Native Plant Trust

Tuesday, January 24, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Natural Community Mapping of the Sanctuaries, Online

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Native Plant Trust owns and conserves seven native plant sanctuaries throughout New England, each of which boasts unique natural communities. Join us online on January 24 at 1 pm for a detailed look at the natural-community mapping process, which encompasses how we research the plants in the field, record them using digital mapping tools, identify and classify the community types, and use the information to create conservation strategies.

Erik Sechler will speak. Prior to joining Native Plant Trust, Bud worked with Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program as an ecological information specialist and county inventory ecologist, and with New York Natural Heritage Program as an ecologist specializing in natural community ecology, avian habitat ecology, and vegetation mapping. He has more than 10 years’ experience working for a Natural Heritage Program and NatureServe as an ecologist and has also worked with Manomet and The Trustees of Reservations on Martha’s Vineyard. He holds a master’s degree in Conservation Biology from Antioch New England University, where he studied habitat modeling of Louisiana Waterthrush in southern New Hampshire, and a pre-medicine degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His professional interests include avian, natural community and conservation ecology, rare plant ecology, conservation and management, habitat assessment, and invasive plant ecology and management.

$12 for NPT members, $15 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/natural-community-mapping-sanctuaries/

Saturdays, January 21 – February 4, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Conservation Biology, Online

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This Native Plant Trust introduction to conservation biology and biodiversity three part online course covers the factors that make a species vulnerable to extinction and the strategies and tools that can be used to protect plants and ecosystems. The course explores the interdisciplinary nature of conservation biology through readings, group exercises, and video clips. Participants receive a bibliography of resources for further study. George LoCascio is the instructor. Classes will take place Tuesdays, January 21, January 28, and February 4 from 10:00 – 2.. $216 for NPT members, $264 for nonmembers. Register at www.nativeplanttrust.org.

Thursdays, January 12 & 19, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Navigating Public Design, Online

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Community spaces are exciting projects to envision and realize. In this Native Plants Trust live online class with Staci Jasin, you will learn a process for bringing stakeholders together to collaborate in creating outdoor spaces that are equitable, meaningful and useful for all. We will explore how to use your creative ideas to build partnerships, fund raise, overcome obstacles, and draw visitors to your public landscape, with an emphasis on the creation of spaces that are both ecologically and operationally sustainable. The two session class takes place January 12 and 19 from 6:30 – 8:30. NPT members, $60, nonmembers $72. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/navigating-public-design/

Friday, November 18, 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm – Propagation: Native Seeds

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In this Native Plant Trust interactive workshop on November 18 at Nasami Farm, 128 North Street in Whately from 12:30 – 4, we will learn how to grow native plants from seed and why the skill is relevant in a horticultural context.

Topics covered include:

  • Germination requirements
  • Seed cleaning
  • Seed-sowing techniques for many of our native species

We will also cover proper wild collection protocols and venture into the field to collect some common native species found here at Nasami Farm.

Instructor: Alexis Doshas, Propagator and Facilities Coordinator, Nasami Farm, Native Plant Trust

Tickets: $72 Members  –  $88 Non-Members. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/propagation-native-seeds/

Wednesday, November 16, 10:00 pm – 11:00 pm – Finding Your Environmental Ethic, Online

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Now is the time to join the Conservation Circle or be a Sustainer Member of the Native Plant Trust. At those levels, you are invited to an online webinar on November 16 at 10 am.

Why should we care about the environment? In this online introductory webinar, you will learn four philosophical models of human relationship with nature in order to gain deeper understanding of your own and others’ environmental ethics.

We will consider our roles and the ways obligation to our surroundings forms the foundation of efforts such as recycling, preservation of endangered species, and habitat restoration.

Instructor Dr. Kendy Hess is the Brake Smith Associate Professor in Social Philosophy and Ethics at College of the Holy Cross focusing on environmental law and ethics. With a background in philosophy and previous practice in environmental law, Dr. Hess is one of the leading international scholars on corporate moral responsibility, on which she has published widely.

RSVP by Friday, November 11 to specialevents@NativePlantTrust.org, or call 508-877-7630 x 3104. For membership information visit http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/support/member-benefits/


Thursday, November 10, 10:00 am – The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America Fall Lecture and Luncheon: The Importance of Conserving Plant Diversity in New England

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As Director of Conservation, Michael Piantedosi leads the Native Plant Trust’s internationally recognized Conservation Department, which focuses on saving imperiled plants, restoring habitat, and documenting the state of New England’s plants. Michael oversees a team of conservation staff and many of the 1,500 trained volunteers who work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect
and control invasive species, and conduct research. Michael is active in the Center for Plant Conservation network where the Native Plant Trust acts as a Participating Institution (PI). He is also the point of contact for listing New England rare plants on the IUCN Red List (the international list of rare and endangered species). Prior to joining NPT, Michael was Curatorial Horticulturalist at the Museum of Science, Boston, and held positions at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm and the
Center for Freshwater Biology. He recently co-authored the landmark publication ‘Conserving Plant Diversity in New England,’
” a collaboration of NPT and the Nature Conservancy. The Boston Committee of The Garden Club of America invites its members to the Fall Lecture and Luncheon on November 10 beginning with a reception at 10 am, the lecture at 10:30, and luncheon at 11:30, at The Country Club in Brookline. Club members will receive an invitation through Eventbrite. For more information visit https://bostoncommitteegca.org/

Wednesday, November 2 & Thursday, November 3, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Need for Seed: A Strategy for the Northeast, Online

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This two-day Native Plants Trust symposium on November 2 and 3 focuses on establishing a groundbreaking network of native seed users and producers in New England, including government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Speakers (to be announced) from other parts of the country will share success factors in establishing a native seed network and discuss strategy, logistics, and tasks, from seed collection and storage to the uses of seed in restoration and nursery cultivation. NPT members $120, $144 nonmembers. Register and learn more details at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/symposium-need-seed-strategy-northeast/

Wednesday, November 2 and Thursday, November 3, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm – Symposium: Need For Seed – A Strategy for the Northeast, Live Virtual

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This two-day Native Plant Trust symposium on November 2 and 3 from 10 – 3 (one hour reserved for lunch) focuses on establishing a groundbreaking network of native seed users and producers in New England, including government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Speakers (to be announced) from other parts of the country will share success factors in establishing a native seed network and discuss strategy, logistics, and tasks, from seed collection and storage to the uses of seed in restoration and nursery cultivation. Please visit http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/symposium-need-seed-strategy-northeast-class/ for details and to register. $120 for NPT members, $144 for nonmembers.

Thursday, October 27, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Night of Illumination at Garden in the Woods

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Night of Illumination is back and tickets are on sale now! All Native Plant Trust personal members are eligible to purchase tickets to our annual members-only fall event, Night of Illumination. Stroll along paths at Garden in the Woods lit by more than 1,000 luminaria on Thursday, October 27, 2022. There will be food for purchase brought to the Garden by Anzio’s Brick Oven Pizzeria food truck. Join us for this wonderful evening filled with intriguing sights and seasonal strolls.

Tickets must be purchased online and in advance. There will be no on-site ticket sales on the night of the event. 

Adults – $14.00 (18+)

Children – $7.00 (6-17)

Children 5 and under – free 

Parking for Night of Illumination will be available at Hemenway Elementary School (729 Water Street, Framingham, MA 01701), Potter Road Elementary School (492 Potter Road, Framingham, MA 01701), King Elementary School (454 Water Street, Framingham, MA 01701), and Cameron Middle School (215 Elm Street, Framingham, MA 01701). There will be a continuous shuttle bus service throughout the evening to bring you to and from the Garden.

Night of Illumination is an exclusive event for Native Plant Trust members and their guests, but tickets will go quickly. Get your tickets today!

Saturday, October 22, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm – Rare Species Require Rare Habitats

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Did you know that roughly half of the endangered terrestrial species in our region make their homes in fire-adapted ecosystems; or that bobolink need a minimum of 10 acres of open grass-dominated habitat to nest? Rare species often require more than just the right plants, they require the right ecosystem. Join Dan Jaffe Wilder, Director of Applied Ecology at Norcross Wildlife Foundation in Wales, Massachusetts for a walking tour of the Norcross grounds while he discusses some of the unique habitats that Norcross is working to build, enhance, and restore on its 8000-acre wildlife sanctuary. With an emphasis on landscape maintenance and species composition this walk-and-talk will provide attendees with details about what habitat construction looks like on the large scale as well as what tools can be used on our own home landscapes to accomplish similar goals in our own backyards. The Native Plant Trust field trip costs $30 for NPT members, $38 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.nativeplanttrust.org/events/rare-species-require-rare-habitats/

Spiranthes vernalis