OK. First there is the obvious regional envy: beeches as big as elephants. Here I stand for scale in a stand of them in a park in Brookline on the fringe of Boston. I can say I am practicing what I preach by visiting them instead of trying to grow them in my own backyard. Sure they grow here, but not for as long and not like this.
In addition, I was delighted by the resources at Mount Auburn Cemetery (see my post 1/30/10) such as the map locating some of their "most unusual trees." Our Graceland cemetery by O.C. Simonds is equally wonderful, but not as user-friendly.
But where I am really jealous is in the intellectual offerings. The Boston area is renowned for its universities, so they have the advantage of a smaller city with certain larger gifts. One of my favorite spots has always been the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum with its fetching courtyard garden and its couple of paintings by Anders Zorn (see my post 12/31/09). My friend had an announcement (below) for the Landscape Visions Lectures. If you were a "Six Feet Under" fan, then you might be intrigued by the talk on February 13 that features environmental columnist and author Mark Harris discussing the history and philosophy of green cemeteries. Sure to be well worth the price of admission is Maine landscape designer, Patrick Chasse's "The Monumental Landscape: New Ways of Remembering." The illustration below shows at least one of the installations he will be featuring: Maya Lin's amazing Vietnam Veterans Memorial in D.C. If you haven't been to see this national treasure: go! Not only have I heard Chasse speak, but I have a friend's who has been a client of his at several properties: can't recommend him more highly (Google him)...wish I could be in Boston on March 20, the day before the vernal equinox for 2010.
The Frederick Law Olmsted House has been closed due to reconstruction for many years, but perhaps when it reopens someday, I'll have an excuse for another visit.
1 comment:
I'm equally excited by the trees and the talk. What fun that sounds like it's going to be. I think East Avenue in Rochester, NY is lined with beeches.
Post a Comment