One of the joys of reading through The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s archived correspondence is finding the things we used to complain about, which today would be unthinkable, thanks to the vigilance of the Back Bay Architectural Commission, and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay’s Architecture Committee. For instance, did you know that the front yard of 33 Marlborough Street used to be covered in plastic grass? In the words of Sally Gallaudet, “it actually smells and what is underneath is an experience.” Dr. William MacDonald wrote Front Yard Guidelines which finally, on page 26, admitted everyone might not be able to plant a garden, or “just won’t, all right! At least rake your front plot, collect the beer cans, and be proud … ” Sally Swift wrote to the Superintendent of Maintenance at Emerson College congratulating him on the work done to repair an “extraordinary act of vandalism” which seems to have badly damaged an elm tree, which was also painted white during the incident. We are fortunate that today, only the occasional beer can remains an issue.