Paine Garden
Committee Chair: Suzanne Vocatura
Goal: To create a beautiful intimate outdoor living space and relaxing area to enjoy the flowers and private conversation.
Description: Fall Clean up in Sept and October. Plantings in Spring, weeding, mulching. Summer watering and spot clean up.
PAINE GARDEN NEWS
Remembering 9/11
(from Suzanne Vocatura -- 2014)
I would like to share with you the following story -
As you may know, the Garden lies on what was once part of the Case Estate which was acquired in 1863 by Jame Case. As you may recall, the garden was in search of a bird bath. Well.. while in the Garden a couple of weeks ago, a person came to me and said that there is a beautiful bird bath that resides on the Case Estate concealed under a beech tree, encased in fallen branches. And so, I wrote to the Director of the Arnold Arboretum/Harvard University on Labor Day requesting that the Bird Bath be gifted to the Town and reside in the Garden, along side a plaque commemorating the Case sisters, Marion and Louisa. He loved the idea and within hours responded with approval.
Next was to have the Bath moved on 9/11, in true memorial fashion. However, Doug MacDougall, Town Rep and facilitator for movement of the Bath was over extended on that Day due the 9/11 ceremony at the Town Green. And so, at about 7:30 pm on 9/11, my dream was fading and so was the light. And so I grabbed by son, daughter and truck and went to move it myself. In doing so, I introduced myself to Lydia Shire and her husband, who live on the premise and appeared to be its guardians. And so, I tell them of the story, while clenching written proof and they were elated to hear of the new found home for the Bath. They told me the story of how they lived there for 20 years, married under the beech tree and filled the Bath with caviar. All the while, I realize the top of the Bath was still too heavy for even 3 people to lift and so the husband kindly offered the services of his 6' 2" son Alex, who could not have been nicer.
The light had since disappeared, but who cared, we were on our way. Once at the Garden, we were able to carry the pedestal into place but only able to drag and slide the Bath a top a sled, unable to pick it up and carry it down the field stone path. And so while we had to leave it waiting, I was complete in that it had been officially moved into the Memorial Garden on 9/11.
So, yesterday I went to Cavicchio's with my friend Donna Goulart and purchased some beautiful tall grasses with serendipitous plumes to replace the Hosta which was being held at gun point between the building and patio. While I was installing the grasses, the construction men began to pick up the high gates and brush them right up against the garden placing some of the Garden's cobblestone border onto the other side. However,they came to my beckon call and reached into the ground and pulled each one out, with one hand mind you and lay it onto the garden side before locking the gate which now represented the line of demarcation for the bulldozer, but not before lifting the Bath on top of the pedestal, upon which it now rests for all the world to see. And it is absolutely spectacular with all its imperfections, truly an inspiration for all that is good.
Goal: To create a beautiful intimate outdoor living space and relaxing area to enjoy the flowers and private conversation.
Description: Fall Clean up in Sept and October. Plantings in Spring, weeding, mulching. Summer watering and spot clean up.
PAINE GARDEN NEWS
Remembering 9/11
(from Suzanne Vocatura -- 2014)
I would like to share with you the following story -
As you may know, the Garden lies on what was once part of the Case Estate which was acquired in 1863 by Jame Case. As you may recall, the garden was in search of a bird bath. Well.. while in the Garden a couple of weeks ago, a person came to me and said that there is a beautiful bird bath that resides on the Case Estate concealed under a beech tree, encased in fallen branches. And so, I wrote to the Director of the Arnold Arboretum/Harvard University on Labor Day requesting that the Bird Bath be gifted to the Town and reside in the Garden, along side a plaque commemorating the Case sisters, Marion and Louisa. He loved the idea and within hours responded with approval.
Next was to have the Bath moved on 9/11, in true memorial fashion. However, Doug MacDougall, Town Rep and facilitator for movement of the Bath was over extended on that Day due the 9/11 ceremony at the Town Green. And so, at about 7:30 pm on 9/11, my dream was fading and so was the light. And so I grabbed by son, daughter and truck and went to move it myself. In doing so, I introduced myself to Lydia Shire and her husband, who live on the premise and appeared to be its guardians. And so, I tell them of the story, while clenching written proof and they were elated to hear of the new found home for the Bath. They told me the story of how they lived there for 20 years, married under the beech tree and filled the Bath with caviar. All the while, I realize the top of the Bath was still too heavy for even 3 people to lift and so the husband kindly offered the services of his 6' 2" son Alex, who could not have been nicer.
The light had since disappeared, but who cared, we were on our way. Once at the Garden, we were able to carry the pedestal into place but only able to drag and slide the Bath a top a sled, unable to pick it up and carry it down the field stone path. And so while we had to leave it waiting, I was complete in that it had been officially moved into the Memorial Garden on 9/11.
So, yesterday I went to Cavicchio's with my friend Donna Goulart and purchased some beautiful tall grasses with serendipitous plumes to replace the Hosta which was being held at gun point between the building and patio. While I was installing the grasses, the construction men began to pick up the high gates and brush them right up against the garden placing some of the Garden's cobblestone border onto the other side. However,they came to my beckon call and reached into the ground and pulled each one out, with one hand mind you and lay it onto the garden side before locking the gate which now represented the line of demarcation for the bulldozer, but not before lifting the Bath on top of the pedestal, upon which it now rests for all the world to see. And it is absolutely spectacular with all its imperfections, truly an inspiration for all that is good.
Paine Garden address: 20 Alphabet Lane, Weston, MA