Boston Flora

  • Monday, November 9, 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – Inside the Secret Garden at Lambeth, Online

    Discover Lambeth Palace Garden’s 1,000-year history with the head gardener Nick Stewart, exploring heritage, change and urban wildlife.

    Lambeth Palace Garden is located by the River Thames in one of the busiest areas of central London. It’s a hidden oasis of calm in the midst of all the urban commotion, a green site that has been continually cultivated for more than a thousand years. What is it like to be a gardener working from day to day through the seasons in such a place, one with a history that stretches back for so many centuries?

    This talk offers a rare opportunity to see behind the medieval walls and towers, and to explore a little of the enclosed space in the company of the head gardener entrusted with its care. Some questions we will consider over the course of this talk are:

    • How might the gardeners on the present 10-acre site keep alive the links to the garden’s long and varied history?
    • Is it desirable to allow the space to evolve and change through time? If so, how might that be done?
    • Are there practices and measures that can be put in place to benefit the diverse urban wildlife found within the garden and neighboring areas?

    After completing his degree at Warwick University, Nick Stewart Smith went to live in Barcelona where over the next five years he took his first steps into professional horticulture as a gardener in the city’s celebrated Parc de la Cuitadella.

    Returning to England, he became head gardener for the National Trust at Overbecks, a stunning subtropical garden on the south Devon coast. From there, he took on a similar role at Chequers in the Chilterns, the Prime Minister’s country residence, and then went back home to London to take charge of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s historic ten acre garden at Lambeth Palace.

    He now lives in North Kent where he works as a freelancer involved in various nature projects.

    He is the author of two books, The Thousand Year Old Garden: Inside the Secret Garden at Lambeth Palace (The History Press, 2023) and Wildflowers of London (Murmur, 2025).

    This London Parks and Gardens Zoom talk takes place Monday, November 9. £5 – £10. Register at Eventbrite UK HERE.

  • Saturday, October 31, 12:00 noon – 3:00 pm – A Wickedly Botanical Halloween

    This Halloween, discover the darker side of the plant kingdom at Wicked Plants: A Botanical Halloween, a free family-friendly event on Saturday, October 31 from 12:00–3:00pm on the Hunnewell Lawn at the Arnold Arboretum. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore some of the most surprising and sinister species in our living collections and learn how plants use extraordinary strategies to survive. From trees and shrubs armed with formidable thorns to plants that ooze sticky latex or wield powerful chemical defenses, these botanical marvels will leave you spellbound. Guests will also discover species that poison nearby competitors, launch seeds explosively, or even glow under black light. Drop in anytime during the afternoon to enjoy hands-on activities and fascinating plant stories and bring young explorers to a special story time at 1:00pm. Whether you’re a plant enthusiast, a Halloween fan, or simply looking for a fun seasonal outing, join us to explore some of nature’s spookiest plants. No registration is required. In the event of inclement weather, this program may be rescheduled: check this event page for the latest updates. The rain date is November 1, 2:00 to 4:00pm. Free, but register at www.arboretum.harvard.edu

  • Saturday, November 7, 5:30 pm – 12:00 midnight – Peabody Essex Museum Gala: Where Wonder Takes Us

    The gala dinner and after-party play a vital role in sustaining PEM’s vision: to serve as an engaging and welcoming gathering place where individuals feel inspired to learn and connect through experiences of wonder, joy and contemplation.

    This year’s gala is inspired by the spirit of boundless curiosity, cross-cultural exchange and wonder reflected in East India Marine Hall. Join us as we celebrate the journeys we take, the sparks of innovation we discover and the perspective-shifting power of looking beyond time and place.

    We are delighted to announce longtime PEM supporters Tim and Joanie Ingraham as the 2026 gala honorees.

    The funds raised at the PEM Gala make the museum’s mission a reality by providing essential annual support to our vital initiatives. Exhibitions, public programs, school visits, community partnerships, internships and stimulating, life-enhancing experiences of creativity – your support makes it all possible.

    For more information, or questions about corporate sponsorship, please contact Lauren Fairweather at lauren_fairweather@pem.org. Dinner and after-party tickets are are sold out. Get on the waiting list by emailing rsvp@pem.org.

  • Saturday, November 14 – Saturday, January 2 – Gardens Aglow

    Gather your family and friends and experience the magic of a Maine winter at Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. This year’s theme, Gathered in Maine, celebrates the traditions, landscapes, and natural connections that bring us together, all brought to life in a dazzling display of light.

    Join us from November 14 through January 2, on Thursdays through Sundays and on select additional dates. Weekends and holidays do sell out, so you’ll want to purchase your tickets early to get your ideal day and time!

    Looking for an extra-special evening? Add the Gardens Aglow VIP Upgrade for flexible arrival times, unlimited ticket exchanges, a cozy fire pit experience with s’mores, and exclusive Gardens Aglow swag. The VIP upgrade is a separate, additional per-ticket item that you can add at the time of purchase. Add it to your cart with your tickets to unlock exclusive extras this Gardens Aglow season. Passes are limited and will sell out. Visit https://www.mainegardens.org/

  • Saturday, November 14, 10:00 am – 11:30 am – Hands-On Floral Workshop Design: Your Thanksgiving Table

    Discover the joy of floral arranging in this creative workshop series led by Lorraine Walsh and Mary Lou Ashur of Artistry Floral. With backgrounds rooted in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Lorraine and Mary Lou bring a wealth of experience and artistry to each session.

    Each hands-on class explores floral design fundamentals—from developing structure and balance to working confidently with color, texture, and movement. Whether you’re looking to refine your skills, create a meaningful handmade gift, or simply try something new, you’ll leave inspired—and with a beautiful seasonal arrangement to enjoy at home. Various dates are scheduled now through March 27 – learn and register at https://www.cognitoforms.com/MassachusettsHorticulturalSociety/_2026FWHandsOnWorkshopsFloralDesign. The one we are highlighting today is Your Thanksgiving Table on November 14.

    Lorraine and Mary Lou met in 2016 while working as floral associates at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where they designed art-inspired installations for galleries, restaurants, special events, and holiday displays. Today, through Artistry Floral, they create distinctive bouquets, tablescapes, and large-scale installations rooted in seasonality and high-quality blooms sourced from both local growers and global producers. Their work reflects a commitment to environmentally responsible practices and thoughtful, client-centered design.

    All levels are welcome—beginners encouraged.
    Class size is limited; registration closes one week prior to allow time for materials preparation.

  • Thursday, November 5, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – The Living Plant Museum, Online

    Join The American Horticultural Society and renowned houseplant educator and influencer Paige Tailyn Johnson online on November 5 for The Living Plant Museum, a fascinating look at the history of plants and the ways caring for them can enrich our own lives. Discover how our relationships with plants can support personal growth while deepening our appreciation for the living world around us. $15 AHS members/$20 non-members. Register at https://ahsgardening.org/ahs-live-the-living-plant-museum/

    President’s Council members: Receive complimentary registration, along with a special gift and an update from Suzanne B. Laporte, President & CEO, featuring the latest news from AHS and River Farm. RSVP to Allyson Liu at aliu@ahsgardening.org or 703-768-5704 x140.

  • Saturday, November 21 – Sunday, January 3, 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Night Lights 2026

    Tickets are now on sale! Night Lights is an annual celebration held at The New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, MA just outside of Worcester. Night Lights is an inclusive, secular event where visitors of all backgrounds can celebrate winter, light, and nature together. Amidst a quarter million lights, enjoy a delightful evening with popular favorites such as s’mores, seasonal drinks, a model train, holiday shopping, and fun photo opportunities for the whole family!

    NIGHT LIGHTS Daily, 4 pm to 10 pm
    Celebrate the season with enchanting landscapes, fun experiences, and thousands of lights. Enjoy seasonal fare and spirits, visit our Garden Shop for unique gift ideas, or give the gift of four-season membership. Pre-purchased timed-entry special event tickets are required for entry after 4pm.

    Night Lights ticket prices for Tower Hill members and nonmembers range from depending on age and date. Nonmembers pay slightly more. Reserve at https://nebg.org/nightlights/

  • Wednesday, November 4, 6:45 pm – 8:15 pm Eastern – Virunga National Park, Online

    The mist-enshrouded peaks of the Virunga Mountains are part of one of Africa’s earliest protected natural areas. Known for an active chain of volcanoes, Virunga National Park is home to the endangered mountain gorilla and more than 300 other faunal and floral species. Historian Justin M. Jacobs shows how together with the adjacent lands of Volcanoes National Park, made famous by the fieldwork of zoologist Dian Fossey, Virunga provides a tense yet majestic backdrop for the competing demands of economic development and ecological preservation. The Smithsonian Associates online presentation takes place November 4 beginning at 6:45 pm, and is $25 for Smithsonian members, $35 for nonmembers. Register at https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/virunga-national-park

  • Tuesday, October 27, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Eastern – Reading the Landscape, Online

    Douglas Hoerr, FASLA, approaches landscape architecture as an act of exceptional craftsmanship, one that begins not with a signature style, but with a careful reading of place. As the founding partner of Hoerr Schaudt, he has shaped some of the country’s most celebrated residential gardens, civic landscapes, and cultural institutions for more than four decades through a design philosophy rooted in horticultural expertise, contextual thinking, and a profound respect for the unique opportunities each site presents.

    Hoerr will demonstrate how extraordinary design often emerges from the most unexpected canvases. Drawing from projects including the multi-award-winning New England Farm, a painterly vision of 1700s Arcadia on Narragansett Bay; a former parking lot transformed into an ICAA Acanthus Award-winning garden in Columbus; the restoration of a long-lost Russell Page garden in St. Louis; the reimagined median of Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile that inspired nationwide urban greening; and the revitalization of Graceland Cemetery into an everyday cultural destination, Hoerr will reveal how careful observation, horticultural expertise, and cultural context result in transcending landscapes that last the test of time.

    The New York Botanical Garden hosts this webinar on October 27 from 6:30 – 7:30 Eastern. Non member price $41. Register at NYBG website HERE.

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  • Tuesday, November 3, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern – The Jungle Garden: Preserving a Tropical Landscape, Online

    Join the Garden Conservancy and Rochelle Wolberg, Executive Director of McKee Botanical Garden in Florida, for an inspiring look at one of America’s most remarkable historic gardens as it celebrates dual milestone anniversaries: the Centennial Celebration of its Living Collections and the 25th anniversary of its reopening. The webinar takes place November 3 at 2 pm Eastern.

    Nestled in Florida’s subtropical landscape, McKee Botanical Garden has captivated visitors for generations with its lush, jungle-like setting, extraordinary plant collections, and unique blend of horticulture, history, and art. Yet its continued existence is itself a remarkable story. Once facing an uncertain future, McKee was rescued through the dedication of community advocates who worked tirelessly to restore and reimagine this beloved garden for future generations.

    In this special presentation, Rochelle will share the garden’s fascinating history, from its origins as a celebrated Florida attraction to its dramatic preservation and transformation into a nationally recognized botanical garden. She will also discuss McKee’s evolution over the past quarter- century, its recent recognition with the Garden Conservancy’s Greene Prize for Excellence in American Gardening and the vision guiding its future. The webinar will also highlight McKee Botanical Garden’s newly published book, The Jungle Garden: Preserving a Tropical Landscape, with photography by Ngoc Minh Ngo. You can purchase the book, The Jungle Garden: Preserving a Tropical Landscape by McKee Botanical Garden, here. The book and admission to webinar are separate purchases. To register for the webinar, visit https://www.gardenconservancy.org/events/web26-the-jungle-garden-preserving-a-tropical-landscape-webinar-only