Boston Flora

Tag: wildlife

  • Fridays, January 19 – March 22, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Eastern – 2024 Home Gardener Boot Camp, Online

    In recent years, seasonal patterns have become unstable.  Climate change requires smart gardening practices. In response, horticultural science and gardening best practices are constantly evolving. As gardeners, we can have a positive impact by creating a resilient, ecologically-friendly landscape.

    Interested in digging deeper?  Massachusetts Master Gardeners’ ten-week boot camp will provide you with information to help combat climate change and support a healthier environment.  Our series begins with an in-depth discussion of what an ecosystem is and how you can use that knowledge to enrich your own landscape. We then explore how you can build ecologically-friendly gardens from shade to groundcovers.  

    WHY WE CALL IT BOOT CAMP: In recent years “Boot Camps” have become popular for everything from parkour to yoga to chess and even knitting! The MMGA is not about the latest fads or fashions, but it occurred to us that our program and all these other boot camps share something in common: they are short, focused, and led by subject matter experts. And they help you take a favorite pursuit to the next level by imparting knowledge and skills that you can put to use both immediately and long-term.

    WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Boot Camp is designed for home gardeners at all levels of experience who are looking to build an ecologically-friendly landscape. Information is presented in a way that is easily understandable to less experienced gardeners while including enough science-based background to be useful to everyone. While much of Boot Camp’s content is geared to Massachusetts, gardeners in other lower New England states may also benefit.

    WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN BOOT CAMP/Program Topics:

    • Landscapes / Ecosystems 
    • Native New England Plants
    • Creating a Pollinator Habitat Anywhere 
    • Creating an Eco-friendly Garden 
    • Shade Gardening
    • Groundcovers 
    • Lawn and Lawn Alternatives 
    • Water Wisdom: Save water, the environment and money 
    • Composting 
    • Inviting Wildlife into your Yard

    Click HERE for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), including a complete list of program topics.

    WHO ARE THE PRESENTERS: Sessions are taught by our most experienced Certified Master Gardeners who are passionate subject matter experts and trained presenters. They started out as home gardeners just like you, so they know what information will help you the most.

    YOUR INVESTMENT AND WHY IT’S WORTH IT: The fee for all ten sessions of Boot Camp is $250, payable online by credit card or PayPal. This averages out to just $25 per session – $12.50 for each of the 20 hours you’ll spend in class.

    Here are just some of what makes Home Gardener Boot Camp unique:

    • It’s the only program of its kind taught exclusively by Certified Massachusetts Master Gardeners.
    • Classes are geared toward learning about the biodiversity of landscapes and ecosystems which are intimately connected.  You’ll learn the right habitat for flora and fauna to thrive in your landscape. 
    • Because sessions are live, you will have the opportunity to interact with presenters via a 30-minute Q&A. No relevant questions will go unanswered: If we run out of time, we’ll get back to you with written responses.
    • Missed class?  No problem.  Classes will be recorded and available for viewing up to 1 week after the missed lecture to paid registrants.
    • To provide an ongoing reference, most lectures include handouts, which will be emailed.

    Register now at https://www.massmastergardeners.org/educational-resources/boot-camp

  • Saturday & Sunday, July 25 & 26, 12:30 – 1:30 pm – History Underfoot: Walking the Fruitlands Landscape

    The trails at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts traverse over 210 acres of forest, swamp and meadows plus thousands of years of history. There are many stories to uncover, such as: the location of a long ago beach, why there was a brick factory here, where to spot wildlife and how we know a certain area was used by Native peoples for over 10,000 years.

    Join Fruitlands’ Curator, Mike Volmar, on this series of walks to discover these and other stories through the geology, ecology, wildlife habitat and archaeology of the Fruitlands’ landscape.

    Visitors to our trails should wear appropriate footwear and be able to negotiate surfaces typical of woodland trails. Be aware that poison ivy, mosquitoes, deer flies and ticks may be encountered by people walking the trails, so we highly recommend the use of mosquito and tick repellent.  Members Free, non-members $6 (included with regular free museum admission.  Limited to 10, purchase tickets at Museum Shop.  The tour repeats on  August 8, September 5, October 3, and November 15.  For more information log on to www.fruitlands.org.

  • Sunday, June 21 – Opening Reception, “All Creatures Great and Small”

    US Art magazine says Sarah Lynn Richards is “An Artist we think you should know better.”  Tower Hill Botanic Garden in Boylston, Massachusetts agrees.  Richards’ wonderful hummingbirds, frogs and horses are whimsical and moving. Her watercolor florals compliment the gardens in full bloom.  Richards is regarded as the most prominent equine artist in the country. Her use of watercolor illustrates her sense of balance, form, and an intuitive understanding of the nature of things.  A nationally exhibited artist, Sarah Lynn Richards currently works in her home studio on the coast of Maine.  Her watercolors are vivid interpretations of horses and wildlife. You can learn more about Richards’ work at her website, www.sarahrichards.com.  The reception will feature a cash bar and light refreshments.  Free and open to the public.  The exhibit will run from June 16 through July 26, 2009.  For more information, call 508-869-6111 or log on to www.towerhillbg.org.