Somerville Garden Club

Cape Cod Habitats: A Virtual Field Trip

Our June 10 meeting will feature a presentation by scientist Fran Raleigh (sister of our own Lise Raleigh) entitled Cape Cod Habitats: A Virtual Field Trip. A retired biology professor, Fran has lived on the Cape since 2018, where she is well known for her work with native plants, birds, and pollinators. Her talk will introduce us to the wetland and upland habitats of Cape Cod, with a focus on keystone or unique native plants.

A lifelong nature lover, Fran began studying ecology and wild plants at Marietta College, OH.  Earning graduate degrees in plant science in Syracuse (SUNY-ESF) developed her botanical skills and introduced her to new ecosystems. After 30 years teaching college biology in NJ (Saint Peter’s U), Fran retired to Cape Cod in 2018. She loves volunteer work teaching about nature without any grading. Her sister Lise introduced her to the Somerville Garden Club.  She’s enjoyed the newsletter for years and is excited to be here as a speaker.

In-person meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at the Tufts Administration Building, (TAB), 167 Holland Street, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Parking is available for a small fee, and the building is a ten-minute walk from the Davis Square MBTA stop.

All Somerville Garden Club meetings are free and open to the public. 7-9pm. The SGC has been informed that the entry doors to the TAB will be locked at 8pm, including on our meeting days. Please arrange your arrival times accordingly.

Charles River Floating Wetland

Laura Jasinski, Executive Director of the Charles River Conservancy (CRC), will provide a brief overview of the work of the Charles River Conservancy, as well as an in-depth discussion of the CRC’s Floating Wetland initiative. The Charles River Floating Wetland explores an ecological intervention to reduce harmful algal blooms in the Charles, which threaten the river’s health and limit the feasibility of swimming. Reducing nutrient pollution from reaching the river remains a vital method for preventing blooms, but this approach depends on increasingly complex upland solutions. In-stream interventions like floating wetlands offer a complementary strategy that can absorb and remove nutrients from the water, increase biodiversity, support local ecological changes, and provide other co-benefits, like additional green space.

Laura Jasinski believes that public parks are the heartbeat of civic life— where community, environment, innovation, recreation, and culture collide. She has spent 15 years working in the development and activation of urban open space and community engagement. She has also served as the Associate Director of the Boston Waterfront Initiative for The Trustees of Reservations, an effort to build world-class, resilient open space on the Boston Harbor, and as the Director of Programs and Planning for the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy where she managed capital improvements, public art installations, and hundreds of public programs. At the CRC, she oversees all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, strategy and advocacy. Under her leadership, the CRC is carrying forward its legacy of protection and improvement via initiatives such as installing a floating wetland to support vital climate adaptation research. Laura holds a BA in Architectural Studies and an MA in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning from Tufts University, where her graduate work focused on universal design and best practices in creating inclusive public spaces. A former co-captain of the Tufts women’s basketball team and long-time athlete, she has trained for several half marathons and the 2016 Boston marathon along the Charles River. She also enjoys more leisurely walks and canoe paddles along the river with her husband, daughter, and lovable lab.

In-person meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at the Tufts Administration Building, (TAB), 167 Holland Street, second floor, wheelchair accessible. Parking is available for a small fee, and the building is a ten-minute walk from the Davis Square MBTA stop.

All Somerville Garden Club meetings are free and open to the public. 7-9pm. The SGC has been informed that the entry doors to the TAB will be locked at 8pm, including on our meeting days. Please arrange your arrival times accordingly.