New England Wild Flower Society and Conway School of Landscape Design are pleased to co-present our third annual fall lecture series.

• Join a quartet of knowledgeable speakers to learn more about sustainable landscape design, exciting native plants, fascinating ecology, and innovative ideas for gardens.
• Talks are held at the Conway School in Conway, Massachusetts.
• Space is limited and participants are encouraged to pre-register by calling 413-369-4044, ext. 5.  Check http://csld.edu/travel.htm for directions.

FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGICAL PLANTING DESIGN

Increasing emphasis and value is being placed on “Green Design” as evidenced by the LEED rating system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for new buildings. Now the marketplace is beginning to recognize the value of diverse, drought tolerant, native plant landscapes as an integral component of green design. Landscape architect Tom Benjamin will discuss some examples of ecological design work for large projects, and investigate issues and challenges related to soil preparation, plant selection, stormwater pre-treatment, and landscape maintenance.

Monday, September 15, 7-8:30 p.m.

Tom Benjamin is Senior Landscape Architect for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., a multidisciplinary planning, design, and engineering firm based in Watertown, MA. Tom is a LEED-Accredited Professional. Among his many projects is the implementation of stewardship and management plans for Fresh Pond Reservation in Cambridge, MA, where thousands of native plants are being used to restore ecosystems surrounding the city’s terminal drinking water reservoir.

RAIN GARDENS: HELPING NATURE AND HAVING FUN

Rain gardens are a hands-on approach to mitigating the environmental damage posed by storm water run off. Easy to construct and fun for all ages, rain gardens beautify your property, enhance biodiversity, and capture copious amounts of storm water. Horticulturist Scott LaFleur will explain the construction process, identify some of the wonderful native plants that can be used, and discuss how rain gardens help address concerns about storm water pollution.

Monday, October 6, 7-8:30 p.m.

Scott LaFleur is Director of Horticulture for New England Wild Flower Society and Garden in the Woods, the Society’s 45-acre public garden in Framingham, MA. A graduate of the University of Hew Hampshire program in Horticulture, Scott owned an operated a landscape design company, Garden Buds, before joining the Society in 2005. He brings to his work a deep and intimate knowledge of the beauty, hardiness, and versatility of native plants.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN: WHERE ART AND NATURE MEET

Landscape design is a four-dimensional art (the fourth being time), with the living, changing landscape as its medium. Renowned landscape architect Darrel Morrison will discuss how naturally-evolving landscapes can be used to guide the creation of dynamic landscapes. Using examples of designs where there has been a conscious effort to merge art with nature, Darrel will show how a willingness to permit natural processes can enrich the spatial framework established by the designer.

Monday, November 3, 7-8:30 p.m.

Darrel Morrison is a Master Teacher at the Conway School of Landscape Design and Adjunct Professor in Columbia University's Landscape Design program. He is a long-time advocate of integrating native plants, native plant communities, and natural processes into the designed-and-managed landscape. He was awarded the American Horticultural Society's National Landscape Design Award in 2006. In addition to teaching, Darrel is working on public and private landscape design projects across the United Sates.

UNDERSTANDING PLANT PREFERENCES:

HOW PLANTS ADAPT IN THE WILD AND IN OUR GARDENS

Every plant–from a weed to a pampered garden celebrity–has clever strategies for adapting to its environment. Join Dr. Elizabeth Farnsworth to learn about the evolutionary roots of common adaptations. Taking a scientist’s view, she will explore some interesting physiological and architectural traits, as well as the ecological affinities of familiar New England plant species. Understanding adaptive traits can help us determine why certain plants grow best in particular places and how they cope with stress.

Monday, December 1, 7-8:30 p.m.

Elizabeth Farnsworth is a biologist, author, scientific illustrator, and science consultant. She serves on the graduate faculty of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has also taught at Smith College, Hampshire College, Conway School of Landscape Design, and New England Wild Flower Society. Formerly the Senior Research Ecologist for the Society, she is co-author of the Peterson Field Guide to the Ferns, and is currently illustrating the forthcoming Flora of New England. Elizabeth has conducted scientific research on many ecosystems throughout the world and has published widely in scientific journals.