The last program in the Rockport Public Library’s Spring Horticulture Series, in partnership with Merryspring Nature Center, will take place on Wednesday, June 17, at 1 p.m. Unlike the other talks in the series, which are held at the library, this event will take place on site at Merryspring. Program Director John Fromer will give guests a guided walking tour of the “Interpretive Trail,” which includes many notable landmarks of the nature preserve.  The one-hour program will cover a hiking distance of less than 1/2 mile. The short venture is packed with highlights, such as the Merry Spring, the Vernal Pool, the site of the Revolutionary War Militia Encampment, the American Chestnut Grove, and more!  Regarding the terrain, the walk will be on a level, mowed trail around meadows and briefly through the woods. The path will pass through a break in a stone wall, and there are tree roots in the forest near the vernal pool. There are benches to sit on for breaks while bird and insect watching. Cameras, binoculars, and walking sticks are helpful. Good hiking shoes are important. The program is free and open to the public, and it will be held rain or shine. Please call the...

On Tuesday, June 23, at 1 p.m., the Rockport Public Library will host a presentation by renowned MIT Engineering Professor Lorna Gibson. She will introduce her new book, “Birds Up Close: An Engineer Explores Their Hidden Wonders.” Gibson, a lifelong birder, combines her expertise in materials science with ornithology to offer a unique perspective on how birds function, from the physics of flight to the evolution of their unique features. Described by Kirkus Reviews as “best suited for the geekiest birders and engineers,” the book covers topics like feather structure, bone density, flight dynamics, and specialized bills, with over 150 illustrations. Books will be available for purchase following the talk.  In addition to being the Matoula S. Salapatas Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and a MacVicar Faculty Fellow at MIT, Gibson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. CLICK HERE to learn more about Lorna Gibson and her new book on the MIT Press website. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK: Watching a bird in flight is amazing enough, but to really grasp how extraordinary birds are, let Lorna Gibson take you deep inside them — inside their bones, their feathers, their eggshells, though X-rays...