Boston Flora

Tag: Smithsonian

  • Thursday, June 8, 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm Eastern – Landscape of Change: Historic Acadia National Park, Online

    For centuries, the coastal location and diverse landscape of Maine’s Acadia National Park—featuring mountain summits, rocky shores, and wooded valleys—have drawn Indigenous residents, explorers, settlers, and visitors in search of beauty and inspiration. The juxtaposition of landscape has created a unique region and a haven for scientists. Their centuries of written records, specimen collections, and oral histories have provided baselines for understanding environmental change on Mount Desert Island and beyond.

    Smithsonian Associates hosts this online talk on June 8 at 6:30 pm. $20 for Smithsonian Members, $25 for Non Members. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/acadia-national-park Author and scientist Catherine Schmitt shares the story of science in Acadia, including how the records of university students helped inspire the conservation efforts which led to the formation of the national park, and how this legacy is helping scientists today document a rapidly changing world.

    Schmitt is the science communication specialist with Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. Her book Historic Acadia National Park (Lyons Press) is available for purchase on registration.

  • Tuesdays, May 30 – June 20, 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern – Introduction to Scientific Illustration: Water and Ink, Online

    Smithsonian Associates presents a four session online studio arts course from May 30 – June 20 with Natalia Wilkins-Tyler. Learn to see like a scientist as you use watercolor and ink to illustrate specimens from nature. Gain confidence in observing form while documenting and interpreting what you see. Learn how to apply key techniques such as composition, working with color, and recording fine detail in nature journaling, watercolor painting, drawing, and creating stand-alone biological illustrations. Students with drawing or illustration and composition experience are welcome. Some previous drawing and watercolor experience is required.

    This studio arts program is a Zoom Meeting to allow for patron and instructor interaction online. All Studio Arts programs require an online ticket 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 see our FAQ for recording terms and conditions. Please refer to the “Materials for this program” section on the registration page for any applicable supply list information and/or special documents for this program. $155 for Smithsonian members, $175 for non-members. https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/scientific-illustration-watercolor-and-ink

  • Wednesday, April 26, 12:00 noon – 1:30 pm Eastern – Spices 101: Pepper, Online

    From the tangled jungles of Kerela, pepper spread around the globe and altered the course of history as it did. Peppercorns have been used since antiquity, both for flavor and as a traditional medicine. Black pepper is the world’s most-traded spice, beguiling cooks worldwide with its fragrant warmth. Its spiciness is due to the chemical compound piperine, which imparts a different kind of heat than the capsaicin characteristic of chili peppers. Pepper is ubiquitous in the Western world as a seasoning, and has a long partnership with salt on dining tables in shakers or mills.

    Black, green, pink, red pepper…Sichuan, cubeb, long, sansho, and more. Which are true peppercorns and which are pretenders? Eleanor Ford, award-winning author of The Nutmeg Trail, delves into the history, botany, lore, and culinary uses of the world’s favorite spice, then turns to the kitchen to explore flavor profiles, cooking tips, and recipes that put pepper to best use. This Smithsonian Associates webinar will take place Wednesday, April 26 at noon Eastern. $25 for Smithsonian members, $30 for non-members. Register HERE.

  • Thursday, April 27, 12:00 noon – 1:15 pm Eastern – Chasing Plants, Online

    Join Chris Thorogood, deputy director and head of science at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum, for a glimpse into the exhilarating adventures of a field botanist. The Smithsonian Associates Program on April 27 at noon Eastern time is presented on Zoom, live from the UK.

    In his adventures across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, Thorogood has clambered over cliffs and up erupting volcanoes and trekked through typhoons. Along the way, he’s encountered pitcher plants, irises, and orchids of unimaginable beauty. Thorogood brings his travels to life with his vivid paintings, shares details of hair-raising excursions, and explains the vital work he and other botanists are doing to protect the world’s plants.

    The lecture is $20 for Smithsonian members, $25 for nonmembers. Thorogood’s book Chasing Plants: Journeys with a Botanist Through Rainforests, Swamps and Mountains (University of Chicago Press) is available for purchase through the registration link.

  • Tuesday, April 18, 6:45 pm – 8:45 pm Eastern – The Sun: Front and Center, Online

    The Smithsonian’s Grand Tour of the Solar System, a three part Zoom lecture series, begins with the 4.5-billion-year-old star at the center of the solar system, the Sun. As the most massive object around, the sun’s gravity is the glue that holds the solar system together, keeping everything from the biggest planets to the smallest bits of debris in orbit around it. The sun’s activity, from powerful eruptions to the steady stream of charged particles it sends out, influences the nature of space throughout the solar system and provides a protective bubble that shields the planets from damaging galactic radiation. A hot, glowing ball of mostly hydrogen and helium, the Sun emits its own radiation—mainly visible, ultraviolet, x-ray, and infrared. It is the most important source of energy for life on Earth. George Mason University astrophysicist and cosmologist Hakeem Oluseyi shines a light on what astronomers already know about the sun and what they are still trying to understand.

    Each lecture may be purchased separately for $25 (Smithsonian members) or $30 (nonmembers). The Sun will be discussed on April 18 at 6:45 pm Eastern. Future episodes are Mercury, Small but Mighty Interesting (May 9) and Venus, Shrouded in Clouds (May 30). Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/solar-system-sun

    Photo: NASA/JPL

  • Wednesdays, February 8 – March 15, 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Eastern – The Art of Floral Design, Online

    Join floral artist Arrin Sutliff to explore the spectrum of floral design. Sourcing (with a focus on sustainability), making the most of seasonal flowers, creating centerpieces, wiring techniques, and photographing your work are all among the practical areas covered. 

    Designed for students of all levels, beginners can gain a full understanding of what floral design entails, while more experienced students can continue to advance their skills as they create their own work. A supply list of tools and flowers is available for participants who would like a hands-on experience, but all are welcome to relax and follow along as Sutliff creates some beautiful designs step by step. This Smithsonian Associates six part class is held on Zoom to allow for patron and instructor interaction online. The program will NOT be recorded. $155 for Smithsonian members, $185 for nonmembers. Register at www.smithsonianassociates.org

  • Wednesday, January 18, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm, Eastern – A Garden Odyssey: In Search of the World’s Most Creative Gardens, Online

    Imagine traveling the world passionately searching for the most exquisite and creatively designed gardens. Now imagine having the time and resources that would enable you to escape the daily demands of life and offer the chance to focus entirely on studying and becoming engrossed in every aspect of these gardens.

    Baltimore landscape architect Scott C. Scarfone was given just such an opportunity through a research fellowship awarded by Philadelphia’s famous Chanticleer Garden, renowned for its cutting-edge horticultural and creative planting practices. During the year-long fellowship, Scarfone focused his efforts on expanding his knowledge of society and culture as expressed through the gardens’ physical representations and intrinsic meanings.

    His travels led him to England to garden at Great Dixter with the late Christopher Lloyd, a noted gardening writer and horticulturist; to Italy to visit the gardens of the Renaissance era; to Japan’s ancient gardens of Kyoto and Nara; to Thailand to study eastern philosophy and garden design; to Costa Rica to view tropical vegetation in a native rainforest environment; to California to study Mediterranean plants in a design style that only that state can boast; and his most recent trip to Morocco to visit the amazing sculpture gardens of Anima. 

    Join Scarfone on Zoom with Smithsonian Associates on January 18 at 7 pm Eastern as he shares stories from his excursions across the globe, illustrated by views and discussion of some of the most prolific gardens ever created. $25 for Smithsonian Associates members, $30 for nonmembers. Register HERE.

    Great Dixter

  • Wednesday, May 10 – Wednesday, May 17 – Astronomy and Natural Wonders of Hawai’i

    Discover the wonders of the universe and marvel at Earth’s immense geological forces and the undersea world during this unique tour of the Hawaiian islands of Maui and Hawai’i.

    This unique natural history tour of Hawai’i with Smithsonian Journeys focuses on the wonders of the universe, the Earth’s immense geological forces, and the amazing world under the sea. Discover the islands of Maui and Hawai’i through the lens of astronomers, geologists, and marine scientists, and through native Hawaiian culture and history.

    Highlights Include

    • Maui: Ascend to the summit of Haleakala for a behind-the-scenes tour of one of the telescopes at the Haleakala Observatory site. Pan-STARRS utilizes very large digital cameras, telescopes, and computing facilities in its search for new asteroids, comets, and other celestial objects. Then enjoy spectacular vistas of Maui from Haleakala National Park. During a nature walk, marvel at the volcano’s moon-like crater and learn about endemic plants and native birds. Later, take a private tour of the Maui Ocean Center, where a marine biologist provides insight into this three-acre tropical reef aquarium and marine science center. And learn more about the night sky from an astronomer during a stargazing cruise aboard a catamaran in Ma’alaea Harbor.
    • Hawai’i: Trace the history of traditional Hawaiian celestial navigation during a curator-led tour of the Imiloa Astronomy Center and watch a planetarium show about the night skies. Stop in Hilo, a traditional Hawaiian town located on a picturesque bay on the windward side of the Big Island. Explore the farmers market, parks, shops, and visit one to the telescope headquarters located in Hilo to learn about the innovative research being done at the summit. (Should the Mauna Kea Observatory Complex be accessible, travelers will instead ascend to the summit and meet scientists at Smithsonian’s Submillimeter Array.) Gain insight from a resident geologist at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, home to Kilauea and Mauna Loa and the volcano goddess Pele. Observe the volcanic activity from Steaming Bluff and view exhibits at Kilauea Visitor Center. Descend along the Chain of Craters Road to view huge mounds of black lava flows. Take a walk in the North Kohala backcountry, known for its waterfalls and breathtaking views.
    • Accommodations: Enjoy stays at delightful hotels that feature spectacular views, luxurious pools, gardens, and beach, plus another stay near Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.

    For more information and pricing visit https://www.smithsonianjourneys.org/tours/hawaii-astronomy/itinerary/

  • Wednesday, August 31, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – How To Be a Conscious Eater, Online

    Is organic really worth it? Are eggs OK to eat? If so, which ones are best for you and for the chicken? What about farmed salmon, soy milk, sugar, gluten, fermented foods, coconut oil, almonds? Thumbs-up, thumbs-down, or somewhere in between?

    Sophie Egan, a food systems consultant and expert on food’s impact on human and environmental health, offers strategies to navigate the bewildering world of food. Being a conscious eater, says Egan, isn’t about diets, fads, or hard-and-fast rules. It’s about having straightforward, accurate information to make smart, thoughtful choices amid the chaos of conflicting news and marketing hype. She offers a practical guide to everyday eating that’s good for you, good for others, and good for the planet.  

    Egan’s 2020 book How to Be a Conscious Eater was named one of Bon Appétit’s Favorite New Books for Climate-Friendly Cooking and Life. This Smithsonian Associates webinar will take place August 31 at noon. $25 for Smithsonian members, $30 for nonmembers. Register at www.smithsonianassociates.org

  • Wednesday, September 7, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Spice 101: Cumin, Online

    Take a Smithsonian Journeys online gastronomical journey to explore one of the world’s most widely used and oldest spices, cumin. Humanity’s appreciation of cumin stretches across millennia: It’s the only word in the English language that can be directly traced to Sumerian and is listed as an ingredient in an ancient recipe collection dating to 1750 B.C. Christine Rai discusses cumin’s origins and history, culinary uses in global cuisines, and flavor profile and composition, and offers tips for using this internationally beloved spice.

    Rai, a professor at Frederick Community College, has a passion for food studies, culture, and folklore. The program will be held September 7 at 7 pm, is $25 for Smithsonian members and $30 for nonmembers. and registration and more information may be found at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/spice-101-cumin