Boston Flora

Tag: Smithsonian

  • Friday, May 8, 9:00 am Eastern – Mid-Atlantic Plant Research Conference, Live & Online

    Plants in the mid-Atlantic region, as well as the Northeast, are facing new challenges to their survival, growth, and reproduction due to a variety of threats, including land use change, habitat loss, climate change, and more. Invited speakers will address new research in plant science that can help us understand the challenges at hand in our wetland and coastal regions, including mechanisms of plant resistance and adaptation, and possible solutions.

    Speakers will include:

    Morgan Gostel, Director of Plant Science, Morris Arboretum & Gardens
    LeeAnn Haaf, Director of Estuary Science, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
    Dr. Jay Kelly, Co-Director, Center for Environmental Studies, Raritan Valley Community College
    Erin Lacour, Biologist, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
    Patrick Megonigal, Associate Director for Research, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
    Catherine Seavitt, Chair, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Pennsylvania

    The program will be held in person at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens; live virtual attendance is also available. Please indicate ‘In-Person’ or ‘Virtual’ attendance at registration. Lunch is provided to all attendees. Visit https://www.morrisarboretum.org/see-do/events/mid-atlantic-plant-research-conference

  • Thursday, March 5, 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm Eastern- Wild Wood: True Tales of Trees, Online

    Soundless but sentient, trees were absent for all but the last 10% of Earth’s history yet are essential to all air-breathing life on the planet today. They are the longest-living organisms on Earth, can communicate to one another through intricate underground soil networks, and even thermoregulate, all while rarely ever dying from old age.

    Join Liana Vitali, naturalist and educator at Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Maryland (and self-proclaimed tree-hugger), for an immersive audio-visual journey into the fascinatingly complicated and connected life of trees—from their first tiny emergence through the topsoil as seedlings, to their lasting value to forest life as fallen logs.

    Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, just 12 miles outside Washington, D.C., is the jewel of the Patuxent River. Its 1,700 acres of open water, tidal freshwater marshes, forested wetlands, upland and riparian forest, creeks, meadows, pine and sand barrens, and fields along the eastern shore of the Patuxent contain multitudes of welcoming habitats for a true diversity of wildlife.

    The March 5 webinar, beginning at 6:45, is $20 for Smithsonian members, $25 for nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/wild-wood

  • Sundays, February 8, 15, & 22, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern – Botanical Gardens of the World, Online

    Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as horticultural expert Keith Tomlinson leads a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens in settings as varied as Singapore, the Arizona desert, and the American Midwest. In vibrant visuals he explores how each garden has taken a unique approach to design and interpretation as they all celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom.

    Tomlinson has worked as a naturalist and public garden administrator for 25 years, visiting wilderness areas and botanical gardens around the world. He is the author of numerous articles on plant conservation, botanical garden travel, and environmental education.

    Session One on February 8 from 4 – 5:30 Eastern covers Gardens by the Bay in Singapore (pictured below). Among the most significant garden projects of the 21st century, Gardens by the Bay is a dazzling blend of horticulture, technology, and futuristic design. The Supertree Grove soars above the skyline, capturing solar power and channeling rainwater. Tomlinson explores how Singapore transformed its vision of a “City in a Garden” into a world-class horticultural wonder that unites sustainability, spectacle, and science.

    Session Two focuses on Boyce Thompson Arboretum and the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona. Nestled in the Sonoran Desert near Phoenix, Boyce Thompson Arboretum is Arizona’s oldest and largest botanical institution. Nearby, the renowned Desert Botanical Garden showcases iconic desert landscapes and research-driven conservation efforts. Together, these sites form a living library of adaptation, resilience, and biodiversity. Stroll virtually among towering saguaros, rare arid flora, and global drought-tolerant plantings while learning how these gardens serve as scientific resources and conservation refuges in a changing climate.

    The Final session starts the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. Established in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the oldest continuously operating botanical garden in the United States and a cultural landmark of St. Louis, founded during its era as the “Gateway to the West.” Its landscapes span time and style—from the Victorian-era Linnean House to the futuristic Climatron geodesic dome—while its global research and conservation programs continue to shape botanical science today

    Each session is $25 for Smithsonian members, $35 for nonmembers, but there is a discount for registering for all three. Visit smithsonian.org

  • Thursdays, February 19. 26, & March 5, 6:45 pm – 8:45 pm Eastern – Wild Foliage in Printmaking, Online

    Over the course of three weeks, explore a range of printmaking techniques with Smithsonian Associates, including monoprints using both acrylic and gel plates, carved linocuts, and striking blue cyanotypes. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your printmaking toolkit, this hands-on class offers an opportunity to connect with natural elements such as branches, leaves, and rocks; experiment with texture, patterns, color; and create a personal portfolio of botanical-inspired prints.


    Special Program Information

    The instructor is Kathy Beachler.
This program includes 3 sessions, 2 hours each.

    General Information

    This studio arts program is a Zoom Meeting to allow for patron and instructor interaction online.  All Studio Arts programs require an online registration (https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/wild-foliage-in-printmaking) for each participant so that the instructor can provide individual attention to every student registered for the online program. This program will be recorded.  Please refer to the "Materials for this program" section on registration page for any applicable supply list information and/or special documents for this program.
View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom.  $125 for Smithsonian members, $150 for nonmembers.

  • Friday, November 14, 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm Eastern – Venice and Water: A Hydrological History, Online

    Few cities in the world are as intertwined with water as Venice. Built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon along the Adriatic coast, Venice evolved from a marshy refuge into a powerful maritime republic—and its relationship with water has defined its history, politics, culture, and identity for more than a millennium.

    Historian Dennis Romano, author of Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City, explores how the aquatic environment of the Venetian lagoon has shaped nearly every aspect of life in the city. Over the course of its 1,600-year history, citizens have regarded the surrounding waters in remarkably varied ways: as a vital safeguard and source of sustenance; a complex engineering challenge; an obstacle to be overcome; and today, an existential threat. Romano examines the physical and hydrological characteristics of the lagoon and considers how shifting perceptions of water have influenced Venice’s development, resilience, and vulnerability. Through this lens, he offers a deeper understanding of the city’s past and the urgent questions it faces in the present.

    This Smithsonian Associates online program is presented on Zoom on November 14 at noon, and is $20 for Smithsonian members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/venice-and-water

  • Wednesday, November 12, 6:30 pm Eastern – Dorie Greenspan in Conversation with Carla Hall, Online

    Join five-time James Beard Award winner Dorie Greenspan on November 12 at 6:30 pm for a delectable evening celebrating her new book, Dorie’s Anytime Cakes. Greenspan and chef Carla Hall serve up stories, baking wisdom, and insights into the magic behind the kinds of cakes that don’t need frosting, fuss, or special occasions—just a fork and a little hunger for happiness. Greenspan and Hall share how cake can be bound in memories and offer inspiring tips to help make each recipe—like honey-buttermilk loaf, poppyseed lemony wonder, and jammy snacking cake—to individual tastes. The evening includes a Q&A session. This Smithsonian Associates Zoom presentation is $25 for Smithsonian members, $35 for nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/dorie-greenspan

  • Tuesday, September 30, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Eastern – Famous Orchids in History, Online

    Humans and orchids have a long and storied history. Confucius first wrote about them in 500 B.C.E. Over the millennia, orchids have found their beautiful place in society. Learn about highlights, including the Vanilla orchid, Darwin’s orchid, ghost orchid (below), and the first ladies Cattleya orchids. This relaxing, interesting Smithsonian online talk on September 30 focuses on the sometimes unexpected presence of orchids throughout history. The instructor is Barbara Schmidt. $25 for Smithsonian Associates members, $30 general admission. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/famous-orchids-in-history

  • Wednesday, March 12, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern – A Natural History Road Trip: Badlands to Yellowstone, Online

    Join naturalist Keith Tomlinson on a virtual Great Western adventure from South Dakota into Wyoming and the mighty heights of Yellowstone. He highlights geology, biogeography, wildlife, conservation initiatives, native peoples, and recreational opportunities along the way.

    The Smithsonian Associates Zoom journey on March 12 begins at the colorful Badlands National Park, moves on to Mount Rushmore, and then to the grand volcanic monolith of Wyoming’s Devils Tower. Adventuring farther west, take in the remote Cloud Peak Wilderness, crown jewel of the often-overlooked Big Horn Mountains. Tomlinson concludes with a discussion of Yellowstone National Park and its extraordinary ecology balanced delicately atop one of the world’s largest volcanic calderas. $25 Smithsonian Associates members, $30 nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/badlands-to-yellowstone

  • Sundays, February 9, 16, and 23, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Eastern – Botanical Gardens: A World Tour, Online

    Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as naturalist and botanical horticulturist Keith Tomlinson leads a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens around the world including sites in Germany, the East and West Coasts of the United States, Morocco, and our nation’s capital. Vibrant visuals explore how each garden takes a unique approach to design and interpretation as they all celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom.

    February 9 – Frankfurt’s Palmengarten and Washington, D.C.’s United States Botanical Garden 

    Based mainly around historic conservatories, these two classic gardens are steeped in the history of their respective cities. While collections focus on tropical, desert, and Mediterranean regions, each garden is enhanced by beautiful landscaping and outdoor temperate collections. Both have a history of supporting conservation efforts for global plant diversity.

    February 16 – South Carolina’s Brookgreen Gardens and Anima Garden in Morocco

    Sculptures of all kinds inhabit gardens around the world, but these two pleasure gardens embody monumental art as a principal component of exhibition. From the Atlantic Low Country of South Carolina to the foot of Morocco’s towering Atlas Mountains, the history and setting of these gardens couldn’t be more different. Yet they share a similar engaging aesthetic theme.

    February 23 – The Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens

    It’s said that more plants of different kinds can grow in the Los Angeles Basin than almost anywhere else in the world. Combine the soothing Mediterranean climate with irrigation and horticultural wonders abound. Only a few miles apart, Huntington Gardens and the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden are very different institutions that exhibit a botanical cornucopia from around the world.

    Presenter Keith Tomlinson has worked as a naturalist and public garden administrator for 25 years, visiting wilderness areas and botanical gardens around the world. He is the author of numerous articles on plant conservation, botanical garden travel, and environmental education.

    The series cost is $60 for Smithsonian members, $75 for nonmembers, or you can sign up for any individual session. To register visit https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/series/botanical-gardens-winter2025

  • Now through June 15, 2025 – Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

    Often called the unicorns of the sea, narwhals have fascinated people across cultures for centuries. These highly recognizable creatures spend their lives in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. Dive deeper into the world of these unique ocean dwellers and learn about their changing arctic ecosystem through firsthand accounts of scientists and Inuit community members. Hear soundscapes of the Arctic and narwhal vocalizations and touch an 8-foot-long cast of a real narwhal tusk. This family-friendly exhibition in The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center is part of Peabody Essex Museum’s Climate + Environment Initiative.

    Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This exhibition at PEM is made possible by Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation. We thank Jennifer and Andrew Borggaard, James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes, Chip and Susan Robie, and Timothy T. Hilton as supporters of the Exhibition Innovation Fund. We also recognize the generosity of the East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum and the support and guidance of the Art & Nature Center Visiting Committee.

    For more information visit https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/narwhal-revealing-an-arctic-legend