Boston Flora

Tag: Margaret Pokorny

  • Thursday, November 21, 3:00 pm – The Evolution of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall

    Join The Garden Club of the Back Bay on November 21 for a look at the history of Commonwealth Avenue presented by Past President Margaret Pokorny. Her presentation will cover the topographical developments of the creation of the Back Bay and how this design solution to the new land came about. It also covers some of the historical precedents for the “Mall” form, the changes in the Mall over time and the interesting controversies about the design and species choice.

    Margaret will bring us up to date with a “State of the Mall” report, including current maintenance needs, additional species selections, statue lighting and conservation programs. She will also tell us about the extraordinary care of the turf and trees provided by the Friends of the Public Garden.

    Margaret is a longtime advocate for Boston green spaces, particularly trees.  She attended the Radcliffe Seminars Program in Landscape Design in the 1990s. Her thesis was entitled, “A History and Master Plan for the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.“  Margaret’s historical documentation and hands-on skills helped the City of Boston move forward with much of the revitalization of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall over the past 30 years.  

    Refreshments will be served. This is a members only event, but if you are not already a member you have time to join at https://bostonflora.com. If you are already a member click HERE. The talk will take place November 21 at the Chilton Club, which has a dress code. Women shall wear dresses, skirts, tailored pants, dress pants, or suits. Dresses and skirts must be longer than fingertip length. Leggings are acceptable but only if worn with an appropriate top of mid-thigh length such as a jacket, tunic, or elegant sweater.  Denim of any color is not acceptable. Hiking sandals, crocs, sneakers, including designer sneakers, are only permitted if required for a medical condition. Gentlemen shall wear a jacket with a collared shirt or turtleneck. 

  • Tuesday, June 28, 9:30 am – 11:30 am (Rain Date June 29, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm) – Charlesgate Alliance Tree Dedication

    Representatives from the Charlesgate Alliance, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Landing Studio, elected officials, as well as our partner organizations the Esplanade Association and Friends of the Public Garden will be on hand to join the celebration. 

    Tuesday, June 28th, from 9:30-11:30am

    Rain date:
    Wednesday, June 29th, from 1:30-3:30pm

    This achievement, more than a year in the making, and stewarded from start to finish by Garden Club of the Back Bay Past President Margaret Pokorny in conjunction with Dan and Marie Law Adams of Landing Studio, has given the Charlesgate area its first new trees in many years.

    The dedication will take place in The Grove area of Charlesgate Park, where 14 of the 15 new trees were planted. You can reach the area at the terminus of Marlborough Street and Charlesgate East, bounded on the north by Beacon Street.

    With the addition of the new trees, recently refurbished DCR lighting, and red chair seasonal seating, the Grove is starting to look like the park it was always meant to be.

  • Commonwealth Avenue Mall Memorial Tree Sponsorship Opportunity

    Commonwealth Avenue Mall Memorial Tree Sponsorship Opportunity

    For the past few years The Friends of the Public Garden has been able to declare the Commonwealth Avenue Mall “fully planted”. We like to think that the good health and survival rate of our Mall trees is due to the expert scientifically based care and attention being paid to them by the Mall arborist, Norm Helie. Since Norm has come on and introduced better and better arboreal practices we have lost fewer and fewer trees each year. In the last two years we have not lost one old elm to Dutch elm disease! This year we will be removing two trees that are not quite yet dead but in serious decline. Both of these spaces are in the Clarendon to Dartmouth block of the Mall. The replacements will be planted this spring.  The cost of sponsorship which includes a plaque is $5,000. If you are interested in one of these locations please contact Margaret Pokorny, Chairman, Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee for complete details. Mpok384@gmail.com.

  • Wreath of the Day, From the Archives – The Advantages of Storage

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay rents a storage facility where we keep leftover ribbon, mechanical apparatus, tools, extra glittery balls and accessories, and substantial cones and seedpods. Anything too delicate, like grasses and dried flowers, don’t survive a year in a dry box very well. But if you look at the wreath below, with the exception of the base balsam wreath, all the decorations could easily have come out of our storage bins. Cones, especially when painted, are pretty much sealed and shatterproof. An advantage here is, should our orders be more extensive than the amount of our fresh greens, we can improvise. Also, a wreath like this one will last much longer in a hot city unit than an all natural wreath with a variety of pines and holly. Don’t be afraid to keep some of the decorations from a wreath you may buy or make yourself for recycling next year. A bowl filled with gold pine cones makes a handsome table centerpiece. The gorgeous bow will top a tower of presents or cookie tins. The gold and red balls can go onto next year’s Christmas tree. It’s all a matter of storage, and how much closet space you can dedicate to the purpose.

    Margaret Pokorny, co-chair of the wreath project, is today’s Wreath of the Day post sponsor. She still has much of our material stored in her New Hampshire barn, so the transition to rented storage is as yet incomplete.

  • Wreath of the Day, From the Archives – Directed by Stella

    The late Stella Trafford was a founding member of The Garden Club of the Back Bay, and from the very beginning of the Wreath Project, was deeply committed to its financial success. What was less clear, however, was her commitment to some of the more arduous physical work wreath making entailed. In the days when we made the wreaths in Margaret Pokorny’s basement, she would arrive impeccably dressed, gloves and apron in hand, and then proceed to chat and advise (and it must be said, get in the way at times) before dashing off to another engagement. She was, however, a master at marketing, and steered many clients our way. We miss you, Stella.

    Diane Gipson, Past President of the Club, who has run the Volunteer Assignments during Wreath Week, is today’s Wreath of the Day Sponsor.

  • Wreath of the Day, From the Archives – Margaret’s Basement

    For the first years of the Wreath Project, which began in the 1980’s, we decorated in the kitchen and basement of Past President Margaret Pokorny’s house. In those days we were there for two or three days (our switch to four days plus a half day of set up came later), and we made quite a mess. Margaret’s flagstone wall still bears evidence of some gold spray paint gone rogue. The amount of pine tar and ornamental grass dust shed was epic. I suspect some needles can still be found under the floorboards. Margaret’s long suffering husband would flee to New Hampshire. Even after we moved to The First Lutheran Church of Boston, a few special early orders were completed back on Marlborough Street. Wreath Week is always the first full week in December, but when the calendar doesn’t cooperate, some big buildings schedule their holiday parties on the weekend before we began decorating. To help with their dilemmas, we made a handful of wreaths early, including the one below, one of a fully decorated trio for 180 Beacon Street.

    Today’s Wreath of the Day post is sponsored by member Glenda Mattes, a decorator who specializes in the use of dried herbs, roses, and delicate materials, some of which are included below.

  • Lighting the Mall Monuments

    The Friends of the Public Garden is excited to announce the launch of a plan to design and install permanent lighting of the statues on each block of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The first project will be the Morison statue in the Spring of 2019, followed by the Garrison and Collins statues.

    In addition to lighting installation, this project will include repointing of stonework, restoration of granite surrounds, walkways and turf around each statue as needed. The projected budget for the first three statues is $500,000.

    We are currently raising funds for the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Statue Lighting. If you’d like to help, you can donate online here or by sending a check in the mail. For more information, email Margaret Pokorny at mpok384@gmail.com, or call 617-723-8144.

  • Tuesday, April 10, 10:00 am – Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Today and Tomorrow

    Tuesday, April 10, 10:00 am – Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Today and Tomorrow

    The April meeting of the Garden Club of the Back Bay will take place Tuesday, April 10 at 10:00 am at The College Club, 44 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. GCBB past president Margaret Pokorny will speak on the single most important horticultural feature in Back Bay, and perhaps Boston: The Commonwealth Avenue Mall. See old pictures, plans, and learn of the conditions which affect growth. Learn about the original designs and tree plantings, and what has been done to preserve and support the Mall’s health and character.

    Margaret is a landscape designer focusing on urban parks and greenspace. Currently she is chair of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee and serves on the boards of the Friends of the Public Garden, The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, the Esplanade Association, and The Garden Club of the Back Bay. Recently she has been involved in the new group, The Charlesgate Alliance.  GCBB members may rsvp to jolinda.taylor@gmail.com. If you are interested in staying for the optional lunch following the meeting ($25), visit https://bostonflora.com/shop/

  • Marlborough Street Tree Project

    The controversial BBAC approval for the removal of a large Ailanthus tree on Marlborough Street between Massachusetts Avenue and Charlesgate East served to focus the Garden Club of the Back Bay’s attention on the lack of street trees on this block. With the support of both The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay and the Charlesgate Alliance, the Garden Club has been working with the Parks Department to plant 23 new trees on this block this spring.  There are very few trees on the north side of the street and NO trees on the south side.  Working with Max Ford-Diamond of the Parks Department, we proposed 23 plantable spaces marked on the image accessed here: SKM_C284e18012212530, although final locations are contingent on the location of utilities, light poles, and signage.

    Residents of the block have been contacted to volunteer to water the trees near their homes. The Garden Club will put “gators” after the planting that need to be filled with a hose once a week over the summer.  Residents have also been asked to allow the use of their hose connections.

    Anyone interested in helping defray the cost of this project is encouraged to make a tax-deductible contribution to The Garden Club of the Back Bay to help pay for continued maintenance, pruning, and fertilization of the trees for the first three years after planting. Checks may be made payable to The Garden Club of the Back Bay and mailed to Margaret Pokorny, 384 Marlborough Street, Boston, MA 02115, or you may donate online at https://bostonflora.com/donate/

    For more information on the project, email mpok384@gmail.com.

  • Monday, December 4 – Thursday, December 7 – Garden Club of the Back Bay Holiday Wreath Making

    Monday, December 4 – Thursday, December 7 – Garden Club of the Back Bay Holiday Wreath Making

    Pastor Ingo R. Dutzmann and his parish will again host our Club for wreath making on the lower level of The First Lutheran Church of Boston, 299 Berkeley Street (on the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough Streets). We are very, very grateful. Please note that a core group will set up the space on Sunday, December 3  (anyone who can lend a hand is welcome – email info@bostonflora.com for set up times) and we will be ready to work first thing Monday morning – Monday participation by as many of you as possible is critical to our success. The hours are as follows:

    Monday, Dec. 4 – 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (decorating)
    Tuesday, Dec. 5 – 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (decorating and delivery)
    Wednesday, Dec. 6- 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (decorating, delivery)
    Thursday, Dec. 7- 8:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (decorating, delivery, clean up)

    Please come to the side door on Berkeley Street. We’ll post a sign. Coffee and baked goods will be available each morning, and catered lunches will be delivered all four days. Dried materials and fresh greens can be delivered to the Church no earlier than Monday, December 4. Please have all decorations “cleaned down” – branches cut down, dead leaves removed – so we can contain the mess we inevitably make. Delicate materials can be laid flat in sweater boxes or gently stacked in cardboard containers. We are going to need as many dried items as we can collect, and we especially want interesting fresh evergreen boughs and holly.

    Bring clippers and scissors if you have them, labeled with masking tape for ease of identification. Aprons are also a good idea. Dress comfortably! We need everyone’s help, whether you decorate, deliver, organize, make telephone calls confirming delivery, or sweep. Contact Francine Crawford at 617-859-8865 (info@bostonflora.com) or Margaret Pokorny at 617-536-2920 (MPok384@gmail.com) if you have specific questions, and contact Catherine Bordon at 617-480-8792 (catherinebordon@comcast.net) if you can take a two hour delivery shift. Otherwise, we’ll see you on Monday. If you still plan to order wreaths, send the order forms along as soon as you can, or order online at www.gardenclubbackbay.org. Please try to come for as many hours as possible, on as many days as you can spare – we need you, and you’ll have a great time. Thank you.

     

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