2024 Classic Chrome and Dazzling Dahlias Gala

When: September 26, 2024 @ 5:30PM — 8:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Where: Frank McCracken’s converted fire station: 73 Mount Pleasant Ave Gloucester, MA 01930


Support Generous Gardeners and the beautiful Gloucester gardens!

Generous Gardeners Gala at Frank McCracken’s fire station with his amazing antique cars 

Generous Gardeners cordially invites you to attend a fundraising gala to support our work of keeping Gloucester’s gardens blooming and beautiful. This event will be held at Frank McCracken’s converted fire station, a fascinating building that is home to his extensive collection of antique cars. These beautiful vehicles will be on full display and include a 1934 Pierce Arrow Coupe, a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, and many more.

Open bar and sumptuous food by Timothy S. Hopkins Catering.

Patrons will receive an invitation to a patron thank you party at Jessica and Paul Lohnes’s home on 9 Bass Rocks Road.

Generous Gardeners Featured on GBH “Joy Beat”

Generous Gardeners is honored to have been nominated by a listener for GBH’s weekly “Joy Beat,” which aired July 5th and features news stories about real people doing the hard work to make their communities and world a better place. The nomination was based on the joy found in appreciating the beauty of the outdoors, and how the connection with nature can rejuvenate the spirit and come with solid health benefits.

The listener called in to share her appreciation for those who keep her city, Gloucester, beautiful and in bloom, saying: “Just an incredible brigade who work to plant dahlias and tulips — beautiful gardens all over the city of Gloucester. Traffic islands, the Boulevard… just the most innocuous little corner where it’s just filled with flowers. It’s just a remarkable, remarkable group.”

Generous Gardener’s founder, Susan Kelly, and dahlia expert, Antonietta Calabrese, sat down with Arun Rath of GBH’s “All Things Considered” program to discuss the joy of gardening and the impact that their organization has had on the city of Gloucester. Beginning 12 years ago with the idea of online plant-swapping, the now 80-volunteer, non-profit organization has transformed the city’s waterfront and 48 other garden spaces with colorful blossoms from May until late fall. Boulevard plantings alone now include dozens of roses, hundreds of lilies, tulips, annuals, perennials and more – and over 2,000 dahlias! Susan and Antonietta discuss the work involved in planting and maintaining the beds, as well as protecting them from winter storms.

To help fund beautification, Generous Gardeners just completed their 12th garden tour of 15 beautiful, private gardens on Wheeler’s Point in Gloucester.  The tour is an annual event in a different Gloucester neighborhood each year and one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers.

We are grateful to the garden tour’s homeowners, our donors, admirers, and all who help to support our organization – and proud of the happiness we bring to our community.

– Susan Kelly
– Antonietta Calabrese

WGBH Joy Beat, July 5, 2024, read or listen here:
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2024-07-09/meet-the-generous-gardeners-that-have-helped-gloucester-bloom
Generous Gardeners:
https://generousgardeners.org/

2024 Gloucester Garden Tour Tickets On Sale Now!

July 6, 2024 | 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 

Generous Gardeners 12th Annual Gloucester Garden Tour

This year Generous Gardeners welcomes you to the Wheeler’s Point area of Gloucester. We are pleased to present this unique neighborhood surrounded by the Annisquam River, the Mill River, Ipswich Bay and Jones Creek, so several of the gardens offer stunning water views. The gardeners themselves range from novice to very experienced and provide you with a full range of annual, perennial and vegetable gardens. This is a walking or biking tour only. No cars allowed. Shuttle buses will bring you to the beginning of the tour which is a lovely 1.4 mile stroll, unfortunately not handicapped accessible. From the parking area, it is a 3 mile loop. Rain or shine. No pets. Photography welcome. Tickets: $35.

Sponsor the 2024 Gloucester Garden Tour

Consider being a sponsor for the Gloucester Garden Tour! Your assistance will contribute to making this year’s tour a success – while helping us beautify Gloucester.

Platinum: $1,000 cash and/or gift certificates or good – back cover recognition and a full-page ad in the program

Gold Sponsor Level: $500 cash and/or gift certificates or goods – full page ad in the program

Silver Sponsor Level: $250 cash and/or gift certificates or goods – half page ad in the program

Bronze Sponsor Level: $100 cash and/or gift certificates or goods – quarter page ad in the program

Sculptural Planters Dedicated for Gloucester’s 400th

Images courtesy of Good Morning Gloucester

On December 9, 2023, four sculptural planters created by nationally renowned local sculptor, Chris Williams, and spearheaded by Generous Gardners, were dedicated in a ceremony on Stacy Boulevard. The new planters are an integral part of the memorial plaza redesign by local landscape architect, Ann Gilardi Johnson, and complement the “Man at the Wheel” 300th legacy project of 1923.

Read more and view pictures and videos here.

Sculptural Planters Dedication for Gloucester’s 400th

Please join Generous Gardeners in the dedication of the
400th legacy project for the City of Gloucester on
Saturday, December 9th at 3:00 PM.

Spearheaded by Generous Gardeners, four sculptural planters created by nationally renowned local sculptor, Chris Williams, will grace the Fishermen’s Memorial on Stacy Boulevard. These planters are an integral part of the memorial plaza redesign by local landscape architect, Ann Gilardi Johnson, and will complement the “Man at the Wheel” 300th legacy project of 1923. Funding provided by the State, the City and private donations.