Our Interns

Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,​

Thanks to the hard work of Timothy Tilghman and his team, the garden is still at its peak. The annuals along the canals provide a big POP factor, and the end-of-season asters at the bottom of the Temple of Love are now a sight to behold. They are the final encore to another brilliant season.

This past Sunday, we celebrated our fifth Mehregan gala in the Walled Garden, observing the ancient Persian celebration of the harvest. Two hundred and fifty people gathered to celebrate Persian culture, eat delicious Persian food, honor the famed photographer Firooz Zahedi, and dance to the stirring music of the legendary Persian singer Sattar.

Beth Rudin DeWoody, Darian Zahedi, honoree Firooz Zahedi, Martha Stewart, Bob Colacello

Sattar

Throwing esphand on the fire

Temple of the Sky scene

People have inquired about our summer intern program and wondered what happens to the kids after they complete their work here. The interns are all public high school students in Yonkers. Initially, the program was full-time in the summer only; this year it ran from May to October, and next year it will run from March to October. The interns unearthed the archaeological remnants of what is now the Ornamental Vegetable Garden, planted the Rhododendron Walk and its understory, created woodland trails and steps, maintained our network of paths, and made other important improvements throughout the property.

Gardener Liz Dreeben with current interns

We work closely with Yonkers Partners in Education to identify our interns. Executive Director Sam Wallis recently said, “I just wanted to say a big thank-you for once again creating an incredibly meaningful experience for our YPIE students this summer. I have heard how much they learned, how much they felt like they contributed to the Gardens, and how much they appreciated the opportunity to work there.”
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One of our 2021 interns, Charlie Hernandez, is now a freshman at Cornell University studying Plant Science. We are so proud to have provided this life-changing experience for him!

Gardener John Jacono with Charlie Hernandez

As fall kicks in, our second annual Family Fun Day will take place this Sunday from 1:00-4:00 p.m. It will feature a magic show in the amphitheater, kite flying on the great lawn (bring your own or buy one here while supplies last), three different Adventure Tours, and a hayride along the carriage trail through the woods from the Temple of Love all the way down to the Ruin Garden. Parents and grandparents, this is a great way to engage youngsters in healthy outdoor activities on what looks to be a perfect, sunny, fall day. Please buy your tickets now.

Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
​President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy