Boston Flora

Tag: Planting in a Post-Wild World

  • Thursday, April 16, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Future Nature: Cultivating Resilience Amid Ecological Change, Online

    Vegetation is shifting in response to intensifying environmental pressures—from invasive species and habitat fragmentation to rising nutrient loads and imbalanced herbivore populations. Drawing from his firm Phyto Studio’s experience with high-visibility public projects, landscape architect Thomas Rainer shares actionable strategies for designing resilient plantings. Learn how to work with competitive dynamics, select vigorous native species, introduce designed stress through soil manipulation, and embrace adaptive management models that favor abundance. This talk offers a grounded path forward for planting in a rapidly changing world.

    Thomas Rainer is a leading voice in ecological landscape design, pioneering a plant systems approach that anticipates a changing future. As a registered landscape architect based in Arlington, Virginia, Thomas reimagines ecological planting for gardens and public spaces, focusing on merging ecology with horticulture to shape resilient, adaptive landscapes that address today’s environmental challenges. His career features signature designs at landmark locations such as the Battery Park, Toronto Botanical Garden, and The New York Botanical Garden. He has designed over 125 residential gardens spanning from Maine to Florida. Thomas has taught planting design for the George Washington University Landscape Design program, as well as design workshops globally. He is the co-author of the bestselling Planting in a Post-Wild World with Claudia West.

    This American Horticultural Society online talk will take place April 16 at 7 pm Eastern, and is $15 for AHS members and $20 for nonmembers. Register at www.ahsgardening.org

  • Thursday, February 24, 10:30 am – 11:30 am – Claudia West: Rebuilding Abundance

    Our cities and suburbs desperately need more inspiring, ecologically rich planting. Yet budgets are tight, and crews and gardeners are often unfamiliar with more diverse planting typologies. Claudia West will share the scientific models and hands-on techniques her landscape architecture firm, Phyto Studio, applies to tackle the maintenance challenge and create rich and stable planting. Come away with a new understanding of planting design and management, as well as a practical tool set for your next garden challenge.

    Claudia West, ASLA, is a leading voice in the field of ecological planting design. A widely sought speaker and consultant, she has worked as designer, grower, installer, and land manager-grounding innovative work in pragmatic solutions that address the realities of our urbanizing world. West holds a Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning from the Technical University of Munich and is co-author of the critically acclaimed Planting in a Post-Wild World.

    The New York Botanical Garden is sponsoring this February 24 lecture at the Ross Lecture Hall at the NYBG, 2900 Southern Boulevard in the Bronx. They are in the process of working on a hybrid, online option for their Winter Lecture Series, so if you are interested in hearing this talk, email adulted@nybg.org or call 718-817-8720. $32 for NYBG members, $35 for nonmembers.

  • Saturday, September 23, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm – Inspiration for Next Year’s Garden

    The Massachusetts Master Gardener Association announces Inspiration for Next Year’s Garden, the 2017 Massachusetts Gardening Symposium to be held Saturday, September 23 from 8:30 – 3:30 at Westford Academy in Westford, Massachusetts.  This year’s Symposium speakers come from diverse backgrounds and have different fields of gardening concentration, but all share one passion: teaching others.

    Thomas Rainer, author of Planting in a Post-Wild World, will speak on The Garden of the Future: Reimagining the American Yard. Learn how plants fit together in nature and how to use this knowledge to create gardens that are more satisfying, more resilient, and less work.

    David L. Culp, Vice President of Sunny Border Nurseries, will present Perennials: The Best Plants of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.  How do tried and true favorites compare with new introductions? What are the current trends? And what horticultural advances might the future hold?

    Kathleen Gagan, owner of Peony’s Envy, discusses Designing Gardens with Peonies.  Learn how to create your own “peony plan” including cultivar and site selection, mixing types of peonies, structuring mixed gardens, and companion planting.

    Janet Macunovich, garden designer, author and educator, will follow with The Art of Fall Garden Clean Up.  Every hour you spend in the fall can save you 2+ hours in the spring, yield months of winter pleasure, and give your plants a valuable head start for the new season.

    Early bird pricing through August 6 – $75 per person.  August 7 – September 16 (registration deadline) $90 per person.  Price includes lectures, Garden Marketplace, and lunch.  No walk-ins.  To register online, visit http://massmastergardeners.org/2017-gardening-symposium/

  • Saturday, April 9, 1:00 pm – Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes

    Thomas Rainer presents a powerful alternative to traditional horticulture: designed plantings that function like naturally occurring plant communities.  He is a landscape architect, teacher and writer, and has designed landscapes for the US Capitol grounds, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the New York Botanical Garden,  Hear him speak on Saturday, April 9 at 1 pm at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston.  A book signing will follow the talk.  Tower Hill members $20, nonmembers $30.  Register at www.towerhillbg.org.