 The MHS Gardens on the Greenway are becoming a reality. Joe Kunkel, the project manager, will use this blog to keep us up-to-date on the development progress of this important garden in Boston. As the weeks progress, Joe will provide a verbal and visual diary of the birth of the Gardens on the Greenway.
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Volunteers and the Blur |
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Wednesday, 21 May 2008 |
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I have a friend in Kentucky that calls it ‘The Blur’. It is a term used to describe the period during the spring when horticulturalists work all hours during the day and days of the week have no meaning. Everything blends together into an exciting, wonderful ethereal mass of time.
I am in the Blur. We have been working on the Greenway, but I cannot recall when we planted what - I’m only focused on what needs to be done today. I do remember that we have had issues – irrigation leaks, trucks not showing up on time, incorrect plant material, weather issues, Turnpike shutdowns etc. There is nothing unusual about these issues since they are an integral part of the process and predictable in some ways.
There has been one consistent factor over the past few weeks and that is the Volunteers. I continue to be amazed at the level of enthusiasm and energy that all the Volunteers bring to the project. I wish I could remember all your names and stories. Bits and pieces come to mind such as:
 The first volunteer group showed up in the middle of a pouring rainstorm and a driving wind in 45 degree temperatures. I was thinking coffee might be nice but they came to work and that’s what we did (my wallet is still drying out)!
- The young lady carrying pots on one side and her baby on the other
- The whole family that showed up including husband and wife with his mother and a number of children
- The lady that works as a gardener in the Fenway area and helps on the Greenway on her ‘day off’
- The large group of employees from a local Hotel that wanted to volunteer and be a part of the project
- The fellow that works at BU that lives in the North End and talks of the peace and serenety that he finds in watering plants
 No, I don’t remember all your names and stories, but please know that I appreciate each and every one of you. The Greenway is a project that, to the casual observer, focuses on plants and gardens. On a more important level, however, the project is all about you. Thank you everyone.
If this kind of project interests you as a volunteer, please visit the Greenway Volunteer page for more information.
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Planting Beds in Thanks to Generous Professionals |
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008 |
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I never cease to be amazed at the people who work in the world of Horticulture. Over the course of a 3 day weekend from April 25-27 over 30 professionals joined us on the Greenway to help get the project rolling.
The plan was to use the professionals along with heavy equipment to develop the planting beds, move soil and install the larger trees and shrubs needed for the project. By accomplishing this over a short period of time, we were able to minimize the amount of disruption caused by the use of equipment.
Carol Card of CMC (who just arrived home from England) and Ken Brown of New England Nurseries joined a large group from Bartlett Tree Experts and multiple pieces of equipment and operators from Paul Miskovsky Landscaping. This group hit the ground running and did not stop until the project was completed a few of days later.
The most amazing thing about the group is the fact that they chose to spend their time helping us during their busy season. Having owned a retail nursery, I am acutely aware of time constraints in the spring when involved in Horticulture. A huge thanks to everyone who helped make this weekend a success.
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Plans Falling Into Place |
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Friday, 18 April 2008 |
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The Greenway plans are falling into place. Work will begin on Friday, April 25th with an extensive effort to complete the planting beds and install many of the larger trees and shrubs. A group of landscape professionals will undertake these tasks due to the heavy, specialized equipment required for completion. |
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The Work Begins |
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
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The goal is clear.
We have 22 weeks to complete the first phase of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s role in the development of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway in Boston – 22 weeks to find 8000 or so plants and have them in the ground in accordance with the design created by Halvorson Landscape Partners.
The planting phase is only the beginning. Those of us that garden will understand that the real work, and the real joy, begins after the plants are in the ground. To reach this point, however, we must work our way through the 22 weeks. |
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