November 15, 2016
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens:
In these tumultuous times, one thing comes to mind: "It is necessary to cultivate our garden." This was the concluding sentiment of Voltaire's Candide. Despite all the vicissitudes in life, it important to focus on the particulars of our existence and to practice doing the best we can with our lot.
How grateful I am that we are literally "cultivating our garden" here at Untermyer Gardens. So many people come here to enrich their lives with the natural, horticultural, and even spiritual beauty of this place. We see the garden as a healing place that showcases and brings together the diversity of our world. This is enormously rewarding for us.
The biggest thrill of the past few weeks has been the first intensive planting at the Temple of Love. More than 800 plants were carefully placed in newly enriched soil just south of the Temple. Head Gardener Timothy Tilghman and Horticultural Advisor Marco Polo Stufano have installed a magnificent horticultural display that will only improve as it grows up in the next few years.
Himalayan maidenhair fern, yellow sambucus, rodgersia, upside-down ferns, and astilboides, among many other plants, form a rich palette against the stark rocks that have been languishing against weeds for decades.
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens:
In these tumultuous times, one thing comes to mind: "It is necessary to cultivate our garden." This was the concluding sentiment of Voltaire's Candide. Despite all the vicissitudes in life, it important to focus on the particulars of our existence and to practice doing the best we can with our lot.
How grateful I am that we are literally "cultivating our garden" here at Untermyer Gardens. So many people come here to enrich their lives with the natural, horticultural, and even spiritual beauty of this place. We see the garden as a healing place that showcases and brings together the diversity of our world. This is enormously rewarding for us.
The biggest thrill of the past few weeks has been the first intensive planting at the Temple of Love. More than 800 plants were carefully placed in newly enriched soil just south of the Temple. Head Gardener Timothy Tilghman and Horticultural Advisor Marco Polo Stufano have installed a magnificent horticultural display that will only improve as it grows up in the next few years.
Himalayan maidenhair fern, yellow sambucus, rodgersia, upside-down ferns, and astilboides, among many other plants, form a rich palette against the stark rocks that have been languishing against weeds for decades.
Our crew has also planted 5,000 daffodils on the hillside below the Temple, adding to Untermyer's surviving early-20th-century daffodils. Over time, this will form the basis of a Daffodil Hill with many tens of thousands of bulbs. Bit by bit!
Turning to infrastructure, last week we made good on our promise to install railings at the Vista. Sixteen sturdy railings make the trek down the stairs much steadier for many visitors. More work needs to be done on the pavement and flanking plantings, but we are getting close to completing the restoration of the Vista, Samuel Untermyer's favorite part of the garden, by next spring.
We are now planning our Grand Holiday Illumination, which will open to the public in the Walled Garden on Friday, December 9, at 6:00. We will double the number of lights we had last year and will play elegant music from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Zoroastrian traditions. This magical event is free to the public and will continue nightly until January 8. Hot chocolate will be served on weekend nights.
As Thanksgiving approaches, let us remember to give thanks for our many blessings.
Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
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