The Garden Club of the Back Bay invites you to its annual Twilight Garden Party, this year being held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Boston, on June 3 from 6 – 8. The party is a lavish kickoff to summer, and supports the meaningful work the Club performs for the trees and gardens of the Back Bay and around the City. Tickets are now available through Eventbrite HERE.
The 25th Anniversary Annual Meeting of The Esplanade Association will take place online Wednesday, April 15 at 6 pm Eastern. Register HERE. Special guest: Stephanie Fletcher presenting on “25 Species for 25 Years”, highlighting 25 animal species that call the Esplanade home and her biodiversity work using the iNaturalist app.
Stephanie has had a lifelong love for nature. From a young age, she was observing insects, adopting and raising orphaned wildlife, and smelling any flower within reach. She graduated with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business Management from Syracuse University, then worked as a Sales Manager for Bloomberg’s multimedia and equity trading division in New York for 10 years.
In 2003, she became a full-time mother and dedicated volunteer for educational and nature-focused non-profits like the Learning Project and Mass Audubon. She is heavily involved with many local green space organizations, like the Esplanade Association, the Garden Club of the Back Bay, and the Friends of the Public Garden. In 2025, she became a Certified Field Naturalist through Mass Audubon and a Certified Pollinator Steward through UMass Amherst. Her discovery of the first Joro Spider in New England was featured in Scott Loarie’s TEDx Boston talk on the power of using iNaturalist as a tool to discover and log biodiversity for scientific study.
DCR’s Matthew Cahill joins members of The Garden Club of the Back Bay at the Chilton Club on Tuesday, April 28 at 10 am to talk about the Legacy Tree Program. Through the Legacy Tree Program and the National Champion Tree Registry, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Forestry Program formally recognizes the largest and most interesting known tree of each species, trees of historical origin, and other trees of unique and significant importance growing within the state of Massachusetts. There are a number of Legacy Trees in Mount Auburn Cemetery and in the Public Garden. This program is for members only, but you can join now at https://bostonflora.com/join
The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s March program for members only will take place Wednesday, March 18 at 2 pm at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue. If you are interested in attending this or any other Garden Club of the Back Bay event, visit https://bostonflora.com/join.
The New Garden Society is run by horticulturists, landscapers and farmers who seek to expand green industry opportunities for incarcerated women, giving them an opportunity to get outside, plant what they love, and learn skills that might help them get jobs after incarceration is over. The organization was a GCBB grant recipient in 2025. Co-founder and director, Renée Portanova, will share how their members can transform their lives as they transform the landscape. With a B.A. from Manhattan College, a Certificate in Conservation Biology from Columbia University, and an M.S. in Education from Lesley University, she brings practical expertise and a passion for learning to every teaching environment. Renée is a horticulturist at Mount Auburn Cemetery and was the former Horticulture Manager for the Esplanade Association.
While the Charles River is much cleaner and healthier than it was in its “Dirty Water” days, the work is not done, and the growing threat of climate change brings new challenges. Emily Norton, Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association will discuss how a swimmable river can be achieved, and how moderating water management practices will help Eliminate flooding and other climate change driven dangers. This Garden Club of the Back Bay meeting will take place February 3 at 5:30 pm at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue, and is open to Club members. To join, visit https://bostonflora.com/
Emily Norton has served as Executive Director of the Charles River Watershed Association since 2018. She directs a staff of scientists and advocates focused on protecting and restoring the Charles River and its watershed communities. During her tenure, the organization has more than doubled its staff and has expanded its work in municipal climate resilience, dam removal, reducing invasive species, and more.
Reservations are required for this program.
Don’t delay sending in your order for a beautifully crafted holiday wreath from The Garden Club of the Back Bay. Supplies are limited, especially for fully decorated wreaths, and proceeds from this all-volunteer endeavor go directly into neighborhood beautification and tree care. Place your order at https://bostonflora.com/store
If you have visited the legendary Gallery of Wreaths at the Berkshire Botanical Garden Holiday Marketplace, you may have wondered how wreath designers create their botanical masterpieces and whether you can craft your own. This three-hour program on your choice of Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or Sunday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will combine a classroom introduction with guided hands-on practice using 14-inch balsam wreath forms, after which you will take home your own decorated holiday wreath. Chris Ferrero will lead this class, starting with a slide program introducing principles, techniques and creative ideas. Then participants will be assigned workstations in the same studio used by BBG’s wreath designers, several of whom will be on hand to help you select materials and practice optimal construction skills. Experience with a hot glue gun is recommended. The wreath below is a creation of The Garden Club of the Back Bay, and if you can’t participate in the BBG workshop you may wish to order one at https://bostonflora.com/
Please register here for Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Please register here for Sunday, Nov. 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Add festive cheer to your home while helping to keep the Back Bay green and growing. Each holiday wreath (two sizes, plain, with bow, or fully decorated) is unique, handcrafted with care by dedicated volunteer members of the Garden Club of the Back Bay. When you order, you will select your wreath size, ribbon color, and decorative scheme. Your purchase directly supports the Club’s annual $30,000 expenditures for annual tree care across the Back Bay. Order now through November 28 at https://bostonflora.com/store Pick up at the First Lutheran Church of Boston and local delivery will take place December 2 – 4.
“Step into the world of Downton Abbey and be transported to early 20th-century England, where the aristocratic Crawley family and their devoted staff navigate a rapidly changing era. Marvel at a curated collection of one-of-a-kind fresh floral mannequins inspired by the series’ unforgettable characters and iconic period fashion. From Lady Mary’s sophisticated beaded gowns and statement hats, to the impeccably tailored uniforms of the household staff, each floral masterpiece will bring Downton Abbey’s timeless style and compelling narratives to life.” The Prudential Center will display this traveling exhibition November 5 – 9. For more information visit https://www.fleursdevilles.com/post/announcing-fleurs-de-villes-downton-abbey
If you are a member of The Garden Club of the Back Bay, you may join other members on Thursday, November 6 at 10 am – meet at the indoor entrance to Eataly. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
The Garden Club of the Back Bay will hold its November meeting on Thursday, November 13 at 10 am at The Chilton Club, 152 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Pastor James Hopkins of the First Lutheran Church, Boston, will speak on Gardens of the Bible. The garden is a popular motif in the Bible, cutting across every literary genre therein. From the account of creation to the revelation of the heavenly city, the garden is an important setting for the story of salvation. Pastor Hopkins will discuss how an understanding of the edenic arc illuminates the care we put into our own humble (or grand) gardens and justifies all the care and effort in maintaining them, especially in the city. This is a members only event. For information on joining, visit https://bostonflora.com. If you are already a member, register through Eventbrite
