Native Plant Trust

Friday, January 12, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – North American Regional Gardening Approaches, Online

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Native plants are hot right now, and for good reason! Many gardeners recognize the importance of weighing aesthetics with ecological value in their horticultural practice, and they see the use of native plants as crucial to benefiting wildlife and humans alike. This American Horticultural Society talk explores the underlying concepts and approaches to using regionally appropriate native plants and how you can welcome native plants into your garden no matter where you live in North America. A recording will be made available to registrants for a limited time following the talk. $10 AHS members, $15 nonmembers. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/lifelong-learning/north-american-regional-gardening-approaches/

UIi Lorimer is the Director of Horticulture for Native Plant Trust. He oversees the facilities and operations at Garden in the Woods and at Nasami Farm. Uli brings 20 years of experience working with native plants in public gardens with previous positions at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Wave Hill Garden and the US National Arboretum. He is a tireless advocate for the use of native plants in designed spaces through his public speaking, writing, lectures and media appearances. Uli feels most grounded with his hands in the soil.

Thursday, January 25, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Eastern – Green in the Winterscape, Online

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A surprising number of plants remain green through the winter; lichens, mosses and liverworts, ferns, ericaceous shrubs and evergreen trees, and many more. Which plants stay green, how, and why? In this Native Plants Trust online class on January 25, you will learn how to recognize and identify the groups of evergreen plants and explore evolutionary and strategies for year-round foliage. Neela de Zoysa is the instructor. $45 for NPT members, $54 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/green-winterscape/

Please note: NPT does not make video or audio recordings of classes or programs available after the fact, because they believe education is interactive, with instructors and students building a community and culture of learning. Some programs may be recorded strictly for instructor-training purposes. Please visit this page to review this and other FAQs about the policies.

Tim Johnson Named Chief Executive Officer of Native Plant Trust

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The Board of Trustees of Native Plant Trust today announced the appointment of Tim Johnson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. Johnson joins Native Plant Trust from Smith College, where he was Director of the Botanic Garden and Professor of Practice.

Johnson will lead the conservation and horticulture organization, including 45-acre Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA; Nasami Farm, a native plant nursery in Whately, MA; and expanded seed-processing and storage facilities
to support the new Northeast Seed Network, a regional initiative led by Native Plant Trust to create a sustainable source of seed to meet the increased demand for native plants. Johnson brings a background in environmental horticulture and biological science to a long-standing career in conservation and botanic garden administration and leadership, pillars of Native Plant Trust’s mission and organization.

At Smith College, Johnson expanded the impact of scientific programming and conservation science research, mentorship and education. He oversaw the financial management of the renowned botanic garden, and guided the development of organizational vision in alignment with mission. He grew the botanic garden’s fundraising capacity, led strategic planning including the first comprehensive plan in its 128-year history, and restructured and strengthened internal and external communications. He modernized links to the college curriculum, oversaw membership growth, audience diversification and founded the garden’s germplasm conservation collections by partnering with Botanic Gardens Conservation International. Prior to his role at Smith, Johnson was Head of Preservation and

Seed Bank Manager at Seed Savers Exchange, an international non-profit that stewards America’s culturally diverse and endangered garden and food crop legacy through the preservation and collection of 27,000 heirloom seed varieties.

A native of Wisconsin, Johnson focused his studies on biology and environmental horticulture, earning a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire and a PhD in environmental horticulture from the University of Florida. The appointment is the culmination of a national search, and follows the retirement of Executive Director Debbi Edelstein in January 2024 after fifteen years of distinguished service to the organization. Johnson will begin his role as CEO at Native Plant Trust on January 29, 2024.

Debbi Edelstein to Retire as Executive Director of Native Plant Trust

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Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants, announced on December 8 that Debbi Edelstein will be retiring as executive director at the end of January after fifteen years of service. The organization is concluding a nationwide search for her successor and is expected to make an announcement shortly. Edelstein has led the 30-person nonprofit since February 2009 and has inspired her team to significant achievements and new initiatives in conservation, ecological horticulture, and education. Edelstein’s many accomplishments reflect her lifelong commitment to making the world a better place. During her tenure, the organization expanded its work to save rare and endangered plants, undertook important restoration projects, developed the first master plan for the 45-acre Garden in the Woods in Framingham, Massachusetts, and launched the nation’s first online botany courses a decade ago. She also set a research agenda that resulted in the publication of the Go Botany website, four books, and two major research reports, “The State of New England’s Native Plants” (2015) and “Conserving Plant Diversity in New England” (2022).

In addition, she developed a successful new business model for the native plant nursery in Whately, MA, and expanded seed- processing and storage facilities to support the new Northeast Seed Network, a regional initiative led by Native Plant Trust to create a sustainable source of seed to meet the increased demand for native plants in the restoration and nursery sectors.
She is the lead author of Native Plant Trust’s new fifteen-year vision document, which describes the organization’s opportunities—and obligations—in addressing the twin environmental crises of our era, climate change and the loss of biodiversity.

Sunday, November 19, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm – Your Story in Seeds

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Hudson Valley-based artist-miniaturist Sergey Jivetin will once again bring his seed stories project to Garden in the Woods on November 19 at 11. Sergey will hand-engrave seeds with illustrations based on narratives about plants and their deep connection with farmers, seed savers, naturalists and enthusiast gardeners who nurture and preserve them. If you would like to share your personal story of such a relationship between plants and people, bring a relevant seed and Sergey will illustrate your individual story into it. 

There will be a limited number of customized seed engravings created for people who would like to bring sentimental seeds and share a relevant story. For this first-come, first-serve program, you must sign up in advance for your 45-minute time slot. $26 for NPT members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/your-stories-seeds/

Saturday, October 28, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Vines and Creepers

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Wetland and disturbed areas are often a tangle of woody and herbaceous vines, creepers, brambles, and briars. Ever wondered about the differences among these groups of plants and how they twine, creep, climb, and scramble? Learn to identify a dozen species on this easy walk through successional vegetation. This field trip is sponsored by Native Plant Trust and will be led by Neela de Zoysa on October 28 from 2 – 4 at Wolbach Farm in Sudbury. The Farm is a Sudbury Valley Trustees property. $30 for NPT members, $36 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/vines-and-creepers/ Wear long pants.

Thursday, October 26 – Night of Illumination

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Save the date! Night of Illumination, the Native Plant Trust’s annual fall event exclusively for members, is right around the corner. On Thursday, October 26, Garden in the Woods will be lit by more than 1,000 luminaria and delightful displays, especially for members of Native Plant Trust. We are finalizing logistics and all will be revealed very soon. The parking lots, shuttle buses, and food truck have been booked, volunteers are being recruited, and the design of the lighting arrangements is underway. Each time slot and parking option will have limited availability. Remember, this special event is just for members so the Native Plant Trust encourages you to join or renew now to enjoy intriguing sights on your nocturnal stroll. Personal level members will be able to buy tickets for Night of Illumination up to the guest limit specified by your membership. Photo courtesy of Susan McIntyre.

Sunday, October 1, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Bog Plants

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One of Thoreau’s beloved landscapes, referenced often in his writings, Gowing’s Swamp is a rare and beautiful bog in a kettle hole below a glacial ridge in Concord, Massachusetts. Neela de Zoysa of the Native Plant Trust will walk the loop around the bog and explore the thriving community of northern bog plants such as pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), bog rosemary (Andromeda polifolia), bog laurel (Kalmia polifolia), small cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos), large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon), and black spruce (Picea mariana). The field trip takes place Sunday October 1 from 1 – 3 at Gowing’s Swamp, a Sudbury Valley Trustees Property. $30 for NPT members, $36 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/bog-plants/

Tuesdays, October 3, 10, 17, & 24, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Autumn Watercolor at Garden in the Woods

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How well do you really see, how closely do you really observe the natural world? In order to become more aware of the natural world around us, to slow down and begin to really observe and expand our visual intelligence, we will start to capture those observations with art making. Inspired by the season, through this four-part Native Plant Trust course, students will learn different techniques in painting native plants in watercolor during the beautiful autumn foliage. Please note that students will need to purchase or bring their own watercolor supplies. $180 (NPT members) $216 (nonmembers). Sepi Golestani (below) is the instructor. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/autumn-watercolor-garden-woods/

Friday, September 25, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Asters after Hours

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Enjoy harvest libations while listening to music on a beautiful autumn evening in the Garden in the Woods on Friday, September 29 from 5 – 7. Stroll the Garden after hours to observe the season’s stunning asters, goldenrods, and cardinal flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) in the evening glow. Learn about the plants used to create the event’s featured beverages. Included with this event are garden access, entertainment, learning opportunities, and light food.  $30 for NPT members, $36 for nonmembers. As with all events in the age of COVID-19, please confirm prior to the event. Register online at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/asters-after-hours/