GROW NATIVE MASSACHUSETTS
presents
2020
EVENINGS WITH EXPERTS
A FREE public lecture series at the Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway*
*(except February 5, see below!)
First Wednesdays, February through May
7:00 to 8:30 pm
Programs typically run 1.5 hours and include an interactive Q&A.
Doors open at 6:30 pm for general seating. Seating is unassigned and will be available on a first-come basis.
Thank You to our program partners for supporting this series:
Mount Auburn Cemetery and the Cambridge Public Library
You may watch videos of many past Evenings With Experts lectures on the
Nature's Best Hope
Date: Wednesday, February 5
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Meeting Place: Harvard University Science Center, Hall B
1 Oxford Street,Cambridge
Doug Tallamy, Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Biology, University of Delaware
Recent headlines about global insect declines, the impending extinction of one million species worldwide, and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us. Such losses are not an option if we wish to continue our present-day standard of living on Planet Earth. The good news is that none of this is inevitable. Doug Tallamy will discuss simple steps that each of us can— and must take— to reverse declining biodiversity and to explain why we, ourselves, are nature’s best hope.
Doug Tallamy is the nationally acclaimed author of Bringing Nature Home, and the co-author of The Living Landscape. His newest book, Nature’s Best Hope, is being released in February, concurrently with this event.
Climate Change, Conservation, and the Role of Native Plant Horticulture
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Meeting Place:Cambridge Public Library, Main Library Lecture Hall
449 Broadway,Cambridge
Jesse Bellemare, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Smith College
As our world warms, the distributions of many native plant species are shifting with the climate. But not all species will keep pace with modern climate change, and some could face extinction. This poses a dilemma— what role should we take in helping native plant populations migrate? How do we balance our instinct for preservation with the risk of a relocated plant species disrupting the ecology of its new region? Jesse Bellemare will explore these questions in the context of the constant evolution of plant ranges over time, and the current insights we can gain from native plant horticulture.
Jesse Bellemare’s research focuses on the ecology and biogeography of forest plants in the eastern United States. He is currently the president of the New England Botanical Club.
Designing with Plant Communities
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Meeting Place:Cambridge Public Library, Main Library Lecture Hall
449 Broadway,Cambridge
Dan Jaffe, Horticulturist, Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary
All too often, during the design process, we think of plants on an individual or species basis. Yet in the landscape, plants are constantly interacting with one another in intricate ways. What happens if we create planting plans focused on complete systems rather than collections of individuals? Join us to learn how to create healthy, resilient plant communities that are beautiful and ecologically vibrant. Dan Jaffe will discuss how to select and combine the right species for specific site conditions, and how this community-oriented approach can be applied to plantings of all sizes.
Dan Jaffe is passionate about ecological horticulture, and enhancing the wildlife value of every landscape. He is the co-author of Native Plants for New England Gardens.
Native Bees, Our Pollination Powerhouses
Date: Wednesday, May 6
Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Meeting Place:Cambridge Public Library, Main Library Lecture Hall
449 Broadway,Cambridge
Heather Holm, Author, Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide
Native bees are the most important and effective pollinators for our flowering plants. Although they play a crucial role in sustaining biodiversity, they are poorly understood and under threat from human activity. Heather Holm will teach us how to recognize common bee genera, and enlighten us about their fascinating life cycles, nesting habitat, and foraging needs. Come learn more about the mutualistic relationships that they have with native plants— a powerful reminder that the salvation of one is inextricably linked to the proper stewardship of the other.
Heather Holm is an expert on pollinators whose first book, Pollinators of Native Plants, brought her national attention. Her recent book, Bees: An Identification and Native Plant Forage Guide, won the 2018 American Horticultural Society Book Award.
You may watch videos of many past Evenings With Experts lectures on the
*Limited public parking is available under the Library, with an entrance ramp on Broadway. Fee is $1/hour.
*Limited metered spaces are available in the area, including on Broadway, Cambridge Street, Quincy Street, Massachusetts Avenue, and around Cambridge Common. Cambridge resident street spaces are available throughout the area
*If you are driving, know that this is an active urban area, and allow time to park. Please carpool if you can. It reduces the competition for spaces.
*Additional garage parking is available at market rates in Harvard Square (a short walk across Harvard Yard) at the Harvard Square Parking Garage and several other locations.
*The closest T stop is Harvard Square on the Red Line.