Horticulture

Madison Square Park Conservancy kicked-off a new strategic plan in 2015. A large part of that plan was to build a world-class horticulture program that would share a deep commitment to enhance and prioritize horticulture in the Park for many years to come.The goal was to build community awareness around the necessity of green spaces, ecological and horticulture initiatives. 

This was an opportunity to build the foundation for a program that had never existed before, and I was excited to tackle this new venture. I worked closely with the Conservancy's horticulture team to broaden my knowledge on seasonal plantings, collection plants, arbor, maintenance, ecological and health benefits of horticulture. To build community awareness, I organized garden walks that allowed our Head of Horticulture to share all her wonderful knowledge with the community. Together we started a variety of family programs that allowed children to get their hands dirty while building appreciation for the green space. I designed annual programs such as Hydrangea Hurrah to highlight the Park’s hydrangea collection through a variety of hydrangea themed activities, as well as Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations. The most popular program being the annual Leaf Fest event, which allows the entire community to grab a rake and gather leaves. It's a pastime that many city dwellers may not have an opportunity to do otherwise. The annual Horticulture Symposium which started in 2018 was by far the most successful program to drive the Conservancy's horticulture efforts to an audience of like minded professionals aligning ourselves with other highly successful horticulture programs.