Tag: gardens

Blooming Snowdrops Are Ready for Spring Instead of Snow

As a rule, I look for snowdrops, signs of daffodils, and crocuses around Valentine's Day. Something made me check my favorite spots for early sighting this weekend. Here's what I saw.

Snowdrops in bloom in January.

Daffodil sprouts breaking through the mulch in a protected sunny spot. The grassy crocus sprigs that are usually nearby in this garden were not evident as of today.

With snow flurries possible tomorrow night, these early bloomers may have a cold night or two.

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2017 Penny Cherubino

January 30, 2017
Summer in the Back Bay: Then and Now

Today, in summer, green is the color of the Back Bay. Trees form canopies of shade to protect walkers from the heat of the sun. Glorious gardens add a back beat of color to the scene. But all that green is a 20th Century addition to a 19th Century neighborhood.

From the Boston Public Library Collection, this is the "Residence of C. H. Dalton" on Commonwealth Avenue. Notice the lack of garden or trees except on young sapling on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

As Barbara W. Moore and Gail Weesner wrote in their book, Back Bay a Living Portrait,

“By the 1870 summering had become fashionable, and most Back Bay houses were used only as winter residences – from nineteenth-century reminiscences, one senses that the seasonal Bostonian often considered his country house the family's true home; the town house was merely a snug accommodation during the fall weather of the social season.”

Today the streets of the Back Bay are lined with carefully designed and cultivated gardens.

Street trees add cooling shade as we walk along the sidewalks.

Even in this rare summer photo circa 1878 – 1910, from the BPL Print Department, only the park is planted.

Plantings like this Kousa Dogwood are treasured as neighborhood amenities.

Annuals add accents of color and variety to even small, narrow spaces.

This 1880 photo of Marlborough Street taken from the Public Garden shows few trees and a much barer park. From the Boston Public Library Collection.

These days we walk Marlborough Street to enjoy the lush gardens. And, while some of the residents of the Back Bay relocate to summer homes, many stay here and enjoy the quieter months in the city. This June has been an ideal month to enjoy this wonderful neighborhood.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino and Boston Public Library collection as noted in the captions.

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June 30, 2016
Summer in the Back Bay: Then and Now

Today, in summer, green is the color of the Back Bay. Trees form canopies of shade to protect walkers from the heat of the sun. Glorious gardens add a back beat of color to the scene. But all that green is a 20th Century addition to a 19th Century neighborhood.

From the Boston Public Library Collection, this is the "Residence of C. H. Dalton" on Commonwealth Avenue. Notice the lack of garden or trees except on young sapling on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.

As Barbara W. Moore and Gail Weesner wrote in their book, Back Bay a Living Portrait,

“By the 1870 summering had become fashionable, and most Back Bay houses were used only as winter residences – from nineteenth-century reminiscences, one senses that the seasonal Bostonian often considered his country house the family's true home; the town house was merely a snug accommodation during the fall weather of the social season.”

Today the streets of the Back Bay are lined with carefully designed and cultivated gardens.

Street trees add cooling shade as we walk along the sidewalks.

Even in this rare summer photo circa 1878 – 1910, from the BPL Print Department, only the park is planted.

Plantings like this Kousa Dogwood are treasured as neighborhood amenities.

Annuals add accents of color and variety to even small, narrow spaces.

This 1880 photo of Marlborough Street taken from the Public Garden shows few trees and a much barer park. From the Boston Public Library Collection.

These days we walk Marlborough Street to enjoy the lush gardens. And, while some of the residents of the Back Bay relocate to summer homes, many stay here and enjoy the quieter months in the city. This June has been an ideal month to enjoy this wonderful neighborhood.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino and Boston Public Library collection as noted in the captions.

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Then & Now: Filene's Corner Holiday Decorations #Throwbackthursday

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June 30, 2016
Which Flowers Are Daffodils, Narcissus, or Jonquils?

Do you find yourself asking, "Is that a narcissus or a daffodil?" Or, "Which ones are jonquils?" We did, so we've hunted down the answers for you.

Actually, they can all be called narcissus or more formally narcissus jonquilla. We found a great set of questions and answers at the American Daffodil Society's website. Please visit their site for a great section of frequently asked questions about these lovely plants that trumpet the arrival of spring.

About jonquils, they say, "In some parts of the country any yellow daffodil is called a jonquil, usually incorrectly. As a rule, but not always, jonquil species and hybrids are characterized by several yellow flowers, strong scent, and rounded foliage. The hybrids are confined to Division 7 and the term "jonquil" should be applied only to daffodils in Division 7 or species in Division 13 known to belong to the jonquil group."

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for Mother's Day, a graduation or wedding? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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April 30, 2013
Which Flowers Are Daffodils, Narcissus, or Jonquils?

Do you find yourself asking, "Is that a narcissus or a daffodil?" Or, "Which ones are jonquils?" We did, so we've hunted down the answers for you.

Actually, they can all be called narcissus or more formally narcissus jonquilla. We found a great set of questions and answers at the American Daffodil Society's website. Please visit their site for a great section of frequently asked questions about these lovely plants that trumpet the arrival of spring.

About jonquils, they say, "In some parts of the country any yellow daffodil is called a jonquil, usually incorrectly. As a rule, but not always, jonquil species and hybrids are characterized by several yellow flowers, strong scent, and rounded foliage. The hybrids are confined to Division 7 and the term "jonquil" should be applied only to daffodils in Division 7 or species in Division 13 known to belong to the jonquil group."

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for Mother's Day, a graduation or wedding? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Magnolias for Respite: Boston at Its Most Beautiful

Narcissus Plant Care Guide

Daffodils: Dramatic or dainty they will light up your garden

Daffodils: "For New Beginnings"

April 30, 2013
Which Flowers Are Daffodils, Narcissus, or Jonquils?

Do you find yourself asking, "Is that a narcissus or a daffodil?" Or, "Which ones are jonquils?" We did, so we've hunted down the answers for you.

Actually, they can all be called narcissus or more formally narcissus jonquilla. We found a great set of questions and answers at the American Daffodil Society's website. Please visit their site for a great section of frequently asked questions about these lovely plants that trumpet the arrival of spring.

About jonquils, they say, "In some parts of the country any yellow daffodil is called a jonquil, usually incorrectly. As a rule, but not always, jonquil species and hybrids are characterized by several yellow flowers, strong scent, and rounded foliage. The hybrids are confined to Division 7 and the term "jonquil" should be applied only to daffodils in Division 7 or species in Division 13 known to belong to the jonquil group."

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for Mother's Day, a graduation or wedding? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Magnolias for Respite: Boston at Its Most Beautiful

Narcissus Plant Care Guide

Daffodils: Dramatic or dainty they will light up your garden

Daffodils: "For New Beginnings"

April 30, 2013
Boston Yard Waste Collection – Fall Dates 2012

It's fall, garden clean-up time! And, getting out into the yard more will mean getting more out of your yard.

Next, comes figuring out how to get rid of all the leaves and yard waste. It's easy, at least in Boston. The city promises to scoop it up on your recycling day, as long as you follow some simple guidelines.

And, the other bonus? Your yard waste will be used to help all the community gardens thrive.

The City of Boston lists:

Fall 2012 Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Dates:

Monday, October 15th through Friday, November 30th

Amazon has what you need to get your yard ready for the season.

Details:

Recycling and Trash Directory

Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Dates/City of Boston

*IMPORTANT: Find out if you live in an Asian Longhorned Beetle Regulated Area

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photo: City of Boston screen grab

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October 26, 2012
Boston Yard Waste Collection – Fall Dates 2012

It's fall, garden clean-up time! And, getting out into the yard more will mean getting more out of your yard.

Next, comes figuring out how to get rid of all the leaves and yard waste. It's easy, at least in Boston. The city promises to scoop it up on your recycling day, as long as you follow some simple guidelines.

And, the other bonus? Your yard waste will be used to help all the community gardens thrive.

The City of Boston lists:

Fall 2012 Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Dates:

Monday, October 15th through Friday, November 30th

Amazon has what you need to get your yard ready for the season.

Details:

Recycling and Trash Directory

Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Dates/City of Boston

*IMPORTANT: Find out if you live in an Asian Longhorned Beetle Regulated Area

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photo: City of Boston screen grab

Related articles

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October 26, 2012
Boston Yard Waste Collection – Fall Dates 2012

It's fall, garden clean-up time! And, getting out into the yard more will mean getting more out of your yard.

Next, comes figuring out how to get rid of all the leaves and yard waste. It's easy, at least in Boston. The city promises to scoop it up on your recycling day, as long as you follow some simple guidelines.

And, the other bonus? Your yard waste will be used to help all the community gardens thrive.

The City of Boston lists:

Fall 2012 Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Dates:

Monday, October 15th through Friday, November 30th

Amazon has what you need to get your yard ready for the season.

Details:

Recycling and Trash Directory

Leaf & Yard Waste Collection Dates/City of Boston

*IMPORTANT: Find out if you live in an Asian Longhorned Beetle Regulated Area

Words: Ed Cherubino
Photo: City of Boston screen grab

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October 26, 2012
Wasn’t it a Great Weekend?
We saw:
- Newbury Street filled with shoppers on Sunday.
- Happy diners eating outside at La Voile and at Tasty Burger. (Warning: There's music on La Voile's site.)
- Students studying on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
- Lots of spring plants sprouting in Back Bay gardens. The snowdrops have been up for weeks and some crocuses, pansies, and heather are already in bloom.
- (Click a thumbnail to choose an image in any order you like. You'll stay right here on this page.)
Sometimes the freelance life lets you stretch your long weekend by an extra day or, at least, fit in more fun around your work hours. It was that kind of weekend for us.

We began with a trip to Central Square, Cambridge for lunch on Thursday. The afternoon began at Mary Chung Restaurant for a bit of Szechuan heat. (Stay tuned! Details on that will pop up tomorrow.)

We strolled home with stops at Central Bottle to stock up on cheese, bread, beer, and wine for the weekend and Flour Bakery for two pieces of their fabulous Boston Cream Pie cake to honor a friend's birthday. (And, to tease him with another reason to miss Boston from his new home in San Francisco!)

Friday afternoon found us at Coppa enjoying a few of our favorites– including this Italian Grinder.

Saturday, we shared a tray at Sweet Cheeks Q and added a new favorite side dish that will also be featured here in the days ahead.

We ran into lots of friends in lots of places and had some down time at home with a bit of great wine and home cooking. It was a good weekend to spend in town enjoying some of the great things Boston has to offer.

Related Posts:

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Sweet Cheeks Q: A First Look

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

Celebrating the Start of Summer at La Voile

How to Extend >>> Your Birthday!

And The Winner is….

What a Weekend!

What's on your weekend get-away shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.
February 21, 2012