Despite being (perhaps) less showy than many flowering plants, liverworts—a group of rather diminutive, non-vascular plants that are closely related to the mosses—nonetheless play a critical role in the functioning of countless ecosystems, including many that are found in New England. This online Native Plant Trust class on September 4 at 6 pm Eastern will introduce the biology of liverworts and examine the ecological role played by these plants. Additionally, we will discuss a select assortment of liverwort species that can be found growing in New England. $25. Samuel Gilvarg will instruct. Register at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/an-introduction-to-the-liverworts-of-new-england/
*A recording of this class will be available to all registrants for two weeks after the class.
In this August 24 Native Plant Trust workshop at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, we will learn the basics of natural dyeing using many of the New England native plants that grow around us. We will tap into the energy of this current season, and get to know each of the materials we will be working with. Participants will learn to build a dye bath, how to harvest plants respectfully, and more. Beginners warmly welcomed! $45. Sign up at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/coaxing-color-from-plants-seasonal-connection-through-natural-dyes/. The instructor is Maggie Ruth Haaland.
Native Plant Trust, the nation’s first plant conservation organization dedicated exclusively to native plants, proudly announces the celebration of its 125th anniversary. As part of this milestone, the organization will honor acclaimed climate scientist Dr. Jonathan Foley, executive director of Project Drawdown, with its prestigious Founders’ Medal at a gala in Boston this fall. This 125th anniversary marks both a historic legacy and a bold vision for the future—one grounded in the belief that native plants are essential to solving the climate and biodiversity crises.
The 125th Anniversary Gala will take place on Tuesday, September 30 from 6 – 9 at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston. In addition to honoring Dr. Foley, Native Plant Trust will recognize longtime supporters Abby and Peter Coffin for their extraordinary contributions to the organization’s mission. The Coffins embrace the principles of Native Plant Trust with inspiration, sincerity, and generosity of spirit. Together, they are tireless advocates for protecting and conserving the land and waterways of our nation. The evening’s theme, “Sowing the Seeds for Our Future,” reflects Native Plant Trust’s enduring commitment to ecological resilience through native plant conservation. A limited number of tickets are available for purchase at https://www.nativeplanttrust.org/125th-anniversary/125th-anniversary-gala/
Connect with your creative impulses in this exclusive deep-listening workshop, facilitated by sound designer and 2025 Visiting Artist Skooby Laposky. Discover the unheard patterns and activities at Garden in the Woods, and practice using geophones, parabolic mics, and other listening tools that Skooby uses for his nature-based sound projects.
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.
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/
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.
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.
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.
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.
