Tag: Generous Gardeners

Beautifying O’Maley School

Posted on by cyndi01930

Generous Gardeners made it to O’Maley Saturday morning to install grasses in the front school beds, after the great reconstruction job completed by the DPW. I’m sharing the whole process with you to see how it evolved. Today I was working with Susan Kelly and Jamie Friend who were patient with the layout process and then we planted. We put in feather reed, zebra, muly, and Japanese forest grasses which have different heights and colors for interest against the building. It should be beautiful. We did all this in three hours!

springtime Stacy Boulevard | Fishermen’s Wives memorial, Man at the Wheel, and all those tulips & blooms thanks to Generous Gardeners volunteers #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

FISHERMENS WIVES MEMORIAL and pink tulips,sculptor Morgan Faulds Pike_Spring sunrise on Stacy Boulevard_5 May 2020 _Gloucester Ma., covid-19 © c ryan

 

tulips in spring sunrise on Stacy Boulevard_5 May 2020 _Gloucester Ma., covid-19 © c ryan (2)

May 2020, Gloucester, Mass.

Original concept designs for Stacy Boulevard in 1908 were by Thomas Warren Sears,  major 20th century landscape designer and Olmsted student.  Recent garden expansions were designed by Ann Gilardi Johnson with DPW for the City of Gloucester and with Generous Gardeners. The Betty Smith Garden has sprung, too!

Gloucester’s Fishermen’s Wives memorial by Morgan Faulds Pike

Gloucester’s Fisherman at the Wheel Memorial (Man at the Wheel) by Leonard Craske

Spring calling on Stacy Boulevard: Triton bronze by Walker Hancock #GloucesterMA

Posted on by Catherine

TRITON by Walker Hancock,Betty Smith Gardens,Ann Gilardi Johnson design & Generous Gardener volunt,Stacy Blvd, May 2020,Gloucester Ma.©c ryan (1)TRITON by Walker Hancock,Betty Smith Gardens,Ann Gilardi Johnson design & Generous Gardener volunt,Stacy Blvd, May 2020,Gloucester Ma.©c ryan (2)TRITON by Walker Hancock,Betty Smith Gardens,Ann Gilardi Johnson design & Generous Gardener volunt,Stacy Blvd, May 2020,Gloucester Ma.©c ryan (3)

Before/After

March 2019 (below) vs May 2020 (above)

BEFORE landscape revamp, triton-bronze, scupture-public-art-stacey-boulevard-gloucester-ma-artist-walker-hancock-monuments-man_March 2019 ©c ryan

 

Excerpt from my post March 2019 about the garden revamp-

The Elizabeth Gordon Smith (Betty Smith) park & gardens were cleared and the small Picture garden past Stacy Boulevard’s Avis R. Murray 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.

Walker Hancock TRITON TRIBUTE PLAQUE / PAINTED SIGN TRANSCRIPTION:

THE SCULPTURE- Triton was the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. He was thought to be able to control the sea’s wild movement by blowing his conch shell.

THE SCULPTOR- Walker Hancock a sculptor of international reputation and a long time resident of Gloucester

THE PARK- The Gloucester Civic & Garden Council created this park to honor Betty Smith its founder, a woman who has dedicated more than thirty years of her life to preserving the natural beauty of Gloucester.

We hope this small island of beauty will inspire visitors to cherish and create their own beauty wherever they go.

 

Generous Gardeners Plant Sale

Posted on by Donna Ardizzoni

Plant Sale, Saturday, May 18, 2019
Thank you Generous Gardeners

Plant sale May 18th 9 to 1:00 on the boulevard by the tennis courts! Please dig, divide, and share, drop off Friday afternoon on the boulevard! It’s all about the beautification of our beautiful city of Gloucester!🌺🌻🌷💐😀

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” →