Page 107 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Boston
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F AR THER AFIELD 105
arboretum in the U.S. and turned her wealth
a key resource for botanical to collecting art in
and horticultural research. the late 19th century,
The Arboretum also serves acquiring a notable
as a park where people jog, collection of Old
stroll, read, and paint. Masters and Italian
The park’s busiest time is Renaissance pieces.
on Lilac Sunday in May, when Titian’s Rape of Europa,
tens of thousands come to for ex ample, is
revel in the sight and fragrance considered his best
of the lilac collection, one painting in a U.S.
of the largest in the world. museum. The eccentric
The range of the Arboretum’s “Mrs. Jack” had an eye
collections guarantees for her contemporaries.
flowers from late March into as well. She purchased
November, beginning with the first Matisse to
cornelian cherry and forsythia. enter an American
Blooms shift in late May collection and was
to azalea, magnolia, and an ardent patron of
wisteria, then to mountain James McNeill Whistler
laurel and roses in June. and John Singer
Sweet autumn clematis Sargent. The paintings,
bursts forth in September, sculptures, and
and native witch hazel blooms Central courtyard of the palazzo-style Isabella Stewart tapestries are displayed
in October and November. Gardner Museum on three levels around
The Arboretum also has fine a stunning skylit
fall foliage in September 5 Isabella Stewart courtyard. Mrs. Gardner’s will
and October. Gardner Museum stipulates the collection should
A large scale model of remain assembled in the man ner
the Arboretum can be seen 25 Evans Way. Tel (617) 5661401. she originally intended. However,
in the Visitors’ Information MFA. Open 11am–5pm Wed– today, blank spaces can be seen
Center, which is just inside Mon (to 9pm Thu). Closed Jan 1, where thieves stole 13 price less
the main gate. Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & ^ works in 1990. Amongst the
8 Call for concert schedule.
∑ gardnermuseum.org stolen art was a rare Rem brandt,
4 John F. Kennedy The only thing more surprising Storm on the Sea of Galilee, then
conservatively valued at $200
National Historic than a Venetian palazzo on million. A $120 million expan
Site The Fenway is the collection sion designed by Renzo Piano
of more than 2,500 works of opened in 2012, providing space
83 Beals St, Brookline. Tel (617) 566 art inside. Advised by scholar for special exhibitions, concerts,
7937. Coolidge Corner. Open late Bernard Berenson, the strong educational programs, and
May–Oct: 9:30am–5pm Wed–Sun. willed Isabella Stewart Gardner landscape classes.
Closed Thanksgiving. ^ 7 8 9
∑ nps.gov/jofi
The first home of the late The Emerald Necklace
president’s parents, this Best known as designer of New York’s
Brookline house saw the Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted
birth of four of nine Kennedy based himself in Boston, where he
chil dren, including J.F.K. on created parks to solve environmental
May 29, 1917. Although the problems and provide a green refuge
Kennedys moved to a larger for inhabitants of the 19thcentury
house in 1921, the Beals industrial city. The Emerald Necklace
Street residence held special includes the green spaces of Boston
memories for the family, Common and the Public Garden (see
who repurchased the house pp48–9) and Commonwealth Avenue
in 1966 and furnished it with (see p95). To create a ring of parks,
their belongings circa 1917 as Olmsted added the Back Bay Fens (site Jamaica Pond, part of Boston’s
a memorial to John F. Kennedy. of beautiful rose gardens and gateway fine parklands
The guided tour includes to the Museum of Fine Arts and the
reminiscences of J.F.K.’s mother Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum), the rustic Riverway, Jamaica Pond
Rose. A walking tour takes in (sailing and picnicking), Arnold Arboretum, and Franklin Park (a golf
other neighborhood sites course, zoo, and crosscountry ski trails). The 7mile (11km) swath of
relevant to the Kennedy parkland makes an excellent bicycle tour or ambitious walk.
family’s early years.
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