The garden has surprised us in some ways. There is less sun after the big trees leafed out than we expected, but most plants are doing okay with part shade. Certain plants came up taller than expected, and should have been placed in back instead of close to the front. The Verbena bonariensis is tall and airy, lavender tufts on long, branching stems. What we thought was Rudbeckia, Black-eyed Susan, turned out to be Echinacea, Purple Coneflower! The leaves look very similar but the flower is a different color and has the "cone" in its center.
I've been working with other borough gardeners and everyone admires my Fiskars tools. Jealousy has been expressed! The light aluminum shafts make a big difference when carrying tools and loading and unloading a truckload of tools. People (including me) admire the extra length of the shafts also, less bending is required which makes a difference on a big job. And I appreciate the orange color of the handles so I can easily distinguish my own tools from the rest. The hard rake has interestingly angled teeth and it's very effective at grabbing material and spreading material efficiently, especially wood chips and leaf mulch. The loppers are great for pruning the deadwood off young trees at Cadman Plaza Park which was relandscaped in the past couple of years. The lighter weight helps when holding a tool high for a long while, moving from tree to tree along a perimeter. And the shrub rake remains my favorite, such a good size for clearing weeds and leaves from between perennials and shrubs, under and behind benches, and out of narrow places where a wide rake is too clumsy. The gardens we planted in May and June are thriving since there's been enough rain. People are thrilled to see flowers blooming now, that were little green stubs when planted! We had some extra T shirts that came in handy too since one group of volunteers got soaked in a sudden rain, so we gave them crisp dry orange T shirts which perked up the rainy afternoon.
The Pre-K and Kindergarten classes from PS20 joined volunteer Julie Showers in the park for a day of planting and exploration on May 1st. For many of the children, this was the first time they had ever used a shovel or spade, or planted anything in the earth. Close encounters with earthworms were a highlight of the day!
The Fort Greene Park Conservancy’s (FGPC) mission is to improve and celebrate Brooklyn’s oldest park. Fort Greene Park is located in the heart of Fort Greene, a diverse Brooklyn neighborhood. The park is bordered by a public hospital, a senior citizens center, New York City Housing Authority buildings, two public schools, private residences and local merchants. Fort Greene Park is in Council District 35, which has a population of 151,030 with a median income of $33,395/year. The demographic breakdown highlights the diversity of this neighborhood: 62% Black, Non-Hispanic, 16% Caucasian, Non-Hispanic, 16% Hispanic.
The park was designed in 1867 by Fredrick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, designers of Central Park and Prospect Park and is home to the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument commemorating the loss of an estimated 11,500 patriots who died on British prison ships in the New York Harbor during the American Revolution (1776-1789). This monument was built in 1907 and was designed by the architect Stamford White. Preparations for a Centennial celebration of the monument are underway. A grand celebration featuring original music, a large scale Revolutionary battle re-enactment and fireworks will take place this upcoming November.
David McCullough, noted American author has said, ”Fort Greene Park is one of the most sacred historical sites in America.” Despite its historical significance and majestic beauty, Fort Greene Park has suffered years of under-funding and neglect and thus is in need of attention and renovation. Volunteers, using the funds and tools provided by Fiskars are working together with the NYC Dept of Parks and Recreation to create entrance gardens for the park.
On Saturday April 12th, over 75 volunteers gathered in the park on a beautiful, sunny Saturday to clear planting beds, install erosion control measures and plant some flowers. This was a wonderful beginning to the season.
