June 18, 2020
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,
I was walking along the new Rock and Stream Garden and saw a small branch emerging from a bellflower. Thinking it had fallen from a tree and wanting to free it from the flower, I tried to pluck it gently but discovered that it was firmly planted in the ground. Eureka, this was another example of Timothy Tilghman’s refined gardening, which, following the English tradition, supports delicate flower stalks with natural materials, not ugly stakes or cages. It’s called “brushing up” plants.
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,
I was walking along the new Rock and Stream Garden and saw a small branch emerging from a bellflower. Thinking it had fallen from a tree and wanting to free it from the flower, I tried to pluck it gently but discovered that it was firmly planted in the ground. Eureka, this was another example of Timothy Tilghman’s refined gardening, which, following the English tradition, supports delicate flower stalks with natural materials, not ugly stakes or cages. It’s called “brushing up” plants.
When we did research on the garden of Samuel Untermyer’s day, we learned that what had been called in recent decades the Eagle’s Nest was originally named the Temple of Love, a more fitting and traditional description of this elegant temple and wrought iron dome. Imagine our surprise when we recently discovered a photograph of this area from the 1930s featuring a statue of an eagle! Perhaps the later nickname arose from its brooding presence.
Our ticketed tours of the garden have helped somewhat to soften the blow of not being able to access the garden freely as in the past. Tours have sold out within hours; thankfully, the number of docents to conduct tours is expanding, so we are pleased to add tours on Friday afternoon. Here is the schedule for this weekend. Although we do not yet know our reopening date, I believe it will take place in early July, barring another force majeure. Of course, reopening will bring with it social distancing limitations essential for public health, but visitors—more than the current ten at a time—will be able to roam the garden and enter for free.
One of the huge improvements that you will notice when we reopen is our new parking lot. Located in a little-known area to the left as you enter, it curves around a beautiful rock formation anchored by a majestic oak tree. This was made possible by the City of Yonkers, and we are very grateful to have this attractive and much needed amenity.
One of the huge improvements that you will notice when we reopen is our new parking lot. Located in a little-known area to the left as you enter, it curves around a beautiful rock formation anchored by a majestic oak tree. This was made possible by the City of Yonkers, and we are very grateful to have this attractive and much needed amenity.
I conclude this newsletter with a video of Timothy, our plant pundit, at the Rock and Stream Garden.
Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
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