Boston Flora

Tag: University of Massachusetts

  • New England Botanical Club Publishes New Book

    The Special Publication Committee of the New England Botanical Club is pleased to announce the publication of  Vascular Flora of Worcester County, Massachusetts by Robert I. Bertin and Thomas J. Rawinski. The 290-page book includes sections on the physical setting, geology, climate, soils, vegetation patterns, human impact, and a history of botanical collection in the county. The core of the book is an annotated list of the 2,043 species found in the county. Species information includes abundance, status (native or alien), habitat, distribution within the county, conservation status, and flowering and fruiting phenology. Distribution maps are included for 700 species, illustrating current and former distributions at the town level.

    To purchase, send a check for $23.00 check payable to the New England Botanical Club to:

    Karen Searcy, Chair, NEBC Special Publications Committee
    Biology Department
    611 North Pleasant St.
    University of Massachusetts
    Amherst, MA 01003

    For information on joining the New England Botanical Club, visit www.rhodora.org.

    http://academics.holycross.edu/images/environmentalstudies/Cover.jpg

  • Thursday, December 13, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm – Shale Gas in Massachusetts

    The American Ground Water Trust will hold an all-day program on Thursday, December 13, from 8 – 5 at the University of Massachusetts Lincoln Campus Conference Center, Room 163C.  Basins have been identified.  Will there be winners and losers? When might development start?  What are the potential environmental impacts? Anti-hydraulic fracturing protests in many parts of the country show that the development of shale-gas can provoke local controversy. Much of the “protest” in other states has been after the fact when shale gas exploration and production is already underway. Although shale gas development may be years away, Massachusetts has an opportunity now to be ahead on awareness and information if, and when, the time comes for shale-gas development in the Connecticut Valley area. Right now, a potential shale-gas basin in central Massachusetts has been identified but has not yet been targeted for exploration or had its potential reserves quantified.

    This one-day program will provide an information-exchange opportunity among experts with experience of areas where shale-gas has been developed and citizens and communities in central Massachusetts where shale-gas might be developed. A principal concern is likely to be that of the potential impact on the long-term environmental sustainability of water sources and water-dependent ecosystems. However, in addition to environmental issues in areas of shale-gas development there are typically legal and jurisdictional questions concerning property rights, property values, infrastructure capability, planning and zoning authority and economic benefits. The objective is to facilitate informed discussion to ensure that when the time comes; science-based policy decisions are made on energy development that will best serve the citizens of central Massachusetts.  The fee is $100 ($65 for AGWT members) and you may register on line at www.agwt.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=38.

  • Thursday, November 15, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Trees in the Urban Landscape Symposium

    Urban tree professionals, tree wardens, persons working in the tree care industry, and anyone interested in learning more about the urban forest are invited to attend the 15th Annual Trees in the Urban Landscape Symposium, to take place Thursday, November 15, from 9 – 3 at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive in Boylston, MA.

    Symposium Schedule

    9-9:30am Registration; Coffee and pastries

    9:30-9:45am Welcome and Announcements

    Morning Session

    9:45-10:45am State of the Nation’s Urban Forests
    Richard Harper, Extension Assistant Professor of Urban & Community Forestry – University of Massachusetts

    11am-Noon Looking at Community Tree Inventories: Purpose, Tools and Process
    David V. Bloniarz, Ph.D., Project Director, USDA Forest Service Urban Natural Resources Institute – Amherst, MA

    Lunch Break

    Noon-1pm

    Afternoon Session

    1-1:50pm Emerald Ash Borer and other Forest Health Concerns
    Ken Gooch, DCR Forest Health Program Supervisor

    2-3pm Fruit Trees in the Urban Landscape
    Benjamin Crouch, Proprietor, Land of Plenty

    CEU’s pending

    Sponsored by Tower Hill Botanic Garden and the Nathaniel Wheeler Trust, Bank of America, Trustee. Visit www.towerhillbg.org to register. Fee is $10, and a reserved box lunch is an additional $10.

  • Tuesday, October 30, 6:45 pm – Soil Health: From the Bottom Up

    The Norwood Evening Garden Club will host Tom Akin, Conservation Agronomist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, tomorrow, October 30, at the Carriage House of the First Baptist Church, 71 Bond Street, Norwood.

    Mr. Akin will discuss the characteristics of healthy soil, its importance in gardening and how to improve your soil’s health. He will also cover how to interpret soil test results, how to optimize plant nutrition and plant health, organic matter in the soil and why you should sell your rototiller.  The public is invited to attend. A $5.00 donation is requested and includes refreshments. For more information call 781-769-3854.

    Tom Akin has been the Conservation Agronomist and Grazing Lands Coordinator with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Amherst, MA since 2003. He is passionate about the environment, soil health, composting and helping farmers and gardeners improve their soil’s health. Prior to working for NRCS, Tom was assistant superintendent and internship coordinator at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain. He has also worked as an Extension educator with the University of Massachusetts and for the Peace Corps in the Central African Republic.

  • Saturday, November 3, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Late Fall Tree ID with Forester Helen Johnson

    On Saturday, November 3, from 1 – 4, take your tree identification skills to the next level with Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Service Forester Helen Johnson. Characteristics like bark, branching patterns, buds, overall tree shape, and habitat will be used to aid in identification. We will also talk about impacts on the forest from insects, diseases, and invasive plants. Depending on participant interest, conversations may wander through forest ecology, wildlife habitat, climate change, land use history, logging, and sustainable forest management. No previous tree identification skills are required for this free field walk. As a DCR Service Forester, Ms. Johnson provides free advice and technical assistance to forest landowners, enforces logging regulations, and administers the current use tax programs (e.g. Chapter 61). She has an M.S. in Forestry and a B.A. in Social Thought & Political Economy, both from the University of Massachusetts. For location, directions and to register, call 1-800-859-2960.

  • Thursday, August 16, 6:00 pm – Evolution in a Toxic World: How Life Responds to Chemical Threats

    The Harvard Museum of Natural History welcomes Emily Monosson on Thursday, August 16 at 6 pm for a free lecture and book signing at The Geological Lecture Hall, 24 Oxford Street in Cambridge. Toxic chemicals: They have shaped our bodies, our world, and all life around us. Today, species are rapidly evolving in response to toxins like PCBs, dioxins and pesticides. Emily Monosson, adjunct professor at UMass Amherst and author of the new book, Evolution in a Toxic World (Island Press), will discuss how life on Earth survives in the face of increased amounts of both age-old and new synthetic chemicals in our environment. Dr. Monosson is an environmental toxicologist. A diversity of past research experience, and data synthesis of the health and environmental impacts of contaminants from nanoparticles, to organochlorines, and personal health care products have laid the groundwork for Monosson’s current academic interest – investigating the evolutionary history of the toxic response.

    Beyond academics her interest in increasing public awareness about their role in the environment and the importance of science education, has led to her service on the Gill-Montague School Committee and on the board of the Montague Reporter, where she occasionally contributes as a writer.  For more information, visit www.hmnh.harvard.edu.  Photo from toxicevolution.wordpress.com.

  • Thursday, August 23, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Grassy Weed Identification Workshop

    Correct weed identification is an important first step in the development of an effective weed management program. Using a classroom presentation, potted weed herbarium and weed walk, UMass Extension Specialist Randy Prostak will help participants enhance their grassy weed identification skills. Feel free to bring a weed or two to identify. Workshop, scheduled for Thursday, August 23 from 9 – 3, will be held rain or shine. To register, go to http://www.umassgreeninfo.org. The place? French Hall, UMass Amherst. For directions, contact Ellen Weeks at 413-545-0895, or email eweeks@umext.umass.edu.

  • Tuesday, August 14, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm – The Invasive Plant Issue and Invasive Plant Identification

    The Invasive Plant Issue: why should you be concerned? Enhance your ability to readily identify invasive plants as well as their look-alikes, at this seminar to be held Tuesday, August 14, from 9 – 3:30 at the Doubletree Hotel in Milford. Discussion of the strategies and recommendations of the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group, and the recently released Early Detection/Rapid Response Priority List document. Part 3 of the Invasive Plant Certification Program. To register, go to http://www.umassgreeninfo.org . $75. For more information, call Ellen Weeks at 413-545-0895 or email her at eweeks@umext.umass.edu.

  • Thursday, July 26, 7:00 pm – Dealing with 10 Tough Weeds

    Randy Prostak of the University of Massachusetts will take a commando stance on Thursday, July 26 at Elm Bank as part of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Thursdays at the Hort series. What do you do when the weeds are threatening to take over? Randy Prostak’s presentation will focus on dealing with some of the toughest weeds to manage in lawns, landscapes and garden. He’ll take you through cultural, non-chemical, and herbicidal controls; and then field your questions with specific answers untainted by industry propaganda.

    Randy Prostak has been a University of Massachusetts Extension Specialist since 2000 where he specializes in weed management. He is a member of the Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Team and currently serves on the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group. He is an active member of the Northeastern Weed Science Society and Weed Science Society of America. The program begins at 7 pm, and is priced at $12 for Mass Hort members, $15 for non members, and there is no need to register in advance.  For complete details visit www.masshort.org.

  • Monday, July 23 through Sunday, July 29 – National Moth Week Programs

    Why moths? With more than 10,000 species in North America alone, moths offer endless options for study, education, photography, and fun. Moths can be found everywhere from inner cities and suburban backyards, to the most wild and remote places. The diversity of moths is simply astounding. Their colors and patterns range from bright and dazzling, to so cryptic that they define camouflage. Moth shapes and sizes span the gamut, with some as small as a pinhead and others as large as a hand. Most moths are nocturnal and need to be sought at night to be seen, but others fly like butterflies during the day. Finding moths can be as simple as leaving a porch light on and checking it after dark. Serious moth aficionados use special lights and baits to attract them. Popular interest in moths is rapidly growing, as noted by recent publications and web-based resources. The new Peterson Field Guide to the Moths by David Beadle and Seabrooke Leckie, moth caterpillar guides by David Wagner, and a vast number of moth-oriented Internet resources such as the “Moth Photographers Group” and “BugGuide” are just some examples of moth’s growing popularity. Moths are also featured widely in literature and art providing a different angle for enjoyment and study. “Moth Nights” are often held by nature groups, and provide an opportunity for either an introduction to the creatures, or a venue for more serious pursuits.

    National Moth Week brings together everyone interested in moths to celebrate these amazing insects. This summer, groups and individuals from all the across the country will spend some time during National Moth Week looking for moths and sharing what they’ve found. Getting involved during National Moth Week is easy: attend a National Moth Night event, start an event, join friends and neighbors to check porch lights from time to time, set up a light and see what is in your own backyard, or read literature about moths, etc.  But no matter what, participate; the richness of moths is sure to fascinate. Check out www.nationalmothweek.org for more.

    Locally, four programs with the Athol Bird & Nature Club will be of interest to our readers.  The first, on Tuesday, July 24 from 8:00 pm – midnight, is The Moths of the Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary.  Join naturalists Dave Small and Lula Field as they travel to the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester for an “Introduction to Moths” – a PowerPoint program at 8 introducing the families of moths likely to be encountered, followed by an evening of looking at moth-attracting lights and baited trees. Location: Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester, MA. Bring your point and shoot digital (or other) camera and flashlight. Free for ABNC and MAS members, a small fee for others. Questions: Dave@dhsmall.net.

    Next, on Wednesday, July 25, from 9:00 pm – midnight, join Sue and Ron Cloutier at their home on South Main Street, New Salem, for The Moths of New Salem, the ABNC local kickoff to National Moth Week. This will be a casual evening demonstrating the placement of various types of lights to attract moths Bring your point and shoot digital (or other) camera and flashlight. Free and open to all. Questions & RSVP: cloutier@tiac.net.

    Then, on Thursday, July 26, from 8:00 pm – midnight, join biologist Jenn Forman Orth and Athol Bird & Nature Club naturalists Dave Small and Lula Field in an exploration of the nighttime world of moths at New England Wild Flower Society’s Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA.  They’ll start with a brief introduction on how to attract moths with lights and bait, and include a few tips for good nighttime photography. If conditions are good, you should see up to 100 different moth species, plus a plethora of beetles, caddisflies and maybe even a cicada or two! Bring your own camera, flashlight, water and insect repellent.

    Wrapping up the week, on Saturday, July 28 – Sunday, July 29, the finale of the National Moth Week celebration will be an overnight experience on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. ABNC naturalists will be joined by scientists from The Nature Conservancy, the University of Massachusetts and other organizations at the headquarters of the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest, a 5,100-acre property in the heart of Martha’s Vineyard. Bring your tent, sleeping bag, point and shoot digital (or other) camera and flashlight. Details are still being coordinated. RSVP Dave@dhsmall.net for updates.