Boston Flora

Tag: New York Botanical Garden

  • Thursday, May 21, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm – Psychedelic Mushrooms Webinar

    Discover the power, the allure, and the science of psychedelic mushrooms during an online class sponsored by the New York Botanical Garden on May 21 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Food journalist and former president of the New York Mycological Society, Eugenia Bone, author of Mycophilia, will discuss the biology of these potent fungi, their cultural history, and contemporary use and regulation in the U.S., as well as the efforts underway to decriminalize and utilize them in therapeutic practice. NYBG members $45, nonmembers $55. Register at www.nybg.org.

  • New York Botanical Garden Offering Online Classes

    Our thanks to member Penny Cherubino (http://bostonzest.com) for alerting us to an expansion of online learning experiences offered by the New York Botanical Garden during this Covid-19 stay at home period. During challenging times, the power of plants connects people and provides inspiration more than ever. While the Garden’s gates may be closed temporarily, their virtual gates are wide open. Stay connected with NYBG at Home, a new content hub featuring videos, plant guides, virtual events, recipes for kids, and so much more. As spring unfolds, they will bring you the brightness and color of the season, a reminder of how the natural world brings us joy. Access the full schedule at https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home/

  • Tuesday, March 19 – Thursday, March 21, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Drawing Nature: Treasures From the Sea

    Find inspiration from nature’s treasures found at the seashore. Bring to life the beauty of shells, pebbles and other wondrous shapes. Explore their structure and intricate details and learn how to create the silky shine of seaweed, surface of driftwood and other textural surfaces. Make graphite studies of your specimens and find out how to select the right tonal values to give form to a white shell or black pebble. From graphite sketches to realistic renderings, create a fun-filled page of beach treasures. Students of all levels are welcome to register for this three day Berkshire Botanical Garden class on March 19 – 21 from 10 – 4. $340 for members of BBG, $375 for nonmembers. A materials list and registration link may be found at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/drawing-nature-treasures-seashore

    Carol Ann Morley is an illustrator and dedicated teacher of botanical illustration working in Dover, NH. She founded the Botanical Art Illustration Certificate Program at the New York Botanical Garden and teaches illustration there and at other major botanical gardens.

    Image result for shells of marine organisms

  • Saturday, January 19, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Introduction to Botanical Art and Illustration

    Botanical artist Bobbi Angell will lead a class in botanical art and illustration on Saturday, January 19 from 9 – 4 at the Lyman Conservatory at the Smith College Botanic Garden, 16 College Lane in Northampton.  Free parking passes will be provided. Registration deadline is January 7. Learning to draw while learning to observe increases one’s knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the world of plants. Botanical artist Bobbi Angell will guide participants through the process of creating an illustration that defines and depicts a particular species. Using pressed herbarium specimens and preserved flowers, participants will design a composition with a plant habit and dissected flowers and enlarged details, with a layout intended for publication or framing. Sketches can be inked or colored afterwards. Bring your hand lens, pencils and erasers; plant material and paper will be provided. The only prerequisites are curiosity and expandable interest in plants.

    Instructor Bobbi Angell draws plants for scientists at The New York Botanical Garden, Harvard University, and other institutions for floras and monographs. Ongoing work features illustrations of neotropical species new to science. To view her work, visit http://www.bobbiangell.com. She is co-author of A Botanist’s Vocabulary (Timber Press).

    Bobbi is the artist for the current logo for the New England Botanical Club. NEBC member price $30, nonmembers $60. Register at http://www.rhodora.org/whatsnew.html

    Image result for a botanist's vocabulary

  • Sunday, November 11, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Rooted in Place: 3rd Annual Ecological Gardening Symposium

    This full-day program on November 11 at the Berkshire School in Sheffield focuses on managing the landscape sustainably, led by Neil Diboll, Jeff Lowenfels, Lee Buttala, and Dr. Robert J. Gegear. Please join us as we hear from the experts on topics relevant to all gardeners and growers.

    Neil Diboll: The American Garden: A Life or Death Situation

    Our gardens and landscapes are becoming increasingly important refuges for pollinators, birds, butterflies and other creatures as their former habitats disappear. Diboll will focus on the evolution of the American garden from solely a creation for enjoyment of the owners to becoming a biodiverse refuge for native plants and animals. He will share a step-by-step approach that will provide you with “tried and true” methods to convert a small area to a prairie garden or a large acreage to a beautiful meadow.

    A pioneer in the native plant industry and recognized internationally as an expert in native plant community ecology, Neil Diboll has guided the growth of Prairie Nursery for 30 years. He has dedicated his life to the propagation of native plants and their promotion as uniquely beautiful, ecologically beneficial and sustainable solutions for landscapes and gardens. In 2013 Neil was the recipient of the Great American Gardeners Award from the American Horticultural Society.

    Jeff Lowenfels: Teaming With Microbes and Fungi: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web

    No one ever fertilizes the Redwoods. How did these trees live over 500 years and grow to 380 feet without Miracle-Gro or other chemicals? In an extremely humorous and entertaining presentation, Jeff Lowenfels will tell you and show you how to successfully use the very same natural principles to maintain your yard and grow your gardens. No more chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other nasty chemicals and a lot less work as Jeff shows you how to team with the microbes in your soil! After just one extremely painless and entertaining hour even the ‘reluctant spouse’ will never use chemicals again. As more and more professionals in all aspects of horticulture are learning about the benefits of mycorrhizal fungi, these symbiotic fungi are becoming readily available to the public as a whole. All gardeners and growers need to learn about mycorrhizal fungi and how to use them as they make a huge, beneficial difference in so many ways. This talk gives you all you need to know, plus a few laughs. Jeff Lowenfels is the author of a trilogy of award winning books on plants and soil, and he is the longest running garden columnist in North America. Lowenfels is a national lecturer as well as a fellow, hall of fame member, and former president of the Garden Writers of America.

    Lee Buttala: The Return of the Species

    In a horticultural and agricultural universe where hybrids and vegetative propagation have become commonplace, the biodiversity of many species is being bottlenecked even by those with the best of intentions. In this talk about how to maintain the genetic breadth of species and varieties that allow them to adapt and evolve to local conditions and weather change, Lee Buttala advocates for the importance and ease of growing many of these plants from open-pollinated seed. Citing examples he has learned from writing about seed saving in relation to his work on the preservation of heirloom vegetables at Seed Savers Exchange, Buttala sets forward a simple approach to how we can all contribute to biodiversity in our own backyards, whether we are growing natives, vegetables or ornamental plants, in a manner which is economically and environmentally sound and satisfying, not to mention cost-effective and fun. Learn to preserve the biodiversity of the plant kingdom, one seed at a time.

    Lee Buttala is the Executive Director of Seed Savers Exchange, a seed bank dedicated to the sharing and saving of seeds that define America’s food and garden heritage, and the only non-governmental organization storing seed at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Formerly the director of marketing communications for BBG and the Preservation Manager for the Garden Conservancy, he is also the Chair of the Historic Landscapes Committee of the APGA. He was the Emmy-Award winning garden television producer for Martha Stewart Living, the creator of PBS’s Cultivating Life and editor of the award-winning book: The Seed Garden: The Art and Practice of Saving Seed. He also writes a weekly garden column for the Berkshire Edge and sits on the board of Hollister House Garden in Washington, CT. He studied garden design at the Chelsea Physick Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Kyoto School of Art and Design.

    Dr. Robert J. Gegear: Humming a Different Tune: An Ecological Approach to Native Pollinator Conservation
    Pollinators are declining at an unprecedented rate worldwide due to human-induced rapid environmental change. These declines pose a significant threat to our food supply and consequently, there has been major focus on the development and implementation of conservation strategies to maintain pollination services to crop plants. However, the overwhelming majority of current strategies do not consider the keystone role that pollinators play in natural ecosystems, making them an ineffective tool for maintaining and restoring biodiversity. Dr. Robert Gegear of WPI Department of Biology and Biotechnology, and Director of the New England Bee-cology Project, researches and presents on the importance of developing an ecologically-focused approach to developing and maintaining your garden, citing examples from his ongoing field research in Massachusetts. Dr. Robert J. Gegear is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Biotechnology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the Director of the New England Bee-cology Project. Dr. Gegear’s current research focuses on Pollinator neuroecology and conservation, with particular focus on bumblebees native to Massachusetts.

    Sponsored by the Berkshire Botanical Garden, Red Lion Inn, Berkshire School, and the Seed Savers Exchange

    Tuition ($95 for BBG members, $105 for nonmembers) includes lunch. Register at www.berkshirebotanical.org.

    Image result for the seed garden the art and practice of seed saving

  • Monday & Tuesday, August 6 & 7, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Basic Drawing: Observing Nature with Graphite Pencil

    Drawing is a great way to observe nature and have fun recording what you see. However, it may cease to be fun if you aren’t sure about how to begin or can’t achieve the likeness of your subject that you would like. This Berkshire Botanical Garden two-day drawing workshop on August 6 & 7 will give you the basic concepts and skills to get started. Under the guidance of Carol Ann Morley you will learn how to look at the natural world and give shape and definition to your subject. Through graphite shading techniques you will understand how to accurately render some basic shapes that underlie any subject you choose to draw from a plant to landscape, giving depth and meaning to your art. Open to any level student from beginner to those with drawing skills.

    Bring a bag lunch. Materials list and registration at www.berkshirebotanical.org

    Carol Ann Morley is an illustrator and dedicated teacher of botanical illustration working in Dover, NH. She founded the Botanical Art Illustration Certificate Program at the New York Botanical Garden and teaches illustration there and at other botanical gardens.

    Advance registration is highly recommended, but walk-ins are always welcome, space permitting. $225 for BBG members, $250 for nonmembers.

    Withdrawals: To withdraw your registration from a class, please contact us as soon as possible so we can make your space available to others. If you give us at least 7 days’ notice prior to the event, we will refund you less an administrative fee equaling 25% of the program cost. Please note: we cannot offer refunds for withdrawals fewer than 7 days before a class.

    Image result for Carol Ann Morley graphite drawing

  • Wednesday, May 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Evoking Nature: Form and Function on the High Line

    Wednesday, May 2, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Evoking Nature: Form and Function on the High Line

    The High Line in Manhattan was born of a city that is constantly reinventing itself. Built on a mile-and-a-half long elevated railroad, this dynamic landscape was inspired by the tenacity of plants in its industrial setting, and it uses a matrix of perennial and woody plants to evoke a natural landscape. Wildly successful and overwhelmingly popular, caring for this garden in the sky poses unique challenges. Andi will describe how her team uses traditional and innovative horticultural techniques, how they work to promote the park’s biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and how they foster an emotional connection to nature in this challenging urban environment.

    As Director of Horticulture for the Friends of the High Line, Andi Pettis leads a world-class team of gardeners who care for this beloved elevated park in Manhattan. Andi’s horticulture career in New York City spans nearly two decades, including work in both private and public garden settings, park management, and teaching at the New York Botanical Garden. Join Grow Native Massachusetts on Wednesday, May 2 at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, at 7 pm for a free lecture featuring Andi Pettis. For more information visit http://www.grownativemass.org/programs/eveningswithexperts. Photo by Liz Ligon of Ms. Pettis carrying a tote bag designed for the Friends of the High Line by Diane von Furstenburg.

  • Friday, April 6, 6:45 pm – New England Lichens: Leveraging Past Riches to Understanding the Present and Future

    The New England Botanical Club Distinguished Speaker, Dr. James Lendemer, will speak on Friday, April 6 at 6:45 pm in the Haller Lecture Hall, Room 102, Geological Museum, 24 Oxfore Street in Cambridge. Dr. Lendemer is Assistant Curator, Lichenology, Institute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, and Assistant Professor, Department of Biology Graduate Center, City University of New York. His topic is New England Lichens: Leveraging Past Riches to Understanding the Present and Future. Dr. Lendemer says: “As the staff lichenologist and an assistant curator in the Institute of Systematic Botany, I spearhead a diverse program of research and education focused on lichens—symbiotic fungi that are often considered to be the equivalent of corals on land. I oversee the curation of the lichen collection at New York Botanical Garden, the largest such collection in the western hemisphere, and one that serves scientists and land managers worldwide by providing access to unique high quality data. My research focuses on understanding the biodiversity of lichens in North America, while simultaneously working with collaborative partners to develop and implement conservation strategies that will safeguard those species for future generations.” Free and open to the public. For more information visit www.rhodora.org.

  • Thursday, March 29, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Vegetable Gardening: Planning, Preparing and Maintaining Your Victory Garden

    “There’s nothing like knowing exactly how the vegetables you eat were grown. You can take complete control by establishing your own vegetable garden. And maybe even share with your children the magic of growing their own dinner. What I have learned over the years is that careful planning and preparation can take vegetable gardening from drudgery to fun. So I emphasize the planning of everything from size, location and style of vegetable garden to the need to prepare that garden for success while acknowledging that Mother Nature will always have the final say.”

    After a career begun as a chemist, Betty Sanders found her interests taking her in a new direction—gardening. She studied at the New York Botanical Garden, New England Wild Flower Society, and others on the way to becoming a Master Gardener. Her gardens have been featured on tours by the Garden Conservancy. Betty finds herself increasingly focused on techniques to reduce the use of man-made chemicals in gardening and landscaping. Her current home garden is a grass-free two acres filled with native trees, shrubs and perennials. She is passionate the many opportunities offered by container gardening and as an avid vegetable gardener, is currently in her eighth year of managing her hometown’s community garden. Betty will speak at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society on Thursday, March 29 at 7 pm.

    $12 Mass Hort members, $20 general admission. To register, visit http://www.masshort.org/

  • Sunday, October 29, 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm – The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Frontier Landscapes that Inspired the Little House Books

    This year is the 150th anniversary of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthday. Her classic coming-of-age story, told through the beloved Little House books, still resonates today as an iconic story of American identity. The inspiration for Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books was born from a life lived in partnership with the land, on homesteads she and her family settled across the Midwest. Marta McDowell’s new book, The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder, is a revealing exploration of the pioneer writer’s deep connection with the natural world. Following the trail of the Little House series (from Wisconsin to the Dakotas to Missouri) the best-selling author shares intimate details about Wilder and the plants, creatures, and landscapes that are so integral to her stories, they are practically their own characters.

    Featuring the beloved illustrations from the original books and hundreds of historical and contemporary photographs, The World of Ingalls Wilder is a must-have treasure for anyone enchanted by Laura’s wild and beautiful life.

    Marta McDowell lives, gardens, and writes in Chatham, New Jersey. She teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden, where she studied landscape design. Her particular interest is in authors and their gardens, the connection between the pen and the trowel. Her previous books include Beatrix Potter’s Gardening Life, Emily Dickinson’s Gardens, and All the Presidents’ Gardens. This event will take place at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, on Sunday, October 29 at 12:30, and is free with admission to the garden. For more information visit www.towerhillbg.org.