by plantswomandesign | Jun 7, 2013 | plants, Traveling Plantswoman
My last day in Boston it was raining. Well, being from the northwest why would that stop me. I borrowed an umbrella from the front desk because like most Pacific Northwest people I didn’t bring an umbrella. It only rains in the Northwest right? I went out to investigate window boxes. I remember from my only other trip to Boston the old quarter of town and the wonderful creative window boxes. I found some great ones.
Many of them had what we would consider house plants in them. Golden pothos ivy, boston fern of course, and kachenoe. Combined with some evergreens, huge lush hydrangeas, and tropicals like mandevilla they definitely were outside the box. (hee hee).
Combinations ranged from white,purple, blue, and orange white, bright green purple, and lots of green variegations. Mostly would be in shade because of the tall row house structures. Lots of shutters but they looked to be ornamental now not functional.
Some homes had matching or complementary containers by the front door.
I stopped to talk to the owner of this little flower shop. Rouvalis Flowers. They do a lot of the window boxes in the area. Most are on a four season rotation where they change the boxes out with each season. They also water and maintain them. Her family has owned the shop for a long time. I asked what they do with the left over plants after a change out. She said her friends got lots of cast offs because they don’t have a greenhouse to keep them in or the ability to resell them. Oh to be in that crowd.
I’m not sure I could live in these historical houses although they are lovely. The window boxes are quite literally all the garden they have. Check out my next post for some lovely courtyard gardens that are scattered here and there amongst the houses. There are also beautiful squares that the houses are built around. These serve as a shared garden space for the houses. I wonder if they get used and people get to enjoy the space and the company of their neighbors.
by plantswomandesign | Jun 1, 2013 | garden travel, gardening
Hello friends! I find myself in Boston this weekend. It’s hot! Unusual for this time of year but that won’t keep me from exploring what gardens this historic east coast city has to offer. Wandering thought the Arnold Arboretum definitely needed to be followed by refreshment in the oldest pub on the east coast.
Magnolias have almost finished blooming but their huge leaves feel lush and tropical. There are several specimens that are 50 feet or more.
This lirodendron tulipfera chinensis (tulip tree ) was also very tall. I’m sure if I could have looked at it from above I would have been in awe of the hundreds of blooms. I could see a few from the ground.
An unusual lilac, syringa Xswegiflexa, reminded me of my time in England. On my way to work at Harlow Carr Botanical Garden I would pass this tree outside the back gate. I would ask the other workers and staff there about it Nobody knew the name of it or cared. If it wasn’t inside the garden gates it didn’t really matter. It acted like it wanted to be inside the gate but didn’t get invited. I always thought it was worthy because I loved the way the blossoms are drooping and softly swaying in the breeze. Most lilacs have more upright blooms that are stiff and clumping. This one is graceful and lovely.
Clematis albicoma, a low growing clumping clematis has wonderful fuzzy flowers and leaves. It is in the shrub and vine section of the garden. The vines all have metal trellis that are free standing. You get a chance to see the vines up close and personal without looking above your head the whole time. (brilliant). The actinidia polygama (silver vine) below is a version of the kiwi vine I haven’t seen before. The actinidia kolomitka is the one I have seen more and it has pink on the tips. I love this one because of just the contrast in the silver and green.
The Arnold Arboretum is worth a visit. It is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the bustling (loud) city of Boston. It is the oldest public arboretum and one of the most prestigious places for the study of plants. Harvard university runs it and in this town Harvard seems to have its hand in everything.
