In January, 1973, The Garden Club decided to replant one-half block in the Back Bay to use as a front yard demonstration. The area chosen was the north side of Beacon Street, between Fairfield and Gloucester Streets. The planting date was set for May, 1973, and the plan included selling the Club’s window boxes.
The Boston Globe reported that five gardens were planted, and low maintenance shrubs and trees were chosen in consultation from Joseph Hudak of Olmsted Associates. Crabapples and cherry trees were picked because they bloomed for several weeks, were wide spreading to relieve the height of the town houses, and had shallow root systems, solving the problem of buried oil tanks. Dundee juniper, Japanese yew, Kaempferi azaleas were included, which thrive in sun and partial shad and are resistant to auto fumes.
Pictured below are Sue Norris (left), Mrs. Charles Normandin, and John Relyea, in the dirt!
