Past Events
AMERICAN EDEN: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic
Presented by Victoria Johnson, Phd.
7:30 pm Campus Center Carroll Room - free and open to the public
Followed by a reception, book signing and view of the Chrysanthemum Show at the Lyman Plant House.
In this lecture featuring her book, American Eden, Johnson rescues Hosack, (family doctor and friend to both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, and attending doctor at the famous duel) from obscurity and highlights his significant contributions to botany and medicine.
Music in the Noon Hour
12:30 PM, Sweeney Concert Hall, Sage Hall
Mary Hubbell, soprano; Monica Jakuc Leverett, piano.
Songs and piano pieces by Schumann, Liszt, Brown, Joplin and more. Featuring the premiere performance of a new song by Gregory W. Brown, dedicated to the College Hall American elm, with text by Naila Moreira.
Co-sponsored by the Smith College Music Department.
Nature's Temples: Understanding and Honoring Old-growth Forests
by Joan Maloof
7:00 pm in the Smith Conference Center Oak Room
What do you know about the forest cover of the planet, and of Massachusetts specifically? Are we gaining forest land or losing forest land? Are there any untouched forests left? If so, where could you experience one? Why are ancient forests so important and how can we preserve the ones that are left? In this Arbor Day talk we will turn our attention to the silent plants and animals who cannot speak for themselves. We will take some time to connect with our forest heritage and imagine a greener future.
Thursday April 26 at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm on the Smith College campus.
1:00 pm, west side of Sage Hall - Franchet's Maple, Acer sterculiaceum ssp. franchetii
3:00 pm, at the bottom of the new Crew House ramp - Pawpaw
Join John Berryhill, Landscape Curator and a Certified Arborist, for a tree planting demonstration. Learn about the stresses and challenges facing transplanted trees. John will discuss selection of a good nursery specimen, proper timing and techniques, aftercare, pruning, and offer tips from his years of experience. Bring your questions and join the conversation.
Stories About Seeds
Presented by Tim Johnson, Director of the Botanic Garden of Smith College, and former Head of Preservation at Seed Savers Exchange.
7:30 pm, Campus Center Carroll Room - Free and open to the public
Join us for a journey through time as we explore the evolution of seeds and the emergence of the angiosperm (“vessel seeded”) plant lineage. These flowering plants arose some 125 million years ago. Learn about how the humble skill of seed saving changed the course of human history and about the current work being done to preserve both biodiversity and cultural identities in seed banks.
The next three day Volunteer Training Session will be held from 9:00am – 4:00 pm on January 18 and 19 and January 20, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, 2018. Registration is required. Fill out an application today!
Training includes a history of the botanic garden; tours of greenhouses; some basic botany and horticulture; commercial, medicinal and food plants of the Botanic Garden and how to guide visitors and school groups.
Tuesday, November 7
12 noon to 4:00 pm
Lyman Plant House
Visit the dazzling Fall Chrysanthemum Show, take a guided tour of different habitats around the world in the Lyman Conservatory!
Information will be available about bringing your classes for guided tours and how to schedule class visits and tours.
Who Put Those Genes in My Food?? Facts and Myths About “GMOs”
by Margaret Smith, PhD., Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University
Friday, November 3, 2017
7:30 pm, Campus Center Carroll Room
Genetically engineered crops (so-called “GMOs”) have generated much controversy in recent years. The goal of this lecture is to help listeners better understand genetically engineered crops and to provide clear, objective, and factual information that they can use to form their own opinions.
Saturday, October 14, 12:00 pm - Lyman PLant House
The Botanic Garden's new director, Tim Johnson, will be available from 12:00 to 1:00 pm to meet with visitors.
Friday, October 13, 4:00 pm
Ceremony at the Japanese Garden for Reflection and Contemplation
First designed in 1986, this garden has gone through many changes over the past 30 years. In its latest incarnation, the garden has been re-envisioned by Japanese garden consultant John Powell. It has been restored, while still respecting the original intent.
