Boston Flora

Tag: Bev Christians

  • Wreath of the Day, From the Archives – Offbeat Colors

    One of our most active members, Bev Christians, has run or contributed to a number of Garden Club of the Back Bay events, such as the Winter Tea and the Twilight Garden Party, but is not particularly fond of traditional Christmas colors of red and green. She has, for a number of years, requested a more offbeat look, sometimes chartreuse, sometimes pink, to hang in her South End home. Designer Rita Christensen has obliged with some truly spectacular wreaths, a few of which are pictured below.

    Thank you to Margo Newman for sponsoring today’s Wreath of the Day posting.

  • Friday, February 17, 7:30 pm – Friends of Copley Square Second Annual Mardi Gras Celebration

    The Friends of Copley Square, a non-profit organization that provides funding to assist the City of Boston with the preservation, maintenance, and beautification of the Copley Square, will host its second annual Mardi Gras Celebration on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

    The evening will bring the feeling of the French Quarter into the heart of Boston’s Back Bay. The event will include a New Orleans dinner buffet, live music and dancing, and auction prizes. Guests are encouraged to come in festive Mardi Gras attire, including masks if desired.

    Tickets are $300 per couple, which includes two tickets to the event, as well as accommodations on February 17 donated by The Copley Square Hotel, The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel and The Lenox Hotel. Hotel availability is limited so guests are encouraged to make their reservations early. Individual tickets are available for $175 per person.

    To purchase tickets, please visit www.friendsofcopleysquare.org. All of the proceeds from the event benefit The Friends of Copley Square. The organization’s activity includes maintenance of the fountain, care of the trees and the development of programming to create a vibrant park for all to enjoy.

    For more information on The Friends of Copley Square  email friendsofcopleysquare@gmail.com. The Friends of Copley Square is a registered 501(c)3 not for profit corporation.  Photo by Courtney Sacco from www.backbay.patch.com.

  • A New Year’s Resolution for Friends of Copley Square

    Garden Club of the Back Bay representative to The Friends of Copley Square, Bev Christians, has reminded us to remind all our readers of the tree situation at Copley Square.  She and fellow Club member and representative Rita Christensen have been working hard with the Friends group to find a solution to the dead and dying trees.  Bev writes:

    A number of Garden Club members who are concerned about the diseased trees in Copley Square have asked about joining the Friends of Copley Square at this time of year when charitable contributions are made.  Please note that the Friends have set up a designated account to receive monies for tree care and replacement.  When you join, mark the check memo “Tree Fund.” Thus far, Garden Club memberships in FOCS have paid for fertilizer and biotic stress treatment to fortify blighted trees.Your memberships truly count, especially right now.  Mail your check for $50 for individual membership or $500 Singleton Society (special events) to Friends of Copley Square,  P.O Box 170124, Boston, MA 02117-0084.  

    Visit www.friendsofcopleysquare.org to join or donate on line with PayPal, if you prefer.  Copley Square has, in the past, been a site for First Night ice sculptures, and in the dead of winter, the tree damage goes unnoticed.  When spring arrives, however, the extent of the problem will be readily apparent.  Please give generously.

  • Wreath of the Day 2011 – Loading In

    Wreath of the Day 2011 – Loading In

    Sunday night before the official Wreath Week kick off is a busy time for members of The Garden Club of the Back Bay.  A small group arrives at The First Lutheran Church with cars filled with supplies.  Two or three cars have come from our storage facility with saved materials from the prior year, including tools, tables, easels and chairs.  A word about our easels – a number of years ago a member’s husband put together an easel for her to use when decorating wreaths.  Up until that time we decorated flat on tables, then hung the wreaths on hooks to check bow placement, wreath shape, and overall balance of design.  Often we had to fuss over the wreath to amend mistakes – bows placed at 11:00 rather than centered, or decorative clusters on matched pairs which simply didn’t line up.  When we saw the easel, we knew what we had to do.  Member Bev Christians offered the services of her immensely talented husband, and over one summer he hammered together fabulous folding easels large enough to hold a matched pair, with handles and hooks, yet light enough to transport easily.  We ordered more the following year, since every decorator wanted one.  Now our wreaths come out right the first time around.  Below is a matched pair on one such easel.

  • Garden Club of the Back Bay at Art in Bloom

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay was beautifully represented at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s Art in Bloom with this lovely arrangement created by member Jeanne Stanton, assisted by Jessica Seth.  Thank you both, and thank you also to Bev and John Christians for providing the terrific photograph!

  • Tuesdays, May 17 and 24, and Thursday, May 26, 10:30 am – Hale House Planting

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay assists Hale House, a not for profit retirement residence located at 273 Clarendon Street in Boston.  This year, the Club has donated $500 for the purchase of annual flowering plants to brighten Hale House’s inner garden.  We are looking for volunteers on Tuesday, May 17, Tuesday, May 24, and Thursday, May 26, beginning at 10:30 am, to help with the planting.  One or two hours of your time will be all that is needed.  If you are able to assist, please email Bev Christians at j.bchris@verizon.net and let her know.  Bring a small trowel, garden gloves, and lots of good will.  Meet at the northeast corner of Clarendon and Marlborough Streets.