By Mark Richardson
Horticulture Director
The horticulture staff worked furiously this spring to prepare for the eventual reopening of our garden to the public. As everyone reading this can attest, the last three months have been anything but normal, and the impacts of this global crisis have been in some cases unexpected. For a nonprofit botanical garden like ours, one of the biggest impacts to our work has been a vastly reduced workforce due to the absence of volunteers.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofit organizations. From those who volunteer to serve on our board of trustees to those who help plant bulbs in the fall, New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill depends on the kindness and generosity of others to support our work. While many of our dedicated volunteers would likely risk life and limb to help us plant the vegetable garden, they did not fall into the category of essential personnel during the Covid-19 shutdown. Even if they were willing, they could not assist in the garden this spring until quite recently. Our volunteers are invaluable. Last April and May alone, volunteers contributed 1,038 hours of hands on work in the garden, weeding, tearing out spent bulbs, planting annuals and vegetables, etc. Without their effort and support this spring, our horticulture staff worked with the equivalent of one hand tied behind its back. Tasks that would normally be completed by a volunteer team of as many as thirty people on a given day had to be accomplished by just two or three staff members.
Our professional horticulture staff designs seasonal display gardens and plants thousands of annuals every spring and early summer. In addition to that regular annual work, we had planned to execute several large-scale garden renovations, including work in the Systematic Garden, Secret Garden, Cottage Garden, and Inner Park. With plants on order, we decided to forge ahead, adding additional workload to an already overburdened staff.
Starting June 1, we welcomed volunteers back to the garden on a limited basis, with a reduced group size owing to state restrictions. Visitors to the garden will certainly see the results of the absence of volunteers in a few more weeds and seasonal beds not yet fully implemented. But, visitors will also see big, bold changes to the Systematic Garden, with several fully redesigned and much more colorful planting beds this season. They’ll also experience a wonderful new trail system at the beginning of the Inner Park that makes it feel much more garden than park. Look for the development of an all new shrub and perennial planting in the Cottage Garden, along the accessible path connection that allows all visitors to appreciate the cleverly designed vegetable garden. Marvel in the vibrant fragrance of the seasonal display in the Garden Within Reach, just recently planted with the help of five volunteers, eager to support the garden they so love. It’s great to have them back.