Boston Flora

Tag: Penny Cherubino

  • New York Botanical Garden Offering Online Classes

    Our thanks to member Penny Cherubino (http://bostonzest.com) for alerting us to an expansion of online learning experiences offered by the New York Botanical Garden during this Covid-19 stay at home period. During challenging times, the power of plants connects people and provides inspiration more than ever. While the Garden’s gates may be closed temporarily, their virtual gates are wide open. Stay connected with NYBG at Home, a new content hub featuring videos, plant guides, virtual events, recipes for kids, and so much more. As spring unfolds, they will bring you the brightness and color of the season, a reminder of how the natural world brings us joy. Access the full schedule at https://www.nybg.org/nybg-at-home/

  • From the Archives: Beacon Street Tree Improvement Project

    In 1982, under the leadership of Garden Club of the Back Bay President Susan Davis, a pilot program for improving the street trees in the Back Bay was begun.  Three waterside blocks of Beacon Street, between Dartmouth and Gloucester Streets, were given first attention.  Club members had observed that several trees along both sides of Beacon Street were either in poor condition, or had died.  Trees were fertilized (small white cups were noticeable to passers-by), and a volunteer pruner, Robert MacArthur, pruned as much as he could from the ground. The Boston Parks Department was asked to prune out additional limbs, and to take out encircling concrete to enlarge the tree pits.  During that year the Parks Department budget had been cut a whopping 60% so action on these requests was not guaranteed. Neighbors were to be notified through flyers when a drought threatened so the trees could be slow watered by hose.  Donations were solicited and as of October, 1982, $1,315 was collected from 21 individuals and three condominiums and management companies.  Today, The Garden Club continues pruning, feeding, and inoculating trees throughout the neighborhood, and naturally, donations are always welcome. Photo below from www.bostonzest.com © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino .

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  • Massachusetts Mulch Fire Safety Regulations

    Thank you Penny Cherubino at www.BostonZest.com, for bringing this to our attention. With gardening and landscaping season underway, it is a common practice to use mulch to prevent weeds from growing. The most common type of mulch is made of wood product which is combustible. After several fires caused millions of dollars of property damage, a new Massachusetts regulation went into effect last fall. The regulation prohibits building owners from placing mulch less than 18 inches away from a structure’s wall. Residential buildings with fewer than 6 units are exempt. Even if your property is exempt, it is a good idea to use stone or crushed rock for the first 18 inches around your foundation as a barrier. For more information on this regulation, visit http://www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dfs/dfs2/osfm/pubed/fs-topics/fs-topics-a/mulch-fire-safety.html.

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  • Holiday Wreaths 2011 – How We Determine Price

    Holiday Wreaths 2011 – How We Determine Price

    You have many wreath buying options during the holidays, and may wonder why you should spend, say, $30 for a standard wreath with a bow when you can buy a wreath with a bow at the supermarket for less.  Our good friends Penny and Ed Cherubino, who among their many talents maintain www.BostonZest.com, created a video of our Wreath Co-Chair, Margaret Pokorny, who demonstrates how to make a bow.  We must point out a few important facts.  First, the fabric ribbon we use, a minimum of 2 1/2″ wide, is of the highest quality and is wired on the edges.  You really cannot create our bows with paper ribbon, and if the ribbon isn’t wired, you’ll have something very floppy in hand.  Second, while Margaret makes this look easy, a certain amount of hand strength is needed to twist the loops together tightly.  It may take Margaret five minutes to make a bow – it takes most of us a bit longer.  Ribbon costs vary widely, but we assure you, we’re not making a big profit from the sale of bows.  As you can see from our wonderful wreath pictures, however, the bows are a major design statement, and we won’t send out any wreath with a substandard bow.  That’s why you pay what you pay.  To order, click here.  To view the terrific video, click below to visit this YouTube address:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Od4RWBu6sw

     

  • BostonZest

    Our Back Bay friend Penny Cherubino writes and maintains one of the best websites in Boston, www.bostonzest.com.  For those of you unfamiliar with this treasure, log on right now (and I mean right now) and add it to your favorites list.  The June 1 blog shows a photograph of an elm on the corner of Commonwealth and Massachusetts Avenue suffering from Dutch Elm disease.  Penny has a number of enthusiasms – dogs, gardens, farmer’s markets, living well (sustainably), and you will find so much valuable information here on people and events that you’ll wonder how you did without the source.  Beautiful photographs, book recommendations, current affairs, music – there is something here for everyone.  Brava, Penny!