Cambridge Common
The Cambridge Common is a central component of busy Harvard Square, and its 16 acres are traversed by an estimated 10,000+ pedestrians and cyclists daily. This urban green space is a National Historic Landmark where George Washington took command of the Continental Army, and was home to the famous “Washington Elm.” In the late 1920s, the Plant Club (precursor to CP&GC) began a replanting project after WWI Army barracks were removed from the site leaving the Common in degraded condition. That work continued for over twenty years, and an additional project began in 1930. Three elm trees were planted in recognition of the 300th anniversary of the founding Massachusetts Bay Colony. In total, the Plant Club planted over 3,500 border shrubs and trees around the Common.
