Emerald Necklace History of the A Restoration for the Conservancy Kelleher 21st Century The Emerald Necklace Conservancy was The Kelleher Rose Garden, located in ’s Back By the late 1900s, The Kelleher Rose Garden was created to protect, restore, maintain and Bay Fens, was originally wetlands. In the late in decline. In 2001, the Emerald Necklace promote the landscape, waterways and park- 1880s, Frederick Law Olmsted transformed what Conservancy, in cooperation with Boston Parks ways of the Emerald Necklace park system as had become a foul tidal marsh into a clean, scenic and Recreation, convened landscape architects, special places for people to visit and estuary. The 1910 damming of the Charles River horticulturists and rosarians to develop a enjoy. The Conservancy’s programs and funding blocked the tidal flow, changing the ecology of the master plan for its renewal. Paths and planting support and complement initiatives by the City area and requiring a new design by landscape ar- beds were recut according to the original plans; of Boston, the Town of Brookline, and the Com- chitect Arthur Shurcliff. the soil was rejuvenated and new turf laid. monwealth of Massachusetts. An irrigation A passion for public rose swept the system was country in the early 1900s. In 1931, Shurcliff installed, designed a circular formal rose garden opposite the hundreds of Museum of Fine Arts where the general public as were well as rose enthusiasts could learn about rose cul- planted and new ture and enjoy the flowers. The garden was an in- signs were stant success. The garden was expanded in 1932 placed to help visitors learn from the garden. The res- toration contin- Rose Garden Visitor Pamphlet is provided by ued with the the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. reconstruction of the fountain based on Visit us at the Arthur Shurcliff’s original 1931 design of a Shattuck simple reflecting pool consisting of a 14″ deep Visitor basin with a bluestone-capped edge. Like their Center in the predecessors last seen in the 1950s, four new Back Bay Fens The James P. Kelleher cherubs now grace the edge of the fountain and two replica planters join the existing two. 125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 Rose Garden when the rectangular section was built. 617-522-2700 | emeraldnecklace.org

In 1975, the garden was named the James P. Back Bay Fens Kelleher Rose Garden to honor the Boston Parks Emerald Necklace | Boston, MA and Recreation Department’s Superintendent of . boston.gov/parks emeraldnecklace.org

Tuesdays with Roses In Grateful Recognition Boston Parks and Recreation Volunteers meet on Tuesday evenings Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s Justine Mee Liff Fund from 5:30-7:30pm throughout the Plimpton-Shattuck Fund season to deadhead Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund and weed. Rose care Bilezikian Family Foundation instruction and tools Boston Committee of the Garden Club of America are provided. New- Yawkey Foundation comers are always welcome! Beacon Hill Garden Club NSTAR Foundation To volunteer please call us at 617-522-2700 or sign up at www.emeraldnecklace.org/volunteer. The Emerald Necklace Conservancy’s Rose Garden Advisory Committee and the Arnold of Harvard University

Did You Know? Donate The Rose Garden contains more than ten Support the Emerald Necklace Conservancy classes and 200 varieties of roses. There are al- and ensure that the landscape, waterways and most 1,500 in total. parkways of the Emerald Necklace are

restored and maintained for years to come. In 2005, the ‘Justine Mee Liff’ Rose, named

to honor Boston’s late Parks Commissioner, was hybridized by Paul E. Jerabek and planted in Donate online at www.emeraldnecklace.org the Rose Garden. or send your tax-deductible donation to:

The height of the fountain spray is determined by Emerald Necklace Conservancy an anemometer which measures wind speed. 125 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115