Chapter 4 Hello New York First bite of the Apple o bands played as I arrived at The City Gardener, on Third Avenue at 30th Street, in March 1969. Here was a messy-looking store with Nstacked bags of topsoil and racks of plants on the sidewalk. Since my Kiwi friend and sponsor Kerry Fitzgerald was out, I accepted a coffee and chatted to the secretary, who at least expected me. Where, I wondered, would a tweed-suited, proper-English speaking immigrant, just off the plane, fit in? Kerry had three years previously joined an English gentleman gardener and bought The City Gardener, one of the first inner city businesses offering plants, installation services and advice to the increasing number of New Yorkers eager to grow their own tomatoes and climbing roses on their terraces. The timing, as always, was everything. New York City was in the midst of sweeping changes, including the embrace of green spaces, new city parks, roof-top gardens and more streetside trees. With the firm’s business expanding, Kerry was recruiting gardeners with knowledge of hardy New York plants, the local extreme conditions and garden design, plus the ability to sell garden ideas. Did I qualify? Well, of course! I’m a quick learner. But back to the day I arrived. The magic began when I dropped my bags in the guest room of Kerry’s 57th Street penthouse on smart Eastside. “We’re leaving for the country in half an hour, grab warm clothes and walking shoes,” said Kerry. Opposite: Jump for joy, Greenacre Park . Above: The City Gardener, 3rd avenue at 30th street Manhattan, where my new life began, 1969. 75 76 I held my breath as our host’s uniformed black driver cruised up Riverside ferns, bromeliads and flowering house plants thrived under grow lights, and Drive to the New York State thruway and Kerry explained that we would music floated through the freshly greened air. Business boomed. spend the weekend at David Webb’s Westchester home, where he had Above the descending staircase a large hanging parrot cage housed Rosie, a authorised us to design and create a waterfall and ornamental pond. The female African Grey, who would whistle, “Pop goes the weasel,” in response client, an international jeweller, was also one of The City Gardener’s to “Hello Rosie.” On one of my visits to the local pet shop, to buy seed and financial backers. cuttlefish for the bird, I touched a tiny brown paw reaching through a cage. A long winding drive through naked forest led to an ample stone and timber The small perfect Burmese kitten also touched my soft centre. I tried to lodge. David was at the door to welcome us. Next morning I woke early and persuade myself I couldn’t keep a cat in my small apartment, I was away so slipped out the kitchen door to explore. Spring was still days away; only a much, etc etc. I could see it had a weepy eye but I knew all it needed was love. hint of green, furry buds on the chestnut, but starry dandelions lit up the With Cedric in a carton, I sailed into The City Gardener and announced I roadsides while pussy willow catkins flushed yellow and the chill air carried needed the afternoon off to get my new house guest installed. the fragrance of wood smoke. And not another house in sight. It was a soft Cedric’s story will emerge. landing indeed, and during the following days, I wondered where this trail That spring I was happily swept up in the events of this increasingly busy would lead me. garden supply store, and was never sure if I’d be working on a penthouse terrace or in a shady backyard. After a rough winter, gardens required a Getting to know Manhattan spring clean and replanting, and often new garden furniture. In early summer, window boxes and ornamental tubs were filled with showy annuals, geraniums, On my first day at The City Gardener I had worn what would have been petunia, alyssum, and kitchen herbs. Before autumn in went mums, (hardy normal dress in Stockholm: sports coat and slacks with tie, plus well-polished dwarf garden chrysanthemums) and berried shrubs such as species of skimmia shoes. After heaving planter boxes and root-balled trees around I didn’t need and ilex for the winter display. to be told that jeans and a sweatshirt were more appropriate. I accumulated all sorts of vital knowledge, such as access to sites, freight The shop was a jumbled city depot for bagged soil, fertilizers, stakes, hoses, elevator restrictions, city soil and drainage, water supply and what constituted and garden furniture. I was less than excited with the looks of my new adequate insurance cover. Plus I learned a whole lot about garden contracts workplace. It seemed dingy and cluttered. I’d fancied a New York garden and, above all, the importance of a reliable crew. centre would be sparkling clean and extra smart. Wrong, but no matter. I was An opportunity arrived with The City Gardener’s involvement at the East here, eager to learn and anxious to be on someone’s payroll. Side House Settlement Winter Antiques Show in the cavernous Seventh Kerry introduced me to rich and famous clients, looking for gardening help Regiment Armory on Park Avenue. Through connections with the city’s gay- or advice. The appearance of the store hardly mattered as most clients didn’t elite decorators and designers, Kerry was contracted to create an imaginative bother coming so far downtown. Their phone call summoned a consultant display garden as the centrepiece for the upcoming ten day event. (often me) to the site. I would listen to exactly what the client needed, add Expensive and overly ambitious, the plan involved the creation of a 3.5 a few inspirational touches and give assurances that the design plan and metre trellised wall, dividing the five square metre garden area, with a table provisional estimate would follow within the week. and seating as the central focal point. One approached a formal raised lawn, Within a year I suggested we employ two new staff members to handle flanking a gravel path bordered with flower beds, which led the eye to a tea routine jobs more efficiently. One, a Florida horticulture graduate, was table with all the trimmings, lit with dappled afternoon light. The rear third restlessly inventive, instinctively a builder, and usually hyped on Coca Cola. of the display was loaded with palms and tropical foliage, suggesting the The other was a gentle but resourceful farmer’s son from Wisconsin. Together conservatory beyond. we revamped the dusty cobweb-festooned City Gardener to make it smart, All this magic had to be delivered and constructed on site, with platforms attractive and functional. and waterproofing in place before grass sod could be laid, flower borders In the slow winter days of 1970 the existing shop was isolated as walls came planted, and the jungle installed in three days. I was responsible for stage- down and a giant skip on the sidewalk took debris. It was messy and noisy, managing the production, selecting the tablecloth and crystal, the elegant women office staff took holidays, but by the time they returned construction French garden chairs, white standard rose bushes, and getting it all in perfect was complete. One new feature was a charming spiral staircase, foraged from order before the press and executive members, the mayor and distinguished a Brooklyn wrecking yard, to reach the cleaned-out basement. Live trees and guests, were admitted at 4 p.m. for the celebrity benefit opening reception. 77 78 Top: Winter Antiques Show, 1985. Giant urns filled with flowering quince, and other exotica, frame the rare Bruges tapestry. Above: A typical advertisement for the annual Winter Antiques Show catalogue. Bottom: Winter Antiques Show, 1970. Finishing touches to the Conservatory Garden centrepiece. 79 80 This was life in the fast lane, I discovered; part terror, part high excitement. evening, pick-up time, and I explained to Tim that if the rightful owners In Saturday’s New York Times my picture in the garden got a banner billing in appeared he should simply smile, say thanks, and move on. the home section. My bosses were slightly miffed that a recent employee was Fast action! I hailed a cab for Soho, where The City Gardener truck was credited with the creation of this wondrous spring display. I was simply in the garaged, returned with the wheels and found Tim still in possession of the right place at the right time. loot. We carefully load one small settee, two easy chairs, two bookcases, a Kerry often asked me to arrange gifts of flowers for special customers, brass tray coffee table, a large sisal rug, a standard and a table lamp into the to sweeten a deal or acknowledge payment. Thus, I was introduced to the truck before we slipped off into the night. Still laughing at my chutzpah New York wholesale flower markets. All of a sudden I was happily back in seizing the haul, we manhandled everything up three flights of stairs. among flowers. Exhausted but exhilarated, I decorated Tim’s empty space. This collection New York’s Winter Antiques Show drew dealers and buyers from around of living room furniture, in striking shades of burnt orange, gold, and natural the globe and, once again, Kerry designed and installed a garden display to sisal, very retro-1950s, came alive and smiled once the lamps were lit. Then fill the large central intersection of two principal aisles.