New York City: The End and a New Beginning

The High Line

Goodbye New York

Over this past summer I have learned more than I ever thought was possible in two months time. With this new gained knowledge I have also developed motivation and drive to continually study more than what is required in a class setting. Horticulture is an endless subject and I have realized that no matter how much you think you know there is always twice as much information out there to be discovered. I think it is this vast amount of information that makes the horticulture industry such a rewarding and exciting field to be involved with.

Being from Oklahoma I had little knowledge of urban horticulture and its importance in improving the quality of life of so many people. Without places like Central Park, Queens Botanical Garden, and Brooklyn Botanical Garden there would be no escape from the daily chaos of the city and the vast expanses of concrete and asphalt. By seeing the positive effects of horticulture on the residents in an urban setting I recognized the importance of the green movement that is taking place presently. In the near future I believe we will begin to see more urban revitalization projects that include public green space such a the recently opened High Line park. This movement makes it an exciting and dynamic time to be in the horticulture industry. It was through this internship that I realized I would like to focus my studies on urban park and green space design. This area poses many challenging growing conditions and problems that would make design extremely challenging as well as rewarding.

Over this past summer I have grow as a person as well as a future Landscape Architect. I have met many amazing people that I will remain in contact with throughout my professional career. More importantly I learned about the disconnect between Horticulturists and Landscape Architects. This disconnect is caused by the lack of horticulture knowledge among many Landscape Architects. By learning about this disconnect I am determined to learn more about horticulture and work closely with Horticulturists throughout my career. I believe it is true that to every end is a new beginning and I plan to take my new found knowledge and contacts and develop myself into a well rounded Landscape Architect.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden: 2nd & 3rd Week

Osborne Garden

During my last two weeks I was able to work a few days with capitol projects, in the new herb garden, as well as in the Osborne Garden. During this time I was able to learn the techniques involved in transplanting mature trees, planting new trees, pruning, as well as many other maintenance techniques.

While working with capitol projects I was given a tour of the new herb garden which is still under construction. After taking a tour I went through all of the construction documents involved in making this project a reality. Another project that will be starting soon at the garden is the new visitors center which will be following the LEED standards with the goal of obtaining silver or gold certification. This is a very progressive and essential goal for the garden. By obtaining this certification the garden will act as a role model for the local people and hopefully promote a more sustainable community.

After working with capitol projects I went to work installing the planting design for the herb garden and transplanting mature Viburnums nearby. While working in this area we planted an array of evergreen plants along a hillside near Flatbush ave. in order to block the garden from the nearby traffic, thus creating a much more private environment. After the installation of these plants we worked in transplanting the collection of large viburnums which took a whole crew to complete.

Overall, my experience at BBG has been eye-opening. I have realized that in order to design an area that will truly be successful a designer should, if possible consult the gardener that will be taking care of the area. By doing this he will find out more about the growing conditions of the area and the maintenance issues involved in the design. By acknowledging these issues a designer can correct them, thus insuring proper care of the garden.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden is a world class institution with a group of people that is willing to teach anyone who is willing to listen and learn about the various aspects of horticulture. By taking this sort of stance towards public horticulture they have become just as much a public teaching institute as garden.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden: 1st Week

Main Building

Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden

During my first week at Brooklyn Botanical Garden I was introduced to some of the most amazing gardeners and horticulturists I have ever met. It was during this first week that I was privileged enough to work in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden designed by Takeo Shiota. In addition to working in the Japanese Garden I also worked in the Tropical House and greenhouses.

While working in the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden I was trained in a few of the various techniques used in Japanese garden maintenance. One of the most common maintenance practices is extreme pruning. When pruning a tree or shrub in the Japanese style it is important to make sure that it remains in the human scale and also remains natural and aged. In order to achieve the desired look each plants size is continually monitored and maintained using techniques such as candle pinching for pines. Another process involves cutting back new growth each year to promote a consistent shape. Furthermore, I realized that Japanese gardening involves art just as much as horticulture. The gardener must have an artistic eye for what works and what does not and shape the plants and garden as he or she sees fit. While an extreme amount of care goes into each garden I also learned that just as much if not more care goes into the plants in the greenhouses.

While working in the greenhouses I was able to see and experience how much care goes into producing and maintaining a plant before it actually gets put into the ground. During my short stay in the greenhouses I was able to set up a drip irrigation system for the large plants so that they received an adequate amount of water. I was also able to experience the continuous re-potting that goes into keeping a plant over a long period of time, in order for it to reach its desired size. The greenhouse crew at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden is involved in every aspect of plant growth from start to finish which is very beneficial for the gardeners and garden as a whole.