Overlooking majestic New York Harbor lies 195,000 square feet of perennial garden. Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, the “Gardens at the Battery” is the largest park in North America that is fenceless and open to the public without an admission fee 24/7. The Gardens enable the 7 million people who visit it annually to engage with nature in an unrivaled waterfront setting.
On Monday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at Great Neck House, the Great Neck Garden Club will welcome Ryan Torres, who will speak about the horticulture and the day to day operations and maintenance of the Gardens at the Battery.
Torres, who serves as Assistant Director of Parks Operations for Battery Park City Authority, will discuss what makes the gardens unique, what it takes to to maintain the gardens to its world class standard and she will share some of the secrets that homeowners can use in their own gardens.
The public is invited, free of charge, to join the GNGC for this special opportunity to hear about these magnificent offerings.
Torres grew up in Great Neck and, as a member of the Santelli family, proprietors of Santelli Nursery on East Shore Road, developed an early interest in horticulture. A graduate of Farmingdale State College, she served as Horticulturalist for the Town of North Hempstead working at Clark Botanic Gardens in East Williston before assuming her position at Battery Park. She is a former member of the Great Neck Garden Club and we welcome her back with much pride in her accomplishments.
In 2002, the Battery Conservancy commissioned renowned Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf to develop a horticultural Master Plan for the 36 acres of open space. The resulting style is a four season garden which transitions from season to season with ongoing color, fragrance and texture.
Ultimately, many landscape designers and architects, such as Lynden Miller and Michael Van Valkenburgh, have had an influence and a talented horticulture team keeps the Gardens looking as they do. The area has been developed into a number of special spaces:
The Gardens of Remembrance pays tribute to those who perished on 9/11 and is dedicated to the thousands of survivors of that day. 10,000 square feet of perennials and 113 species of native grasses and flowering perennials provide year round interest.
The Battery Bosque boasts four acres of vast perennial gardens.
Tiffany& Co. Foundation Woodland Gardens feature six organic shaped gardens with ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials in soft shades of blues and pinks in tone with the dancing Sea Glass fish on the Sea Glass Carousel.
The Battery Park Woodland is a four acre lawn shaded by 82 mature trees, maintained without use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
Battery Bikeway Gardens link the east and west sides of Manhattan while enhancing the park’s perimeter.
Battery Urban Farm engages students, residents and visitors in sustainable farming technique. The also enjoy tasting new foods and learn about environmental stewardship,
three oyster restoration stations are also maintained in the water there.
In all, 568 trees of diverse species provide nourishment and shelter to wildlife, reduce stormwater runoff and improve air quality in this magnificent addition to New York City.
