The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum welcomed spring with its annual tradition of hanging nasturtiums last week. This museum custom was started by Isabella Stewart Gardner herself, typically done the week before Easter.
The bursting blooms of bright orange come in an array of colors, but orange was always the color Gardner grew during her lifetime. The museum has honored this tradition every year with only two exceptions: The COVID-19 pandemic and World War II.
The flowers attract a lot of visitors and press attention during the month of April, according to Sydney Mark, a horticulturalist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum. She said the nasturtiums represent spring and hope, and they also align with Gardner’s birthday which is April 14.
As a passionate plant lover, Mark really enjoys being part of the yearly nasturtium tradition. Though she could not put into words how much she loves working at the museum, her favorite part of this annual ritual is the joy it brings to both staff and visitors.
“Our humble little plants make so many people happy, and I just really love that energy around this display,” said Mark.
In order for the display to happen, a year’s worth of nurturing and growing in the museum’s greenhouses is required. The nasturtiums are planted in June and are cared for until they reach about 20-feet long the following April. At their achieved length, the cascading plants weigh about 50 lbs and require at least five people to transport them to the courtyard windows where they reside for three weeks after blooming.
“It’s actually pretty remarkable if you see the pot,” said Jennifer, a museum visitor who wished to keep her last name private.
She found it impressive that such small pots were capable of anchoring the tumbling blossoms. As a resident of the Boston area, Jennifer used to frequent the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. She spent a lot of time sketching in her favorite part of the museum, the courtyard.
In contrast, Los Angeles native Gloria Maroun visited the museum for the first time April 2. She and her family came to Boston so her son could tour colleges. Maroun heard about the museum prior and wanted to experience it. She said the courtyard was gorgeous and she would definitely read more about the nasturtiums and their significance after her visit.
The cascading pops of bright orange will adorn the courtyard’s walls until April 13. The museum also displays a new exhibit, “Picturing Isabella,” featuring photos of Isabella Stewart Gardner throughout her lifetime. The photos, which offer a rare glimpse into the collector’s personal life, will be available in the Palace’s Fenway Gallery through May 10.
