Tag: Betty Smith

Generous Gardeners Philanthropy through gardening

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

I was honored when Susan Kelly invited me to see the new plans for a beautiful gardens at the Betty Smith Park.  This pretty spot is behind the tennis courts on Stacy Boulevard.  You may recognize this sculpture in the attached photo of Triton.

 

Generous Gardeners also has merged with the Gloucester Civic and Garden Council.

Below please find the plans hand colored drawing from Ann Johnson ASLA.

Generous Gardeners will be adding 4 light post and 2 benches.  The poison ivy will be cleared out so the beautiful flowers and trees can thrive.  Susan would like to thank the DPW for their help.  Generous Gardeners will be doing the work on their own.  Also this year the gardeners have planted another 27,000 tulips on the Boulevard.  These volunteers are amazing with their dedication and hard work.  Ann Johnson one of the Landscape Architects volunteers was one of the landscape Architects in Boston at the Rose Kennedy Greenway.  Very impressive group.

Board of Directors

Susan Kelly, President

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Susan Kelly is the President and co-founder of Generous Gardeners and brings her ambitious vision and exceptional energy to the Board.

Nancy Mertens, Clerk

Nancy Mertens is one of the earliest volunteers with Generous Gardeners and replaced original co-founder Terese O’Connell on the board when she resigned in 2017. She brings vast experience to the board including 7 years on the team organizing the annual Gloucester Garden Tour.

Chuck Kelly, Treasurer

Chuck Kelly brings a banking and accounting background to the Generous Gardeners board, helping ensure perpetual fiscal health for the organization. As a drone enthusiast, his videos and images of the public gardens document the progress of Generous Gardener’s mission.

Antonietta Calabrese

Designated as Lieutenant to Susan, she brings enthusiasm, dedication and vision for the gardens to the board.

Judy Caulkett

Judy Caulkett is an avid gardener and one of the original plant donors to Generous Gardeners.  Judy brings her gardening skill as well as editing and writing skills to the board for grant writing and garden tour literature development. 

Helen McCabe

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Helen McCabe comes to Generous Gardeners from the board of the Gloucester Civic and Garden Council as a result of the merger of the organizations in November of 2018. Helen brings a background in landscape architecture and the continuing vision of the GCGC organization for the revitalization of the Betty Smith Garden planned for spring of 2019. The graphic is the Triton statue in that garden.

Hazel Watkinson

Hazel Watkinson is one of several British Generous Gardener volunteers and as a committed volunteer and gifted gardener, she brings a unique perspective and understanding of the social and cultural implications of our mission to Gloucester.

 

Stacy Boulevard: Walker Hancock Triton sculpture, Betty Smith gardens & tennis courts to the East, and Blynman Bridge & railings to the West – more stunning investment #GloucesterMA thanks to DPW, Ann Gilardi Johnson, Generous Gardeners, CPA, DOT

Posted on by Catherine

Gloucester, Ma.

There is much exciting work in progress along Stacy Boulevard including welcome tributes to women. Incremental aesthetic improvements, public access, ease of movement, and celebration of culture require many hands and deliver a huge impact. Here is a brief description of the special current projects and some people involved.

Two revitalized and enhanced gardens beyond the tennis courts will emphasize generations of care

“Remarkable support comes from volunteer expertise like award winning designer Ann Geraldi Johnson and Susan Kelly and the Generous Gardeners who have stepped up as the city’s groundskeepers on the boulevard.” Mike Hale, Director of Public Works 

The Elizabeth Gordon Smith (Betty Smith) garden was cleared and the small Picture garden past the boulevard tennis courts was unearthed. Because Gloucester garden groups pre-date 1900, it’s especially moving to see the work in progess shoring up inspiring legacy connections. Incredible volunteers past and present serve the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW). Stacy Boulevard & Stage Fort Park advocates like Betty Smith, Louise Loud & the Gloucester Civic & Garden Council tended and protected Gloucester’s natural beauty — the very same grounds that are so lovingly served now by dynamos like Ann Gilardi Johnson and Susan Kelly & the Generous Gardeners. Plaques for Lucy Brown Davis, tribute by her sister Catalina Davis, and for Lucy P. Rogers ” president of the Gloucester’s Woman’s Club 1927-29″ are nearby.

photos: Betty Smith garden IN PROGRESS February (overgrowth and clearing underway–poison ivy was found) vs. March and can’t wait to experience the AFTER!

Gloucester MA Department of Public Works directing restoration special gardens Stacy Boulevard _20190215_ sculpture Walker Hancock © catherine ryan (4)
February 2019
TRITON bronze scupture public art Stacey Boulevard Gloucester Ma_ artist Walker Hancock monuments man_ raised atop boulder base _20190324_© Catherine Ryan (12)
March 24, 2019 more progress two gardens revitalized- Paul Manship Triton fantastic enhanced boulder base clearing
TRITON bronze scupture public art Stacey Boulevard Gloucester Ma_ artist Walker Hancock monuments man_ raised atop boulder base _20190324_© Catherine Ryan (6)
Gloucester, Mass., March 2019. Pubic art – Walker Hancock Triton

 

 

 

Continue reading “Stacy Boulevard: Walker Hancock Triton sculpture, Betty Smith gardens & tennis courts to the East, and Blynman Bridge & railings to the West – more stunning investment #GloucesterMA thanks to DPW, Ann Gilardi Johnson, Generous Gardeners, CPA, DOT” →

Stacy Boulevard: Walker Hancock Triton

Posted on by Catherine

March 2019 work continuing across Stacy Boulevard – read details HERE about  these projects– Hancock Sculpture, Betty Smith Gardens & Tennis Courts to the East, and Blynman Bridge & railings to the West-  additional stunning work and investment thanks to Gloucester MA Department of Public Works, Ann Gilardi Johnson, Generous Gardeners, CPA, Department of Transportation (DOT), and more.  Stacy Boulevard Part 8

TRITON bronze scupture public art Stacey Boulevard Gloucester Ma_ artist Walker Hancock monuments man_ raised atop boulder base _20190324_© Catherine Ryan (12)

March 24, 2019 photos of Walker Hancock Triton and grounds prep before/in process.

TRITON bronze scupture public art Stacey Boulevard Gloucester Ma_ artist Walker Hancock monuments man_ raised atop boulder base _20190324_© Catherine Ryan (6)
Gloucester, Mass., March 2019. Pubic art – Walker Hancock Triton

 

 

 

When a field trip is a field trip! Mass Audubon and O’Maley Middle School

Posted on by Catherine

Gloucester public schools have stellar community partners and locales

Mass Audubon Eastern Point Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Two+ centuries of naturalists in Gloucester is quite a legacy. Here’s a partial list from Robbins to Cramer and Smith to Smith–there have been notable champions most every decade.

  • Mason Walton (Hermit of Gloucester)
  • Alpheus Hyatt, principal founder of world famous Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole– from 1880-1886 the school was on Goose Cove and later off Lobster Cove
  • BH VanVleck  (wrote book with David Starr)- instructor at Annisquam seaside laboratory 
  • Samuel Sawyer land conservation
  • Alfred G. Mayor (Hyatt’s son in law) marine zoologist- his studies on marine life led to 1905 book Sea Shore Life
  • Prince Mahidol of Thailand “Sanitary Survey of the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts 1921 by M. Songkla” in city archives- Includes brief history of Gloucester and description of public health activities
  • Roger Babson land conservation and watershed
  • Dr. Ralph Dexter, began his studies on marine life in 1933 (later Kent State) and chimney swifts
  • Ivy LeMon banded monarch butterflies to trace their migration wintering in Mexico
  • Sara Fraser Robbins curator of education ( the title of her classic book The Sea is All About Us was a nod to Gloucester summer resident TS Eliot’ Four Quartets)
  • Betty Smith
  • Dan Greenbaum
  • Sara Evans
  • Philip Weld, Jr
  • Jane Benotti
  • Deborah Cramer
  • Chris Leahy
  • Harriet Webster
  • Martin Ray
  • Kim Smith
  • Ian Kerr

organizations such as Gloucester Civic and Garden Club, Essex County Greenbelt, Mass Audubon, Ocean Alliance, Martime Gloucester, UMASS Marine Station…

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