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Cherubs & Angels of Mount Auburn
Images of celestial beings are found throughout the Cemetery, proudly posing on pedestals or tucked into the decorations of many monuments. We will find a number of cherubs for this Valentine's Day weekend walk. Join Rosemarie Smurzynski for an exploration seeking examples of these winged beings in marble and granite. Sunday, February 15th at 1PM. Register online...
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Horticultural Highlight: Picea abies, Norway spruce
Mount Auburn's winters often are long, but our landscape is beautifully accentuated with many evergreen trees and shrubs.
One important tree is the Norway spruce, Picea abies, abundantly represented here. This well-known tree is native to eastern and central Europe, and has been an important forest and timber tree, as well as providing widespread horticultural use.
This is a tree that often grows 60 to 100-feet tall. The Christmas tree at New York's Rockefeller Center is almost always a Norway spruce. Read more...
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Eternally Green: Massachusetts' Changing Climate
Scientific research indicates that if global warming emissions continue to grow without reduction, Massachusetts can expect dramatic changes over the next century. The research summarized in the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) article describes two different emissions scenarios: one higher and one lower as depicted in the illustration to the right.
Even with lower emissions, Massachusetts' temperature could become similar to Maryland's, and at a continued rate of higher emissions, Massachusetts may feel more like South Carolina. Temperature, however, isn't the only thing that changes... learn more
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Wildlife Highlight: Birds & Birding at Mount Auburn
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Northern Saw-whet Owl
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In addition to species seen frequently year-round at Mount Auburn - White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch - winter is a great time to be on the lookout for owls!
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Person of the Month: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Photo courtesy National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
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Every year, as the anniversary of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's birthday approaches, it is inspiring to look back upon his life and legacy.
Born on February 27,1807 in Portland, Maine, he was the second of eight children. He enrolled in Bowdoin College at the age of 15. When he graduated in 1825 he was ranked fourth in his class and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
At this point, the young poet had already written and published dozens of poems and knew that his life's passion would be literature, however despite being offered a professorship at Bowdoin after graduating, Longfellow decided to... learn more
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Longfellow Birthday Celebration
Saturday, February 28th at 10AM
We are excited to announce that Dr. Elisa New will be the featured speaker at our annual Longfellow Birthday Celebration this year.
Co-sponsored by the Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, this free program "Longfellow in the Global Classroom: A Video Album and Lecture," will discuss how national sites and writers of importance, are being introduced to students online.
Following the talk, we'll enjoy birthday cake and walk to the Longfellow Lot on Indian Ridge Path for a wreath-laying ceremony.
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History Highlight:
Granite Curbing Used to Edge Ponds and Ornamental Areas
 | | Consecration Dell lined with granite curbing, circa 1870. |
In 1855-56 the western end of Garden Pond (now Halcyon Lake) which extended nearly to the present site of Story Chapel was filled up.
In the next few years granite curbing was placed around the edges of Consecration Dell Pond, Forest Pond (since filled in), and Meadow Pond (now Auburn Lake), not to mention such ornamental areas as the one in front of the old chapel.
Some of these relics of the age of granite were...read more
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If you use Outlook or Internet Explorer you might see some formatting irregularities in your e-letter, such as gaps of space between article headers and text or links that seem inactive. To correct this compatibility glitch, select "View in Browser" from the "Other Actions" menu on your message toolbar.
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Beyond Our Gates: Events of Interest to the Community
Grow Native Massachusetts: Evenings with Experts 2015
Humans and Wildlife: The New Imbalance - with Jim Sterba
Wednesday, February 4th at 7PM
Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, MA
Saturday, February 7th at 4PM and 6PM Gore Place, Waltham, MA
Literary historian Rob Velella brings Poe to life in a one-man, living history presentation with readings, biographical details, and wonderfully dark humor.
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Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery
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