Boston Flora

Tag: Michael Piantedosi

  • Wednesday, March 29, 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Native Plant Dyes

    For centuries, people have used natural materials to bring color into everyday life through wardrobe and fashion. Today, approximately 90 percent of dyes used in clothing are synthetic; many are made through unsustainable processes. In New England, we are surrounded by plants that can be turned into vibrant and lush pigments, which in turn can be applied to natural fibers such as wool, hemp, or cotton. In this Native Plant Trust class at Garden in the Woods on March 29 at 12:30 pm, we’ll discuss useful dye plants of the Northeast and New England ecoregions and explore how to process, extract, and bind these colors to fabric. Basic terminology of natural dyes, methods of plant identification, and ethical harvest of plant parts used will also be covered. As we conclude, a brief showcase of plant-dyed fabrics will be displayed. Join us for a fun and simple introduction to natural dyes from plants. Michael Piantedosi will instruct. $38 for NPT members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/native-plant-dyes/

  • Thursday, November 10, 10:00 am – The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America Fall Lecture and Luncheon: The Importance of Conserving Plant Diversity in New England

    As Director of Conservation, Michael Piantedosi leads the Native Plant Trust’s internationally recognized Conservation Department, which focuses on saving imperiled plants, restoring habitat, and documenting the state of New England’s plants. Michael oversees a team of conservation staff and many of the 1,500 trained volunteers who work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect
    and control invasive species, and conduct research. Michael is active in the Center for Plant Conservation network where the Native Plant Trust acts as a Participating Institution (PI). He is also the point of contact for listing New England rare plants on the IUCN Red List (the international list of rare and endangered species). Prior to joining NPT, Michael was Curatorial Horticulturalist at the Museum of Science, Boston, and held positions at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm and the
    Center for Freshwater Biology. He recently co-authored the landmark publication ‘Conserving Plant Diversity in New England,’
    ” a collaboration of NPT and the Nature Conservancy. The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America invites its members to the Fall Lecture and Luncheon on November 10 beginning with a reception at 10 am, the lecture at 10:30, and luncheon at 11:30, at The Country Club in Brookline. Club members will receive an invitation through Eventbrite. For more information visit https://bostoncommitteegca.org/

  • Saturday, September 17, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Botany of the New Hampshire Coastline

    Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located along the eastern shore of New Hampshire’s Great Bay in the town of Newington. The refuge protects more than 1,000 acres along the seacoast for migratory birds and other wildlife. One of the longest stretches of undeveloped shoreline along the bay, it consists of mud flats, salt- and freshwater marshes, swamps, ponds, streams, woodlands, and fields. Join Native Plant Trust’s Director of Conservation Michael Piantedosi on September 17 from 10 – 12:30 pm as we explore this diverse refuge and learn about its dynamic flora. $38 for NPT members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/botany-new-hampshire-coastline/

    A tidal creek flows through a salt marsh into Great Bay in Newmarket, New Hampshire. The Nature Conservancy’s Lubberland Creek Preserve. CopyrightJerry and Marcy Monkman EcoPhotography.com

  • Thursdays, October 7, 21, & November 4, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm – Seed Conservation

    Seed banking, or ex situ conservation, is an effective method of conserving our rare and endangered flora for future generations. Join Michael Piantedosi at Garden in the Woods in Framingham on Thursdays, October 7, 21, and November 4 at 10:30 am as we explore the process of procuring, cleaning, and accessioning seeds in a seed bank. We will focus on this process in three parts: seed collection (part 1), seed cleaning and processing (part 2), and seed storage for indefinite freezing at 0°F (part 3). This course is suitable for professional conservationists as well as those interested in peeking behind the curtain at Native Plant Trust’s regional seed bank. $ 162 for Native Plant Trust members, $198 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/seed-conservation/

  • Sunday, September 26, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Flora of New England Coastal Sand Dunes

    Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newbury is home to an extensive sandy beach and dune habitat, where many shore birds and wildlife flourish amid the varied flora of the area. Join Native Plant Trust Seed Bank Coordinator Michael Piantedosi on September 26 from 10 – 12 to discuss the plants of the salt marsh and the sand dune habitats that make Parker River so unique. $30 for NPT members, $36 nonmembers. Register online at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/flora-new-england-coastal-sand-dunes/

    Image result for parker river national wildlife refuge

  • Tuesday, June 22, 10:00 am – The Survival of New England’s Plant Diversity, Online

    The Native Plant Trust and The Nature Conservancy reveal their recommendations for the survival of New England’s Plant Diversity in a virtual press conference on June 22 at 10 am Eastern time. Free, but registration required HERE.

    Has more than a century of land conservation in New England protected the right places to save the region’s plant diversity, and thus overall biodiversity, as the climate changes? Conserving Plant Diversity in New England is a groundbreaking new report from Native Plant Trust and The Nature Conservancy that answers the question. The result of a two-year collaboration, the report measures progress toward global targets for plant and land conservation and provides a scientific framework and detailed roadmap for action at the species, habitat, and parcel scales in all six states that will save plant diversity.  

    With the Biden Administration’s recent adoption of one of the international targets–conserving and restoring 30 percent of the nation’s lands by 2030–this report is especially timely. The report and the accompanying interactive mapping tool give policy makers, federal and state agencies, and land trusts in each state the detailed information needed to achieve the 30 x 30 goal and to spend conservation dollars most effectively by focusing on climate-resilient sites that capture plant and habitat diversity.  Join the report’s authors for a virtual press conference in which they will reveal findings and recommendations for permanently protecting resilient, biologically diverse landscapes across New England.

     Debbi Edelstein, Executive Director of Native Plant Trust, will introduce the report, and two of its authors will present the findings and recommendations:

    • Mark Anderson, Director of Science for the Eastern United States at The Nature Conservancy
    • Michael Piantedosi, Director of Conservation at Native Plant Trust

  • Friday, February 26, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Rare Plant Families

    Where have all the flowers gone? Many are in decline, and some more than others. This Native Plant Trust class at Garden in the Woods on February 26 from 10:00 – 1:00 increases participants’ understanding of the most threatened New England plant families. From the orchids to the moonworts, this session assesses status of several plant families of conservation concern. Included is a discussion of actions the Native Plant Trust  and conservationists in the region are conducting to protect the taxa most in need. Michael Piantedosi leads, and the fee is $45 for NPT members, $54 for nonmembers. Cosponsored by the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions. Due to the pandemic, registration is limited, and masks are required. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/rare-plant-families/. 

    Image result for moonwort botanical print

  • Saturday, September 12, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Botany in the Salt Marsh

    Barnstable Great Marsh is an integral part of the ecologically significant 3,800-acre Sandy Neck salt marsh and barrier beach system. Join Director of Conservation Michael Piantedosi to explore this critical coastal ecosystem and learn about its resident flora. The Native Plant Trust session takes place September 12 from 10 – 1, and is $45 for NPT members, $54 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/botany-salt-marsh/ As with all in person classes held during the present pandemic, please reconfirm prior to the day of the session, and wear a mask,

  • Trillium Online Presentation

    The Native Plant Trust has posted a nine minute YouTube slide talk by Director of Conservation Michael Piantedosi on Trillium eretum – red wakerobin, and other Trilliums. Learn about Melanthieaceae, the fascinating plant family that includes the Trillium Genus. The link to this free presentation is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGBDLfywfa0

  • Thursday, December 5, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Seed Anatomy: Beauty and Function

    Seeds are a gateway to another dimension. Join Michael Piantedosi at Garden in the Woods in Framingham on December 5 from 1 – 4 as we journey to the level of the humble, often-overlooked seed. We will focus on seed anatomy and function, with discussion of the relevant terminology for these intricate structures. In addition, we will explore the exceptional beauty of some seeds and the function behind their architecture. $45 for NPT members, $54 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/seed-anatomy-beauty-and-function/