Boston Flora

Category: Volunteer Opportunity

  • Monday, September 16, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm – Rolling Ridge Preservation Round Table and Workshop

    Monday, September 16, 9:30 am – 3:00 pm – Rolling Ridge Preservation Round Table and Workshop

    Rolling Ridge and the New England Landscape Design and History Association are excited and pleased to invite you to a Preservation Round Table and Workshop on the Fountains and Gardens of renowned landscape architect Fletcher Steele at Rolling Ridge, North Andover, Massachusetts on Monday, September 16, from 9:30- 3 pm.

    They are gathering some of the experts to help put Fletcher Steele and Rolling Ridge on the Massachusetts garden history map. As a destination place with a hidden gem up to this point, but it can be a showplace of the genius of one the nation’s great landscape architects. Two of Steele’s designs are designated National Historic Landmarks: Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and the Amphitheatre in Camden, Maine.

    Of the 500 plus gardens Fletcher Steele designed, Rolling Ridge ranks in the top three according to Robin Karson, author of Fletcher Steele, Landscape Architect. The garden rooms, the fountains and the layout reflect the genius of Steele in one of his earliest designs. Yet years of New England weather have deteriorated the concrete and stopped the water flow. Five presentations from Steele experts will illuminate Steele at Rolling Ridge, lead us on a tour the garden and fountains and tell of plans for restoration.

    Come see this historic gem, view the plans and ideas for restoration and share in the conversation on the future of this significant landscape. Register online at www.rollingridge.org.  The $75 fee includes a delicious lunch, presentations and tour. Rain or shine.  Garden Club of the Back Bay members enjoyed a memorable tour and lunch last spring at Rolling Ridge, and everyone attending saw the need for an influx of money, time and expertise to put Rolling Ridge back on the map.  The Club enthusiastically endorses this effort.

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  • Fruitlands Museum – Bricks, Benches and Blacktop

    In 2014, Fruitlands Museum would like to improve physical accessibility on site by focusing on the “3 Bs” – Bricks, Benches, and Blacktop. The goal is to make it easier for all guests to navigate and enjoy the campus.

    This initiative will allow the Museum to:

    Reinstall the brick walkway that leads into the Museum store and cafe.
    Offer more places to rest on campus by purchasing new benches.
    Repave the blacktop from the entryway down to the Farmhouse.

    Yes, these are big projects – which is why they are asking for your help today. The 3 “Bs” are part of a larger facilities improvement plan which they hope to have complete by the end of 2015.

    The first project is the brick walkway. They are halfway to their fundraising goal of $10,000 and hope to complete this challenge by the end of October.

    Can you help? Donate now to invest in the future of your museum community!

    Visit http://www.fruitlands.org/BBB to help Fruitlands pave the way to a smooth future.

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  • Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s 15th Anniversary Run-Walk Challenge

    In celebration of our 15th anniversary, we have partnered with Great Runs in Boston author Mark Lowenstein to create the Emerald Necklace Challenge – a challenge to run or walk the entire Emerald Necklace, with connections to surrounding communities, using 15 custom-designed routes. The goal is to get folks out, active, and exploring the Emerald Necklace and its connections to nearby communities!

    How does it work:

    Register for the challenge on the form found at www.emeraldnecklace.org. Registration fee: $20.
    Once registered, you will be emailed your Run Passport
    Check off the routes on the Passport as you complete them (honor system!)
    Bring or Mail your completed card to the Shattuck Emerald Necklace Visitor Center 125 The Fenway | Boston, MA 021155. Challenge must be completed by September 29, 2013.

    Challenge Rules:

    The routes must be done by running or walking. No biking!
    The routes can be done in any order and started from any spot. All that matters is that you complete the miles! You can put together multiple segments for longer routes.
    This is honor system based!
    Challenge must be completed by September 29, 2013

    Complete the challenge and you’ll receive:

    A certificate of completion
    A special Emerald Necklace Challenge tote bag
    Your choice of one running book by local author Mark Lowenstein: Great Runs in Boston,Great Runs in Brookline & Vicinity,or Great Runs in Boston’s Burbs.

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  • Thursday, August 15, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Boston Park Advocates Mayoral Candidates’ Forum

    We have received a letter from our good friends at Boston Park Advocates which we wish to share with our readers:

    Help make parks and open spaces a priority for Boston’s candidates. The Boston Park Advocates is a network of people and organizations who champion our city’s parks and open spaces. You may have been involved in the past, attending a workshop, as sponsor of a candidates’ forum, or by testifying at a city budget hearing.

    We’re jumping into this exciting campaign season. Will you join us? Here’s what’s happening:

    Mayoral Candidates’ Forum on Thursday, August 15th 7-9pm at the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse.
    Survey on parks & open space sent to all the candidates.
    Updated www.bostonparks.org – check it out!
    Follow Twitter and facebook activity to get the candidates talking about greenspace.
    Calendar of events so park advocates can make sure candidates hear about open space issues.

    What can you do?

    First, join. Go to the sponsorship link on the website to add your organization to the growing list of groups that care about parks and open space. Let’s show candidates that Boston park advocates are from many disciplines: youth, sports, public safety, arts, bikes, health, CDC, and more.

    Second, link to www.bostonparks.org from your organization’s website to get more people educated about parks and open space.

    Third, get involved, go to candidate events, ask about their experiences with parks and let them know what you think is needed from a new mayor to make our greenspace even more spectacular. There are lots of ways to get involved, look at www.bostonparks.org to learn how.

    We’re not supporting a candidate, we’re supporting parks! Please join us.

    For Boston Park Advocates,

    Christine Poff, Franklin Park Coalition
    Valerie Burns, Boston Natural Areas Network
    Julie Crockford, Emerald Necklace Conservancy
    Liz Vizza, Friends of the Public Garden

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  • August is Tree Check Month

    The Ecological Landscape Association. www.ecolandscaping.org, has sent us this reminder. We approach the 5th anniversary of the discovery of Asian Longhorned Beetle in Massachusetts. Since 2008, more than 30,000 hardwood trees have been removed because of this invasive pest. Recently, another wood-boring beetle, the Emerald Ash Borer, was found in Berkshire County, and now threatens millions of Ash trees in the state. Join your fellow citizens during the month of August and check your trees for signs of damage caused by Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer, and learn to recognize the beetles themselves. For more detailed information, visit http://massnrc.org/pests/blog/ or email Stacy Kilb, ALB Outreach Coordinator at stacy.kilb@state.ma.us or call (617)780-1371.

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  • The Garden Club of the Back Bay Donates to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

    Once again the Garden Club of the Back Bay, Inc. has donated money to a local institution. The Club has given $1,000 to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in honor of the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings. “After visiting Spaulding, we were impressed by the easy access of patients, visitors and staff to many garden spaces around the building,” said Jolinda Taylor, Co-President of the Garden Club. “The views of Boston Harbor from the patient rooms are spectacular and uplifting,” added Jackie Blombach, Co-President of the Club.

    “Spaulding is committed to caring for the whole patient, body and spirit” according to Steven Patrick, Vice President for Development, who accompanied the Garden Club officers on their mid-summer visit, “and allowing patients access to peaceful garden spaces is essential.” Patrick added that “the outdoor spaces are intended to encourage patients to get outside, seek fresh air and engage with the community. We plan to incorporate gardening as a therapeutic activity, with wheelchair accessible raised beds.” The gardens include native, drought-tolerant, and salt-resistant trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses, and evergreens, on the hospital’s site at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The new Spaulding facility has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold status certification, a very high standard of energy conservation and responsiveness to the natural environment.

    The Garden Club cares for neighborhood trees. The Club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary this year by planting 50 magnolia trees in Back Bay and nearby neighborhoods. Club members volunteer in community projects at the Women’s Lunch Place, Hale House, The Learning Project Elementary School, The College Club, and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

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  • Saturday, July 13, 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project

    The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, now in its seventh year, helps keep beaches, rivers, parks and lakes across America “barefoot friendly.” In 2013, Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, along with community volunteers, are embarking on a tour of 15 cleanups nationwide, stopping in Boston, MA.  Cleanup 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm on the Charles River at Christian A. Herter Park. Meet at the parking lot off Soldiers Field Road, near the community garden, Boston, MA 02134.  Look for the Surfrider tent!  Free.

    Volunteers are also invited to attend a celebration, organized by the Surfrider Foundation, featuring Barefoot Wine, surf-inspired fare and a performance by Eric Hutchinson. Tickets for the celebration will be distributed at the cleanup. Celebration 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm at The Sinclair 52 Church St. Cambridge, MA 02138.  Please note that all events are limited to those 21 years of age or older.

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  • Saturday, June 22, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm – Dinner by the River

    Enjoy dining, live soft jazz and good company on Saturday, June 22, from 6 – 9, under a beautiful sunset riverside at this year’s Dinner by the River.  The Orange Revitalization Partnership Friends of the Parks will host at Riverfront Park on East River Street in historic Orange.  Tickets are $20, and all are welcome.  For details on tickets and volunteering, please call Pat Andrews, Vice Chair of ORP at 978-544-8555.  This is an annual fund raiser for the town parks.

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  • Saturday, June 8, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Organic Integrated Pest Management

    Gardening for Life presents Kayleigh Boyle, Gaining Ground Farm Manager, who will talk about Organic Integrated Pest Management followed by field work on the farm as a volunteer to put what you learn into practice! Find out what you can do now before pests/disease get the upper hand! Space is limited to 15. RSVP by June 6 to deb01742@comcast.net.

    Gaining Ground grows organic vegetables and fruit with the help of hundreds of community volunteers and donates all of this fresh food to area meal programs and food pantries. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach that uses information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This strategy is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. IPM organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.

    Come on your own, or bring a friend! We will meet at the main farm at 315 Virginia Road in Concord, Massachusetts. Please bring sunscreen, water is available on the farm and reusable water bottles are encouraged. Refer to http://gainingground.org for more information about Gaining Ground.

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  • Saturday, April 27, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Alley Rally

    Spring is definitely here, and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay Alley Rally 2013 will sweep through the neighborhood on Saturday, April 27, from 9 – 12.  Coordinating with Mayor Menino’s Citywide Cleanup, come join your neighbors, including groups from local fraternities and some of our Back Bay schools, in sweeping the alleys and side streets.  Thanks to donations from our local businesses, NABB provides coffee, juice, and doughnuts at the Clarendon Street Playground starting at 8:30 am.  At 9, you will divide in groups and head off to clean.  After you finish, there will be a picnic lunch (also donated by Back Bay businesses) for volunteers back at the Playground.  This is a great way to know your neighbors and spruce up the neighborhood at the same time.  NABB has been conducting Alley Rally since 1967!  For further information, please contact Ellen Rooney at parnell3@verizon.net.  Garden Club of the Back Bay member Janet Younker is pictured at right, below:

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