Autumn Agenda

November 15, 2018
 
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens:
 
The fall colors this year have been quite fine, and our prospect over the Hudson River never fails to delight us. I have often said that many if not most of the finest gardens in the world (think England, France) lack great views. How lucky we are to be looking at the one of the highest points along the ridgeline of the Palisades.

With the herbaceous plantings in their inevitable slow decline at the end of the growing season, the gardeners have turned to other tasks. While one of the hallmarks of Untermyer Gardens is its mosaics, they are in fact not suited to our climate and have suffered greatly over the years. The staff is becoming expert in maintaining mosaics: cleaning, grouting, injecting, and sealing. These tasks must be done every year to protect this precious feature of the garden.

Fall also brings the imperative to plant for the spring. In the spirit of Samuel Untermyer (Think big!), we are planting more than 25,000 bulbs: 10,000 daffodils below the Temple of Love, 9,500 tulips in the Walled Garden, and 6,000 bulbs elsewhere.

The final planting at the Temple of Love is a new triangular bed consisting largely of evergreens that will form a visual block of the Temple complex when approached from the north. The intent is to surprise visitors with the unfolding view of the Temple as they emerge from the woods.

The sound of heavy construction equipment is music to my ears, and I am very happy to report that the restoration of the Rock Garden is now in full swing. Glencar Water Gardens, which restored the Temple of Love nearby, is again at work, hoping to finish before the end of the year. The area will then be planted over the next two years. Primary funding from New York State was secured by State Senator Shelley Mayer; we owe her an enormous debt of gratitude.

Finally, the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy is sad to report the death of its beloved Board member, former Mayor Angelo Martinelli, at age 91. Angelo joined the Board at our founding in 2011 and was a valued advisor to me over the years. He served the City of Yonkers in many important ways over the decades and as mayor he led an effort to save Untermyer Gardens in the 1970s. The Temple of Love was restored in 2016 primarily through his generosity in memory of his wife of 65 years, Carol Martinelli. He was a great man, and we shall miss him dearly.

Angelo R. Martinelli
1927-2018
 
Kind regards,  
Stephen F. Byrns

President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy