Boston Flora

Tag: Michael Wojtech

  • Saturday, September 9, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – The Growth of Trees: A Journey Through Time

    No single view of a tree is a fixed snapshot in time that tells the complete story. Join Michael Wojtech at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill on September 9 from 9 – noon and discover how trees grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment across days, weeks, seasons, and years and over varying scales—from the intricate details of buds, flowers, leaves, and bark that we use for species identification to the collaborative roles of trees in ecosystems. Learn more about the function and experience the beauty of characteristics such as overwintering buds, lobed or toothed leaves, flowers by the thousands, and seeds that fly on the wind. The Garden Club of the Back Bay presented this program in Boston last year – this expanded version includes a nature walk. Please come dressed to walk around the gardens, potentially on the forest trails.

    Michael Wojtech is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. As a naturalist and educator, Michael strives to share the science and wonder of trees in an accessible and compelling fashion. He writes, photographs, illustrates, and presents programs about the structure, growth processes, and ecology of trees-including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood-for audiences at all levels of experience. He is especially interested in the process of discovery and engagement and draws his greatest inspiration from sharing the sense of wonder, awe, and the recognition of beauty that result from these investigations.

    $40 NEBG Member Adult; $55 Adult (includes admission to the gardens)

  • Thursday, February 17, 10:00 am – Garden Club of the Back Bay February Meeting – A Growth of Trees: A Journey Through Time, Online


    No single view of a tree is a fixed snapshot in time that tells the complete story. Join Michael Wojtech and discover how trees grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment across days, weeks, seasons, and years and over varying scales—from the intricate details of buds, flowers, leaves, and bark that we use for species identification to the collaborative roles of trees in ecosystems. Learn more about the function and experience the beauty of characteristics such as peeling bark, overwintering buds, lobed or toothed leaves, flowers by the thousands, and seeds that fly on the wind. This Garden Club of the Back Bay meeting will take place February 17 at 10:00 am.

    Michael Wojtech earned his Masters degree in Conservation Biology at Antioch University New England, where his coursework brought a welcomed, intense immersion into the natural history and ecology of the plants, critters, and other organisms in the landscape. As a naturalist and educator, he strives to share the science and wonder of trees in an accessible and compelling fashion. He writes, photographs, illustrates, and presents programs about the structure, growth processes, and ecology of trees—including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood—for audiences at all levels of experience.  

    Michael previously presented to the Garden Club of the Back Bay in 2013, when he spoke to us about his book, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.  We are delighted to bring Michael back to speak to us  again!  To learn more about Michael Wojtech, visit his website at http://knowyourtrees.com. Please rsvp by February 11th by clicking HERE.  A ZOOM link will be sent a few days before the program.  The program will not be recorded.

  • Tuesday. February 23, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Captivated by Trees: The Work of Rutherford Platt, Online

    Rutherford Platt’s captivation by trees, and his almost 40 year career as an esteemed, Burroughs Medal winning naturalist, writer, and photographer, was set in motion one winter day in 1929 when, to his astonishment, he noticed that flower and leaf buds were already present on the seemingly bare branches of trees. Through an exploration of Platt’s life and work we will share his delight for trees, broaden our perceptions through ranges of time and scale, and discover the functional advantages of the distinct characteristic of trees as they grow, reproduce, and interact with their environment.

    This Massachusetts Horticultural Society webinar is instructed by Michael Wojtech on February 23 from 10 – 11:30. $25 for Mass Hort members, $37 for nonmembers. Register at www.masshort.org.

    As a naturalist, writer, photographer, illustrator and educator, Michael strives to share the science and beauty of natural history in an accessible and compelling fashion. He writes and teaches about the fascinating structure, function, and ecology of trees—including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood—for audiences at all levels of experience, and explores how knowing the natural history of the places we live and love fosters connection and the feeling of home. Michael earned his Master’s Degree in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England and is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees in the Northeast and co-author of Drawing Trees and Leaves.

    To find out more about Michael, a past Garden Club of the Back Bay presenter, and his works check out his website at http://knowyourtrees.com

  • Sunday, November 3, 12:45 pm – 3:45 pm – Bark: Get to Know Your Trees

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden will host a lecture on November 3 from 12:45 – 3:45 with Michael Wojtech. Tower Hill members $42, nonmembers $56. Register at www.towerhillbg.org

    The traits typically used to describe trees-leaves, twigs, and buds-are often hard to see or seasonally absent. Join Michael for this indoor presentation and outdoor exploration of bark, which is always visible, in any season. As you hone your perceptive abilities you will learn about a system for identifying tree species by their bark, and discover why such a variety of bark characteristics exist. Why do some species have smooth bark, while on others it is thick and broken? Why does bark peel?

    Michael Wojtech is the author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. As a naturalist and educator, Michael strives to share the science and wonder of trees in an accessible and compelling fashion. He writes, photographs, illustrates, and presents programs about the structure, growth processes, and ecology of trees-including their bark, buds, leaves, roots, and wood-for audiences at all levels of experience. He is especially interested in the process of discovery and engagement, and draws his greatest inspiration from sharing the sense of wonder, awe, and the recognition of beauty that result from these investigations.

     

  • Saturday, February 10, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Bark: A Multi-Sensory Experience of Trees

    Michael Wojtech, Naturalist, Author, and past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker, will lead an Arnold Arboretum session on Saturday, February 10, 9:00am–1:00pm. Explore the wonderful variety of bark textures, shapes, thicknesses, and colors, which are always-visible clues to tree identity. Through presentations and a series of participatory exercises, learn how to identify tree species by their bark, and uncover why such a variety of bark characteristics exist. See, touch, smell, and trace the contours of bark to hone perceptive skills and deepen intimacy with trees and the places where they grow. Class will meet indoors and in the landscape of the Arnold Arboretum. Open to tree enthusiasts at all levels of experience. Michael will be available to sign copies of his book, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast. For more details visit: http://www.knowyourtrees.com. Fee $60 Arboretum member, $75 nonmember. Register at http://my.arboretum.harvard.edu or call 617-384-5277.

  • Saturday, October 21, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Tree ID Using Bark and Habitat Clues

    Join naturalist Nancy Goodman and take a close look at trees and other botanical wonders we encounter at Northfield Mountain. Have you ever looked at a tree in winter and wondered what it might be? For more than half the year, bark provides the best clue to tree identification. We will be keying out some of the trees to see what we can learn. Become familiar with the characteristic bark of different trees in different habitats and at different stages of growth, as well as identification from leaves and other clues. Bring binoculars, water, lunch, sturdy walking shoes and the book Bark by Michael Wojtech, if you have a copy. This program is co-sponsored with the Athol Bird and Nature Club and will take place at Northfield’s scenic Riverview area along the Connecticut River. This special location has an especially rich variety of tree species. Meet in the Riverview parking area at 10 or at the Northfield Mountain Visitors Center in Northfield at 9:45 a.m. for a short walk to Riverview. For ages 16 and older. FREE , but pre-register by calling 800-859-2960.

  • Sunday, October 25, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pmm – Bark: A Multi-Sensory Experience of Trees

    Explore the wonderful variety of bark textures, shapes, thicknesses and colors, visible in any season. Through presentations and a series of participatory exercises you’ll learn how to identify tree species by their bark, and uncover why such a variety of bark characteristics exist. As we practice seeing, touching, smelling and tracing the contours of bark, you will hone your perceptive skills and deepen your intimacy with trees and the forests they grow in. We will begin indoors, and then head out to explore the trees of Tower Hill. Open to naturalists at all levels of experience. Michael Wojtech will be available to sign copies of his book, Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast.

    Michael is a freelance writer, educator, photographer, and illustrator. He continues to focus his work on the identification, physiology, and ecology of trees. He is especially interested in the process of studying natural history-the keen observation, the discovery of nuance in infinite layers, the evocation of multiple senses-and the creative expressions that flow from these experiences. He spoke to The Garden Club of the Back Bay two years ago and for those who missed his presentation and walk on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, we highly recommend attending this Tower Hill Botanic Garden lecture, walk, and book signing. $30 for Tower Hill members, $45 for non-members. Register at www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Sunday, April 26, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Tree Identification at Poet’s Seat

    Have you ever looked at a tree in winter and wondered what it might be? This walk with naturalist Nancy Goodman is a continuation of an ongoing Pioneer Valley Institute series showing trees that can be found in different habitats. Become familiar with the characteristic bark of the different trees in different habitats. This is a dry ridge top with changing habitats and trees from the top of the road to the bottom.

    Poet’s Seat in Greenfield has a road we will be following, going up to the tower and the top of the cliffs; the view is spectacular. Bring binoculars, water, very warm clothes in many layers as we will not be walking much (and this area can be very windy), lunch, warm boots, and the book Bark by Michael Wojtech (past Garden Club of the Back Bay speaker) if you have a copy. There are no facilities at this spot. Please plan accordingly.

    We will meet at the parking area at the base of the cliffs on Sanderson Road next to the tennis courts. We will then walk up the busy road to the tower road. Extreme care must be taken and the road can be steep in spots getting up to the tower. No rain date. Not handicapped accessible. $5 (free to PVI members), checks only, no cash please. For more information email wildeyes@rcn.com.

  • Saturday, June 29, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Nasami Farm Perched Swamp Tree Exploration

    Nasami Farm, owned by the New England Wildflower Society, is home to a unique habitat, a Black Gum—Pin Oak—Swamp White Oak “perched” swamp. This is a swamp not directly connected to the water table, but perched above it on layers that prevent draining usually associated with old glacial lake beds. The Great Swamp, of which this property is a part, is one of the largest and best examples of a perched swamp left in Massachusetts. On Saturday, June 29, from 10 – 2, we will be looking mostly at the trees and their bark, but also checking out any wildflowers we might see. The trail is level and the distance covered about 2 to3 miles at an easy pace. Please bring comfortable water-resistant boots, rain gear (depending on the weather), plenty of water, lunch, binoculars and bug spray. We will be using the book Bark by Michael Wojtech, so bring a copy if you have one. We will meet at Nasami Farm, 128 North Street, in Whately (there is a blue sign on routes 5 & 10 at Swamp Road). Parking will be at the barn on the left as you enter. Directions will be sent upon request at pre-registration when you email Nancy Goodman at wildeyes@rcn.com. $5 fee, free for Pioneer Valley Institute members, NEWFS members, and kids under 12. (Please do not use MapQuest for driving directions; they currently take you to North Street in South Deerfield.)

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_keRo4qD_gWE/TMF-BYMis3I/AAAAAAAAACM/XomqApNkwnk/s1600/Riverwood+Perched+Swamp.jpg

  • Saturday, September 29, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Bark Ecology and ID: Get to Know Your Trees

    Identifying tree species can be challenging when the traits typically used to describe them—leaves, buds, and twigs—are not clearly visible or, in the case of leaves, not even present. On Saturday, September 29, from 9 – 1, join Michael Wojtech, author of Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast, for an exploration of bark, the tree characteristic that provides clues in every season. You will learn how to differentiate six different bark types, how to use the book’s identification keys, and begin to discover why such a variety of bark characteristics has evolved—Why do some species have smooth bark, while on others it is thick and broken? Why does bark peel? After a classroom session you will practice identifying native tree species on the grounds of the Arboretum. Open to naturalists at all levels of experience. Bark: A Field Guide to Trees of the Northeast is required for the class and can be purchased at the time of registration. Purchased books will be distributed in class. Birch bark photo from www.fondofsnape.com.  Fee: $40 member, $55 nonmember and $17.00 per book.  Register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.