Events

Join us as we ‘zoom in’ on soil biology Learn how to use the microscope to determine soil health, including: bacteria/fungi ratios predatory microbes soil structure, and so much more! A thriving soil biology is key to growing healthy plants. We'll take a look at how soil management practices affect microbes in the soil, from…

NDAL is offering a series of programming organized in two categories: 1) Professional Practitioners and 2) Home Gardeners & Educators. Topics for professionals will range from native design and management, to roof gardens, to planning for the recruitment of spontaneous vegetation. Home gardeners can explore methods for wildflower meadow creation, and school administrators & educators…

Long-term observation of a plant’s behavior in the wild can yield valuable insight into its likely behavior in a garden. If that insight is applied to other similar species, that value is multiplied. In this presentation Larry and Ian will show how observation and ecologically-informed analysis shaped their understanding of how, where, and why wild…

Part One | Learning by Seeing - Arthur Joura What greater purpose does landscaping serve than keeping human beings attached to nature? For designers to achieve such a purpose, it is most desirable for them to study the natural example, and contemplate how it affects all of us. This is true whether the designed environment…

Ecologists at universities, professional societies, and other scientific institutions commonly engage in research to better understand how plants operate in the wild. Unfortunately, landscape designers rarely access the resulting data or use it to enhance their projects. In this presentation, ecologist Stephen Handel and landscape designer Larry Weaner will present detailed case studies where research…

Designing with Native Plants: Tips for Species Selection, Design Concepts, and Maintenance Practices This webinar will cover the basics of selecting native plants for your next project. Design themes, site programming, and maintenance needs will be considered along with physical site conditions, plant availability, and green infrastructure services. An overview of art and design principles…

Watch This Webinar at your Leisure.. Growing Native Plants from Seed….even in the winter! Growing native plants from seed is a different way to interact with our native flora and an inexpensive way to produce a lot of plants. The seeds of wild plants have a very different set of needs than those of garden…

We have learned from Doug Tallamy that our oak trees are the most important native powerhouse tree for feeding over 500 species of caterpillars that turn into our pollinator moths and butterflies AND are the most important food source for our birds. Planting an oak is one of the best things we can do in…

Grab some lunch and listen to this FREE webinar from the CT Association of Landscape Architect on the exciting Ecotype Project and integrating these wild seed propagated native plants into our landscape. Dina Brewster from CT NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) and Darryl Newman from Newtown’s Planters Choice Nursery will talk about the importance of…

Regenerative Design – How Living in Agreement with Nature Helps Organizations Thrive Human impact on planet earth is at least three million years deep but it wasn’t until the advent of agriculture some 11,000 years ago that the ways we conduct our daily living began creating dramatic shifts in the biological functions that sustain us.…

The ecology-based landscape movement is slowly changing the way plants are being grown, procured and planted. This includes alterations in species, propagation technique, size, packaging, site layout, and the expanded use of seed. In these presentations a nursery grower, seed producer, and landscape contractor will illustrate what designers and planters need to know about new…

Everyone can garden; if you have a window sill you can start tomorrow. NOFA MASS is hosting several excellent gardeners for a panel discussion and conversation about designing gardens and where to start. Allison Houghton is a NOFA/Mass Soil Technical Advisor and will speak about selecting a garden site. Christie Higginbottom has taught many gardening workshops and will help us understand which crops fit best together. Ruth…

Water simultaneously manages to be the stuff of mystery and our daily routine.   We use it to cook with, wash our dishes, and brush our teeth but very few can stand on the beach and not lose themselves watching the breakers roll in. In the face of climate change, water is becoming much more of an…

Do you want to be surrounded by a landscape that provides wildlife habitat, fosters healthy soils and provides a variety of edible fruit? Join NOFA MASS for another event from their Resilient Garden Series.  Bringing perennial plants into the garden can help your garden become more resilient and beautiful. Ruth Green of Green Arts Gardens in the Berkshires will inspire us to consider the ecological benefits and design ideas when planning our perennial plantings. During…

« All Events Webinar: Foliage & Focal Points: Ideas for Budgets and Gardens of All Sizes We all have sections of our garden that we are less than satisfied with, yet understanding what has gone wrong can be frustrating. Instinct sends us shopping for more plants and we typically gravitate towards whatever is blooming that…

In the Nursery and Landscape Industry, there is an overabundance of clouded misinformation that is passed down to the general public on how to design and maintain their landscape. From every direction, inaccurate or antiquated information flows. From big box stores and local Mom and Pop nurseries to examples, images, and text on the internet.…