Boston Flora

Tag: Stella Trafford

  • Wreath of the Day – Tribute to a Founder

    One of our most talented members created a wreath for the Marlborough Street door of one of the original Garden Club of the Back Bay members, the late Stella Trafford. Stella was known as a driving force in parks activism in the Back Bay, and did much to push the City to pay attention to an increasingly shabby situation on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, to name just one example. We are happy to see that the beautiful building where she lived is graced with one of our lovely wreaths, even in this hiatus year.

  • From the Archives: Buying Speakers

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay has welcomed an impressive roster of guest speakers to our meetings since we began. The usual process is to identify a topic of interest to our members, and then search for an appropriate person to deliver the information. In 1983, however, late members Stella Trafford and Susan Davis attended an auction held for the benefit of the Arnold Arboretum, which was held at the Case Estates in Weston. They made successful bids on two distinguished speakers – Corliss Engle, who promised to talk on the topic of Begonias, and Lily Rice, whose subject was Daffodils. Each high bid was $25. Additionally, Stella and Susan purchased two spring garden tours: the Haffenreffer garden in Chestnut Hill ($40), and Uplands in Manchester ($70).  Corliss Engle, whose contributions to the Begonia Society led to the naming of Begonia ‘Corliss Engle’ in her honor. gave her presentation on November 10, 1983, and Ms. Rice spoke on March 15, 1984.  We have not yet found mention in our records of taking the two tours purchased.  To see the array of programs presented over the years, we encourage you to visit https://bostonflora.com/history/, and if any recent speaker is of interest, email info@bostonflora.com and we can try to put you in touch.  Photo of a begonia cross of ‘Corliss Engle’ below is by Guy Savard.

  • From the Archives – Thank You Notes

    Below is an example of a charming note written to one of the Garden Club of the Back Bay’s founding members, Stella Trafford, in 1983, by a member apologizing for having to leave a meeting early.  Today such a note (and penmanship!) would be a rarity, although our members are to be commended for sending emails when a program especially appeals to them – we value such input.  In order to create a year of exciting programming, we need to know what interests our members.  Suggestions are welcome at info@bostonflora.com.

  • Tuesday, March 13 – Margaret Pokorny to Receive Park Partners Award

    Tuesday, March 13 – Margaret Pokorny to Receive Park Partners Award

    Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department will present the first annual Park Partners Award to Margaret Pokorny of the Back Bay during the Boston Flower & Garden Show Preview Party at the Seaport World Trade Center on Tuesday, March 13. The Park Partners Award recognizes Boston citizens who make a significant contribution to beautification and the city’s parks.

    A longtime advocate for protecting the natural resources in her neighborhood, Margaret Pokorny has worked closely with residents and city officials to beautify Commonwealth Avenue Mall since she first moved to Back Bay in 1980. She was instrumental in efforts to revive the turf along the Mall, supported the creation of the Women’s Memorial, and has been active in fundraising and caring for trees along the Commonwealth Avenue.

    “Margaret has gone above and beyond in order to preserve the quality of life in the neighborhood by advocating for policies which protect trees and encourage use of Commonwealth Avenue Mall by residents and visitors,” Mayor Menino said. “She is vigilant about engaging her neighbors to help water, replace, and protect trees, especially the Dutch elm population. She is always gracious, honest, and direct. The city is lucky to have such an advocate for our green space.”

    A hands-on booster for Boston’s parks, Pokorny’s personal slogan is “Born to Prune.” Her in-depth knowledge of her neighborhood parks was evident in her final thesis in the Radcliffe Seminars program in Landscape Design in 1992: a history and master plan for Commonwealth Avenue Mall. She was mentored in the project by her friend and neighbor, the late Stella Trafford, known as the Grande Dame of Boston parks for her own involvement with Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Public Garden, and Boston Common.

    Pokorny worked with Trafford on issues related to the Mall, and became an active member of the Board of the Friends of Copley Square, the Friends of the Public Garden, and the Board of the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay. She also served as Co-President of the Garden Club of the Back Bay and joined the Board of The Esplanade Association when it was founded in 2000. Margaret has also received the Boston Bowl from the Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America.

    Tickets are still available for the March 13 Boston Flower & Garden Show Preview Party taking place from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the eve of the 2012 Boston Flower & Garden Show which opens to the public on March 14. In addition to the award presentation, Dr. Gustavo Romero will speak about the Glass Flowers Collection at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and gardening expert Patti “Garden Girl” Moreno will give a talk on Urban Sustainable Living and the five things everyone can do to live more sustainably in the city.

    For more information or to purchase tickets, please call the Parks Department at (617) 635-4032 or visit www.cityofboston.gov/parks/ttd/flowershow.asp.

  • Friends of the Public Garden Video

    The Garden Club of the Back Bay is pleased to announce that three of our current and past members are featured in a newly released video which beautifully recounts the history of the Friends of the Public Garden and its tradition of Park stewardship.  Past President Margaret Pokorny is interviewed, and you will glimpse vintage pictures of the late Stella Trafford, and at least one photo of member Patti Quinn.  Interviews with Henry Lee and Antonia Pollak are impressive.  Shots of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in the 1970’s are frightening – we can barely imagine how our parks were degraded during those years.  To view the eleven minute movie, click on to http://fopg.wordpress.com/2010/11/12/our-history-through-film/.

  • Stella Trafford, 1912-2009, Past President and Founding Member

    With great sorrow we report the passing of Stella Trafford on Friday, March 14.  Stella’s many accomplishments may be found on the website of The Boston Globe, www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/17/city_loses_tireless_guardian_of_its_most_treasured_spaces/.  A memorial service is planned and the date and time will appear on the web site of The Garden Club of the Back Bay as soon as it is announced.