{"id":3734,"date":"2011-12-26T07:24:00","date_gmt":"2011-12-26T07:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bostonzest.com\/?p=3734"},"modified":"2011-12-26T07:24:00","modified_gmt":"2011-12-26T07:24:00","slug":"many-hands-make-the-back-bay-greener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bostonzest.com\/?p=3734","title":{"rendered":"Many Hands Make The Back Bay Greener"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Earlier this month, we visited the Garden Club of the Back Bay's<\/a> Wreath Week workshop for a story Penny was preparing for the Back Bay Sun. We wanted to post some of the photos here and salute this wonderful organization with the words of just a few of the more than 60 volunteers who make this fundraiser possible. <\/p>\n

Here's the caption that went with the cover photo, (above) <\/strong><\/p>\n

Twenty Years of Wreaths!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something about coming here and doing this,\u201d said Mary Ellen Udelson. \u201cEverything else in your life kind of falls away. It\u2019s just pure joy!\u201d As one of the original volunteers, this was her 20th year decorating wreaths for the Garden Club of the Back Bay\u2019s annual fundraising event, \u201cWreath Week.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cEveryone has to come here to get an assignment,\u201d said Janet Murphy from her seat at \u201cControl Central.\u201d She explained that the wreaths are highly personalized, and that she works with the decorators to be sure customers\u2019 requests are reflected in the finished wreaths.<\/p>\n

\"DSC_5358<\/a><\/p>\n

Stacey Richards (left) was a first year volunteer. \u201cI\u2019m not creative, but I can do this… And, someday,\u201d she said with a big smile, \u201cmaybe I\u2019ll do wreaths.\u201d She was preparing ribbons for the bow makers with Louesa Gillespie. \u201cWhatever you do is fun, here\u2013 doesn\u2019t matter what your job is. And, there\u2019s something for everyone,\u201d Gillespie said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cMargaret and I have the hands that are made for it,\u201d said Nancy Devereaux who was making bows with Margaret Pokorny. Good hand strength is needed to fashion the lively bows that are one of the trademarks of these wreaths.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s controlled pandemonium,\u201d said first-timer, Nancy Stone as she helped to organize materials. \u201cYou can come here for 10-minutes or for 10-hours and, either way, you feel equally as purposeful.\u201d \u201cAnd, it\u2019s so festive, it really is.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Darwin Cordoba has been volunteering since 2009. He spent his day off from Ralph Lauren on Newbury Street creating wreaths for the Garden Club.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s fun, and it\u2019s for a good cause,\u201d said Glenda Mattes who spent the past two \u201cWreath Weeks\u201d helping one of the senior decorators. This year she was, \u201c…picking out things that would go with my bow,\u201d for the wreath she was about to create.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cMany of the most important jobs are stuff like keeping things orderly, sweeping the floor, checking to make sure things don\u2019t fall off,\u201d said Sherley Smith. Testing a finished wreath included giving it a good shake and tugging at the design elements to be certain they were secure.<\/p>\n

Related posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Wreath<\/a><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
Ed's Wreath Week Video <\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

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\"Bow<\/a> <\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
How they make those wonderful bows\u2013 a Video starring Margaret Pokorny!<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

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Thanks to everyone who begins their Amazon<\/a>\"\" shopping from here. When you stop by BostonZest on your way to Amazon<\/a>\"\" and click on one of our links or amazon items to get over there, you help support our work.  Amazon<\/a>\"\" rewards us when we send shoppers their way. It doesn't cost you any more but it puts a few pennies in our pocket.<\/em><\/p>\n

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