Daily Archives: April 30, 2013


Garden Club of the Back Bay Completes Successful Magnolia Project

The Garden Club of the Back Bay has celebrated its 50th anniversary by planting 50 ‘Moon Glow’ white magnolia trees in Boston.

The Garden Club of the Back Bay has been helping our neighbors plant magnolia trees for almost our entire history. In 1963, Laura Dwight led the first magnolia planting along Commonwealth Avenue, creating the spectacular display of pink blossoms we still enjoy today. In 1995, we oversaw a second planting of more than 40 young ‘Leonard Messel’ magnolias, augmenting Back Bay’s spring display of flowering trees.

On April 25 and 26, the trees were delivered and the planting process began. Ten of the trees were purchased by neighbors, and forty (!) were donated by the Club to not-for-profit institutions in Back Bay and throughout the City of Boston. Some of the recipients include Bethany House at 256 Newbury Street, the First Lutheran Church on Berkeley Street, the Friends of the Public Garden, Berklee School of Music, First Church in Boston, Bay State College, Fisher College, Forest Hills Cemetery, and Southwest Corridor Park.

Below is a picture of Club Co-President Jolinda Taylor with the trees that were delivered, prior to distribution and planting.  Congratulations to all!

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Monday, May 13, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Written in the Genes: Forest Tree Evolution, Growth, and Reaction to Climate Change

Recent advances in genomics research are providing insights into the fascinating biology of forest trees. Using information from paleobotany and genome sequencing of the model tree Populus, Andrew Groover, Geneticist and Director of the Institute of Forest Genetics of the US Forest Service, will explain the evolution of trees, including their origins and the processes underlying speciation. He will show how trees make wood at the molecular genetic level. Then he will use information from population genetics to infer migration of Populus species during past periods of climate change and what forest species’ migrations might look like in the future. The program takes place Monday, May 13 in the Hunnewell Building of the Arnold Arboretum, beginning at 7 pm. Free, but registration requested at www.arboretum.harvard.edu.

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Wednesday, May 15, 8:00 am – 12:00 noon – Lexington Field & Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale

The Lexington Field & Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale will be held rain or shine on Wednesday, May 15, from 8 am – noon at the Heritage Museum, 33 Marrett Road in Lexington.

A variety of perennial plants from Club members’ own gardens as well as herbs and annuals will be available for purchase. Club members will be available to offer expert gardening advice. Gardening gloves, aprons, used tools and houseplants will also be sold.

A special feature this year will be a table of choice plants, including dahlias (photo below courtesy of www.burpee.com.)  A professional knife sharpener will be there, so bring along your garden tools and come early for the best selections! For more information visit www.lexgardenclub.org.

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