Boston Flora

Tag: Fourth of July

  • A Glorious Fourth

    Such a strange year. We are socially distancing in the middle of a pandemic, and facing a reckoning for centuries of racial inequities. More than 120,000 of our fellow citizens have died. We see millions of people unemployed or underemployed. More trivially, but perhaps not so trivially in terms of mental health, we miss sports, Olympics, concerts, plays, and fireworks. But we persist. The increased online availability of classes, lectures, tours, and seminars is a bit of a silver lining. The Garden Club of the Back Bay wishes you all a happy, and healthy, Independence Day. Please keep those masks on, people!

  • Monday, July 4, 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm – Community Boating SAILabration

    Community Boating will hold its annual fund raiser, SAILabration, on Monday, July 4 beginning at 5:30 pm at their boathouse on the Esplanade, between the Hatch Shell and the Longfellow Bridge next to the Charles Circle footbridge.

    Avoid the commotion of the masses on the Esplanade, yet preserve the spirit of camaraderie and the sounds and sights of the Boston POPS as you enter our gates. A summer cookout, ice cold beverages, family fun, and an awesome waterfront view of the fireworks. This Independence Day option is by far the best that Boston has to offer.

    People of all ages and from all places join us for our safe and festive party; this event is especially appealing to families as it offers a refuge from the chaos of hundreds of thousands that line the shores of the Charles. Feel free to bring extra non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks.

    Reserve your ticket now for the best seats. Tickets are priced from $75 ages 7 – 17, $125 for open seating, and $250 for prime reserved tables.  Tickets may be purchased online at http://www.community-boating.org/4th-july-sailabration-fundraiser/
    Purchases support the Junior Program and Universal Access Programming. Admission includes spacious seating under the fireworks, DJ and radio broadcast of the Boston Pops Concert, three Jumbotrons to view the conert, cookout, face painting, glitter tattoos, and photobooth.

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  • 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.