Boston Flora

Tag: Wildlife Pond

  • Wednesday, October 14, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Beaver: Building Habitat, Improving Eco-Systems

    Beaver-created wetlands enhance human habitat by storing and slowly releasing floodwater. These wetlands improve water quality by removing or transforming excess nutrients, trapping silt, binding and removing toxic chemicals, and removing sediment. And finally, flooded areas can also recharge and maintain groundwater levels, and provide flow to streams even during droughts. Join conservationist Cindy Dunn at Wachusett Meadow on Wednesday, October 14, from 10 – noon, for this unique walking Ecological Landscape Alliance tour of the 85 acre beaver pond to learn about the important ecological role that beaver play. Wachusett Meadow is one of the spectacular wildlife sanctuaries within Mass Audubon. This property consists of 1,200 acres accessed by 12 miles of trails. The sanctuary protects a diverse landscape of shrubland fields and meadows, forests, Wachusett Meadow’s Wildlife Pond, and beaver wetlands. Register online (ELA members $22, non-members $32) at http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/beaver-building-habitat-improving-eco-systems/  Image from www.hikeneewengland.com.

  • Sunday, June 6, 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Rain Gardens: Beautiful Water-Saving, Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

    Dori Smith, M.Ed., Gardens for Life, will present an illustrated lecture on Sunday, June 6, from 1 – 3 pm, at Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Drive, Boylston, Massachusetts.  Would you like to help protect our precious water resources, while at the same time create a lush, beautiful garden that attracts birds and butterflies?  Rain gardens take advantage our our natural abundance of rainfall, rather than wasting it as runoff.  Rain gardens use 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.   Dori will review design options, construction details, and appropriate native plants.  The class will then take a walk around the Wildlife Pond to see some of the outstanding plants recommended for rain gardens.  Tower Hill members: $18, non-members, $20.  To register, or for more information, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.  Dori will be a featured speaker for The Garden Club of the Back Bay next April, but if you have limited weekday availability, this Tower Hill lecture is the session to attend.

    http://www.dscapes.com/images/12%20Beds%20during%20rain%20web.jpg

  • Sunday, October 18, 1 – 3 pm – Autumn Beauties: Native Plants in the Collections

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden’s grounds contain many beautiful native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that are at their most vivacious in the fall. Blueberries and chokeberries around the Wildlife Pond will be in vivid fall dress, and winterberries will be ripening for winter migrating birds. Fine native grasses will be at their ripest on Sunday, October 18, beginning at 1 pm, in the Systematic Garden. Witch hazels will be glowing yellow around the Wildlife Garden. Garden Designer Dori Smith, M. Ed, of Gardens for Life in Acton, Massachusetts,  will seek out the best specimens in the garden’s collections to show you. She will discuss the special characteristics of native plants that make them good choices for your gardens, and how to create a palette of plants that will please you and the wildlife, year round. Fee $20 for Tower Hill members, $25 for non-members.  To register, log on to www.towerhillbg.org.

  • Monday, May 11, 10:00 a.m., The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue – Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Past and Present

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay is pleased to present John W. Trexler, Executive Director of the Worcester County Horticultural Society, who has taken time from his very busy schedule to speak to our Club about Tower Hill Botanic Garden.

    John, a plant and garden expert, has contributed to the world of horticulture in many ways. His primary accomplishment is the creation and development of Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts, the home of the Worcester County Horticulture Society. In addition, he has founded and led several Plant and Garden Societies and is an active member of many other plant related groups. He inspires donors, volunteers, and staff to help complete his vision. His drive for perfection has created a world class garden in just 25 years. The garden is not only a show piece but a rich educational environment. John is a founding member of the Garden Conservancy and is on their Steering Committee. He worked with Frank Cabot in 1989 to create this National nonprofit organization which preserves exceptional American gardens for public education and enjoyment.  He began his career in New Jersey at Skyland Manor State Park as assistant horticulturist. When he left New Jersey for Worcester less than ten years later, he had convinced the Governor of NJ to designate Skylands as the State Botanic Garden and he had served as president of the Skylands Association.

    Tower Hill Botanic Garden has been created under John Trexlers guidance from the beginning. He was instrumental in every phase of its conception and development. Environmentally sensitive planning of Tower Hill is exemplified by the Wildlife Pond which collects the run off from the buildings and naturally purifies it and at the same time feeds and shelters wildlife with native plants.

    At the Annual Meeting in Houston this May the National Garden Clubs, Inc. will bestow the Award of Excellence to John Trexler for his outstanding contributions in horticulture: the establishment of Tower Hill Botanic Garden, a world class garden, for his service to the plant societies and gardening organizations, and for his work to preserve and enhance the environment. Mr. Trexler embodies Excellence through his skill in horticulture and creation of exceptional gardens, and perhaps more important, in his leadership and enthusiasm in developing environments where everyone can share and learn these skills.

    An optional lunch will follow the meeting ($19 per person).  To reserve, contact The Garden Club of the Back Bay at info@bostonflora.com.