2006/7 Lecture Series
Cleveland Botanical Garden's 2006-7 Lecture Series Features World Newsmaking Discovery of Lost World in New Guinea
Cleveland, OH – September 18, 2006
Bruce M. Beehler, the Conservation International co-expedition leader who helped discover a "lost world" of new species, giant flowers, and rare wildlife unafraid of humans, kicks off Cleveland Botanical Garden's 2006-2007 Lecture Series with a special lecture on Saturday, October 21 (2:00 – 4:00 p.m.). The series, characterized by diverse horticultural topics with popular appeal, also features author David J. Mabberley on the history of the apple (Saturday, November 11, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.), the amazing orchid photographer Harold Feinstein (Thursday, February 15, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.), and Case Western Reserve University Professor of History and Law Ted Steinberg on Americans' obsessive quest for the perfect lawn. The price for each individual lecture is $20 per member and $27 per nonmember. Both the first two and second two lectures in the series are also available at a special advance price of $35 per member and $47 per nonmember for two lectures.
Fall Lecture Series 1:
The Lost World: Exploring the Foja Mountains of New Guinea
Bruce M. Beehler
Saturday, October 21
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
“It’s as close to the Garden of Eden as you’re going to find on Earth,” marvels Bruce M. Beehler. “The first bird we saw at our camp was a new species. Large mammals that have been hunted to near extinction elsewhere were here in abundance. We were able to simply pick up two long-beaked echidnas, a primitive egg-laying mammal that is little known.”
In December, 2005, a team of eleven scientists, led by Conservation International, announced the discovery of a “lost world” in the mist-shrouded Foja Mountains of western New Guinea. The event drew international media attention because of its startling revelation of dozens of new species of plants and animals in a mountain wilderness that appeared to be entirely free of human impact. Expedition co-leader Bruce Beehler will take us along on the expedition, showing evocative color slides that introduce us to this mysterious place and remarkable discoveries, such as the male Berlepsch’s Six-Wired Bird of Paradise, a new orange-faced honeyeater bird, a rare Tree Kangaroo, 20 new frogs, 4 new butterflies, and what may be the largest rhododendron flower on earth. Beehler will also describe CI’s work with the Indonesian government and the people within the greater Mamboramo Basin, which includes the Foja Mountains, to preserve what promises to be an important region for biodiversity conservation.
Fall Lecture Series 2:
The Story of the Apple
David J. Mabberley
Saturday, November 11,
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Why is the familiar large, sweet, cultivated apple so different from all other wild apple species with their bitter, cherry-sized fruits? It was long assumed that the apple of our gardens and supermarkets is the result of a complex history of hybridization, and like so many other crop plants, is the result of selection of human beings over thousands of years. But the true story is even more interesting, involving earthquakes in the mountainous Tian Shan and the spreading of deserts in Asia, the eating habits of bears and horses, ancient trading routes, the discovery of the technique of grafting, and the multiple virtues of cider.
Dr. Mabberley is the Soest Professor of Horticultural Science, Director of the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, and visiting professor at the University of Leiden. Following the lecture, Dr. Mabberly will sign books and we’ll have the chance to taste a variety of locally grown apples from Patterson’s Fruit Farm.
Winter Lecture Series 1:
Orchidelirium
Harold Feinstein
Thursday, February 15,
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Harold Feinstein is a noted photographer with a particular focus on flowers. His most recent book, Orchidelirium, has received much critical praise. American Orchid Society Judge Robert Hesse says that Feinstein’s photographs “evoke directly the magic, wonder, passion, and lust engendered in the susceptible by these captivating flowers.” He is the photographer behind such magical books as One Hundred Flowers, One Hundred Seashells, The Infinite Rose and The Infinite Tulip (all from Bulfinch Press).
Feinstein's distinguished career in photography began in 1946, when he was fifteen. By the time he was nineteen, Edward Steichen had purchased his work for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exhibited his work frequently during his tenure at the museum.
Feinstein's photographs have been exhibited by and are represented in the collections of other major museums, including the International Center of Photography, the George Eastman House, the Museum of the City of New York, and the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris.
Feinstein’s lecture will serve as a prelude to Cleveland Botanical Garden's annual Orchid Mania exhibit, which will open on February 24.
Winter Lecture Series 2:
American Green:
The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn
Ted Steinberg
Saturday, March 31,
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The rise of the perfect lawn represents one of the most profound transformations in the history of the American landscape. Ted Steinberg, professor of history and law at Case Western Reserve University, shares insights from his witty book, American Green: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Lawn, which chronicles the impact this obsession has on the environment and public health. Blending muckraking journalism and social history, Steinberg unlocks the mystery of the all-American landscape and chances are, you’ll never look at your yard the same way again!
There will be a book signing following the lecture.