January 5, 2021
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,
Just the act of writing a new year, 2021, lessens a bit of the tightening in my chest. Let’s hope for a much better go of it as we change the calendar!
One piece of very good news is that our donor base continued to grow despite the many challenges we experienced last year. The yearly number of recorded donations grew 23% to 1481. Keeping the garden open and free of charge has cheered many people. Thank you to all.
Our communications increased 30% over 2019, and our newsletter subscription list grew from 10,000 to 23,500 people. Word is getting out – and how.
In fact, one of our readers had the following to say about our communications: “We also love your newsletter, which contains real information, clearly not drafted by a PR department, but by one deeply involved in this wonderful garden!"
Some people wonder about how our newsletters “happen.” Well, I write the first draft, which is then polished by Cathy Michelsen, our development officer. Jessica Norman scouts out the garden for the perfect images and captures them in beautiful photographs. Then the text is given a final professional review by Luise Erdmann, a retired editor and Untermyer relative who lives in Cambridge, Mass. Timothy Tilghman’s horticultural videos are of course the product of his own genius, captured on video by Jessica. I'm grateful to lead this wonderful team!
Dear Friends of Untermyer Gardens,
Just the act of writing a new year, 2021, lessens a bit of the tightening in my chest. Let’s hope for a much better go of it as we change the calendar!
One piece of very good news is that our donor base continued to grow despite the many challenges we experienced last year. The yearly number of recorded donations grew 23% to 1481. Keeping the garden open and free of charge has cheered many people. Thank you to all.
Our communications increased 30% over 2019, and our newsletter subscription list grew from 10,000 to 23,500 people. Word is getting out – and how.
In fact, one of our readers had the following to say about our communications: “We also love your newsletter, which contains real information, clearly not drafted by a PR department, but by one deeply involved in this wonderful garden!"
Some people wonder about how our newsletters “happen.” Well, I write the first draft, which is then polished by Cathy Michelsen, our development officer. Jessica Norman scouts out the garden for the perfect images and captures them in beautiful photographs. Then the text is given a final professional review by Luise Erdmann, a retired editor and Untermyer relative who lives in Cambridge, Mass. Timothy Tilghman’s horticultural videos are of course the product of his own genius, captured on video by Jessica. I'm grateful to lead this wonderful team!
Because of our crazy calendar last year, we were not able to hold our regular Fall Symposium. The virus has had a strange benefit, however, which is the ability to “meet” with people all over the world. We started to kick around an idea for an event exploring classic garden features around the world and how they appear here at Untermyer. Lo and behold, a new book on this very topic arrived at the office, The Garden: Elements and Styles, and it includes two photographs of Untermyer Gardens. Its author, Toby Musgrave, is a distinguished British garden historian who lives and teaches in Denmark. So we decided to sign him up for a virtual program on Saturday, January 30.
Toby and Timothy will explore garden features at some of the world’s great gardens as described in his book. Of real interest will be a look at Untermyer features that we plan to restore as well as some that we hope to create and that might even surprise Samuel Untermyer! This will be an excellent way to peek at our plans for the next ten years. By purchasing tickets, you can attend the event live or later, at your convenience, for two weeks.
Toby and Timothy will explore garden features at some of the world’s great gardens as described in his book. Of real interest will be a look at Untermyer features that we plan to restore as well as some that we hope to create and that might even surprise Samuel Untermyer! This will be an excellent way to peek at our plans for the next ten years. By purchasing tickets, you can attend the event live or later, at your convenience, for two weeks.
Though we look forward to the spring’s awakening, we have not settled down for a long winter’s nap. Far from it. We will continue to keep you informed about the goings-on here at Untermyer and to share intellectual stimulation; there is much to learn from the garden year-round.
Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
Kind regards,
Stephen F. Byrns
President, Untermyer Gardens Conservancy
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