Boston Flora

Tag: The Esplanade Association

  • Stoneman Playground Sculpture Update

    In 2012, the Esplanade Association commissioned Mitch Ryerson, of Ryerson Design, to turn the Stoneman Playground’s magnificent oak tree into a whimsical sculpture since the tree had died. During the 2020 renovation of Stoneman Playground, it was discovered that the foundation of the beloved structure was no longer structurally sound.


    Mitch Ryerson and his wife worked to safely remove the top pieces of the sculpture for future use at the end of February. The old oak stump is to be removed in March through DCR’s annual project to prune trees and remove dead, dying, and dangerous trees from the Esplanade.


    While we are sad to see the sculpture go, the Esplanade Association, DCR, and Mitch Ryerson will work through 2021 to determine the design and installation plans for a new sculpture to be placed nearby that preserves the spirit, and likely many of the pieces, of the old sculpture.

  • Garden Club of the Back Bay Announces 2016 Grants

    At the Annual Meeting of The Garden Club of the Back Bay held at the College Club on May 16, the membership voted to award the following grants to a group of worthy recipients whose projects fulfill our mission to protect, beautify and educate.  In addition, we again commit $20,000 for tree care in our neighborhood.

    Commonwealth Avenue Mall Committee – $5,000 for its tree care program, Dutch elm disease monitoring, and soil improvement.

    Friends of the Public Garden – $5,000 for inoculation of certain mature  elm street trees not located on the Mall, planted beyond Massachusetts Avenue.

    The Esplanade Association – $4,000 allocated to tree pruning.

    Boston Nature Center/Mass Audubon – $3,500 to support scholarships for BNC’s summer camp program for children ages 5 – 14, from local neighborhoods of Mattapan, Roslindale, and Jamaica Plain.

    Emerald Necklace Conservancy – $2,500 to the Olmsted Tree Society for planting a pathway tree.

    The Food Project – $2,000 for its Build A Garden Program, building raised bed gardens for neighborhood residents and community centers in and around Dorchester.

    Charles River Clean Up Boat – $2,000 for continued operational expenses.

    Friends of Copley Square – $1,500 for treating trees for root stress, with fertilizer and fungicide.

    The Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America, Inc. – $500 to the Blossom Fund in support of the 9.2 mile Fairmount Indigo Corridor Planting Project.

    Please click on to the links above, where available, to read more about these organizations and specifically the projects which we are helping to fund.  The Garden Club thanks all our supporters who, through donations and patronage of our fund raising efforts, allow us to share our money and expertise in a substantial way.

  • Saturday, September 20 – Moondance

    Save the night of Saturday, September 20 for The Esplanade Association‘s annual Moondance, cocktails, dinner and dancing to benefit the park.  Proceeds from last year’s  gala on the Charles River Esplanade were used to plant 6,000 daffodils which bloomed this spring.  For sponsorship opportunities please contact Tmarinovich@esplanadeassociation.org, or call Tani at 617-227-0365, ext. 106.

  • Eliot Memorial Restoration Project Update

    Eliot Memorial Restoration Project Update

    Over the past two years, The Garden Club of the Back Bay has contributed $7,500 to The Esplanade Association in connection with its Eliot Memorial Restoration project.  TEA’s contractor Sequoia has been hard at work at the site and has made great progress. The granite pavers and curbing, and the new pavement, have been fully installed and look fantastic.  The soil remediation, irrigation and electrical work also have been completed, and the plant material has arrived – planting has begun. There will be many new and exciting additions in the next few months: restoration of the historic overlook fence, preparation of the lawn areas, installation of the new benches, and completed demolition of 3 feet of asphalt on the main pathway to reclaim green space.  If you are interested in contributing to the project, contact Jessica Pederson, Director of Operations, at jpederson@esplanadeassociation.org.

    Eliot Memorial

  • Wednesday, March 28, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm – Esplanade 2020 Unveiled (Second Chance)

    For those who missed the first unveiling, the Kingsley Montessori School Community Speaker Series presents Sylvia Salas, executive director of The Esplanade Association, speaking on Esplanade 2020 Unveiled: A Vision for the Charles River Esplanade, at Kingsley Montessori School, 26 Exeter Street, on Wednesday, March 28, from 6:30 – 8.  This event is free of charge.  Respond to karen_d@kingsley.org, or telephone 617-226-4932 if you plan to attend.

  • Letter of Thanks from The Esplanade Association

    Our Garden Club of the Back Bay members will be pleased to read an excerpt from  a letter recently received by our Presidents, Jackie Blombach and Jolinda Taylor,  from Sylvia Salas, Executive Director of The Esplanade Association.  As you may remember, at the end of our past fiscal year we contributed $2,500 to The Esplanade Association for its tree inventory work, and an additional $2,500 to the Emergency Tree Fund:

    “Thank you, again, for support of The Esplanade Association’s Emergency Tree Fund.  The funds you contributed are helping to replace storm damaged and destroyed trees on the Esplanade.  Some exciting progress has been made for new plandtings and TEA also has been working with the Department of Conservation and Recreation on a number of fronts to ensure that newly planted trees thrive and that the health of existing trees is improved.

    New willows will be planted in Otis Grove, one of the areas hardest hit by the June 6th storm, beginning this spring. (Salix alba ‘Tristis’ has been recommended for its vigor and hardiness);

    With funding from TEA, around 100 trees surrounding the hatch Shell have been pruned in the last couple of weeks and more will be pruned in the next few weeks;

    A highly qualified arborist has begun to update the existing tree inventory. He will assess each tree’s health and make recommendations for appropriate tree care;

    TEA is working with the DCR to establish demonstration projects where an intensive program of tree management will be engaged.”

    For continued updates on TEA’s tree work, log on to www.esplanadeassociation.org, or contact them at 617-227-0365.

  • Saturday, May 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 noon – Esplanade Spring Walk

    Put on your walking shoes Saturday, May 1, from 10 am – 12 noon, and join The Esplanade Association’s spring walk, guided by Karl Haglund, noted historian and author of Inventing the Charles River.  Mr. Haglund, who also serves as the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Project Manager for the New Charles River Basin, will delight you with fun facts about the Esplanade as you take in the sights and sounds of the park.  Meet in front of the Hatch Shell, rain or shine.  You may contact Justin Burke at 617-227-0365 for more information, or log on to www.esplanadeassociation.org.

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  • Tuesday, October 6, 9:00 am – Esplanade Association Shopping Day at Lord & Taylor’s

    The Esplanade Association (www.esplanadeassociation.org) was invited to participate in a charity event that Lord & Taylor is holding on October 6th starting at 9 am at Boston and Greater Boston stores.  They are offering a number of groups a special shopping day at Lord & Taylor as a way to benefit each group’s cause. Lord & Taylor has given TEA 200 tickets to sell for their special shopping day for $5 each. That money goes directly to TEA. The tickets offer not only entry into the shopping day but also special coupon discounts of 20% and  15%  for sale and regular priced items, including 15% off cosmetics & fragrances (which is never offered) and 20% off one pair of Ugg boots if you want to purchase one. (Ugg boots are apparently very much in demand and don’t go on sale).  There will be special store give-aways, store raffles of $500 gift cards and prizes, music, AND this is an opportunity for people to help TEA.  If TEA supporters visit Lord & Taylor on October 6th and turn in their tickets, we will be eligible to win thousands of dollars in additional money.

    If you would like to participate and help our partner organization The Esplanade Association, email Jeryl Oristaglio at jerylori@gmail.com.

  • Thursdays through August 27 – Dancing Under the Stars

    Join The Esplanade Association and World Rhythms Dance and Fitness this Thursday on the Esplanade in front of the Hatch Shell for FREE dance instruction and open dance. This week’s featured dance style is SWING!

    Weekly Dance Program Features:

    • Professional dance instructors
    • Different dance style each week
    • Free dance instruction followed by open dance
    • Great for children and adults of all ages

    Join neighbors on Thursdays, 6-8 p.m., to learn new dances, meet new people, and have a fun evening on the Esplanade  FREE!  July 23: Swing; July 30: Ballroom; August 6: Bollywood; August 13: Brazilian Samba; August 20: TBD; August 27: Salsa.  Log on to www.esplanadeassociation.org on Thursday afternoons for notice of cancellation due to stormy weather.

  • Thursday, May 21, 5:30 – 7:30 – The Esplanade Association’s Eighth Annual Meeting

    You are cordially invited to attend The Esplanade Association’s Eighth Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 21, from 5:30 – 7:30 pm, at The Hampshire House, 84 Beacon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02108.  The keynote address is entitled “The Leadership Challenge of Having a ‘Green’ Mission.” In the midst of tough economic times, how do we care for the beautiful and historic Charles River Esplanade as it enters its second century?  RSVP by May 18 to Justin Burke, 617-227-0365, x 110, or email jburke@esplanadeassociation.org.