Native Plant Trust

Tuesday, July 29, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern – Ecosystem Response to Wildfire, Online

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In New England, the survival of many ecosystems is predicated upon the occurrence of disturbances, such as wildland fire, that alter the environment. Without these events, habitats that are home to many endangered species can undergo changes that intrinsically threaten the survival of imperiled organisms. However, not every ecosystem will respond to fire in the same way—and not every fire will create the same impacts. This Native Plant Trust online course on July 29 will survey the ecological response of select fire prone habitats to being burned and assess the impacts of fires occurring at varying severity, frequency, and size on them.

*A recording of this class will be available to all registrants for one month after the class. $45, taught by Samuel Gilvarg. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/ecosystem-response-to-wildfire-ss2025/

Friday, July 11, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Jennifer Jewell and Tim Johnson: A Fireside Chat

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Join creator, writer, and host of Cultivating Place: Conversations on Natural History and the Human Impulse to Garden, Jennifer Jewell, and Native Plant Trust CEO Tim Johnson as they explore an expansive model for engaging with native plants, one that includes numerous access points for people of all interests and needs to see native plants as assets and allies in their lives. Jennifer will also discuss What We Sow and the process of developing a cohosting model for Cultivating Place. The event takes place July 11 from 7 – 8 at The Foundry, 101 Rogers Street in Cambridge. Free, but donations in any amount encouraged. For more information and to register, visit https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/jennifer-jewell-and-tim-johnson-a-fireside-chat-class/

Dr. Lea Johnson Named Director of Conservation at Native Plant Trust

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Native Plant Trust is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Lea Johnson as Director of Conservation. Dr. Johnson brings extensive experience in community ecology, ecological restoration, and urban ecosystems, blending foundational scientific research with practical applications for sustainable land management and ecological design. Bringing Dr. Johnson on board marks an important step forward as the organization celebrates its 125th anniversary, prepares to accelerate the rate of rare plant monitoring, and expands native plant seed banking and plant production activities.

Dr. Johnson’s distinguished career highlights her passion for interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at restoring and protecting environments impacted by human activity. Her innovative research spans multiple spatial and temporal scales and has enhanced ecological interventions across diverse US ecosystems, including the Northeast, Southwest, Pacific Northwest, and Mid-Atlantic regions.

Prior to joining NPT, Dr. Johnson served as Associate Director of Land Stewardship and Ecology at Longwood Gardens. In addition, Dr. Johnson is an affiliate faculty member in the Plant Science Graduate Program at the University of Maryland’s Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture.

Tuesday, September 30, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Native Plant Trust’s 125th Anniversary Gala: Save the Date

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In just a few short months, Native Plant Trust will be celebrating its 125th anniversary with a spectacular gala on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston, Massachusetts. They would very much like you to be part of it. This landmark event will honor more than a century of impact and leadership in native plant conservation, horticulture, and education, while raising critical support to protect native plants amidst unprecedented environmental threats. In addition, NPT will be honoring three outstanding leaders in conservation, Dr. Jonathan Foley, and Abby and Peter Coffin.

The evening will consist of a historic gathering of native plant advocates for a captivating evening of cocktails, dinner, and an award presentation that will inspire and give you a glimpse into the future of the extraordinary work we do. Support as a sponsor and/or attendee for the 125th Anniversary Gala will directly advance these efforts and ensure native plant protection and conservation for generations to come.

To learn more about the gala, including opportunities to support this momentous occasion and align yourself with our legacy of environmental stewardship, visit nativeplanttrust.org/gala.

Tuesday, June 17, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Resist, Endure, Adapt: The Ethics and Practice of Plant Conservation

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You have probably heard that diversity is good for the environment, but have you ever wondered how exactly plant diversity benefits ecosystems and the life (including yours) that these ecosystems support? Join CEO of Native Plant Trust Tim Johnson at the Boston Athenaeum on June 17 for a wide ranging talk about the history of the conservation movement in the United States, the tools plant conservationists use to protect plants from extinction, and what plant ecology can teach us about how to resist, endure, and adapt when the things we hold dear come under attack.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Tim Johnson grew up fishing public waterways and hunting the county forests, state natural areas, and his neighbors’ fields in Wisconsin. There, he learned that science can teach us how ecosystems work, but conservation is all about changing hearts and minds. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MS and PhD in environmental horticulture from the University of Florida, where he researched methods for conserving rare orchids on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. After completing his doctorate, Johnson worked as the Head of Preservation and Seed Bank Manager for Seed Savers Exchange and the Director of the Botanic Garden of Smith College. He joined Native Plant Trust in January of 2024.

TICKETS & TICKET POLICIES

Tickets are required for this event. Members and their guests are at no cost. Visitor tickets are $20 and include first floor admission. Tickets are refundable if canceled up to 48 hours before the event. To purchase online visit www.bostonathenaeum.org

The Boston Athenaeum welcomes people of all abilities. If you have questions regarding accessibility, please email events@bostonathenaeum.org.

Sunday, June 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm – Green Immersion

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That human beings benefit from exposure to the natural world is well documented, both empirically and experientially, yet our society does not formally acknowledge the importance of connecting with nature. The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, provides Westerners with a way to reawaken our connection with nature through guided sensory experience. In a similar green immersion at Garden in the Woods, Native Plant Trust writer-editor Jane Roy Brown will guide a contemplative 2 hour walk that includes pauses to write, sketch, and meditate. The event takes place June 1, and is $45. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/green-immersion-ss2025/. Thank you Crabtree & Evelyn for the photo.

Tuesday, May 20, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern – Introduction to Matrix Planting, Online

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The Native Plant Trust will present a Zoom lecture with Meg Herndon on May 20 at 6 pm Eastern. Matrix planting originated in Germany after World War II, developed by urban planners seeking a simple, affordable, and low-maintenance way to restore nature and bring hope to war-torn cities. This technique uses small, densely planted species that grow together to form naturalistic “communities.” Researchers and city officials worked together to create this approach. Since then, garden designers and landscape architects in Europe and the US have embraced matrix planting for both its aesthetic appeal and its role in promoting biodiversity. Insights from German plant scientists and nursery owners, who have refined plant selection for sustainable, nature-inspired communities, are now sought after worldwide. Join us to explore the history of matrix planting and discover practical ways that developers, designers, and homeowners can apply these techniques to their own projects locally.

A recording of this class will be available to all registrants for two weeks after the class. $25. Register at www.nativeplanttrust.org. Image courtesy of Fine Gardening Magazine.

Monday, May 19 – Deadline for Comments on Proposed Weakening of Endangered Species Act

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Tim Johnson, CEO of the Native Plant Trust, has issued a statement and call to action on a proposal from the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, both institutions “under new management”, set forth below. Clicking on to to the Share Your Comments link brings you to the Federal Register site, and comments need not be lengthy or complicated, but the more people adding their objections to the bill, the better. Comments close on May 19, so take a moment now to support the environment:

In April, the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service announced their intention to weaken the power of the Endangered Species Act by no longer recognizing the harmful effects of changing or destroying the habitat of endangered species. Those of us in the conservation community fear that such a change will mean that federal regulators will ignore the impact of habitat loss–the number one cause of species extinction–when considering mining, logging, and development on ecologically sensitive lands.
The Endangered Species Act was voted into law by Congress in 1973. It is designed to protect and conserve endangered and threatened species and their habitats so that these species can be spared from extinction. To state the obvious, a species cannot survive without its habitat. A forest cannot survive in a parking lot. Fish cannot survive in a drained pond. This change to the Endangered Species Act would be catastrophic for endangered species everywhere. Excluding damage to habitat when considering the impact of human activities on endangered species unravels the very fabric of the law and its intent.    
At present, there are 944 species, varieties, and subspecies of plants on the endangered species list, including the globally rare Astragalus robbinsii var. jesupii (Jesup’s milk vetch) a species Native Plant Trust has worked hard to protect from climate change-induced habitat loss and flooding through seed banking, reintroduction, and invasive species control for more than 20 years. Without the habitat protection afforded this species through the Endangered Species Act, the habitat this species occupies could be destroyed. Without that habitat, Jesup’s milk vetch will go extinct in the wild. The same goes for hundreds of other species.
Your voice matters. I ask you to use it now on behalf of endangered species across the country. Sharing your opinion about this proposed change before the public comment period ends on May 19. Tell those in power that biodiversity matters to you and that you are paying attention to the plight of endangered and threatened plants and animals.
Share Your Comments

Saturday, May 3, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Eastern – Join the Movement: 125th Anniversary Symposium, Online

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Build community with other new and experienced gardeners, and join the movement to increase the beauty and resiliency of New England and the planet, one native plant at a time.

Do you want to learn more about why native plants matter, and gain practical tips for incorporating them into your life? Join the Movement is for first- and long-time gardeners, lovers of the natural world, environmental advocates, and curious learners who want to explore both why and how to work with native plants. Whatever the size of your space or your experience with gardening, our panelists will offer their expert perspectives on how to select plants, work with the space you have, and maintain your plantings across all four seasons.

This Native Plant Trust symposium on May 3 will be held on Zoom. Speakers include Uli Lorimer, Edwina von Gal, Dan Jaffe Wilder, and Trevor Smith. $125. Register at www.nativeplanttrust.org

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Wednesday, March 12, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Eastern – Greening Public Spaces: The Green Roof Bus Shelter Project, Online

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Join The Native Plant Trust and Trevor Smith, Design and Education Manager at Weston Nurseries, and past president of the Ecological Landscape Alliance, to learn more about his efforts to build thirty green roofs for bus shelters throughout the city of Boston, in conjunction with Mayor Michelle Wu’s commitment to green infrastructure. In addition to describing the history of this project and the process of building a green roof, Trevor will share the insights he has gained while pursuing this work. The talk will take place on Zoom on March 12 at 6 pm Eastern, and is $17 for NPT members, $20 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/greening-public-spaces-the-green-roof-bus-shelter-project/

A recording of this class will be available to all registrants for two weeks after the class.