QBG GARDEN NEWS SUMMER 2018 A special newsletter for friends of VOL 24 ISSUE 2

SHARI ROMAR A Letter from Susan WHAT TO DO & SEE Dear Friend,

“Oh the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a sapphire throne…”*

At our annual Rose Gala, held on June 14, we honored Maria A. Grasso, Chief Operating Officer at Flushing Bank. While we did not proffer her H. DAVID STEIN ANGELA GASPAR a sapphire throne, we did share with her all the Hibiscus “Lord Baltimore” Hibiscus flowers thrive in tropical regions, and apparently, right best that QBG has to offer – an abundance of here in Queens, too! Unlike tropical hibiscus, hardy hibiscus, as its roses, friendship, and community. (See pages 2 and 3 for party photos.) name indicates, can survive freezing temperatures, and are found in USDA Planting Zones 4 to 8. The hardy hibiscus, also known as “Lord Baltimore” (pictured), was hybridized by Robert Darby In this delightfully breezy season, we propose the same to you! With our new in 1955 by crossing four native and wild hibiscus species, found Extended Summer Evenings, the Garden stays open from 8 am to 8 pm so that growing between Louisiana and New Jersey. “Lord Baltimore” is a large herbaceous perennial that dies back to the ground every you can revel in the joyous light of the golden hour every Thursday in July and winter. During its blooming season between July and September, August. It’s just one more reason to be a Member—and we hope you’ll spread the it can produce 250 flowers—this is one busy plant! While there can be multiple blooms on the same plant, each dinner-plate sized word. (10” diameter) flower bloom lasts only one day.

See you around the Garden, Darby also created the cultivar hibiscus “Lady Baltimore,” which has smaller, pink flowers. Both cultivars can be found in the Four Seasons Border at Queens Botanical Garden.

When enjoying hibiscuses you may notice that pollinators also love Susan these flowers—hummingbirds can be spotted sipping their nectar in the early evening. P.S. If you’ve visited recently, you probably noticed survey-takers talking with visitors. Maybe you’ve spoken with them? If not, we do want to hear from you. See these flowers (and possibly some hummingbirds) during Summer Extended Hours every Thursday in July and August, Look for survey-takers on weekends and weekdays. 6 to 8pm! Learn more queensbotanical.org/summerevenings *Bryan Procter, poet (1787-1874)

SAVE THE DATE Enjoy a stunning display of orchids and a weekend filled with art and culture, in Taiwan: partnership with the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in (TECONY). Members enjoy Orchid Evening on Friday, August 17, 6 to 8pm, when guests view the A World of Orchids exhibition after hours, without the crowds! AUGUST 17-19 Note: free hours are suspended on Sunday. Festival parking rates apply. 1 Around the Garden

Queens Botanical Garden Honors Maria A. Grasso of Flushing Bank at Annual Rose Gala

On Thursday, June 14, 2018, Queens Botanical Garden honored can receive!” said Council Member Koo of the distinction awarded to Mrs. Grasso, and the Maria A. Grasso, Chief Operating Officer, Flushing Bank, for her proclamation was signed by all Queens Council members. commitment to Queens and the Flushing community. Flushing Bank was the Lead Sponsor of Rose Gala 2018. The Gala raised over $154,000 to Borough President Adams took the opportunity to speak on diversity in Queens, a message benefit the Garden in sustaining colorful flowers, innovative programs, and resonating with the Garden’s proud mantra of being the place “where people, plants, and cultures environmental education workshops for over 35,000 schoolchildren and meet.” “A garden like this is a great equalizer,” Mr. Adams said. “It doesn’t matter what your almost 225,000 people served by the Garden last year. economic level is, what language you speak, what block you live on. It forces us to leave our comfort zone and not only cross-pollinate the flowers, but also cross-pollinate our cultures in places “I’m very excited to be honored—it’s something that’s very like Queens and .” special to me,” Mrs. Grasso said. “Flushing Bank has Guests sipped cocktails, including a signature drink designed for the occasion called “Flushing Blue;” been in the community for 90 years. We’re an integral took selfies at the beautiful Moon Gate, which was fashioned into a “step-and-repeat” made of hand- part of the community and we like to give back, and crafted paper roses and Flushing Bank parasols; and enjoyed a delicious meal on the Terrace at Queens Botanical Garden is a great place.” sunset. The evening culminated with announcements of winners who took part in the raffle in support of the Garden. They took home snazzy prizes like a Louis Vuitton purse, an iPad Mini, a $1,000 gift Guests were joined by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Brooklyn card to shop at the Americana Manhasset, premier seating at Mets and Yankees games, tennis court Borough President Eric Adams, Assembly Members Ron Kim and David time at , paintings by Heather Schirling, a restaurant gift certificate for Resorts Weprin, Council Member Peter Koo, and NYC Department of Cultural World Casino, and more. JESS BREY Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. Top Left: Nearly 200 guests came to support the Garden at Rose Gala QBG thanks its Rose Gala Committee, led by Board Member Bianca Ng, Board Chair Pauline Middle Left: QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte, Rose Gala Honoree Maria A. Grasso, and Borough President Katz, Assembly Member Weprin, and Council Member Huang, and fellow trustees Lucy Hossain, Debra Lodge, Edie Meyer, Judy Ng, and Michelle Stoddart QBG Board Chair Pauline Huang Koo brought proclamations to recognize and thank Mrs. Grasso for her for all their efforts toward making the Rose Gala a success. Bottom Left: Edie Meyer, Nina Arron, and Frank Buddingh’; Ed and Joyce Morrill; tea roses for dedication to the Flushing community, the people of Queens and all of guests to take home . “The City Proclamation is the highest honor an individual Many thanks to Rose Gala Sponsors and In-Kind Supportors (listed on Page 7.)

ANGELA GASPAR Top Right: TECONY Deputy Director General Andrew Yang, Susan Lacerte, Pauline Huang, Peter Koo, Maria A. Grasso, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl Middle Right: Tom Finkelpearl, Susan Lacerte, Pauline Huang, Maria A. Grasso, and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Rose Gala Committee Chair and QBG Board Member Bianca Ng, Pauline Huang, and Eric Adams Bottom Right: QBG staff members Elsa Higby and Vanessa Ventola; QBG Advisory Council Member Emily Lin and James Loveall

2 3 April Weekend Tributes to Tulips, Trees, Nature

JESS BREY A lesson on patience from Mother Nature! Due to the unseasonably cold weather the weeks leading up to the weekend of Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22, the Garden did not boast as many blooms as expected during TULIP TIME! While clusters of bursting tulips adorned various locations throughout the Garden, most tulips weren’t quite ready, huddling and keeping warm in their cocooning buds! On the other hand, the fashionably late bloomers made the following weekend extra colorful for Arbor Fest, at which point spring finally came and stayed! Below are some of our favorite highlights of both weekends, full of happy gatherings and enjoyment of nature by little ones and adults alike.

TULIP TIME! ERYN HATZITHOMAS

Emily Asher’s Garden Party Guests enjoyed creating fun Watercolor artist Chemin Hsiao Little budding flowers themselves, Visitors enjoyed hourly tours, kicked off our Music in the digital takeaways at the gif led a sold-out workshop on children pranced around the spotting bulbs and taking in some Garden series, dazzling 250+ station thanks to Ollie Social. spring bulb flowers, in which Garden wearing colorful tulip Garden and botanical history. people on our Terrace with red- Adults sipped on delectable “mint participants painted tulips in the crowns they made at the Activity hot jazz. tulip” drinks. Rose Garden. Table!

Arbor Fest JESS BREY

At the Sprout Stage sponsored by Rythmic drumming by children, The Beer and Wine Garden After making wild flower seed As a tribute to trees, QBG Staff TD Bank, PaperHeart Puppets told parents, and grandparents sponsored by Resorts World balls, visitors got to launch them demonstrated how to plant trees charming stories performed with resonated from interactive was a popular spot to grab a into our Meadow, where they will in our Arboretum. characters and scenery made percussion sessions in the swig and take part in some fun take root and sprout for years entirely out of cardboard. Meadow throughout the day. Queens and music trivia! to come.

ANNE TAN-DETCHKOV

4 The NYC Compost Project Hosted by Queens Botanical Garden Launches the Farm and Compost Site

JESS BREY Oh, how far we’ve come, how much we’ve grown! On Thursday, June 21, the NYC Compost Project Hosted by Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) launched the one-acre Farm and Compost Site at the Garden. The launch included a press conference, refreshments harvested from the Farm, and a tour. Representatives from NYC Compost Project/NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the Garden, and partnering Flushing Meadows Corona Park explained how the Farm and Compost Site demonstrates the closed loop of recycling residential food waste to making compost, enrich soils, and ultimately growing food. They also encouraged the general public to get involved by touring the Farm during open hours, volunteering, recycling food waste, attending workshops, and more. ERYN HATZITHOMAS Current Compost Project Manager, Elsa Higby, was joined by her predecessors, Patty Kleinberg, and Marguerite Manela, Senior Manager, Community Composting & Compost Distribution, NYC Department of Sanitation, in sharing remarks on how compost efforts at the Garden dating back nearly 25 years have grown and play a role in sustaining a healthy ecosystem in Queens. “Compost is a strategic and important part of recycling food scraps and anything that was once alive,” said Elsa Higby. “Compostables are food for composting bacteria, the resulting compost is food for plants and plants are food for people. Every living thing in the food web eats.” Compost is a strategic and Also present to share remarks were QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte, who shared, “I’ve been composting my entire life and I am important“ part of recycling food overjoyed to see this city-wide effort grow and take root. Our organics are scraps and anything that was once too valuable to ship out. On the QBG Farm, through this partnership with alive. Compostables are food for DSNY, people may see the whole cycle of plant to food, food to compost, compost back to soil, and soil to more delicious, delectable vegetables, composting bacteria, the resulting

JESS BREY fruits, and herbs! We want to keep the ‘good dirt’ where we can use it!” compost is food for plants and plants Flushing Meadows Corona Park (FMCP) Deputy Administrator are food for people. Every living thing Latisha T. Williams, who helped spearhead a partnership in which in the food web eats. FMCP provides leaves collected from the Park to the Garden to be — Elsa Higby, Project Manager composted from October through December for the past three years. ” The partnership was “eye-opening” for her staff of horticulturists and environmentalists. “We have the resources to create this and use it. And it came from our Park. And that’s something to be really proud of,” said Ms. Williams. Vegetables grown on the Farm are shared with interns, volunteers, used in on-site programming, and donated to emergency food relief programs. Crops grown on the Farm include heirloom tomatoes, beans, turnips, and a variety of kales, lettuces, peppers, and radishes. Finished compost made at QBG is used on the Garden grounds, used for community greening events in public spaces, and distributed to community gardens and to residents of Queens. How can you play a part? To learn more about upcoming volunteer opportunities, workshops, Farm Open Hours, nearest food scrap drop-off locations, and more, visit queensbotanical.org/farmandcompost. ANNE TAN-DETCHKOV Top to Bottom: ANNE TAN-DETCHKOV NYC Compost Project Hosted by Queens Botanical Garden staff members: Andrew Olesh, Vanessa Ventola, Forest Abbott-Lum, Alexander Jagiello, Elsa Higby, Julie McGanney, and Marie Josette Seraphin JESS BREY Marguerite Manela, Patty Kleinberg, and Susan Lacerte; Marguerite Manela, Latisha T. Williams, Elsa Higby, and Susan Lacerte ANNE TAN-DETCHKOV Compost staff tend to the Farm; all hands on deck at the Farm & Compost Site!

5 Sowed Seeds of Good Health for Second Year For the second year, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens presented TWIST & SPROUT! on Sunday, June 10 at Queens Botanical Garden. Nearly 2,000 visitors came to learn about healthy living—meeting medical experts for NYP Queens and getting their heart rates up at fun sports and recreational activities. “GET ACTIVE” areas featured an obstacle course by NYP Queens’ Fit Kids, breakdancing, family fitness, ballroom dancing, double dutch, hula hooping, tennis lessons from NY Empire, and more. Other entertainment included a magic show, a puppet show, family singalong, and beatboxing. Healthy eating was promoted through cooking demonstrations by Allergic to Salad, apple giveaways, tasty samples from MadeGood, and a nutrition station, one of ten stations at which participants could get their “Passports to Health” stamped. When all stations were marked, participants won a cool prize! QBG thanks NewYork-Presbyterian Queens for their support and for bringing this wonderful free ERYN HATZITHOMAS ERYN event to the Garden yet again! See below for some of our favorite highlights:

Visitors were greeted by, and Nearly 400 guests completed Get active! Kids enjoyed bounce Taking a photo with St. John’s A beautiful friendship! QBG hung out with, medical experts Passports to Health, stamping their houses, hula hoop, and double University’s mascot Johnny Executive Director and Chairman from NewYork-Presbyterian way to winning a cool prize as dutch, while visitors of all ages Thunderbird and Mr. Met was a of the Department of Pediatrics Queens. they learned about summer safety, breakdanced, ballroom danced, popular must-do! at NYP Queens Dr. Joseph J. nutrition, radiology, dental and learned to play tennis, and more! Abularrage at the NYP Queens orthopedic health, and more. booth. QBG MEMBERS ENJOY SUMMER MORE! Summer Extended Evenings Orchid Evening 夏日延长时间 • Horarios de verano extendido 蘭花晚會 • Tarde de orquídeas

Every Thursday in July & August Friday, August 17, 6 to 8pm QBG is extending its open hours until 8pm so you View Taiwan: A World of Orchids after hours, without the can enjoy twilight at the Garden. crowds! Cash bar and light snacks for sale. This is a FREE for QBG Members. FREE Members-only event. Last entrance at 7:30pm.

Member Appreciation Week Brunch on the Farm 会员感谢周 • Semana de apreciación de los miembros 早午餐在菜園 • Brunch en la granja

Tours—Sunday, 7/15 & Wednesday, 7/18, 1 to 2pm Saturday, September 15, 11am to 12:30pm Registration required: qbgmembertours.eventbrite.com Say farewell to summer at this exclusive brunch held on Beer on Us—Sunday, 7/15, 3 to 5pm the QBG Farm. Your light meal will include vegetables and Wine on Us—Thursday, 7/19, 6 to 8pm herbs harvested from the Farm! Remarks by Executive Coffee & Cookies—Friday, 7/20, 9:30 to 11:30am Director and Farmer-led tour at 12:30pm. This is a For details visit queensbotanical.org/memberappreciation Members-only event. Tickets go on sale at 10am, on Friday, June 22. Learn more: queensbotanical.org/memberbrunch 6 The Board of Trustees and Staff of Queens Botanical Garden express deep gratitude and appreciation to Rose Gala 2018 Sponsors Champagne Rose Flushing Bank Yellow Rose Andrea Woodner Red Rose Consolidated Edison Company of New York The Max and Selma Kupferberg Family Foundation / Saul and Gail Kupferberg / The Kupferberg Foundation Pink Rose Cord Meyer Development • Cullen and Dykman, LLP • Farrell Fritz, P.C. • Resorts World Casino NY United Customs Services • Variosystems, Inc. • WAC Lighting, Co. White Rose Dime Community Bank • East West Bank • Lin + Loveall Foundation • NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Coral Rose AmerasiaBank • Bartlett Tree Experts • Suzanne Brienza• Broadway Stages • Cartwheel • COTS Travel • HSBC Bank, USA, NA Raymond Jasen • Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., A StifelCompany • Merchant Factors Corp. • The Rotary Club of Flushing Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. • Star Builders, Inc. • Sterling National Bank • Veronica Tsang • Dr. Ber-Yuh Yang In-Kind Supporters Americana at Manhasset • Suzanne Brienza • Con Edison • Stephanie Ehrlich • Annette Fanara • Farrell Fritz, P.C. Garden World & Keil Bros., Inc. • Eryn Hatzithomas • Hicks Nurseries, Inc. • Pauline Huang • Debra Lodge Diamonds Direct • New York Empire • Bianca Ng • Judy Ng • Resorts World Casino NY Heather Schirling • James Tyrrell • USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Celebrate birthdays with fun garden flare! Queens Botanical Garden is the perfect place to host your child’s upcoming birthday. The all-inclusive MariGOLD package includes a decorated party room, craft activity, appearance by QBG’s mascot Flora, invitations, food, beverages, cake, party favors, a birthday card, and assistance from our friendly staff to make it memorable! Submit a request today: queensbotanical.org/birthdayparties

7 Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 , Flushing, NY 11355 queensbotanical.org | 718.886.3800

NEW! Extended Evenings Thursdays, July & August SAVE THE DATE! Taiwan: A World of Orchids Fri - Sun, 8/17-8/19

QBG GARDEN NEWS SUMMER 2018 A special newsletter for friends of Queens Botanical Garden VOL 24 ISSUE 2

THANK YOU to our MEMBERS, SPONSORS, and FRIENDS!

QUEENS BOTANICAL GARDEN is located on property owned in full by the City of New York, and its operation is made possible in part by public funds provided through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the NYC Council, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. The Queens Borough President and Queens elected representatives in the City Council and State Legislature provide leadership funding. Corporations, foundations and individuals provide additional support.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADVISORY COUNCIL Pauline Huang Angie Awadalla Chair Dr. Joon J. Bang Suzanne Brienza Theresa Bonavolonta Vice Chair Frank Buddingh’ Neil Fleischman Brian Carey Treasurer Joanne Chao Michael Bronstein Do H. Chung Secretary Nadine Cino David Cinelli Howard Freilich SHARI ROMAR Jack Eichenbaum Stefanie F. Handsman We are pleased to thank the following corporations We extend our gratitude to the following elected officials Stephen D. Hans Julia Ermish and foundations for their support of QBG’s botanical and government bodies: Nazneen ‘Lucy’ Hossain Neil Hernandez Soraya Hernandez displays, New York City Council Debra Lodge programs, and operations: Edith L. Meyer Bill Huisman New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Saul Kupferberg Bianca Ng Emily Lin HSBC Bank USA, N.A. New York City Department of Sanitation MeeSeung “Judy” Ng Frank Macchio NewYork-Presbyterian Queens New York State Assembly Larry Oskowsky George S. Meyer Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. New York State Senate Edward Potter Frank Mirovsky Flushing Bank New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Frank Santoro Joyce & Ed Morrill Jeanmarie Schieler Achelis and Bodman Foundations Preservation Jacqueline Newman The Kupferberg Foundation New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Michelle Stoddart Gary Park Tara Pinkham Lily Auchincloss Foundation Queens Borough President Melinda Katz QBG GARDEN NEWS Georgiana Reese-Benatti Ridenour Endowment Fund Queens Delegation of the New York City Council Anne Tan-Detchkov Walter Sanchez Dr. Robert C. & Tina Sohn Foundation Queens Delegation of the New York State Assembly Editor Robert Schirling The Frank J. Antun Foundation Jessica Brey Rovena Schirling Rose M. Badgeley Residuary Charitable Trust Contributor Janet Schneider TD Charitable Foundation Stephanie Ehrlich Katrin Scholz-Barth Patricia Shanley Resorts World Casino Contributor New York Community Bank Foundation Annette Fanara Spencer J. Shin Contributor Al Suarez Martha & Robert Taylor Henry Wan Tai Wang Young S. Woo Queens Botanical Garden | 43-50 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11355 | queensbotanical.org | 718.886.3800