Boston Flora

Tag: Susan Davis

  • 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: 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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