Programs

Spring 2009 Program

Wednesday, May 6, 7:00 p.m.
Wellesley Community Center
219 Washington St.

Annual meeting at 7:00 pm will include a vote on the new Board of Directors followed by a lecture at 7:30 pm

In partnership with the Wellesley Garden Study Group and the Natural Resources Commission

RESPONSIBLE GARDENING FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY:
THE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE

Presented by

MARIE STELLA

Landscape Historian and Landscape Designer

Graduate Certificates in Landscape Design and Landscape Design History from Radcliffe College, Harvard University

 

A sustainable landscape addresses the needs of the present community without negatively impacting the ability of future residents of the area to meet their needs. This lecture details the road we must take to restore our ecological systems. It addresses environmental awareness and seeks to highlight innovative ways to use plant material to clean our air, soil and water, revealing that the 21 st century will witness a new and exciting role for plants on the cutting edge of landscape restoration.

Integrated environmentally engineered systems are distinguished for their incisive design, their harmony of art and engineering, perhaps harkening back to the Renaissance ideal. This approach promotes both the wise use of water resources and the genetic diversity of plant material. Heirloom and unusual varieties of herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers, steeped in long histories, bind us to our past. We must strive to preserve the full range of genetic possibilities of our plants, enabling them to cope with future environmental stresses.

LECTURE OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION: On the Threshold of a New Century: Man's Assault on Habitat

ASSUMING A PROACTIVE ROLE:

Dry Gardening: Beth Chatto
The Meadow
Native Plants: James Van Sweden , Wolfgang Oehme, Piet Oudolf
Dan Pearson
Plant Buffer Zones
The American Lawn – Working Toward a 50% Reduction
Invasive Species
Rebuilding Wetlands
Genetic Diversity: Nature's First Line of Defense

NEW DIRECTIONS IN WATER MANAGEMENT

The Permeable Ground Plane: Paving Alternatives
WATER Conserving Mulches
The Green Eco Roof
Rainwater Harvesting
Natural Swimming Pools without Chemicals

CONCLUSION : Each of Us Makes a Difference

This program is free and is open to the public. Please join us for this timely program.

Top photo: Oehme and Van Sweden
Bottom photo: Stella

To see previous WCC programs, please click here.

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Cronk's Rocky Woodland

Cronk's Rock Woodland is a true New England woodland of oaks and pines on a rocky ledge. There is interest here in every season but this sanctuary is a feast for all the senses during the spring.

This year's open house will be held on Sunday, May 31 from 2-4 p.m. when many of the wildflowers such as pink lady's-slippers, jack-in-the-pulpit, Labrador violets, wild geranium, wood creeping phlox and foamflower were in bloom.

Cronk's is located adjacent to 10 Crown Ridge Road in Wellesley and is open to the public year round. Click here to see a map of Cronk's Rocky Woodland. To see how to get to Cronk's from the Wellesley Town Hall, click here.

 

Labrador Violet

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Edwina Lareau Prize

The Lareau Prize is named in honor of Edwina Lareau, a Wellesley public school teacher who taught for 28 years from 1946 to 1974 at the Warren, Phillips and Schofield schools. Lareau is an avid naturalist and bird watcher, and was well known for sharing her knowlege and enthusiasm with her students many of whom whent on to become serious naturalists.

When she retired in 1974, parents, friends and former students contributed to a fund in her honor. They decided that the Wellesley Conservation Council should hold this money and the interest earned be used to pay for a prize for the Wellesley student demonstrating both knowlege and interest in the area of environmental conservation. Along with encouraging her students to enjoy nature, Lareau also emphasized the need to conserve natural areas for the future. The kettle hole at Schofield School was saved from destruction due to the efforts of Ms. Lareau and her students.

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2008 Edwina Lareau Prize Winners from the Wellesley Middle School

Take a springtime walk in a Wellesley conservation area. Look carefully for the signs of new life emerging everywhere. Which of these signs suggest spring to you? Can you capture this feeling with your camera or sketchbook and in a short personal reflection? This was the challenge presented to the seventh and eighth grade science students by the Wellesley Conservation Council for the 2008 Edwina Lareau Prize.

Eighth Grade Winners

Winner

Blue Pond Gray Sky by Sarah Rappaport

Runner Up

April Showers Bring May Flowers by Pauline Hickey

Seventh Grade Winners

Winner

Spring Life by Meaghan Colby

Runner Up

Signs of Spring by Alexandra Hale

Fairy House Building Event

During Wellesley 's Wonderful Weekend, on Saturday May 16 th , 1- 3 pm the Wellesley Conservation Council will host a walk for Elementary School Children along Morse's Pond to Pickle Point Sanctuary. On our arrival at Pickle Point Sanctuary the children will build their own Fairy Houses next to an adopted tree using natural materials gathered along their walk. Meet at 1:00 pm at Cochituate Aqueduct ( Russell Rd./Kendall Rd. )

The children had a great time last year at our two fairy house building events. The wish of the Council is for children to be exposed to nature and its wonders while having fun. The event is free and families are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

For more information check the Townsman or call (781) 237-6125.


Last revised April 15, 2009

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P.O. Box 81129
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
781-237-6125

Photograph: Snowy Owl and Young-Mark Wilson

 

   
   
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