Sweet Auburn: The Magazine of the Friends of Mount Auburn An Oasis for Birds and Birders

A publication of the Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery 580 Mount Auburn Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617-547-7105 www.mountauburn.org Editorial Committee Bree D. Harvey, Editor Vice President of External Affairs Lauren Marsh, Managing Editor Communications, Grants & Events Coordinator Jennifer J. Johnston, Photo Editor Media & Imaging Coordinator David P. Barnett, Contributing Editor President & CEO, Mount Auburn Cemetery Jane M. Carroll Vice President of Development Dennis Collins Horticultural Curator Candace Currie Director of Planning & Sustainability Tom Johnson Family Services Coordinator Sean J. O’Regan Vice President of Cemetery Services Meg L. Winslow Curator of Historical Collections Designer Elizabeth Bonadies Printer P+R Publications Cover Photo: Black-and-white Warbler in blooming Crab Apple tree near Halcyon Lake by Sandy Selesky Trustees of the Friends of Mount Auburn Widgie Aldrich, Chair, Cambridge, MA David P. Barnett, Boxborough, MA Clemmie L. Cash, Sarasota, FL Thomas C. Cooper, Watertown, MA James F. Hunnewell, Jr., Chestnut Hill, MA Caroline Loughlin, Treasurer, Cambridge Sean McDonnell, Cambridge Caroline Mortimer, Vice-Chair, Cambridge Ann M. Roosevelt, Cambridge Honorary Trustee of the Friends President’s Corner As our founders envisioned 180 years ago, Mount Auburn is a place of beauty and inspiration. And especially in the spring with all the vibrant colors of the flowering trees, shrubs, bulbs and groundcovers, it is difficult to imagine a more beautiful and inspiring place. Spring also brings the migrating warblers and so many other fascinating birds, and with them come the birders. It is also difficult to imagine a more passionate and enthusiastic group of visi- tors than our birding friends. We are pleased to have this issue of Sweet Auburn focus on Mount Auburn as “An Dave Barnett Oasis for Birds and Birders.” I am particularly pleased to be able to highlight, in the feature article, the role that long- time friend and supporter, Bob Stymeist, has played at Mount Auburn. As Bob has done with so many others, he took my son Jake “under his wing” at an early age and inspired him to learn about and appreciate birds. For many years our horticulture staff has focused on adding new plantings that en- hance the wildlife habitat value of the Mount Auburn landscape. Projects completed in recent years include the woodland plantings in Consecration Dell, the wildflower meadow at the Tower, the emergent zone plantings along the edges of our ponds, and many others. The project described on page 13 is the latest in our ongoing efforts to attract birds and other wildlife to Mount Auburn, and we are grateful for the funding received from the Anthony J. and Mildred D. Ruggiero Memorial Trust for this project. Of course we continue to be an active cemetery, serving families at their time of need. As described on page 14, we are fortunate that birds and other animals peacefully coexist with our visitors and clients, and, in fact, often help to make a Mount Auburn visit or funeral service an uplifting experience. And speaking of uplifting, I am very excited to announce that this summer we will begin construction of a new greenhouse complex that will replace our 41-year-old greenhouses. We continue to raise the funds needed to complete this project, and further details are provided on page 21. In addition to enhancing our plant propagation and production capacity, the new greenhouses will provide a dramatic visual improvement to the neighborhood along our perimeter on Grove Street in Watertown. We look forward to a continuing dialogue with Watertown officials regarding long-term community planning efforts to develop and improve the Grove Street corridor. I am most pleased that Mount Auburn was able to provide space on our Grove Street property for community vegetable garden plots, as described further on page 19. We will continue to look for similar ways that we can expand our capacity to be an invaluable community resource. I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Sweet Auburn, and I encourage you to come see the migrating birds and to visit Mount Auburn frequently all spring and summer. There is always something beautiful and inspiring! Susan W. Paine, Cambridge The Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery was established in 1986 to assist in the conservation of the Cemetery’s natural beauty and to promote the appreciation of its cultural, historic, and natural resources. Organized in 1990 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable trust, the Friends seeks financial support from its members, other individuals, foundations, corporations, and public agencies. It receives gifts for educational and inter- pretive programs and materials for the public, specific cultural projects, and operating support for horticultural rejuvenation and the preservation of the historic monuments, structures, and archival artifacts and records. The Friends has over 1,300 active members. 2 | Sweet Auburn David P. Barnett, President pg. 5 pg. 9 pg. 19 President’s Corner Sweet Auburn

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