Boston Flora

Tag: runoff

  • Tuesday, January 14, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Rain Gardens to the Rescue

    The North Andover Garden Club will meet Tuesday, January 14, from 7 – 9 at St. Michael’s Parish Hall, Main Street, North Andover, and the featured speaker will be Donna Williams. Donna is a Board Member of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. This is an informational meeting about the MA Rain Garden Campaign to help reduce polluted runoff flowing into our water resources. Gardeners,homeowners, and business owners are invited to learn what they can do on their own property to reduce the stormwater impact to Massachusetts waterways, and how to enhance rainfall, reduce runoff, and save money on your water and sewer bills.  The meeting is open to the public.  For more information visit www.northandovergardenclub.com.

    http://www.epa.gov/region1/soakuptherain/images/plymouthraingarden.jpg

  • Thursday, January 16, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Snow Date January 17) – Managing Large-Scale Landscapes Sustainably

    Join the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA ) and Wellesley College on Thursday, January 16, from 8:30 – 4:30 at the Wellesley College Science Center for a symposium on the development and maintenance of large-scale landscapes that utilize fewer inputs, are designed and maintained with the environment in mind, and become more sustainable over time. Experts who work daily in successful, sustainable large-scale landscapes will lead four panel discussions. If you are interested in sustainable landscapes for colleges, parks departments, public agencies, cemeteries, golf courses, forests, land trusts, public gardens, or other large landscapes, this event is for you.

    Maintaining Large-Scale Landscapes
    Landscapes Over Time, Soil Compaction, Invasive Plants, Recycling Organic Matter, and Sourcing Quality Compost

    Panelists: Dennis Collins, Mount Auburn Cemetery, John Forti, Strawbery Banke Museum, and Stuart Shillaber, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy.  Please note that both Dennis Collins and John Forti are past Garden Club of the Back Bay presenters.

    Large Lawns: Ecological Approaches
    Mowing Frequency, Inputs, Pests, Disease, and Alternative Energy Mowers

    Panelists: Richard Luff, Sagamore Golf, Fred Newcombe, PJC Ecological, and Anthony Ruggiero, Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy

    Runoff as Resource: Large Scale Stormwater Solutions
    Erosion to Irrigation, Collection Options, Dealing with Large Rain Events, Water Quality, Minimizing Demands of Potable Water

    Panelists: Tom Benjamin, LA/Sustainable Designer, Brad Buscher, Groundwork Lawrence, Eden Dutcher, GroundView, and Kate Venturini, University of Rhode Island

    Managing Semi-Wild Landscapes

    Designating “Semi-Wild” areas, Identifying Invasive Plant Threats, Setting Management Priorities, Tackling What is Feasible (and Leaving the Rest)

    Panelists: Tobias Wolf, Wolf Lighthall, Heidi Kost-Gross, G/S Associates, and Sandy Vorce, Mass Audubon

    Registrations are limited – Use This Link to Register Online Now

    For more information: ela.info@comcast.net

    http://winnielawncare.com/images/albany_lawn_care_saratoga_springs_clifton_park_12-i.jpg

     

  • Saturday, August 24, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm, and Thursday, August 29, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Stormwater Advocates Training

    Learn how to halt or reduce pollution that harms your town’s water at a unique training by the Massachusetts Watershed Coalition (MWC). This Stormwater Advocates Training (SWAT) offers a mix of stimulating workshops and fieldwork for people who want to help their communities reduce polluted runoff.

    Local streets are pollution pathways that convey hot, dirty, oily storm runoff into streams and ponds. These pollutants accumulate and cause the steady decline of urban and suburban waterways.  Fortunately, there are effective and inexpensive practices to fix stormwater problems. Expert speakers will present valuable guidance and participants will receive MWC assistance in selecting practices to achieve the most pollutant reduction for the least cost.

    SWAT training is offered on August 24 (Part 1: 9am – 1pm) and Aug. 29  (Part 2: 5-9 pm) in Northampton. The registration fee is $40 for the  workshops, materials and refreshments. Pre-registration is requested.  Please phone 978-534-0379, or email bgy@commonwaters.org by August 20.  A detailed description is online at www.commonwaters.org/events/be-a-stormwater-advocate.

    http://www.chesapeakebay.net/images/issues/Stormwater_page_image.jpg

  • Tuesday, April 5, 10:00 am – Rain Gardens: Beautiful Water-Saving, Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

    The April meeting of The Garden Club of the Back Bay will be held Tuesday, April 5, beginning at 10 am at The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston, and will feature Dori Smith of Gardens for Life speaking on Water Gardens: Beautiful Water-Saving, Wildlife-Friendly Gardens. Would you like to help protect our precious water resources, while at the same time creating lush, beautiful gardens that attract birds and butterflies?  Rain gardens take advantage of our natural abundance of rainfall rather than wasting it as runoff – using water flowing from your roof, driveway, or lawn.  These gardens are easy care, and can often solve problems such as erosion, icy walkways, or wet basements.  Using inspirational PowerPoint slides, we will review design options, construction details, and appropriate native plants.  Attendees are welcome to bring photos or descriptions of their own landscapes to use as case studies.

    Trained in design and horticulture, with a certificate from Tower Hill Botanic Garden “New England School of Gardening” and an advanced certificate in native plants from New England Wildflower Society, Dori is a member of the NEWFS Educational Committee, and is accredited as an Organic Land Care Professional by Northeast Organic Farming Association.  She has installed over 15 rain gardens in Boston’s western suburbs, and has published in the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Sanctuary Magazine.

    An optional lunch will follow the presentation.  The lecture is free and open to the public, but reservations are essential.  Lunch will cost an additional $20 for Garden Club  members, $25 for guests, and reservations may be made by emailing info@bostonflora.com before Tuesday, March 29.  Garden Club members will receive written notice of this meeting.

    http://www.goodnaturepublishing.com/images/Raingarden.jpg