Boston Flora

Tag: Charles River

  • Thursday, July 19, 6:30 pm – 8th Annual Summer Dock Party

    Thursday, July 19, 6:30 pm – 8th Annual Summer Dock Party

    Ticket sales for the 8th Annual Esplanade Association Summer Dock Party are now open! Set against the incomparable backdrop of the Charles River at sunset, this annual summer soiree has become a social highlight for young Bostonians. Over 200 guests will enjoy a sunset dinner and drinks followed by dessert and dancing on the docks with the DJ’s of Boston spinning music all night long.

    Esplanade Association members get the first chance at tickets for this popular event. Join us on the docks on Thursday, July 19 at 6:30pm! Visit http://esplanadeassociation.org

    Image result for Esplanade Association summer dock party

  • Wednesday, December 3, 6:00 pm – Arthur Shurcliff: From Boston to Colonial Williamsburg

    Join historian and author Elizabeth Hope Cushing on Wednesday, December 3, at 6 pm in the Hunnewell Building at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, as she speaks of landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff’s early work in Boston and how this led to Colonial Williamsburg, his largest and most significant contribution to American landscape architecture.

    In 1928, the landscape architect and preservationist Arthur A. Shurcliff (1870–1957) began what became one of the most important examples of the American Colonial Revival landscape—Colonial Williamsburg. But before this, Shurcliff honed his skills in Boston. An 1894 engineering graduate of MIT with an interest in landscape design, Shurcliff, on the advice of Frederick Law Olmsted and with the aid of his mentor, Charles Eliot, pieced together courses at Harvard College, the Lawrence Scientific School, and the Bussey Institute. He then spent eight years working in the Olmsted office, acquiring a broad and sophisticated knowledge of the profession. Opening his own practice in 1904, Shurcliff emphasized his expertise in town planning, preparing plans for towns surrounding Boston. He designed recreational spaces that Bostonians still enjoy today, including significant aspects of the Franklin Park Zoo and the Charles River Esplanade. Historian Elizabeth Hope Cushing will speak of Shurcliff’s early work in Boston and how this led to Colonial Williamsburg, his largest and most significant contribution to American landscape architecture.  Fee Free, but registration requested. You may register on line at https://my.arboretum.harvard.edu/Info.aspx?DayPlanner=1381&DayPlannerDate=12/3/2014. Seating is limited. A reception will follow the lecture.

    The Esplanade Association is please to be a co-sponsor of this event along with the Library of American Landscape History, Boston Society of Landscape Architects, Friends of Fairsted, the and the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.

  • Thursday, March 6, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm – The Final Stretch

    On Thursday, March 6th, from 7 – 10, The Esplanade Association and Marathon Sports invite you to join them for The Final Stretch – a party that celebrates the arrival of spring and Marathon season in Boston. Whether you love to run or just want to cheers to the end of a long winter, everyone is welcomed to join in the festivities. The party will take place at Dillons Restaurant & Bar located at 955 Boylston St., Boston.

    Don’t miss a great night of socializing, drinks, dancing, and fundraising for the Charles River Esplanade, home to Boston’s most popular running route. Event tickets* are $25 and all proceeds will benefit The Esplanade Association.

    Visit The Final Stretch web page to purchase tickets and get additional information about the event, including 2014 Committee Members and Event Sponsors. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the restoration and enhancement of the Charles River Esplanade.

    *Ticket price includes 1 drink ticket and an array of appetizers. Must be 21 or older to attend.

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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.

    http://galveston.surfrider.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Surfrider-Logo1.jpeg

  • Monday, April 22 – 5% for Earth Day

    Boston has long been known for its commitment to preserving green space. The Boston Common, The Public Garden, the Emerald Necklace, the creation of the Charles River Basin, the clean-up of Boston Harbor, the revitalization of the Waterfront, the completion of Big Dig and the opening of the Rose Kennedy Greenway are but a few examples of the Commonwealth and the City’s dedication to public, open space throughout the years. All of these improvements were made possible through the commitment of a number of non-profit organizations that work hand in hand with our local, state and national government to keep our parks and open spaces in shape.

    For Earth Day 2013, five of these non-profits (the Charles River Conservancy, the Emerald Necklace Conservancy, the Esplanade Association, the Friends of Public Garden, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy) are joining forces to bring 5% for Earth Day to Boston. The campaign, which has seen three years of success in Austin, TX and expanded to the Houston, TX area in 2012, will ask Boston-area retailers to donate 5% of their gross proceeds on Monday April 22, 2013 to a coalition of non-profits that support projects in Boston’s parks and open spaces.

    Kickass Cupcakes, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Momogoose, Mei Mei Street Kitchen, Henrietta’s Table, SkinHealth Centers, Shuckin Truck, and The Chubby Chickpea are among the participating businesses. Go to www.give5Boston.org for a complete list.

    http://www.urbanrootsatx.org//srv/htdocs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/EarthDay_2013Homepage-460x260.jpg

  • Saturday, September 29, 9:00 pm – 12:00 am – Esplanade Moon Dance Gala: Night Owls

    You are cordially invited to kick up your heels and have fun, all for the benefit of the beautiful Charles River Esplanade.  Show your support for this historic and beloved Boston landmark by attending.  Enjoy light bites, desserts, cocktails, DJ and dancing on the Esplanade Saturday, September 29, from 9 – midnight.  Purchase tickets by August 31 and pay $175.  After September 1 the price goes up to $200.  For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.esplanadeassociation.org/events-2/upcoming-events/moon-dance-gala-92912, or call Tani at 617-227-0365, ext. 106.

  • Charles River Clean Up Boat Update

    Charles River Clean Up Boat Update

    From our friend Tom McNichol of the Charles River Clean Up Boat, a post Fourth of July update:

    “We got the river clean early this year with help for the Charles River Yacht Club, and kept it clean until the 4th of July.

    Again we all had a world class party, one the whole city can be very proud to be part of. Even the evacuation and rain had little effect on the enthusiasm, and patriotism, displayed. Part of the deal is after every party you have to clean up. We expect it every year, and consider it our contribution to the bash. We started our part of the clean up on July 5th.

    Now a little information on fireworks. Every rocket has a tube it is fired from. These tubes are loaded days in advance and each one has a colorful plastic cap covering the upturned end. It’s purpose is to keep water and debris out of the charges prior to firing. When the weather is good these caps are removed prior to firing. This year it is a good thing that they were not removed, as it began to pour just as the first rocket was fired. You guessed it, the down side is hundreds, maybe thousands were fired into the river in addition to the normal residue from the rockets. See attached photos.

    We will keep finding them for months as they come out from under docks and the bushes. The good news is, after 4 days on the river, we have picked up all of the obvious ones. The rest we will get on subsequent trips, but you should not see any as you walk along the river. In fact we are back to a clean beautiful river.

    Funding wise we are getting to where we need to be. I am sure a number of our supporters just haven’t got around to sending the check.. I need to get on the phone and make some calls. Just not my favorite activity and I tend to procrastinate.

    As to volunteers…WOW… we already have crews for every scheduled day for the rest of the year. This is the first time we have filled up so early. Thank you very much, everybody

    The boat is running strong, the weather has been clear and dry, for the most part, the river is clean and the concerts are in full swing.

    You have played a part in keeping the wonderful playground beautiful. Come out and enjoy.”

    If you are interested in making a donation to support the operation of the Clean Up Boat, please contact Tom McNichol at 508.877.3624, or email  cleanupboat@yahoo.com.

  • Saturday, July 23, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm – Dedham BioBlitz

    The Dedham BioBlitz is an interactive event where parents, children and family members can explore the outdoors and seek out species for identification. The goal is to tag and identify 375 species, such as plants, lichens, fungi, mammals, insects, birds, spiders, reptiles, and amphibians. Although there may be thousands of species in Dedham, the idea is to celebrate and honor Dedham’s milestone anniversary of 375 years as a town and community. Events scheduled for the day include nature walks led by world-renowned naturalist Peter Alden, a kid-friendly nature scavenger hunt along the banks of the Charles River, information sharing by field specialists who will educate participants about wetlands, vernal pools, meadows, New England wildflowers, and native and invasive species. A display of live animals, and natural curiosities will also be a part of the festivities. The BioBlitz is FREE and open to all curious minds.  Meet at the Dolan Recreation Center, 269 Common Street in Dedham, at 9 am on Saturday, July 23.  For more information, email steph@dinosaur13.com.

  • Saturday, April 16, 9:00 am – 12:00 noon – Earth Day Charles River Cleanup

    The 12th Annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup takes place at all sites along the Charles River and its tributaries on Saturday, April 16, from 9 am – noon. To volunteer on the Esplanade and the parkland up to the River Bridge, contact Jessica Blohm at The Esplanade Association by calling 617-227-0365, or contact the Charles River Watershed Association at 781-788-0007, ext. 303.

  • Saturday, November 13, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm – A Horticultural History Tour

    The Massachusetts Horticultural Society is proud to announce a day-long series of lectures focused on the history of horticulture and landscape design in New England and beyond, to take place Saturday, November 13, from 9 – 4 at the Hunnewell Carriage House, Elm Bank, 900 Washington Street in Wellesley.

    The symposium will be hosted by John Furlong, FALA, emeritus director, Landscape Institute, Arnold Arboretum, faculty member of the Boston Architectural College, Distinguished Radcliffe Instructor, and recipientof the  Gold Medal and emeritus trustee, Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

    9:00 AM – Actor and interpreter Gerry Wright, as Frederick Law Olmsted, presents a biography of the landscape architect who was influenced by the natural landscapes of New England throughout his life. In 1850, at age 28, he traveled to England and was smitten with the countryside and a “democratic park” in Birkenhead. Olmsted’s two styles of landscape architecture were the creation of the “pastoral” and the “picturesque”. Beyond the creation for beauty, there was a sense of “service deeply rooted in his planning of public places.” New York City’s Central Park, Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum and the country estates on the Charles River in Wellesley and Dover are among the legacies of Olmsted and his firm.

    At 10:30, Allyson Hayward, garden historian, popular lecturer for The Garden Club of the Back Bay and author of Norah Lindsay: The Life and Art of a Garden Designer will deliver a new talk on two important New England estates, the Hunnewell estate, known as Wellesley, and Elm Bank, the Cheney/Baltzell estate which is now the home of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Today, these landscapes reveal a layering of New England’s garden history. Ms. Hayward will take you on an armchair tour of these exciting gardens with an illustrated lecture tracing the landscapes dating from 1850 to the present. You will revel in the beauty of the initial vision of Horatio Hollis Hunnewell and his Italian Garden and Pinetum at Wellesley. The lecture will continue with images of Elm Bank from its Victorian grandeur to its transformation into a 1920s grandiose playground for Boston society, complete with theme gardens that portrayed the owners’ sense of taste and style.

    11:30 AM – David Barnett, PhD., President and CEO of Mount Auburn Cemetery, will present Wilson’s China: A Century On, published by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2009. Wilson was the Arnold Arboretum’s principal plant collector from 1906 and following Sargent’s death he was appointed the self-styled ‘Keep” of the Arboretum. In addition to introducing over 1,200 plants, Wilson was a popular author and lecturer and a MassHort Trustee. His remarkable achievements are a continuing inspiration to botanists, horticulturists and landscapers. The slides have been loaned to MassHort through the courtesy of the English authors, Tony Kirkham and Mark Flanagan, respectively Head of the Arboretum at Kew and Keeper of the Royal Gardens in Windsor Great Park.

    Following lunch, at 1:30 PM, you will hear Elizabeth S. Eustis, a garden historian and guest curator, former Trustee of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, past President of the New England Wild Flower Society and faculty member of The Landscape Institute. She will speak on Romanticism in the Landscape, the subject of a 2010 exhibition that she co-curated for the Morgan Library in New York, Romantic Gardens: Art, Nature and Garden Design, with a catalog published by David R. Godine. Following the transition from formal classicism to more naturalistic garden design, Romanticism added a new emphasis on emotional and spiritual response to the landscape. The pervasive influence of Romanticism inspired artificial ruins, garden cemeteries, wild gardens, and contributed powerfully to the public parks movement. This talk will be extensively illustrated by recent photographs and historic works of art.

    3:00 PM – Meg Muckenhoupf is the author of Boston’s Gardens & Green Spaces, Union Park Press, 2010, which is a guide to the Arnold Arboretum, The Boston Public Garden, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, the Olmsted sites, Elm Bank and Boston’s historic and newer parks. Beautiful photos. You will discover delightful new spots to visit.

    Registration is $65 for MHS members, $75 for non-members, and the price includes lunch. You may register on-line at www.masshort.org/horticultural-history-tour or call 617-933-4995.