklace. The Esplanade Association purchased irrigation equipment, the Charles River Conservancy restored the landscape surrounding the Eliot Bridge, and a garden was established at the Neighborhood Charter School, all with the help of the Blossom Fund.

    Now, the Boston Committee is soliciting proposals for a project in the vicinity of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. We expect to award a single grant for $50,000, with the potential to collaboratively raise additional funds in the future.

    The Committee members agree that innovation, positive community impact, and horticultural achievement must be the hallmarks of a successful Greenway proposal. Sustainability and future maintenance are important considerations. The grant will not be awarded for general fund drives, endowments, or for operating or staffing costs. The successful applicant must work with us to raise additional monies in the final year of the fund drive. Importantly, applicants must be an exempt organization under the IRS code.

    Complete details may be obtained by email. Contact Michele Hanss, current Chairman of The Boston Committee, at m.hanss@comcast.net. Applications are due February 10. We have received notice that applications may be forthcoming from the Friends of Christopher Columbus Park, The Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, the Boston Aquarium, and the Boston Harbor Walk. After a full review and interviews, member Clubs will vote for the winning application, to be announced at our Annual Meeting in the fall of 2012, after which we will embark on the final year of fund raising. We encourage all groups in or around the Greenway to submit applications.