The ¾ mile long Water’s Edge Garden begins on the other side of boardwalkbridge, which spans the saltwater marsh and at other end at the 104 street bridges, was planted by volunteers in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It includes 40,000 perennials and grasses, plus 70,000 bulbs. The garden meanders in a curvilinear fashion, 6 feet at its narrowest point and 20 feet at its widest point. Unusual drift mixtures of perennials and grasses, punctuated by shrubs for height and texture, cover the garden area. Dappled Salix integral “Hakuro Niskhiki’ and Cornus stolnifera ‘Flaviramea’ are interspersed among Aster ‘Von Stafa’ ‘Harrington’s Pink’ and Echinacea ‘Summer Sky.” The garden is maintained by using totally organic practices. Serendipitously, the garden goes from sunlight to shade or the reverse depending on your entry point, echoing the play of light on the East River. Turning and twisting, parallel to the water’s edge, the Garden beckons the visitor.
Phyllis Odessey, Horticulture Manager and Eunyoung Sebazco, Assistant Horticulture Manager was won the Perennial Plant Association’s Landscape Design Award in 2007 for the Water’s Edge Garden.
If you want to volunteer to work in one of the gardens, please contact: phyllis.odessey@parks.nyc.gov
