Bolton Hill Community Projects & Activities
Eutaw Place Medians
The Eutaw Place medians extend along the middle of Eutaw Place from Dolphin Street to North Avenue. The Francis Scott Key Monument is in the first median and was restored with funds from the 1990 Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage in Bolton Hill. In the 1400 block, there are two cast iron garden urns and the 125 year old Gunther Fountain also restored using funds from the 1990 Pilgrimage. Sara and Marvin Bingham plant and maintain this section of the park. Club members Mary Consugar, Ellen Joyce, Carlo Van Grieken, Christian Roth, Brian Causey and Karen Compton, along with other Eutaw Place neighbors, have restored the medians in the 1800 and 1900 blocks and maintain them up to the North Avenue boundary, using funds given by the club for plantings and tools. The fountain in the 1800 block median was installed in 2009
Shelia’s Garden at the Confederate Memorial
This herb and perennial garden is contained within a red granite base surrounding the Civil War Confederate Memorial. Located on the 1400 Block of Mount Royal Avenue, a red granite bench memorializing Shelia Bittner-Schmitt sits facing the garden. Coleen McCarty, her husband Art Hall and Vivian Maine, have been maintaining and protecting the garden for many years. Members and neighbors are invited to help in the garden work and share in the harvest of herbs
Baltimore City Farms Druid Hill Park and Hampden
The city farm plots provide space and camaraderie to members who want to grow more than their home gardens allow. Members Joan Giesemann, Mary Consugar and Ellen Joyce, Jeremy Walston, Coleen McCarty, John Pohlemus, and Robin Roszel have garden plots in Druid Hill Park. Vivian Maine and Coleen McCarty have plots in Hampden. This is the ideal place to grow seasonal vegetables and the flowers. The program is operated by Baltimore City's Dept. of Recreation and Parks. Our club member Coleen McCarty is the City Farms Coordinator.
Family and Children’s Services Memorial Garden
Members assist the staff of the Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland to plant and maintain additional perennials and shrubs in their Memorial Garden at Park Avenue. Bobbi Hahn, Robin Roszel, John Pohlemus, along with other club members have been active in ensuring this green oasis in the neighborhood is maintained.
Green Space Grants
In addition to the support given to club members who volunteer their efforts in public green spaces, the club also gives grants to residents involved in Bolton Hill greening projects. The funds are derived from the various fund raising events and distributed by a club committee. Grants are awarded for the planting and maintenance of neighborhood parks, medians and tree wells.
Mt. Royal Avenue, 1400/1500 Blocks
Situated between Mt. Royal Avenue and the Mt. Royal Service Road, and once maintained by past club president, the late Shelia Bittner-Schmitt, the median contains to be maintained by a joint effort between MICA and The Bolton Hill Garden Club.
Fund Raising Projects
Our annual Pansy and Greens sales are our main fund raising events. With the addition of the June Garden Walk and the Spring Flower sale, we anticipate even greater funds to aid in the greening of Bolton Hill.
Pansy Sale
The Pansy Sale at the Bolton Hill Festival-on-the-Hill in October is a long-standing tradition. Our hardy plants find their way to neighbor gardens, window boxes, and tree wells, providing beautiful color well into the winter months.
Greens Sale
Our Greens Sale, the first Saturday in December, marks the beginning of the holiday season for many neighbors and friends. Our boxwood wreaths, assorted roping, holly, and magnolia boughs sell quickly. Debby Phinney adds to the festive atmosphere with her music.
Spring Flower Sale
The last Saturday of April is a perfect time to shop for your summer gardens. Make that shopping trip easy – the sale takes place in Fitzgerald Park. The club’s selection of annual and perennial plants are perfect for small gardens, window boxes and tree wells of Bolton Hill.
Garden Tour
This event transitioned from a small, club-only event to one open to the public. As such it has generated a great deal of interest amongst neighbors both to tour the gardens and to show their gardens in front and back! In 2009, the tour began in Fitzgerald Park and ended in the 1800 block of Eutaw Placed median, where the tour reception was held in conjunction with the new fountain dedication.
Social Activities
Social activities include a holiday party after the greens sale in December, a champagne brunch at the Rawlings Conservatory in January, and the annual potluck picnic at Sumpter Park in June.