The Swellesley Report

More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Beyond Wellesley: the Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill Tour

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The members of the Beacon Hill Garden Club (BHGC) must have an in with Mother Nature. On the day of the 91st annual rain-or-shine Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill fundraiser, the weather came down decisively on the side of shine. How the 60-member club managed to find that one beautiful day in what has been a world of wet is a mystery. Spring 2019 has gotten itself quite a reputation for its bad attitude, and seems not to care. For every complaint we’ve raised, Spring 2019 has simply doubled down, claiming with authority  that all that rain is absolutely required for May flowers, yes, straight into May itself. Somehow, someone in the BHGC convinced Spring 2019 to be cooperative, just for the day of the tour.

Whatever was said to Spring, it worked. On tour day, the skies were sunny which made for general good cheer, and the temperatures stayed steady in the high 60s, so no wilted gardens. The 2,000+ visitors appreciated the conditions, too, as they climbed from the very flat of the Hill on Mt. Vernon Street on up to the nosebleed section of Myrtle Street. I was one of the many, and I brought back pictures from gardens both sweet and dramatic, all with one thing in common  — space and sunlight challenges. Take a look at how the gardeners of Beacon Hill laugh at such hardships.

Acorn St, Beacon Hill
Just to give you a feel for Beacon Hill, let’s start out with this iconic Acorn Street pic. Known as the most photographed street in Boston, BHCG club members were on hand to make sure that visitors didn’t wander right by one of the area’s historic treasures, unaware.
Acorn Street, Beacon Hill
Bet you can’t guess what the focal point is in this narrow, brick paved, Acorn Street garden. The massive urn is a replica of one commissioned by a family member in 1914. The original weighed 14,000 pounds and was the centerpiece at a recent New York Antiques Show sale. The Manship Trustees gave the owners permission to make a replica made out of a lighter weight composite. In the foreground you can see variegated Solomon’s Seal, fern, and other shade-loving plants.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
To be a member of the Beacon Hill Garden Club you must live in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. That’s the easy part. You also must agree to open your own garden to the tour every few years. Yes, that means club members’ gardens must be presentable enough to withstand the scrutiny of 2,000+ gawkers who expect to see something special.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
This Chestnut Street stop was very special. Not only were visitors allowed to see the beautiful green and white garden of Boston ivy, ferns, moss, and climbing hydrangea, we were invited to walk through and admire the first floor of the home. The breakfast room, kitchen family room, formal dining room, and front hall were decorated with an English flair. Lots of pattern, color, and decorative odds and ends made it feel like a cozy, elegant, and lived in family hub. The homeowner was on hand to answer questions about the garden and the historic structure, a Late Federal Style row house that was built in the 1820s.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
This Beaver Place garden is located on the flat of Beacon Hill, with busy Storrow Drive behind it. The owner wanted a private garden that was visually accessible to the community. The urban bee hive sits under a white flowering redbud tree. Boxwood hedges give privacy and year-round greenery.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
A wider view of the Beaver Place garden.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
A riot of million bells, ivy, and aspargus fern spill out of a windowbox in a Lime Street garden. Above, climbing hydrangea softens the top of the wooden fence. The home attached to this garden was build in 1869 and was the birthplace and lifelong residence of renowned Harvard historian Samuel Eliot Morison. His statue stands on the Commonwealth Avenue mall.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
One of the secrets of a striking Beacon Hill garden is the judicious use of hardscaping, statuary, and irrigation. There were no urban homesteaders on the tour, no raised vegetable beds or complicated succession plantings of high-maintenance perennials. Let’s be serious here, people, these gardeners are not sticking around in the hot, sticky city all summer long. If they’re not off to their retreat on the Cape or Lake Wherever, they’re traveling the world. BHGC members’ outdoor spaces are meant to serve as a thing of beauty in the middle of a hectic city life.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
A freshly planted tree pit on Mt. Vernon St. Although this one is not maintained by the BHGC, the club cleans and plants over 72 tree pits on Beacon Hill streets. They partner with the Beacon Hill Civic Association to regularly water the trees and keep the areas around them tidy. Another 30 organizations received grants last year from the BHGC including Friends of the Boston Public Garden; Emerald Necklace Conservancy; New England Wildflower Society; Old North Church garden; and the Garden Club of America Scholarship Fund. I was asked not to reveal how much the tour rakes in, but it’s enough to say that it’s many thousands of dollars, all of which gets doled out to community initiatives.
Beacon Hill Garden Club
Some of the gardens were as simple as this comfortable outdoor grilling area. In addition to the ten gardens on tour there were several “ribbon gardens,” meaning they weren’t open for guests to walk through. Instead,  the gates were thrown open for viewing, a simple ribbon strung across the opening to signal that this was a look but don’t storm the castle situation.
Beacon Hill Garden Club
Nelly Moser clematis welcomes visitors as an old brick path gives way to smooth flagstones.
Beacon Hill Garden Club
Yes, that’s a real swimming pool at this Joy Street garden. The garden was originally designed in 1928 by landscape architect Robert N. Cram. In addition to the pool, there’s also a dolphin fountain and a pergola, all of which date from that time. The space is documented in the Archives of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution.
Beacon Hill Garden Tour
Introducing Myrtle the Turtle, the newest addition to the Myrtle Street playground. Last year in celebration of the BHGC’s 90th anniversary, club members decided to provide a special gift to the playground. The Club commissioned Make Way for Ducklings sculptor Nancy Schön to create Myrtle the Turtle. Just like the ducklings installation in the Boston Public Garden, Myrtle is available for photo-ops, and is meant to be climbed on and included in games.

A big thank you to the Beacon Hill Garden Club member Amy Wilson for giving me the VIP tour treatment. You know when you’re taking a ski lesson and how great it feels to cut the lift line with your instructor? That’s how it felt to tour the Beacon Hill gardens with Amy. I stuck close to her and the throngs of people parted like the Red Sea for us. Thanks Amy, and congrats to the whole club for a successful tour.

MORE:

Beyond Wellesley: The Magnolia Trees of Back Bay

Beyond Wellesley: A visit to Spring at the Boston Flower Show

Beyond Wellesley: Kennebunk, Maine gardens

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Wellesley Town Buzz — a round-up of things to come

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Welcome to spring in Wellesley, where it’s full speed ahead. Your imagination is not overactive. There really are 101 events that absolutely, positively demand your presence from end-of-school-year events to fundraisers to award ceremonies and more, more, more.

Sure we post individually about all this stuff, but here’s a list that might make staying on top of things a little easier.

Keep your eye on the prize that is summer, people, when the living will so much easier, I promise.

Thanks to iCode for their sponsorship of Wellesley Town Buzz. Register your child today for a summer camp experience that will immerse them in a world of coding, robotics, drones, and design.

May 3 – 9 — High School art exhibition

Paintings, pottery, photography and sculptures by local high school students from Wellesley and other MetroWest towns are featured in the third annual NEXT UP! juried art exhibition, sponsored by Page Waterman, Gallery and Framing in Wellesley Square.

May 7 — Wellesley Public Schools Student Art Show Exhibit at the Library

The art show will run May 6 – 29. On May 7, meet the artists at an opening reception at the Wellesley Free Library, 6 – 8pm. The award ceremony will be held at 6:30pm. You don’t want to miss this exhibition of Wellesley’s seriously talented art students.

May 9 — Wellesley Historical Society fundraiser

The Wellesley Historical Society is holding its annual fundraiser “Swing Into Spring”cocktail party on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM on the Sunset Terrace, Wellesley Country Club, 300 Wellesley Avenue. Ticket info here.

May 11 — Tenacre Fair

Rides, ponies, baby animals, games, prizes, food, raffle, face painting, all-around fun.

May 11 — Sports equipment sale to benefit WHS junior class

Wellesley High School junior class officers will hold a sports equipment sale for May 11 that will raise funds for the class as well as the Special Olympics organization. Stop by the cafeteria for deals on all sorts of gear.

May 18 — UU Wellesley Spring Carnival

The UU Wellesley Spring Carnival will be held Saturday, May 18 at 309 Washington St. Pony rides, games, activities, music, treats, football activity, and mini-trampoline games.

May 19 — Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club Wonder Run

The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) will welcome runners of all talent levels for its 6th annual Wonder Run 5k and Kids Fun Run on Sunday, May 19. The 5k starts at 8:30am at the Wellesley High School track and takes runners on a scenic tour of town. The Kids Fun Run, also at the WHS track, starts at 9:30am. Register here.

May 17 – 19 Wellesley’s Wonderful Weekend

Here’s the schedule. This annual celebration, put on by the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, never disappoints.

June 7 — Wellesley High School graduation day

Graduation ceremonies will be held at 5pm at the WHS athletic field. One of The Swellesley Report’s own will be handed a diploma. I’m feeling tearful already.

 

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A tasty and tasteful Wellesley weekend

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My curated Wellesley weekend wanderings took me to two of the most-anticipated events in town — the Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club Kitchen and Home tour and the Rotary Club‘s Taste of Wellesley event. Each group puts on these annual events to raise major funds for scholarships and other educational initiatives and to support various projects in town through grants. In the words of the Rotary Club, it’s all about “service above self.”

I served myself some delicious food at Taste of Wellesley, followed by some eye candy for dessert at the Kitchen and Home Tour, thank you very much. Here area a few pictures:

Wellesley Rotary Club
Attendees at the Rotary Club’s Taste of Wellesley mingle in the Carriage House at the Gardens at Elm Bank. The The club brought together the best restaurants in town for a night of food, drinks, and fun.
Wellesley Rotary Club
A full bar and a silent auction at the Rotary Club’s Taste of Wellesley fundraiser. About 350 people attend the fundraiser, which raised approximately $23,000.

 

Wellesley Rotary Club
Members of the Wellesley High School Golf Team were on hand to serve up some pita and hummus at Taste of Wellesley. From left: Julia Paladino, Gillian Lee, Lillie Ayer.
Wellesley Rotary Club
Rotary Club Taste of Wellesley Honorary Chair Police Chief Jack Pilecki and event chair Andrea Kaiser. In his opening remarks, Chief said, “This year’s fundraising theme is “Opioid Abuse Prevention.” For those of you who look around and think ‘this is not a problem here in Wellesley’, I am sorry to say, that is not the case. In the past year we have had 11 Narcan saves, and many 911 calls that are drug related.” Chief invited everyone to attend an Opioid Abuse Prevention workshop sponsored the Wellesley Rotarians on May 22nd from 6-9 pm, at the Wellesley Country Club.
Wellesley Kitchen Tour
At the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club Kitchen and Home Tour, this classic storybook Tudor’s exterior hides a secret: the very modern flow between its indoor and outdoor spaces. The place is filled with plenty of light which injects an airy feel into the historic space. Over 600 visitors toured the six homes on tour.

 

Wellesley Kitchen Tour
Each room in this home gave off a cozy, layered, boho-chic vibe. The homeowners did it with plenty of pattern and lined draperies in each room.

 

Wellesley Kitchen Tour
This home’s kitchen boasted not just one, but two islands.

A friend later asked, “Why would someone let hundreds of people traipse through their home like that?” I’m told there are three big reasons:

  1. The Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club membership can be very persuasive. Apparently when a member says to a homeowner they’re courting for the tour, “Just think of all the good you can help us do simply by showing people what a wonderful job your designer and architect did on your beautiful home,” people just melt. Bang, before they know it, 600+ visitors are ogling and loudly commenting on their artwork, backsplashes, and wallpaper.
  2. Homeowners who have just completed a major renovation are so grateful to their designers, architects, and landscape architects that they can’t help but agree when the team suggests that the home would be perfect for the tour. Not only do the homeowners feel the finished product was worth every penny, they want to help the people who made it possible show off their work, which can lead to more work. It’s no secret that the just-purchased multi-million dollar homes of Wellesley are all but uninhabitable until at least $300k is poured into them.
  3. Ok, it’s true. Some just want to show off their digs. So sue them.

You can find out more about how to get involved with either or both of these Wellesley organizations by visiting their websites:

Wellesley Hills Junior Womens Club

The Rotary Club

Here are Chief Pilecki’s remarks in their entirety at the Rotary Club’s event regarding the opioid crisis:

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Announcing the houses on the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club Kitchen and Home Tour, May 4

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SPONSORED POST: The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) will present the 20th annual Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour on Saturday, May 4, 11am – 3pm. The tour will showcase six exquisite homes where guests will be invited to visit the first floor and outside spaces while enjoying gourmet bites and shopping at pop-up boutiques (perfect for Mother’s Day gifts) featured at each home.

Architects, interior designers, and/or contractors will also be on hand to answer questions specific to the home. Advanced tickets are now available at Roche Bros. Wellesley and at www.whjwc.org for $45. Same-day tickets can also be purchased at the door for $55.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club
Kitchen by Whitney Claire & Co.

The mix of houses this year includes several historic homes that have been updated to reflect the needs and tastes of today’s families and homes that showcase the work of several design and architecture stars including Whitney Claire, Jan Gleysteen, Jacob Lilley, Rachel Reider and Katie Rosenfeld.

Drumroll please…here are the addresses:

14 Bristol Road
50 Elm Street
49 Falmouth Road
44 Hundreds Circle
15 Ordway Road
44 Valley Road

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club
Dining Room: Read McKendree Photography, Katie Rosenfeld Design

As always, event-goers should wear easy, slip-on shoes, as they will take them off at each house and wear the booties provided for them. Other tips for event-goers can be found here.

Building upon the success of last year’s first annual Design Wellesley, a celebration of the local design, artists and retailers that make Wellesley a premiere design destination, the WHJWC is pleased to announce the following 2019 Design Wellesley events, all culminating with the tour on May 4. Find out all about the events below:

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Wellesley Kitchen & Home Tour will be Saturday, May 4, 2019

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The much-anticipated Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour presented by The Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club (WHJWC) is in its 20th year and will be held on Saturday, May 4 from 11am to 3pm, rain or shine.

During this fundraiser, anyone who loves beautiful design will have the chance to see it in six of Wellesley’s most stunning private residences, all of which represent the latest trends in design and architecture.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club
Photo credit: Sarah M. Winchester

Tour guests will be invited to visit the first floor and outside spaces of these impressive properties, while enjoying gourmet bites and shopping at pop-up boutiques located at each home, just in time for Mother’s Day. Architects, interior designers, and/or contractors will also be on hand to answer questions specific to the home.

Children under the age of 18 are not permitted inside tour homes due to insurance regulations. Tickets, which are $45 in advance and $55 on the day of the event, can be purchased online or at Roche Bros. in Wellesley. The addresses of tour homes will be announced on the WHJWC website on April 21st. The Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour is a community fundraiser by the WHJWC, a 501(c)(3) organization, and ticket purchases are tax deductible. The WHJWC gives out over $140,000 annually which goes back to Wellesley and surrounding communities in the form of local scholarships and non-profit grants.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club
Photo credit: Read McKendree

Make sure you wear comfortable, slip-on walking shoes because they must be removed and replaced with booties that will be provided at each home. Here are other tips for event-goers.  So save Saturday, May 4 in your calendar right now. In the meantime, you can find sneak peeks of the homes, and information as it’s updated, on the WHJWC’s Instagram and Facebook.

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