DIRECTOR’S CORNER MIKE BECK
Let us provide some structure(s) to your summer! Last October, after more than two years of planning, the long-awaited renovation of our Center House building finally went into high gear. We took full advantage of mild fall and winter weather to complete the demolition of an attached ell and shed, and to pour foundations for the new building addition, while beginning the painstaking process of restoring the old Center House interiors. Since January, the framing of the new wing of the building has rapidly taken shape, and as I write this, we are as optimistic as ever that our reimagined Center House will be back in service by August. I can’t wait to show you around inside! Because buildings are understandably on our collective minds this year, we thought it would be fun to think of other ways our houses and our gardens interact. On May 26, we invite you to join the opening of a special exhibit entitled “Playdate: Playhouses in the Garden”. A group of designers and builders have been asked to create unique, sheltered play spaces on our grounds. As you tour BBG, you will come across a series of structures that will inspire all Garden visitors to inspect and explore, and yes, play, no matter their age! For a slightly more grown-up experience, make sure to sign up for one of our Cocktails in Great Gardens events this summer. What better way to ponder landscape design and its relation to architecture than to see one of the fabulous properties we have been invited to this year. Next, we hope you will participate in BBG’s “Grow Show”, which this August will feature its own riff on buildings. Titled House of Flowers, the show will seek inspiration from some well-known historic properties that have been such good neighbors to BBG over many decades. If you haven’t participated in the Grow Show in the past, this is your chance to be a part of one of the most down-to-earth and fun “blue ribbon” events you can imagine! But first, our busy season will start with our famous Plant Sale that we like to call “Plants and Answers.” This year we are moving the event to May 19 and 20, which is a bit closer to our average last frost date, just to make sure you can focus on planting out your tender plant purchases as soon as you get them home. There will be a huge selection of all kinds of plants, including hundreds that are native to our region and attractive to pollinators, and as always, our knowledgeable staff and volunteers will be there to guide your shopping choices and provide growing advice. But our season is more than “just” our special events. If you are already a member, you probably know that we provide innovative and interesting programs for adult and youth learners most weeks of the year. So please make sure you take a look through this issue of Cuttings and see if you can’t find at least one class, workshop or field trip that you can join us for this spring and summer season. (If you need help deciding… I’m especially excited that we are offering a day trip to the New York Botanical Garden on June 14 where we will explore the creative genius of glass artist Dale Chihuly. After enjoying his work during BBG’s 2016 trip to Seattle, I am eager to see more.) Happy spring to you, and I hope to see you in the Garden!
2
CUTTINGS
SPRING/SUMMER 2017