Untermyer Gardens Conservancy Year in Review
2020 By the Numbers
Number of plants in the new Rock & Stream Garden: 2070 Maximum Capacity of the Gardens in Summertime: 150 Tours Given: 131 Individual Donors: 1,752 Daffodils and Tulips given to Healthcare Institutions: Feet of edging in the Ornamental Vegetable Garden: 1,553 Age of oak that fell in the storm: 180 Height of Grand Holiday Illumination Christmas tree: 25 ft |
2020 Accomplishments
In March of 2020, we closed to the public due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In April, we were proud to bring daffodils and tulips to neighboring hospitals and nursing homes to bring hope to those struggling. In 2020, we planted the Rock and Stream Garden. Due to the pandemic, we operated with a skeleton staff of five gardeners and were closed to the public except for tours until July. In July, we reopened with limited capacity and were able to welcome the public safely back to the gardens until November. Our Summer Youth Horticultural Initiative's seven high school interns created the Ornamental Vegetable Garden. Our fifth annual Grand Holiday Illumination was a welcome moment of brightness at the end of the year. |
2019 By the Numbers
Number of plants planted in our new Rhododendron Walk: 91 Number of High School Interns: 7 Number of books read during Storytime: 96 People at the Grand Holiday Illumination: 12,615 Daffodils added to Daffodil Hill: 7,100 |
2019 Accomplishments
In 2019, we completed the restoration of the Rock and Stream Garden. We welcomed seven high school interns to our Summer Youth Horticultural Initiative and with their help cleared, landscaped and planted the new Rhododendron Walk. We added a fourth full-time gardener, promoting a longtime seasonal worker and Yonkers native who was introduced to the gardens as a teenager. We honored Martin Ginsberg at our spring Soirée gala and raised more than $360,000. We honored Shirin Neshat at our fall Mehregan gala, a traditional celebration of the Persian harvest, and raised more than $340,000 to help support the garden and restore the Persian Pool. We welcomed more than 12,000 visitors to our fourth annual Grand Holiday Illumination of our Walled Garden. In October, TripAdvisor declared Untermyer Gardens the number one destination in Westchester County, and visitation for the year topped 80,000. |
2018 By the Numbers
Number of bulbs now at Daffodil Hill: 15,000 Number of trees planted: 21 Volunteer hours: 1750 Number of visitors throughout the year: 70,000+ Most popular question: When will the water in the canals be turned on? (In early July) Length of new Rock Garden stream: 450 feet Soil brought in by wheelbarrow to replace the unusable soil in the Gatehouse: 50 cubic yards Number of individual donors: 1,071 |
2018 Accomplishments
In 2018, we completed an eight-month restoration of the canals in the Walled Garden, reclaimed the Gate House, began its transformation into a Ruin Garden, and created a charming new grotto. We carried out a substantial portion of the hardscaping for a restored and expanded Rock Garden that will complement the Temple of Love and the Cherry Bowl, a newly planted grove of cherry trees. We added a fourth full-time gardener, Stewart Molina, promoting a longtime seasonal worker and Yonkers native who was introduced to the gardens as a teenager. We honored Tom Pike and Lys McLaughlin at our spring Soirée gala and raised more than $300,000. We honored Christiane Amanpour with the inaugural Samuel Untermyer Award at our fall Mehregan gala, a traditional celebration of the Persian harvest, and raised more than $200,000. We welcomed more than 12,000 visitors to our fourth annual Grand Holiday Illumination, tripling the number of people who enjoyed the lights compared to 2017. We were honored by the Garden Club of America with its 2018 Historic Preservation Award and we received extensive press coverage in numerous national and local publications. |
2017 By the Numbers
Number of bulbs planted in the Walled Garden: 35,815 Volunteer hours: 715 Visitors to the Grand Holiday Illumination: 4,150 as of 1/2 Number of pavers installed at the Vista: 440 Rebar used to reinforce canal restoration: 1.5 miles Most popular question asked by visitors: what are the two big trees as you enter the Walled Garden? (They're weeping beeches) Number of Gardeners: 7 Number of plants planted at the Temple of Love in 2017: more than 1,000 |
2017 Accomplishments
In 2017, we dedicated the Vista, planted the Temple of Love cascade beds and restored the canals in the Walled Garden. Our three full time gardeners and three seasonal gardeners were joined by an additional seasonal gardener. Our annual gala honored Michael Bakwin and raised nearly $300,000. The gardens were featured in publications ranging from the New York Times to the Daily Beast. We celebrated the secular Persian harvest festival Mehregan with special musical guest Sattar. The Young Friends of Untermyer Gardens hosted a Midsummer Garden Party and the Friends of Untermyer Gardens hosted the End of Summer Garden Party. We welcomed Yonkers residents to the garden for Yonkers Day and we celebrated the holiday season with festive lights in the Walled Garden for the third annual Grand Holiday Illumination. |
2016 By the Numbers
Number of Gardeners: 6 Number of plants planted at the Temple of Love: almost 1,000 Daffodils planted in the daffodil meadow below the Temple of Love: 5,000 Lights in the Walled Garden for the Grand Holiday Illumination: 80,950 Hours of tours given by docents and Conservancy president: 117 Number of visitors: 60,000 |
2016 Accomplishments
In 2016, we completed restoration of the waterfalls of the Temple of Love and began to plant its southern garden beds. Our chairman of the board Stephen F. Byrns became Conservancy president. The Conservancy welcomed new board chair and Untermyer family member, Ann Carmel. Our two full time gardeners and two seasonal gardener were joined by an additional full time gardener, Drew Schuyler, and one seasonal gardener. Our annual gala honored Ann Carmel and raised nearly $300,000. The gardens were featured in publications ranging from the Jakarta Press to Westchester Magazine. We celebrated for the first time the secular Persian harvest festival Mehregan with special musical guest Sattar, as well as an End of Summer Garden Party hosted by the Young Friends of Untermyer Gardens. We welcomed Yonkers residents to the garden for jazz, tours and refreshments for Yonkers Day and we celebrated the holiday season with festive lights in the Walled Garden for the annual Grand Holiday Illumination. |
2015 By the Numbers
Cryptomeria planted on Vista: 100 Length of deer fence: more than 5280 People who enjoyed a tour with a docent or our chairman: 730 Trench to bring water to the Temple of Love: 700 ft Number of individual donors: more than 520 Number of gardeners: 5 Number of lights in Grand Holiday Illumination: 38,000 Number of cups of hot cocoa served during the Grand Holiday Illumination: 1,680 |
2015 Accomplishments
In 2015, we completed the deer fence, started restoration of the Temple of Love and began the replanting of the Vista with a cryptomeria allée. Our two full time gardeners and one seasonal gardener were joined by two additional seasonal gardeners. Our annual gala honored Barbara Israel of Barbara Israel Garden Antiques and raised $300,000. The gardens were featured in Martha Stewart Living and the restoration of the Temple of Love was in the New York Times. A chapter of Rescuing Eden by Caroline Seebohm featured the gardens' restoration. We welcomed Yonkers residents to the garden for jazz, tours and refreshments for our first Yonkers Day and we celebrated the holiday season by lighting up the Walled Garden for the inaugural Grand Holiday Illumination. |
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2014 By The Numbers
Marigolds planted: 2,500 New areas planted: 2 Type of hydrangea planted: 34 Tulips planted: 9,000 Gala attendees: 261 Number of brochures distributed: 17,000 Number of gardeners: 3 Docents who led tours: 13 Office space added: 400 square feet New plant labels: more than 400 Board members: 15 |
2014 Accomplishments
In 2014 we debuted a new website, two new garden areas (a hydrangea bed and a lilac collection), brought on a second full time gardener, Jessica Norman, were joined by a third seasonal gardener and cleared ground for a deer fence. A second Eagle Scout project was completed, clearing substantial portions of the of Lower Gate House. It was a star-studded year with visits by Martha Stewart, a film shoot with Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, and television shoots for Law and Order: SVU and Madam Secretary. Our annual gala honored Chairman Emeritus of Christie’s Americas Stephen S. Lash and raised $205,000. Our annual plantings featured marigolds and were highlighted in the Wall Street Journal. |
2013 By the Numbers
Square feet of annuals planted: 1,660 Trees planted: 64 Number of gardeners: 2 Gala attendees: 224 Tours given: 27 public and 17 private Naturalizing bulbs planted: 15,000 Photos of the gardens by Bill Cunningham in the New York Times: 20 |
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2013 Progress Report
In 2013, we hired our first seasonal gardener. Our annual plantings featured purple, yellow and pink flowers and were highlighted with purple and chartreuse foliage. We planted 48 fastigiate beeches in the outer canal beds. We planted more than 25,000 bulbs including tulips which bloomed in 2014 in the Walled Garden. We cleared trees in the area around the Temple of Love, opening up terraced beds for future planting. We began our docent program with a small group of dedicated volunteers. Our first gala honored Marian Heiskell a former newspaper executive, philanthropist and childhood friend of Samuel Untermyer's granddaughter Joan Untermyer. The gardens were featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and in a full page article in the New York Times. |
2012 By the Numbers
1st part time gardener Tours Given: 43 Website visits: 10,000 Perennials planted: more than 600 Mulch purchased: 30 yards Orchard ladders: 3 Pots for container plantings: 25 Climbing roses planted: 5 |
2012 Progress Report
In 2012, the first Eagle Scout project was completed, clearing substantial portions of the Temple of Love. In the Walled Garden, we completed our first annual planting in addition to beginning significant perennial plantings and adding aquatic plantings in the canals. Along with the aquatic plants, we added goldfish, much to the delight of younger visitors. A climbing rose collection was initiated. Junipers were removed from the seating area of the amphitheater and turf was installed. The sight-line from the Walled Garden to Hudson river and Palisades was cleared. Our first major grant allowed us to begin to care for the beeches in the gardens. The gardens had their first Garden Conservancy Open Day. Our progress in restoration of the gardens was noted in a New York Times article. |
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2011 By the Numbers
Gardeners on staff: 1 Plants planted: 295 Central Canal Bed Hollies: 118 Steps in the Vista: 136 First trees planted in garden: 2 Cedrus deodara 'Aurea' Unearthing rock garden: 1-3ft of soil removed Choice shrubs from Broken Arrow Nursery: 35 |
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2011 Progress Report
In 2011, we hired gardener Timothy Tilghman. Initial planting plans were approved by State Historic Preservation Office. The Walled Garden had its first display of potted plants since 1940. Woody plantings were installed in Walled Garden borders and vines were planted to grow on pergolas. The Rock Garden was discovered and uncovered. The carriage trail from Untermyer's gardens to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail cleared for the first time in 70 years. The Vista was cleared and its long flight of stairs revealed. The steps and the fountain basin of the uppermost color garden were uncovered. First Westchester Journal News article on the renaissance of the gardens. |