Water, Water, Everywhere

​Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,

Our garden is in the midst of its spring quickening, which is also an apt description of our gardeners themselves, as they race from one part of the garden to the other to get it ready. The huge job of preparing the fountains, cascades, and canals is now complete, and they are all flowing and burbling. The sound of rushing water is such a treat!

Last year’s foliage has been removed from the herbaceous plants, which now look like tidy buns (the baked kind). Having been artfully pruned, the woody plants look rather like sculptures and are ready to push out healthy new growth.

Early bursts of colorful flowers have appeared at the Rock and Stream Garden, which will enjoy its second season. Our head gardener Timothy Tilghman likes to say that new plants in their first year sleep, in their second year creep, and in their third year leap! We will likely see a bit of thickening here this year, with the promise of full-blown glory to come.

One of the dependable sights of early spring is the arrival of scores of birds on our big lawn as they gorge on a seemingly endless supply of juicy worms. No wonder they are so plump! Knowing how important earthworms are to gardens, I wonder if there is any way we can dissuade the birds from such overindulgence?

Time passes and things change, and here at Untermyer Gardens we bid a fond farewell to Jessica Norman, who has worked with us for eight years, first as a gardener and then as our multi-talented Education and Outreach officer. She was our second employee and has been passionately committed to the work of the Conservancy. We wish her well at her new endeavors at the New York Botanical Garden.

Please take a look at our calendar of upcoming events, which offers a variety of ways to experience the garden this spring.

Here is Timothy, to report on the bustle inside the municipal greenhouses.

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