Home & Garden
Andover Garden Club Presents Birds’ Nests and Related Plants
On May 7 Expert Botanist Judith Sumner Will Discuss Nest Types and the Plant Materials That Go Into Them
The Andover Garden Club’s May 7 membership and annual meeting will feature botanist Judith Sumner presenting “Birds’ Nest Botany.” This slide-illustrated lecture will explore various types of nests, the botanical materials used in their construction, and ideas for gardeners to help birds with their nesting behavior.
Birds’ nests are the architectural wonders of the animal kingdom, constructed mostly of plant materials. When incorporated into nest structure, stems, leaves, roots, and fibers have structural properties that defy harsh weather and rigorous use. Fresh plant material used to line nests may offer antibiotic and insecticidal adaptations.
More About the Speaker
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Judith Sumner specializes in ethnobotany, flowering plants, plant adaptations, and garden history. She has taught extensively both at the college level and at botanical gardens, including the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University and Garden in the Woods.
Sumner graduated from Vassar College and completed graduate studies in botany at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She studied at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and at the British Museum (Natural History) and did extensive field work in the Pacific region on the genus Pittosporum.
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Her monographic studies have been published in botanical journals, and her column “The Gardener’s Kitchen” (under the pseudonym Laura Craig) appeared in Horticulture magazine for several years. In 2007 Sumner was awarded the Gertrude B. Foster Award for Excellence in Herbal Literature by the Herb Society of America. Her book American Household Botany won the American Horticultural Society Book Award in 2005.
Sumner has appeared on the Martha Stewart Living television show, the PBS program Cultivating Life, and various other PBS and educational programs. She is frequently invited to lecture at botanical and horticultural organizations and symposia.
When, Where, and How
The event will be held at South Church (41 Central Street, Andover) on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. It will begin at 10:00 AM with social time and refreshments, followed by a brief business meeting. The presentation will start at approximately 11:00 AM.
The public is encouraged to take advantage of this program. A $10 donation is requested of nonmembers.
About the Andover Garden Club
Founded in 1927, the Andover Garden Club is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that encourages the study and practice of horticulture, landscape design, and floral design; aids in the beautification of the town of Andover; and helps protect and conserve natural resources. A member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc., and National Garden Clubs, Inc., the club provides both financial and hands-on support to a variety of municipal, educational, and environmental organizations throughout the region.
The Andover Garden Club welcomes new members, and information about joining is available from AGC membership cochairs Cathy Starr (cstarr12@comcast.net, 978-475-8473) and Donna Rudolph (dlabsuper49@aol.com, 978-475-7165).
