Barnstable Great Marsh is an integral part of the ecologically significant 3,800-acre Sandy Neck salt marsh and barrier beach system. Join Michael Piantedosi on Sunday, August 26 from 10 – 1 to explore this critical coastal ecosystem and learn about its resident flora. This New England Wild Flower Society outing is $28 for NEWFS members, $35 for nonmembers, and is an easy to moderate walk. Register online at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/botany-in-the-salt-marsh
Dan Jaffe, coauthor of Native Plants for New England Gardens, wants to teach you how to create lovely, low-maintenance gardens that support biodiversity and thrive in New England. This handy guide to more than 100 great native perennials, trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, and vines features practical information accompanied by beautiful color photography. Join him on Saturday, August 18 at 10:30 am for this informative discussion about native plants and all their garden uses–from plants to use instead of mulch to tough plants for urban gardens. The Urban Gardening Series is a set of lectures designed to help city dwellers grow healthy, sustainable, and beautiful gardens. Led by New England Wild Flower Society in partnership with the Cambridge Conservation Commission, these free lectures take place at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA.
Explore the huge variety of native trees, shrubs, and woody vines. Learn which species grow well in shade, which support local wildlife, and how you should stagger your plantings for continuous bloom, fruit production, and fall color. We’ll discuss growth characteristics, cultural requirements, and best horticultural uses.
The three session Ecological Landscape Alliance course on Tuesdays, August 28 – September 11, will include lectures and walks in the Garden as well as a field trip to The Arnold Arboretum. Bring a bag lunch. Instructor Dan Jaffe is the propagator and stock bed grower at New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS) in Framingham, Massachusetts. He earned a degree in botany from the University of Maine and an advanced certificate in Native Plant Horticulture and Design from NEWFS. After interning at Garden in the Woods, Dan worked for a year as Plant Sales Coordinator at the Garden. The classes will take place at Garden in the Woods in Framingham, and are $170 for ELA members, $200 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/native-woody-plant-materials/
Through a power point presentation, a close look at herbarium specimens, and a foray into the field, this August 11 New England Wild Flower Society class will investigate the large and complex Polygonaceae family, whose many species in our region range in size from prostrate doorweeds (Polygonum aviculare) to the 12-foot giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis), and grow in a wide range of habitats. In the field, we will look for and identify a number of upland and wetland species in the Fallopi, Persicari, and Polygonum genera. Taught be Ted Elliman, this class at Garden in the Woods will run from 10 – 4 and is $80 for NEWFS members, $96 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/smartweeds-and-knotweeds-polygonaceae
In this hands-on New England Wild Flower Society workshop at Nasami Farm in Whatley on Saturday, August 11 from 10 – 2, we will explore the history and methodology of botanical cyanotype prints and create our own. Cyanotypes are an early photographic process using light-sensitive materials and sunlight to create unique and striking ‘blue prints’ or ‘sun prints.’ The process lends itself beautifully to the documentation of botanical specimens, both scientifically and artistically. The class will be led by Alexis Doshas and is $53 for NEWFS members, $64 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/native-botanical-cyanotype-print-workshop
“Lawns are a soul-crushing time suck” cries the media. Lawn covers more surface area of the U.S. than any other single irrigated crop, according to NASA. Lawns are resource-heavy, requiring irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive in our climate. Learn some of the best, environmentally friendly lawn alternatives for urban gardens. Mark Richardson will discuss Native Lawn Alternatives for Urban Spaces on Saturday, July 28 beginning at 10:30 am. The program is free. The Urban Gardening Series is a set of lectures designed to help city dwellers grow healthy, sustainable, and beautiful gardens. Led by New England Wild Flower Society in partnership with the Cambridge Conservation Commission, these free lectures take place at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA.
Discover numerous native perennials suitable for New England gardens. We’ll look at native herbaceous plants that bloom in late summer and fall, focusing on their characteristics and environmental preferences as well as their uses in landscapes and gardens. Be prepared to walk in the Garden each day. This New England Wild Flower Society two session class is appropriate for landscape professionals and avid home gardeners. The instructor is Leslie Duthie, and the classes will be held at Garden in the Woods on Thursdays, July 26 and August 30, from 1 – 3:30. $77 for NEWFS members, $91 for nonmembers. Register online at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/native-herbaceous-plant-materials-late-season-1
This two day New England Wild Flower Society workshop taught by Dorie Petrochko will introduce students to the fascinating world of drawing and painting birds. We will learn how to observe the structure and form of various bird species by field-sketching birds. A small field-painting kit with graphite pencils, micron pens, a small watercolor set, and colored pencils is all you will need to render successful bird studies. Hands-on demonstrations and individual guided instruction and critiques will be offered. Participants will produce a finished portrait of the bird of their choice in its habitat. The sessions will take place at Garden in the Woods on July 28 and 29 from 10:30 – 2:30. $100 for NEWFS members, $115 for nonmembers. Materials not included. Register at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/drawing-birds-in-their-habitats
Several common denominators define sustainable gardens everywhere. Comprehensive soil management, native plantings, water conservation, and reduced lawn size are some of the paths toward sustainable landscapes, regardless of climate or clientele. With the basics covered in other Ecological Landscape Alliance programs, join us on Tuesday, July 24 from 1 – 5 at Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemingway Street in Framingham, for the ELA Summer Workshop as we explore new strategies to add to the toolbox to save time, reduce your carbon footprint, and bring a tasty snack to your table as we continue our quest for more sustainable landscapes with some novel approaches.
Incredible Edibles – More Fruit for Your Labor
Ben Barkan
The lone patio tomato is now being supplanted by a sophisticated palette of edible options in landscape design. Rather than separate edible plants into a home orchard or vegetable garden, the aesthetics of many of these plant invite incorporation into borders and hedges. Imagine springtime cherry blossoms from fruiting cherries rather than the ornamental varieties; build multi-season interest with bountiful blueberries in summer followed by spectacular autumn foliage; and create unexpected winter interest from the purple-red vines of the thornless blackberry.
The Space In Between – Cover Cropping Reimagined
Anna Fialkoff
Farmers have known the advantages of cover-cropping for generations: erosion control; improved soil tilth; increased atmospheric nitrogen fixation; reduced nutrient leaching; support for beneficial soil organisms; improved water infiltration; and weed control. Recent experiments have been adopting the benefits of cover cropping in place of mulch in a horticulture setting to fill in between newly planted perennials or immature shrubs. Anna Fialkoff will discuss this cover cropping technique and explain the process and benefits of seeding nitrogen-fixing partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) in garden beds.
Adaptive Management –
Flexible Strategies to Guide Plant Growth in Naturalistic Landscapes
Nick Novick
Many techniques recommended for “weed control” often concentrate on complete removal or elimination — pulling or digging out, treating with herbicide, etc. Sometimes these measures are necessary, but in densely planted communities of native plants, sometimes these more time- and labor-intensive procedures aren’t really needed. Simply reducing the vigor of some plants by selective cutting or mowing might be enough to tip the balance to allow desirable plants to claim the space. This discussion will give an overview of some novel techniques for managing plant growth including timed mowing and cutting, removing seed heads, etc. Whereas more traditional landscapes are often managed to look essentially the same from year to year, plantings based on dense communities will often change over time. Along with specific field tactics, we’ll also touch on the mindset that is more accepting of a dynamic landscape and allows for flexible decision making about how to guide plant growth that responds to evolving conditions.
Rethinking Leaf Management at Garden in the Woods
Mark Richardson
For decades, the American landscape aesthetic has included a manicured lawn; meticulously “cleaned” garden beds; and an annual application of bark mulch (often artificially colored, sometimes not bark at all but ground construction debris, and usually hauled in from great distances). At the Garden in the Woods, horticultural staff have always taken a more environmental approach, collecting and chopping leaves to reapply to gardens in lieu of bark mulch. But in the past three years, the staff have modified the process further to be even more sustainable. The new strategies take into account both budgets and ecosystems and have had a positive impact on both. The fundamental shift includes a more natural approach to leaf management. Now the staff leave the majority of the leaves in place, further minimizing their carbon footprint. Mark Richardson will share tips and lessons learned as they have committed to leave the leaves, an ecological method which is both intriguing and achievable.
Panel Discussion
We wrap up the program with a panel discussion. The afternoon speakers will answer questions about these new strategies and will address audience questions as well.
Speaker Bios
Ben Barkan is the owner & founder of HomeHarvest, a Boston area landscape design company that creates edible landscapes of abundant, nutrient-dense produce in gardens that are aesthetically pleasing and function as resilient and regenerative ecosystems. Ben holds a degree in Sustainable Agriculture from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, is permaculture-design certified, and has worked on more than 35 organic farms in New England, California, Oregon, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and Costa Rica. With a rich set of experiences, Ben applies lessons learned to HomeHarvest’s unique custom garden installations.
Anna Fialkoff is an Ecological Horticulturist & Designer at Garden in the Woods, New England Wild Flower Society. She is a graduate of the Conway School of Landscape Design.
Nick Novick owns and operates Small Planet Landscaping, which provides environmentally responsible land-care services including design, installation, and maintenance of meadows, woodland gardens and other habitat types based on native-plant communities. Other services include home orchard care, and lawn fertility and weed management. In addition to his degree in Environmental Conservation, Nick is a graduate of the UMass Extension Green School; and is a Rhode Island/CRMS Coastal Invasive Plant Manager; and is the ELA representative on the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group. Nick is a former ELA board member and newsletter editor.
Mark Richardson oversees the New England Wildflower Society’s botanic garden, Garden in the Woods, and its native plant nursery operation, Nasami Farm, in Whately, Massachusetts. He studied ornamental horticulture at University of Rhode Island and helped run a mid-sized ornamental plant nursery before finding his true passion in public horticulture. He led undergraduate programs at Longwood Gardens, overhauled the curriculum of the Professional Gardener Program, and oversaw adult education at Brookside Gardens. In 2013, Mark assisted with the development of the first comprehensive master plan for Garden in the Woods. He holds an MS from the University of Delaware’s Longwood Graduate Program. Mark also serves as a Trustee on the ELA Board of Directors.
$30 for ELA members, $40 for nonmembers. Register online at https://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/summer-workshop-novel-approaches-to-sustainable-horticulture/
“I think that I shall never see/A poem lovely as a tree.” The trees of New England are both beautiful and an essential part of our flora. This New England Wild Flower Society course will introduce you to 25- 30 common New England trees, emphasizing tree identification as well as natural history. Bring a hand lens and a bag lunch. The first class, on July 23 from 10 – 2, will be held at Garden in the Woods; the second, on July 25, at an off-site location. $106 for NEWFS members, $128 for nonmembers. Register at http://www.newenglandwild.org/learn/our-programs/tree-identification
