April 30, 2020
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,
During these strange days, it is a sad irony that people cannot visit our garden—an extraordinary source of solace and inspiration—when they need it most. I hope you are heartened by the photographs and videos we share, and by your own memories as well. I am delighted to present a wonderful new aerial video by Chris St. Lawrence of spring awakening throughout the garden.
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,
During these strange days, it is a sad irony that people cannot visit our garden—an extraordinary source of solace and inspiration—when they need it most. I hope you are heartened by the photographs and videos we share, and by your own memories as well. I am delighted to present a wonderful new aerial video by Chris St. Lawrence of spring awakening throughout the garden.
It captures the cascades at the Temple of Love, blooming cherry trees and lilacs, tranquil water-filled canals, the restoration-in-progress of the Temple of the Sky, and 8,000 glorious tulips before their cutting. Ours was the first garden in the nation to harvest and distribute thousands of tulips and daffodils to nearby hospitals and nursing homes as a gesture of support for health care workers and patients.
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Our garden is extraordinarily resilient when nurtured, having suffered two major declines in its history and risen from the ashes. We have worked hard to restore its lost beauty and to extend a universal welcome to the public, which is reinforced by our free admission policy—a rarity among public gardens—and by our education and outreach initiatives. While we await permission to open our gates, we are using a variety of digital paths to open the garden virtually, and we have created two video lectures for high school students. As soon as we are allowed, we will move forward with our Summer Youth Horticulture Initiative which gives internships to Yonkers high school students.
Meanwhile, I ask for your help. We have made the difficult decision to postpone our Summer Solstice Sunset Soirée until the fall, when we hope it will be safe to gather together again. But this is a major blow to our finances as the funds raised by Soirée account for 35% of our entire annual operating budget.
We have never sent a spring appeal before, but these are exceptional times and we urgently need your support. Please consider the value of Untermyer Gardens, not only as a place of great beauty and refuge, but as a unifying symbol for all cultures—both in its design and history—and make a special gift to help us preserve this garden for the people. Thank you and stay well.
Meanwhile, I ask for your help. We have made the difficult decision to postpone our Summer Solstice Sunset Soirée until the fall, when we hope it will be safe to gather together again. But this is a major blow to our finances as the funds raised by Soirée account for 35% of our entire annual operating budget.
We have never sent a spring appeal before, but these are exceptional times and we urgently need your support. Please consider the value of Untermyer Gardens, not only as a place of great beauty and refuge, but as a unifying symbol for all cultures—both in its design and history—and make a special gift to help us preserve this garden for the people. Thank you and stay well.
Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
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