Boston Flora

Tag: Native Plant Trust

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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    Screenshot

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

    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.

  • Wednesday, February 12, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Eastern – So You Want Less Lawn …

    Many of us have heard that reducing or replacing a turf lawn can benefit us and wildlife. Join this online Native Plant Trust class with Marie Chieppo on February 12 at 5 pm Eastern to gain pragmatic perspectives about how to approach this process. We will discuss organic-based turf removal and the vital role of living soil. We will also consider how to work with alternative grasses, meadow-style plantings, or a mixed composition. Along the way, we will draw inspiration from case studies that showcase different plant palettes and planting styles. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/so-you-want-less-lawn/ $17 NPT members, $20 nonmembers.

  • Thursday, January 30, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern – Black Ash Conservation in New England, Online

    Black ash (Fraxinus nigra) is directly under threat by the emerald ash borer. Recently, Native Plant Trust has received funding to collect seed from black ash populations in northern New England for conservation purposes. This January 30 online course will summarize those findings, along with black ash general ecology, habitat and identification information, cultural importance, and conservation considerations. Led by Erik Sechler, the session is $26 for NPT members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/black-ash-conservation-in-new-england/

  • Wednesday, January 22, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm – The Native Plant Trust Herbarium: Writing the Unknown

    The Native Plant Trust herbarium–an assemblage of dried, pressed plants with details about time and place of collection–contains more than 6,000 specimens, many of which are scientifically interesting, beautiful, and more than a century old. Drawing on our backgrounds in natural history, literature, and interdisciplinary writing, Native Plant Trust staff members Kate Wellspring and Giffen Maupin will facilitate a conversation about some of our herbarium’s most thought-provoking specimens. Workshop participants will then write in response to these specimens. Our writing experiments will focus on strategies for engaging with botanical texts where information is missing and questions abound. The session takes place at Garden in the Woods in Framingham on January 22 from 5 – 8, and is $51 for NPT members, $60 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/the-native-plant-trust-herbarium-writing-the-unknown/

  • Saturday, December 7, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm – Making Evergreen Arrangements with Native Plants

    December is a dark month and makes us crave light and color. In this December 7 Native Plant Trust class at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, we will create evergreen arrangements to brighten our spirits. There will be an emphasis on creating a visually pleasing arrangement as we both repeat and vary flower shapes, sizes, and colors. We will also appreciate the wonderful variety of evergreen textures. Please join us to discover the breadth and depth of your creativity. $51 for NPT members, $60 for nonmembers. Annette Huskins will instruct. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/making-evergreen-arrangements-with-native-plants/