Environment

Arnold Arboretum Restoring Wild Populations of New England Blazing Star

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The Arnold Arboretum is dominated by trees and other woody plants that by and large originated elsewhere— primarily from wild, temperate habitats around the globe. But staff have historically preserved areas of the Arboretum landscape where native understory plants are encouraged to grow spontaneously and by design, and in recent years we have begun collecting and reintroducing herbaceous species that were once common on our grounds. Like our accessioned trees, these plants may be immediately familiar and plentiful in the wild, or threatened and quite rare. One example of a species poised for a comeback in our landscape is New England blazing star, a plant reintroduced through a collaboration with Zoo New England. For the Arboretum, this species is significant to both history and conservation—the last confirmed wild population in all of Suffolk County was documented in our landscape almost 90 years ago.

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From the Community

Boston Children’s Chorus Film Environmental Justice Themed Opus at Arnold Arboretum

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More than 90 members of Boston Children’s Chorus recently gathered in the Leventritt Shrub & Vine Garden at the Arnold Arboretum to film this year’s Opus Nuovo Now is the Time focused on environmental justice against the scenic backdrop of beech and maple scenery. “We think that as a place to showcase the beauty of the natural world, the Arboretum is second to none," said CC Executive Producer Robbie Jacobs. "We were able to capture the distinctive New England fall colors as the backdrop for sharing our message and [were] delighted to partner with our ecologically minded friends at the Arboretum to share this critical message about preserving the environment for generations to come.”

Singers lip-synced during the film and recorded their voices later on their phones to accompany the visuals. More details about the production process can be found on the Arnold Arboretum's website.

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Arnold Arboretum

Arnold Arboretum Debuts On-Wheels Visitor Center

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For new and returning visitors alike, our amiable and ever resourceful visitor engagement staff create a sense of welcome and endless possibility to those seeking insight and guidance for their explorations. This fall, the launch of a made-to-order mobile visitor center in our landscape will begin an exciting new chapter in this outreach. With the arrival COVID-19, health guidelines required closing the Hunnewell Visitor Center as a public health precaution. While we kept the Arboretum landscape open and welcoming, our visitor engagement staff transitioned to remote work last spring. By fall, staff members Carena Cremin, Ana Eder-Mulhane, and Regina Mission were back at the Arboretum, greeting visitors and offering assistance from a pop-up visitor engagement tent set up at a number of our gates in rotation.

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Environment
Jamaica Pond — Still frozen on Saturday, March 21, 2015.

Jamaica Pond Closed Due To Algae Bloom; Can Be Deadly To Dogs

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The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) has closed Jamaica Pond due to a suspected bloom of blue-green algae, which can be very harmful and even cause death to dogs. During the closing, swimming, boating, fishing, or engaging in other recreational activities on or in the water are not allowed. Dogs are also not allowed to swim in or drink the water. Health officials noted the algae bloom, also known as cyanobacteria, through a visual inspection of the pond. Algae blooms such as this may produce toxins that can make people and pets sick.

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Environment

Photos: JP Resident Has Spent Decades Capturing Arnold Arboretum

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Local photographer and JP resident Shaheen Pooladvand has spent decades taking photos of the Arnold Arboretum's plants, flowers, trees, and more. And now Pooladvand would like to share those photos with people to enjoy them. "I grew up in a large cosmopolitan city made up of glass, stone and concrete with a couple of small parks and almost no green space. I was stunned at the sight of Arnold Arboretum when I went there in late '90s. I’ve been walking through the park ever since," said Pooladvand.

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Environment

Burnett Street Garden and Park Now Open on Once Polluted Site

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A ribbon cutting was recently held for the Burnett Street Garden and Park, which was funded as part of a community benefits agreement with a developer. The park area includes a walking path with benches, picnic tables, a shaded structure, along with shrubbery, trees, and green space. The community garden has 28 raised beds, including four ADA raised beds, with a water supply and stone dust paths. In total, the park has 11,600 sq. ft.

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Environment

Income-Tiered Electric Community Carshare Starting in Jamaica Plain

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Starting June 6, there will be two parking spots in a Centre Street municipal parking lot dedicated to an income-tiered community electric carshare. The parking lot at 737 Centre St. will have two reserved spots for Good2Go, which is funded by E4TheFuture and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. In 2020, the city dedicated several parking spots as electric vehicle charging stations in the municipal lot. Good2Go features tiered pricing, and customers can qualify for the reduced $5 per hour rate (half the regular rate) by demonstrating enrollment in a public assistance program such as showing a SNAP or WIC card, a utility bill showing the receiving of fuel assistance, living in affordable housing and more.

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From the Community

Emerald Necklace Conservancy Planted Trees in Franklin Park in Honor of Arbor Day

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In honor of Arbor Day the Emerald Necklace Conservancy planted 10 trees in Franklin Park. Arbor Day is the last Friday of April, and the Conservancy got ahead and planted the trees one day earlier. Joining Erica Holm, Field Operations Coordinator at the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, was Boston's Tree Warden Max Ford-Diamond, Andy Balon from Bartlett Tree Experts, and Mango, their furry helper! A total of 10 trees in the under-treed area between White Stadium and the Overlook Ruins in Franklin Park were planted: a Princeton elm, two black tupelo, two red maple, two eastern hophornbeam, two swamp white oak, and a tuliptree. Please visit emeraldnecklace.org/ylp-plants-trees for more information.

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From the Community

Arnold Arboretum Celebrates Plant Graduation Class of 2021

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Plant graduation season, an annual rite of passage at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, is an occasion for pomp and circumstance as well as a reminder of our connections to nature and the power of plants. The Plant Graduation Class of 2021 took place on April 2 and featured more than 500 plants, some rare and endangered, graduating from the nursery and finding placement throughout the 281-acre landscape of the free and open museum teaching the world about plants. Before the plants officially graduated from the greenhouses for their new “careers” out in the field, a commencement ceremony was held to honor the budding and burgeoning Class of 2021. “The fact that there are more and more plants being planted and groomed and protected and nourished shows the importance of this place," said District 6 City Councilor Matt O'Malley. “At the Arnold Arboretum we do conservation, education, and we are trying to make sure people understand their responsibilities to the planet and to their fellow species,” added Ned Friedman, Director of the Arnold Arboretum.

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