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Spotlight on Natives Photo Contest
Photo Courtesy of Penny Lewis Calling All Native Plant Enthusiasts Wherever You Live! Share your photos in ELA’s Spotlight on Natives Photo ContestWhether you’re in New England or the Southwest, we want you to share the beauty of native plants in your area. Send us your most inspiring photographs of individual native plants or of native plants in the garden setting. You’ll be entered to win a one-year ELA membership.The contest runs from March 15th through May 31st. ELA will…
Find out more »Eco-tour: Ferns and Native Beauty at Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary
Starting with a 100 acre woodlot, Sanctuary founder and benefactor- Monson, Massachusetts native Arthur D. Norcross Jr. (1895-1969) - bought, bartered and traded to amass over 2,000 acres that he dubbed the Tupper Hill Sanctuary. Today, the Sanctuary is operated by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation and has grown to over 8,000 acres of forests, meadows and wildlands in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Sanctuary is managed and maintained for the benefit of native plants and animals of New England, as Mr.…
Find out more »Eco-tour: Beneficial Bugs at Nasami Farm
Tour the greenhouses at Nasami Farm; see how common pests are successfully managed with biological controls in lieu of pesticides. Biocontrols are intentionally released insects, mites, nematodes and microorganisms. Scout for some of these beneficial bugs and their prey. Learn about the grisly end of an aphid when met by a predatory wasp. Bring a hand lens and sun protection. Nasami Farm is the propagation nursery for the New England Wild Flower Society. Kate Stafford is Nursery Operations Manager and…
Find out more »Rain Garden Fundamentals
As more land is developed for building, badly needed space for storm water absorption and cleaning is rapidly disappearing. Rain gardens can play a significant role in urban and suburban areas by cleaning, cooling, and slowing runoff so that it doesn’t pollute water bodies. Learn how rain gardens work, how you can create a low-tech and effective rain garden, and which durable natives you should plant there. Presented by Anna Fialkoff. Anna Fialkoff is an Ecological Horticulturist & Designer at…
Find out more »Eco-tour: Harvard Forest: Reflecting on the Past, Researching for the Future
Located in picturesque Petersham, Massachusetts, the Harvard Forest has served as Harvard University’s rural laboratory and classroom for ecology and conservation since 1907. The Forest is comprised of 3,750 acres of forests, ponds, streams, wetlands, and agricultural fields providing diverse natural ecosystems and cultural landscapes for study and enjoyment, and is one of the country’s oldest intensively researched landscapes. The Forest is protected from development and operates under a long-term management plan designating specific areas for active forest management, long-term…
Find out more »Celebrating Natives – Garden Tours
From paths and pocket gardens to borders and backyards, native plant gardens are a growing trend! Join the Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) as we Celebrate Native Plants at designer-guided and homeowner-guided tours of public and private gardens that celebrate the beauty and ecosystem value of native plants and ecological practices. These ELA Eco-tours will: Feature gardens designed entirely or primarily with native plants. Educate attendees about the increasing options and applications for native plants. Demonstrate that native plant gardens can be beautiful as…
Find out more »Eco-tour: A Step Back in Time – The Gardens at Naumkeag
With its gracious “cottage”, magnificent gardens, and panoramic views, Naumkeag is a quintessential country estate located in the picturesque southern hills of the Berkshires. This lavish estate was the summer family home of Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney. The stunning gardens were created by Joseph Choates's daughter, Mabel Choate during a 30-year collaboration with famed landscape architect Fletcher Steele. This Step Back in Time includes a glimpse – through the eyes of one family – into a brief and…
Find out more »Native Plants for Professionals
Join Dan Jaffe for this two-session class (August 7 and August 8) to learn about the best native plant materials available today for use in the design and landscape trades. Covering everything from plants for tough spots to specialty plants for specific habitats, this class will add a host of less familiar native herbaceous species to your plant palette. CEU: 1 MCLP; 1MCA Instructor: Dan Jaffe is the propagator and stock bed grower at New England Wild Flower Society (NEWFS)…
Find out more »Screening: Five Seasons: The Gardens of Piet Oudolf
Directed by Thomas Piper, this 75 minute film captures the remarkable design genius of revolutionary landscape designer Piet Oudolf. Oudolf is known for designing public works like New York City’s popular High Line and the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park that redefine our conception of gardens as works of art in themselves. This gorgeous, meditative documentary immerses viewers in his work, taking us inside Oudolf’s creative process. From his aesthetic theories to his strikingly abstract sketches to the ecological implications…
Find out more »Native Woody Plant Materials
This is a three-part class. * Wednesday, August 28, 10:00am - 2:30pm *Wednesday, September 4, 2018, 11:00am - 1:00pm *Wednesday, September 11, 2018, 10:00am - 2:30pm Explore the huge variety of native trees, shrubs, and woody vines. Learn which species grow well in shade, which support local wildlife, and how you should stagger your plantings for continuous bloom, fruit production, and fall color. We’ll discuss growth characteristics, cultural requirements, and best horticultural uses. The course will include lectures and walks…
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