Boston Flora

Tag: Mount Auburn Cemetery

  • Sunday, September 13, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm – The Dead Botanists Society (Rain Date September 21)

    For New England Botanical Society’s 130th anniversary, we’ll be celebrating with the ‘Dead Botanists Society’ of Mount Auburn Cemetery. The cemetery, established in 1831, is a National Historic Landmark and considered the first “garden cemetery” in the United States. The collection features more than 2,500 taxa (in over 20,000 plantings) throughout 175-acres. It is also the final resting place for several notable botanists in NEBS’s history. The event begins at 9:30 am on September 13 (rain date September 21).

    Jim Gorman of Mount Auburn Visitor Services will provide a list of plants in flower and talk about the cemetery and eminent botanists prior to the founding of New England Botanical Club in 1896. This includes Asa Gray and the garden named in his honor that was recently renovated and Jacob Bigelow, the architect of the cemetery. Samantha Richardson, Mount Auburn Manager of Horticulture Records, will provide a customized tour map and describe the Flora of Mount Auburn online plant records database of trees, shrubs, and ground covers. Nancy Eyster-Smith, NEBS Corresponding Secretary, will provide biographical highlights of members of the “Dead Botanists Society,” at the burial sites. This includes founding members of NEBC who served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, Curators of herbaria, and Editor-in-Chief of Rhodora, as well as the well-known Merritt Lyndon Fernald. Additional highlights of the tour will include trees recorded as Massachusetts or New England champions for their species and the Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha), now extinct in the wild, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.

    Location: Mount Auburn Cemetery. Meet at the Story Chapel, 580 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, for an introduction before we head out on the tour. The walk is about 1 mile. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes. Picnicking is not permitted on the cemetery grounds.

    FREE and open to members and nonmembers. For more information visit https://rhodora.org/meetings/

  • Thursday, July 16, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm – Summer Bouquet Making Workshop

    Join Mount Auburn Cemetery on July 16 at 5:30 pm for a hands-on summer bouquet workshop led by a member of Mount Auburn’s Greenhouse team. Fee from $33.42 through Eventbrite. Register HERE.

    Learn the basics of floral arranging while creating your own seasonal bouquet inspired by the beauty of the landscape. All materials and supplies will be provided by Mount Auburn. Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

    For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

    Mount Auburn is proud to participate in MCC’s Card to Culture Program. Click here to learn more.

    Refund Policy:

    Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.

    If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.

  • Sunday, June 21, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm – Mount Auburn Summer SOLSTICE

    Replenish your mind, body, and soul at Summer SOLSTICE on Sunday, June 21. With offerings of free and paid activities including mindfulness walks, yoga, a cyanotype making workshop, meditation, a poetry reading, and community concert, Summer SOLSTICE will be a restorative and healing experience for people of all ages.

    REGISTER HERE>>

    Experience a deeper connection to Mount Auburn Cemetery with free or discounted access to all our public programs and special events by joining the Friends of Mount Auburn. Our robust roster of programs each year is made possible by the generous support of our donors and in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

    For inquiries about accessibility, to request an accommodation, or if you have any questions about your membership, please contact friends@mountauburn.org.

    Mount Auburn is proud to participate in MCC’s Card to Culture Program.

    Refund Policy:

    Refunds and exchanges for events at Mount Auburn Cemetery are available up to 5 business days prior to the event.* Cancellations made after this deadline are not eligible for a refund and the order amount will be donated to support future programs and initiatives.

    If Mount Auburn Cemetery decides to cancel an event, all ticket holders will be notified and automatically refunded.

    *This policy excludes special events. Refund policies for special events will be listed directly on their event page. Exchanges are only applicable to events with multiple occurrences.

  • Saturday, February 21, 10:30 am, 1:00 pm, & 3:30 pm – Eyes on Owls

    Join Mount Auburn Cemetery friends in Story Chapel for a special presentation by teacher naturalist Marcia Wilson and wildlife photographer Mark Wilson. Three sessions are being offered on Saturday, February 21 at 10:30am, 1:00pm, and 3:30pm. Space is limited, Registration required. Visit https://mountauburn.org/event/eyes-on-owls-4/

    Marcia and Mark will introduce visitors to the owls of New England and beyond. Learn the field marks, signs, and naturalist’s skills that you can use to find owls without disturbing them, then meet some live owls up close.

  • Friday, December 5 – Sunday, December 21 – Solstice: Reflections on Winter Light

    SOLSTICE: Reflections on Winter Light is an annual event at Mount Auburn Cemetery that includes an outdoor journey with large-scale light and sound artworks created by MASARY, and an indoor experience with live music and candle lighting. Guests are invited to walk through the light-filled landscape, explore the Winter Solstice atmosphere, and to reflect on moments of change as the year ends and a new cycle begins. Connect to a landscape of exceptional beauty, consider an intention for the new year, or commemorate the memory of a loved one. Let SOLSTICE light your way as you encounter the unique spirit of Mount Auburn. Tickets on sale at https://www.mountauburnsolstice.org/

  • Sunday, June 1 and Saturday, June 21 – Garden Conservancy Open Days with COG Design: Save the Dates

    Join The Garden Conservancy on Sunday, June 1 for a special partnership with COG Design. The three sites are Hood Bike Park, Charlestown, from 10-12, Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, from 2-4, and COG designer Shoma Haque’s Jamaica Plain garden from 10-4. Tickets and complete information will be available at https://www.gardenconservancy.org/. On June 21, head to New Bedford to Abolition Row Park from 12 – 2.

  • Sunday, September 22, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – The Hurricane That Changed Mount Auburn

    The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 (aka the Yankee Clipper or Long Island Express) was the deadliest and most damaging hurricane to ever strike New York and New England. Making landfall on September 21, the Category 3 storm caused nearly 700 fatalities, left 63,000 people without homes, and toppled 275 million trees. In Massachusetts, storm surges measured between 18-25 feet and the hurricane’s greatest wave height of 50-feet was recorded in Gloucester.   

    Mount Auburn Cemetery lost more than 800 trees in a single day and over 1,000 more suffered significant damage. Despite all the damage, the Cemetery saw an opportunity to replant and replace what was lost while expanding and diversifying its collection. From 1939-1940 alone, over 1,500 new trees and shrubs were introduced to the Cemetery, many of which are still standing today. 

    Join Jim Gorman, arborist and MAC staff member, on September 22 at 1 pm for a curated tour of several of the now-mature trees planted after the hurricane.  Check in at Story Chapel. Registration required at https://www.mountauburn.org/event/the-hurricane-that-changed-mount-auburn/

  • Sunday, August 11, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Forest Bathing: A Mindful Nature Experience

    Join guest guide Stefanie Haug (LICSW) on August 11 as we explore Mount Auburn Cemetery by slowing down, being attentive to nature with all our senses, and deepening our appreciation for this special slice of our Watertown and Cambridge neighborhood. Our Forest Bathing experience will include simple warm-up movements, a natural history of the area, guided breathing and centering awareness, mindful walking with sensory activities, and finding our nature meditation/sit spot.

    What to bring: comfortable clothing, walking shoes, small mat or towel to sit on, water. Check-in for the experience will be outside Story Chapel. Stefanie Haug guides people on journeys of self-awareness and relationship with nature as a local psychotherapist and certified Mindful Outdoor Guide (Kripalu). Her international career has spanned the corporate and nonprofit world with a focus on the wellbeing of humans and the more-than-human world. Stefanie is a lifelong nature lover and can often be found outdoors in all types of locations and weather, taking it all in with a sense of wonder, humor and calm. $10 for Friends of Mount Auburn, $15 general public. Register on Eventbrite HERE.

  • Monday, June 24 – Thursday, June 27 – American Public Gardens Association: Rooted in Resilience

    The Arnold Arboretum is among five New England gardens hosting the 2024 annual conference of the American Public Gardens Association in Boston this summer. Public garden professionals from around the country and around the world will come together between June 24–27 to participate in the annual gathering, which is also hosted by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Mount Auburn Cemetery, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, and The Trustees. Rooted in Resilience: A Sustainable Future for Gardens will be held at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza, a block away from Boston’s famous Public Garden. Hundreds of public horticulture professionals are expected to attend for a week of professional development sessions, networking events, garden tours, and more. The 2024 Presenting Partner is the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service.

    The 2024 Conference theme highlights Boston’s historic resilience and the city’s story of overcoming adversity and adapting to change. From playing a crucial role in the American Revolution to surviving disasters, Boston has always persevered and emerged stronger. Today, Boston demonstrates its adaptability through various sustainable initiatives, including ambitious urban forestry goals and a plan to become carbon-neutral by 2050. In Boston, resilience and social justice are intertwined, driving the city’s commitment to building a sustainable and equitable society.

    The conference theme showcases the parallel between Boston’s remarkable resilience and the concept of sustainability within the realm of gardens. Public gardens play a vital role in promoting sustainable practices and empowering the next generation of environmental stewards. Through a range of green initiatives, including sustainable horticultural practices, educational programs, and community engagement, public gardens are building stronger communities, promoting access to green spaces, and connecting people with nature.

    Participants will enjoy over 80 professional development sessions and workshops in five Specialty Tracks—Education and Science, Garden Management, Horticulture, Plant Collections and Conservation, and Public Engagement—in addition to tours of local public gardens, professional workshops, and special events at the host gardens.

    Registration is now. Non-member registration is available for $100 more than the member rate. Two- and One-Day registration options are available.Visit the APGA website for more information.

  • Monday, October 16 – Wednesday, October 18 – New York Botanic Gardens Tour

    Do you love walking Mount Auburn Cemetery’s lush grounds to see its diverse plant collection? Do you have an interest in modern horticultural practices? On October 16-18, take your passion beyond their gates as The Friends of Mount Auburn invite you to travel to New York City for a 3-day garden excursion. Join key Mount Auburn staff on guided tours of the New York Botanical and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, a tour of Little Island, and much more. The NYC Botanic Tour package will include accommodations at the Omni Berkshire Place in midtown, transportation to tour sites within New York City, and all afternoon and evening meal events. Space is limited. Registrants must plan their own travel to New York City. For registration, or information, please contact Matthew Tufts at 617-540-0076 or mtufts@mountauburn.org. #botanicgardentour