|
date published:
April 28, 2003
Boston's Public
Garden gears up for spring with the Swan Boats and the annual Ducklings
Day Parade
by Christine Celli
Bostonians are fortunate to have a wealth of
green space right within the city limits. But the crown jewel of all its
parks has to be the Public Garden. And the month of May, when its vast
array of flowers are finally in bloom, is the best time of year to grasp
its relevance to our city.
|
The Public Garden may be the first botanical garden in the
country but it is far from the only place in Boston to check out
spring's floral bounty. Garden enthusiasts will want to pay a
visit to the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, which hosts its
annual Lilac Sunday on Mother's Day, May 11.
The Arboretum was established
in 1872 after James Arnold, a whaling merchant, willed part of
his estate to Harvard University for the development of an
arboretum that would "contain, as far as practicable, all the
trees [and] shrubs.... either indigenous or exotic, which can be
raised in the open air."
Charles Sprague Sargent took up
Arnold's cause with the help of famed landscape architect
Frederick Law Olmsted and created a 265-acre natural haven that
has since become part of the Emerald Necklace. Today the
Arboretum includes plants and trees from all over the world and
its library houses a 40,000-volume herbarium
collection-including an extensive photographic archive. Yes,
there's more than enough to keep the green thumbs in your life
busy.
In May, though, it's all about
the lilacs. Of the thousands of flowering plants in the
Arboretum, only the sweet-smelling lilac is singled out every
year for a day-long celebration. But expect to see more than the
purple variety common throughout the city. There are 230
different types of lilac found in the Jamaica Plain park, each
selected specifically for its color and size. The flowers are in
bloom throughout May but on Lilac Sunday, refreshments are
available for purchase from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Morris-style folk
dancers perform, and picnicking is allowed in the park the only
day of the year. If that's not enough to entice you to pack a
lunch and plan a day among the blossoms, there's also a terrific
view of Boston from atop Peter's or Bussey's Hill. Refer to
listing. |
|
It is both America's first public garden and its first botanical garden,
but the Public Garden didn't start out as the well-groomed floral haven it
is today. The 24-acre park, established in 1837, was once marsh land
just like much of the Back Bay where it's located. The massive Back Bay
landfill project created solid ground for the garden and a contest was
held to determine who would design its landscaping. Architect George
Meacham won the job (not to mention its $100 prize) and then created the
park enjoyed by countless visitors today.
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Fans of New York's Central Park may find the
Boston Public Garden to be tiny in comparison. And that might be closer to
the truth than they realize. A suspension bridge in the garden's center is
said to be the smallest in the world and designed to look like a miniature
version of New York's Brooklyn Bridge. And it's not the only toy-like
detail that adorns the space. Countless statues are located throughout
including a proud George Washington on his horse, sculpted by Thomas Ball
in 1869, and a far younger sculpture commemorating the web-footed
characters of Robert McCloskey's children's book Make Way For Ducklings,
designed by Nancy Schon.
THE SWAN BOATS
Perhaps the most toy-like and beloved fixture in the Public Garden are
the world-famous Swan Boats. Owned and operated by the Paget family since
1877, the stately paddle wheel-propelled vehicles take passengers on short
jaunts around the central Lagoon. The trip, one of the best bargains for
visitors in town, is unquestionably the most relaxing way to take in the
Garden and the surrounding skyline. It's also the best way to see some of
the park's temporary residents. Sure, countless geese, ducks and pigeons
make the space their home, but May 13 marks the Return of the Swans, an
annual free event featuring music, dancers and other entertainment
beginning at 10:30 a.m. The highlight of the event is when the guests of
honor, two swans named Romeo and Juliet, return from their winter home to
take their place alongside their man-made counterparts in the Lagoon.
MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS
Another beloved tradition waddles into the Public Garden on Mother's Day,
May 11. The 23rd annual Ducklings Day Parade, celebrating Robert
McCloskey's 1941 children's classic Make Way For Ducklings, enlivens the
park beginning at 1 p.m. Parents and their children are encouraged to
dress up as their favorite characters from the book, which was inspired by
a real-life mother mallard who, once upon a time, escorted her offspring
to the Public Garden with a daily traffic-stopping procession.
The Ducklings Day Parade starts on the Boston Common (across from the
State House) and is led by vintage cars and the Harvard University
Marching Band. The procession winds its way through Beacon Hill before
proceeding to the bronze Make Way For Ducklings statues in the Public
Garden. Registration begins at noon near the start of the parade. Children
who participate receive prizes, refreshments and enjoy entertainment from
Elizabeth Accardi of Upon A Star. A Mother's Day Grand Prize Drawing
benefits Historic Neighborhood's school programs. This year's prizes
include a four tickets to see the Boston Red Sox and dinner for two at
Aujourd'hui. Tickets for the parade are $15 in advance, $20 day of the
parade; Grand Prize tickets are $35. Call 617-426-1885 to order.
back to homepage
 |
