Queens Botanical Garden celebrates new Unity Garden
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
Flushing Queens Botanical
Garden (QBG) officials and
local leaders celebrated on
Thursday the official opening
of the newly renovated Unity
Garden with a green ribboncutting
ceremony.
Located in the Gardens on
Parade Section at QBG (an area
originally modeled after the
five-acre exhibit showcased at
the 1939-1940 New York World’s
Fair) the zone features a new
design with a circle of a lawn,
surrounded by six elegant 1964
World’s Fair-style benches,
pathways, and a combination
of plants that do well in shade
and sun.
QBG Executive Director Susan
Lacerte was joined by Assemblymembers
Nily Rozic and
Jeffrion Aubry, who contributed
a total of $250,000 for the
Unity Garden. Special guests
included Borough President
Melinda Katz, Assemblyman
David Weprin, City Councilman
Jimmy Van Bramer and
QBG board members.
“I’m very happy to see this
happen,” said Pauline Huang,
QBG board chair. “When we
were here before, this was a
rock garden. But now there are
benches, trees, a lot of designs.
It happened because of all of
your contributions, your passion
and efforts that made this
happened. This is the only garden
in Queens and am so proud
to be here today and will be
here forever.”
Installed in the 1970s, the
garden was in much need of
renovation, according to Lacerte.
In 2015, Lacerte took a trip
to Albany and presented a capital
proposal to Aubry, and also
received support from Rozic.
The project was in part funded
by a grant from the lawmakers
and the remaining support was
provided by private funds, totaling
$375,000.
“It really was a team effort to
keep this place up and running
and for everyone who has come
to enjoy the garden, we know
and appreciate all of the hard
work,” Rozic said. “$250,000
might not sound like a lot, but
clearly fitting amongst this Unity
Garden it really goes a long
way in bringing the outside in
and inside out. It’s all about creating
the social infrastructure
for community members to
The green ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marking the opening
of the Unity Garden Photo by Carlotta Mohamed
come sit, enjoy and relax.”
For Aubry, it’s importance
to support hidden treasures in
communities that may not get
the spotlight as much as other
places in the city, he said.
“We in Queens know that
it’s a special place a hidden
gem and a place where everyone
can come and find solace,
comfort and enjoy the environment,”
Aubry said.
Renowned Botanical Garden
consultant W. Gary Smith
and landscape architect Harriet
Grimm created the design
of the Unity Garden working
in consort with QBG Horticulture
staff Morgan Potter and
her team; local landscapers,
Scenic Designs, implemented
the renovation.
“It was a privilege getting to
work with such talented designers,”
Potter said. “Gary Smith
and Harriet Grimm brought
a fresh and inspiring perspective
to the Garden, tying spaces
together and really setting in
motion the idea of the Gardens
on Parade as a unified space.
Plants flow from one section to
the next connecting the gardens
to each other, but perhaps more
importantly, connecting people
to the space, an idea we’re running
with as we renovate other
nearby areas.
The Unity Garden also incorporates
existing trees and shrubs
in former Backyard Garden, two
faux bois benches, and a variety
of ferns and perennials. One of
the trees is a rare Franklinia
tree (Franklinia alatamaha),
named after Benjamin Franklin
and no longer found in the wild.
Other highlights include witch
hazel, Japanese painted ferns,
and two cherry plum trees. The
circle at the heart of the new design
is a symbol familiar to all
cultures and one that sends a
message of unity and welcome to
all who visit.
“When we walked in and
saw a bunch of little children
playing, you immediately feel
better about the world. You feel
a little bit happier and this garden
and places like this are the
only thing that is going to save
us from the madness in the
world right now,” Van Bramer
said.
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