Boston Flora

  • Saturday and Sunday, September 26 and 27, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm – 28th Annual North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival

    The 28th Annual Garlic and Arts Festival will be held on September 26 and 27,  from 10 – 5 each day, rain or shine, at Forster’s Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Road in Orange, Massachusetts.

    Here is what you will enjoy at the festival: Buy local, be local: support the bounty of over 100 booths featuring regional artists, farmers, and community organizations; strengthen communities by purchasing locally crafted and grown. Relax and celebrate life with great music, performance, spoken word, and dance on solar powered stages and throughout the rolling fields and forest. Learn and create through exhibitor demos, and new art and adventure activities for kids and families. Get silly with garlic games galore including the famous raw garlic-eating contest.  Fill your belly with glorious, farm fresh and savory cuisine as you relax in the food courts overlooking the festivities. Energize your life with informative renewable energy and local living presentations, plus healing arts exhibitors. Orange is the New Green: trash free (well, only three bags for 10,000 people) with everything else recycled or transformed into fertile compost for gardens not garbage. Family friendly admission: $10.00 per day for adults, students $5.00, kids 12 and under free, free shuttle and parking too.

    We love them but…remember, absolutely NO DOGs (other than service dogs) are allowed at the festival. Dogs cannot be left in cars for their safety- and it will be a warm weekend. And, Garlic Lovers are Hot but… No Smoking or Vaping in the shuttle bus lines or on the festival site.

    Mission Statement: The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival is a celebration of the artistic, agricultural and cultural bounty of the region. The purpose of the festival is to unite North Quabbin people whose livelihoods are connected to the land and the arts, and to invite both local residents and those who do not live in the region to experience the richness of an area that is often overlooked.

    The festival emphasizes what is homegrown, handmade and high quality, as well as what helps preserve and support the environment and the community. Everyone involved – organizers, exhibitors, volunteers, performers, attendees, a supportive community – makes the festival what it is: an engaging, fun and educational celebration for all ages.

    An all-volunteer committee composed of neighbors, artists, farmers, and community members meets year-round to organize The North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival. The Forster/ Stewart Family graciously hosts the festival at their beautiful, historic farm, and the festival is a non-profit event under the umbrella of Seeds of Solidarity Education Center. Over 200 volunteers the weekend of the event park, welcome, recycle, and support exhibitors; and exhibitors contribute time to raise tents, feed work crews, and more to help bring the festival to fruition. The festival admission is kept affordable to families, and is used to cover the costs of the festival, as well as support local projects that promote a vibrant North Quabbin region. For more information visit www.garlicandarts.org

     

  • Wednesday, April 28 – Friday, April 30, 2027 – Nature-Based Coastal Resilience in Urban Settings

    Mark your calendars and join The Stone Living Lab for its fourth conference dedicated to nature-based approaches. The 2027 Stone Living Lab Conference will take place from April 28-30, 2027 at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Stay tuned for more information including the conference schedule, abstract submissions, speakers, breakout session topics, field trip options, and more! Visit https://stonelivinglab.org/

  • Thursdays, October 8 – December 10, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm GMT (but recorded) – Gardens of Empire: Espionage, Exploration & Exotic Plants, Online

    The Victorian age transformed Britain’s gardens more profoundly than any previous period. Advances in science and technology, expanding global trade, imperial ambition and the rise of the middle classes combined to create an unprecedented enthusiasm for gardening, introducing thousands of new plants and reshaping both public and private landscapes.

    This ten-week course explores the remarkable stories behind this horticultural revolution. Through the lives of pioneering botanists, adventurous plant hunters, gardeners, engineers and influential patrons, we will discover how exploration, scientific discovery and empire shaped the gardens of nineteenth-century Britain.

    From hazardous collecting expeditions in the Himalayas and Robert Fortune’s clandestine mission into China to Joseph Paxton’s revolutionary glasshouses and the spectacular bedding schemes that became a hallmark of Victorian taste, the course examines the close relationship between horticulture, science, commerce and society. Alongside figures such as Joseph Dalton Hooker, Charles Darwin and Marian North, we will also consider the contributions of influential women, professional gardeners and the great nursery firms that helped fuel Britain’s passion for plants.

    Topics include the creation of public parks, the rise of kitchen gardens and conservatories, the fascination with orchids and ferns, and the enduring appeal of celebrated gardens such as Kew, Biddulph Grange and Cragside. We will also examine the more challenging aspects of this history, including the relationship between botanical collecting, colonial expansion, indigenous knowledge and environmental change.

    Suitable for gardeners, historians and anyone with an interest in the history of gardens, art and horticulture, the course assumes no specialist knowledge. It welcomes all who wish to explore the cultural, scientific and social significance of Victorian gardening and discover how this extraordinary period continues to influence the gardens we enjoy today.

    10 WEEK ONLINE COURSE

    PRICE £250.00. Register at www.thegardenhistorians.co.uk

    The online Garden Historians Zoom course will begin on Thursday, 8th October 2026. 6 pm-7.30 pm GMT. All Zoom sessions are recorded and notes are sent out after each class.

  • Tuesday, September 15, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – What Does it Mean to Live Sustainably in 2026?

    Join Wright-Locke Farm at the farm in Winchester on September 15 at 7 pm for the third installment of our free Farm Talk series, “What Does It Mean to Live Sustainably in 2026?” These community conversations are designed to educate, inspire, and create space for thoughtful discussion about the choices we make and their impact on our environment.

    This September, we’ll explore Green Building—how homes, businesses, and public spaces can be designed, renovated, and maintained to reduce their environmental footprint. Learn about sustainable building practices, energy-efficient upgrades, and practical steps homeowners and communities can take to create healthier, more resilient places to live and work. This event is free, but we hope you’ll consider making a donation to the Farm! Register HERE.

  • Saturday, September 26, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Shindig at Baker Bridge

    On Saturday, September 26, please join The Food Project’s trustees, staff, and youth for a fresh, new version of our Big Shindig fundraiser, re-imagined as a self guided culinary and interactive experience on Lincoln’s Baker Bridge Farm. Show you support for three decades of building a more sustainable and just food system for all. Celebrate and support this transformative work.

    At the Baker Bridge Farm, The Food Project stewards 31 acres of conservation land in Lincoln, MA) approximately 15 miles outside of Boston), growing vegetables, herbs, flowers, and cover crops. Much of the food grown here supports our food access initiatives in Boston’s Dudley neighborhood, supplementing the produce grown on our urban farms. This produce is distributed to our SNAP/HIP-accessible farmers’ market on the Dudley Town Common, donated to several hunger relief organizations, and sold through The Food Project’s CSA farm share.

    Drive by the Baker Bridge Farm on a summer day and you’ll see dozens of teenagers, hailing from Acton to Boston and everywhere in between, who have come together to work towards the shared purpose of growing food. These young people gain hands-on experience with sustainable agriculture while participating in workshops about food justice and sustainable agriculture, leading volunteers on the farm, and exploring innovative ways to expand food access.

    Operation of this site is made possible through a continuing partnership with the Town of Lincoln’s Conservation Commission. The Food Project has been farming in Lincoln since 1992 and working at this plot of land since 1998.

  • Saturday, October 3, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm – Cocktails in the Colonies: America’s 250th Birthday at the Pearson Tavern

    Come party with the Museum of Old Newbury at the Pearson Tavern in Newburyport on October 3 at 6 pm, sip on cocktails, and enjoy a night to remember. This event is a fundraiser for the Museum.

    Celebrate America’s 250th birthday in a house that was already old when independence was declared. This exclusive Museum of Old Newbury members-only evening at the privately owned Pearson Tavern brings together colonial cocktails, hearty food, live music, firelight, tavern tales, and a lively performance of An Evening at Pearson’s Tavern, featuring Jeremiah Pearson, local patriots, and a young Lord Timothy Dexter.

    Step inside the Tavern, built in the late 17th century for a night of history, hospitality, and Revolutionary good cheer. Traditionally said to have operated as a tavern from 1732 to 1837, this remarkable Byfield home offers a fitting setting for a party honoring America’s 250th birthday.

    This is a special opportunity to enter a private historic home that is not ordinarily open to the public and immerse yourself in the 18th century life of a tavern. Space is strictly limited, and attendance is reserved for Museum of Old Newbury members. Need to check your membership status? Give us a call at 978-462-2681 or email info@newburyhistory.org. Ticket prices start at $250.

  • Saturday, September 12, 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm – Medway Community Farm FarmFest

    Mark your calendars and save the date for Medway Community Farm’s celebration of the 2026 season, FarmFest, on September 12th, 12 PM – 4 PM!

    FarmFest is an annual celebration of community, local food, and outdoor fun. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or a first-time visitor, there’s something for everyone.

    Food Trucks
    Beer Tent
    Music
    Vendors
    Kid’s Activities
    More details to be shared.

    Gate fee $5.00 per person, with a cap of $20.00 per family.
    Purchase tickets on our website, pay at the Welcome Table (cash, Venmo).

    Activities are in the works!
    Visit our website and Facebook event for updates.

  • Sunday, September 13, 10:30 am – 12:00 noon – Hall’s Pond Guided Walk

    The Friends of Hall’s Pond and the Brookline GreenSpace Alliance invite you to take a guided walk in the Hall’s Pond Nature Sanctuary on September 13. Participants will explore the renovated and improved features of the sanctuary, observe local wildlife, and discover many of the tree species around the pond and in Amory Woods. Email info@brooklinegreenspace.org for more information.

  • Friday, September 18 – Sunday, September 20 – Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival

    Three days of fun and educational seminars, tastings, dinners and the fan-favorite Sunday Jazz Buffet Brunch await you in Marble House and Rosecliff at the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival on September 18 – 20.

    Celebrated Chef and Chopped judge Maneet Chauhan will join us as host of the elegant Vintner Dinner and as featured guest for a conversation in the Rosecliff Ballroom. For complete listing of events, and links for registration, visit https://www.newportmansions.org/events/newport-mansions-wine-food-festival-2026/

  • Thursday, September 24, 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm – Afterglow at the Arnold

    The Arnold Arboretum and The Young Friends of the Arnold host Afterglow at the Arnold on Thursday, September 24, in the Arnold Arboretum’s Explorers Garden. The VIP experience begins at 5:30pm, and the afterparty begins at 7:30.

    This enchanting evening of discovery under the stars celebrates the Arboretum as a free public park in the City of Boston, a “museum of trees,” a conservation and research institution, and a community resource for education and well-being. The event will be hosted in our Arnold Arboretum’s Explorers Garden on Bussey Hill, where plants collected from around the world are cultivated to support the study and preservation of biodiversity. Guests will engage with Arboretum experts while enjoying cocktails and passed food in the living collections, followed by music and dancing under a tent.

    Pricing ranges from $115 – $1,000 (patron ticket). Register and learn more at https://arboretum.harvard.edu/support/afterglow-at-the-arnold/