Programs

 

Wed. Oct. 14  Bio Control of Invasives with Lisa Tewsbury

Lisa Tewsbury is an entomologist at the University of Rhode Island, and Director of the URI Biological Control Lab. The lab conducts classical biological control projects to manage invasive weeds and exotic insects. Classical biological control is a long-term management strategy integrated with other control methods for invasive pests. Past projects of the lab include purple loosestrife and lily leaf lantern fly. Lisa’s talk will review the methods involved in classical biological control and provide an update on some of the past and current projects.

Sat. Oct. 17, 2:30 PM  Quabbin to Wachusett: A Multi-town Massachusetts Land and Water Conservation Project with Leigh Youngblood

The Quabbin reservoir is the largest inland body of water in Massachusetts and was built between 1930 and 1939. Today, along with the Wachusett Reservoir, it is the primary water supply for Boston, some 65 miles to the east, as well as forty other communities in Greater Boston. Executive Director of Mount Grace Conservation Trust, Leigh Youngblood, will discuss the construction of the reservoir, the four lost towns of the Quabbin Reservoir, and the land, water, wildlife, and people that persevere there today. Many individuals living in the greater North Quabbin region where Mount grace conserves and stewards land have parents who experienced the relocation, keeping the legacy very much alive today. Constant encounters with landowners, foresters, biologists, surveyors, historians, artists, anglers, poets, and others inform a balanced perspective between the practical and the personal. LFGC and Cary Library are sponsoring this talk held in the large meeting room of Cary Library. Reservations must be made through the Library.

Wed. Nov. 18 ,  7:00PM  Victory Gardens with Russ Morash

Russ Morash, well-known for his involvement in well-loved programs on PBS, shares a lively and fascinating tale about Victory Gardens and their importance in our country’s history. He created the original PBS show The Victory Garden which taught viewers how to grow a successful vegetable and flower garden from seed. Russ first created a Victory Garden on the grounds of WGBH, then a successor garden within the former Lexington Gardens in North Lexington and finally his home garden near Wilson Farm. He eventually created another Victory Garden at his home in Nantucket. The illustrated story behind this remarkable journey will be the topic for this event, held at St. Brigid’s Church, lower level. Refreshments at 6:30 PM, program will start at 7:00 PM.

Wed. Dec. 9  Holiday Greens Party at St. Brigid’s Church

Celebrate the holiday season with your LFGC friends by making decorations together. We always appreciate donations of fresh greens and seasonal decorations.  Participants are encouraged to make an additional arrangement to donate. This is a LFGC members only event. Further details to be announced.

Wed. Jan. 13  Advanced Hydrangea Pruning: Best Practices for Home Gardeners with Mal Condon

To prune? Or not to prune??? Mal Condon, affectionately known as “The Hydrangea Guy”, is currently the Curator of Hydrangeas at Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, MA. He is very much involved with the continuing expansion of the Garden’s significant hydrangea collections. Mal’s lecture will discuss the seasonal step approach to pruning – covering all species relative to practice and time of the year. Detailed graphics are featured and there will be handouts of the presented information.

Wed. Feb. 10  Lexington Watershed and Storm Runoff with Michael Sprague and John Livsey, LDPW

These lecturers may look familiar as they are frequently found about town doing their work for the Lexington Engineering Department! Michael and John will provide an overview of Lexington’s watersheds and the storm water collection system within the town. A deeper look into the ongoing work on the storm water system will follow. This will include information on day lighting, stream stabilization, asset management, flood mitigation, the MS4 program and the award-winning Stream Team.

Wed. Mar. 10  Climate Change and Becoming a Citizen Eater: How to Protect the Future of Our Food System with Louisa Kasdon

Louisa Kasdon is the founder and CEO of Let’s Talk About Food, a Boston based organization that creates events to engage the public in conversation around our food system.  Louisa is a graduate of Wellesley College, MIT, and the Wharton School. She is the winner of the M. F. K. Fisher Prize for Excellence in Culinary Writing and has authored over 500 published pieces in national and regional publications. She will speak about how each of us can focus our food choices, our actions, our voices and our legacy to improve the future of our food system. Small actions create big impacts. Louisa will discuss how we can learn to leverage our specific skills and passions to advance the cause of better and more equitable food. She will talk about how public and professional events, new social media, person-to-person strategies, political actions volunteerism and fundraising, purchasing decisions and yes, gardening can all contribute to moving the arc upward.

Wed. Apr. 14, 7:00 PM  Growing Iris, Daylilies and Hostas with Suzanne Mahler

Suzanne Mahler is past president of the New England Daylily Society, Horticulture Chair for the Garden Club federation of Massachusetts, and is an Overseer for the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Mahler Garden was formerly designated as a National Display Garden for the American Daylily Society. She will give a general overview and images of three diverse, hardy plant groups that offer multi-season interest with suggestions for successful culture and propagation, including when and how to divide established clumps, current trends and sources for new hybrids. Pest management and a brief tutorial on hybridizing daylilies will also be presented.

Fri. Apr. 30, 11:00 AM  Arbor Day Observances – Location to be Announced

Wed. May 12  Ikebana – The Art of Japanese Flower Arranging with Joanne Caccavale followed by the Annual Lunch

Joanne Caccavale was born and raised in Singapore and is a professionally trained floral designer. She has been teaching Japanese flower arranging for fifteen years. A brief history of Ikebana will be provided, as well as information on the different schools, their concepts and styles. We will watch as she demonstrates the basic styles of Sogetsu School, the Moribana (low dish upright and slanting) and the Nagiere (tall), including the use of different plant material, containers and mechanics. There will be variations to the basic styles as well as free style arrangements using unusual and/or unconventional materials. The Annual Lunch will follow; please remember that the lunch is a members-only event.

Sat. May 22 – 7:00 AM – Noon  LFGC’s 88th Plant Sale held at the Hadley Public Services Building, 201 Bedford Street

June 1 (date to be determined) Cary Memorial Library with Lexington Field and Garden Club will present Books in Bloom (Details to follow))