Architects: WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism
Location: Brooklyn, NY 11225, USA
Site Design: WEISS/MANFREDI Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism
Landscape Architect: HMWhite
Civil And Structural Engineers: Civil and Structural Engineers
Lighting: Brandston Partnership
Landscape Contractor: Kelco
General Contractor: EWHowell
Contractors Construction Manager: LiRO
Year: 2013
Photographs: Aaron Booher

From the architect. Honored by the NYC Design Commission with an Award for Excellence in Design in 2008 for integration of form, function and sustain- able practice, the new visitor center to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden establishes a visionary public interface between the city and the garden. The landscape’s central feature is the building’s living roof design, conceived as a seamless, inhabitable extension of the Garden that mergers landscape and architecture and redefines physical and philosophical relationships between visitor and garden, exhibition and movement, culture and cultivation.

Fusing contemporary site engineering technology with sustainable landscape and horticultural design, the Visitor Center landscape design marks the Garden’s centennial and demonstrates the institution’s commitment to environmental stewardship and conservation by providing a new pedagogical paradigm with this high performance landscape design and new botanical exhibit for its next 100 years of public service and education.

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

A network of storm water collection features an extensive green roof, storm water channel, vegetated swales and bio-infiltration basins. Collectively, these elements retain storm water on site to facilitate natural filtration and ground water recharge and discharge to the municipal sewer.

SOIL RECLAMATION

Contaminated soils in the historic fill demanded remedial action. Distinct soil profiles were designed to reconstruct existing soils and restore viable soil biology to support each diverse horticultural conditions. The bio-infiltration basin’s loose deep soils absorb water and filter pollutants and expand the volume of storm water capture. Structural soils in plazas provide contiguous expansive soil volumes to sustain limitless tree root growth under paved areas.

HORTICULTURAL EXHIBIT

The planting design demonstrates how a specific mix of plant species and types can regenerate high performing ecologies. Informed by native plant communities, botanic collections are organized in bold drifts, from upland to lowland typologies that knit the Visitor Center landscape into the exist- ing and establish a resilient design structure for future garden expansion.

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

© Aaron Booher

Site Plan

Detail

Detail

Diagram

Diagram

I have always been in awe of plants and aware of how they can have such a profound effect upon us. For me, the sheer joy of seeing an immaculate bud or seeing an entire vista with all its complexities is a perpetual delight. Gardens are the places that make me happy and I love making gardens for others to enjoy.

As a child I remember following the patterns of trees with my eye as we drove through various parts of this beautiful country, and wanting to fill any gaps left by fallen or dead trees, to complete the rhythm. Driving through Fitzgerald Glade, on the way to Rotorua, was a memorable experience for me, as it is for many people.

Patterns and place, colours and textures have always had an impact on me. Gardens nourish me and all my senses, just as music can.

I love gardens – being within them and designing them. For me it is painting with plants. Because they are alive and have their own life cycle, a garden is never fixed and finished, neither static nor entirely predictable.

I have designed gardens for so many clients over the last two decades or so who have wanted to live in their own private oasis.

I thoroughly enjoy being part of this design dynamic – considering the architecture, the soil and aspect of the land, together with the needs and personalities of the people who will live within. It is a combination and awareness of all these elements.

Being within a beautiful space can be relaxing, restorative or invigorating, expansive, thought provoking and often witty.

A designer directs these spaces with planting and hard elements, whether it’s a private garden or an urban domain. The Britomart precinct was a fun project to be involved in – bringing flowers and food into our urban fabric. Another garden I enjoyed designing recently was at 9 Pukenui Rd in Epsom, which is open in this year’s Auckland Garden DesignFest.

As our eyes are so easily led, it is particularly important when designing to be acutely aware of how the eye sweeps, skims or ignores some elements and yet can so easily be captured by a colour or combination of colours and textures.

All our senses need nourishment and gardens can indulge each of them in so many different ways. I love to make spaces for people to love being in.

– Herald on Sunday

By Bronwyn Sell Email Bronwyn

Garden Club Events

The Connecticut Valley Garden Club presents “Set to Celebrate,” a showcase of inspirational tablescape design, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15 and 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Town and County Club in Hartford. More than 30 designers, businesses, non-profits and groups will display historic, musical, theatrical, holiday and “over-the-top” tablescape designs. Tickets are $20 in advance at http://www.Set2Celebrate.net; $30 the day of the event. A preview party will be Nov. 14 ($100). E-mail sdocooks@comcast.net for preview party information.

The Vernon Garden Club’s meeting Monday, Nov. 18, features “Tablescapes to Decorate your Winter Table” by floral designer Laurie Lemek of Ellington. Lemek will create seasonal arrangements with a natural, winter theme. Arrangements will be auctioned off at the end of the meeting. The program begins at 7 p.m. at Rockville United Methodist Church, 142 Grove St. Refreshments and a business meeting will follow. Information: 860- 872-4028.

The Garden Gate Club of Mansfield will meet Monday, at 7 p.m. at the Buchanan Center, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield Center, Route 89. Matthew Opel will give an illustrated talk, “Cacti and Succulents.” Beginning gardeners welcome. Refreshments served. Suggested donation for non-members is $5.

The Kensington Garden Club is offering a program on Thursday, Nov. 21, 6:30 to 8 p.m., featuring designer and artist, Alice Porter Flagg. Flagg will do floral arrangements in new holiday themes and they will be raffled off. The free event is at the Community Center, 230 Kensington Rd, Kensington.

The Bristol Garden Club will meet Thursday, Nov. 21 at Bristol Public Library, 5 High St. There will be a business meeting at 10 a.m.; refeshments at 11:30; and the speaker, Kymrie Zaslow, “Decorating with Flowers,” at noon. The event is open to the public for speaker only. Informaiton: 203-879-2921.

Elizabeth Park Events

Rose Garden Workshop: Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to noon. Hands on workshop to close the garden.

Iris Garden Workshop: Nov. 23, 10 a.m. Hands on workshop to close the garden. Come dressed for the weather and bring garden tools and gloves.

Information: http://www.elizabethparkct.org, eburton@elizabethparkct.org or 860-231-9443.

Appraisal Day

The Chester Historical Society presents the 10th Antiques Jewelry Appraisal Saturday, Nov. 9, 8:30 a.m. to noon, at St. Joseph’s Parish Center, Rte. 154, Chester. Eleven appraisal experts will appraise furniture, jewelry, silver, artworks, books, coins and currency, stamps, glassware, textiles and more. Attendees can bring up to three separate items to be appraised. Bring photographs if the item is too large to carry. Verbal appraisals are $10 for the first item; $20 for 2 items; or $25 for 3 items. Information: http://www.chesterhistoricalsociety.org; chestercthistoricalsociety@gmail.com; or 860-558-4701.

House Tour

A Passivhaus in Westport, one of the first of its type in the US, will be open to the public for tours on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tours and seminars will be held at noon or 2:30 pm. Heated primarily by an energy recovery ventilator, solar thermal panels, the heat of the occupants and the same electronic equipment most of us have in our homes, the owner’s certified Passivhaus home uses 90 percent less energy than a traditional home. Tickets are $20. Reservations: http://www.pace-cleanenergy.org, 860-796-4543 and 860-693-4813.

Arranging Roses

The CT Rose Society presents “Arrangements with Roses” by Craig Dorschel Sunday, Nov. 10, at 2:30 p.m. at the Pond House at Elizabeth Park, Hartford. Dorschel is a newly qualified apprentice arrangement judge, as well as the current ARS yankee district director, a certified consulting rosarian and horticultural judge. He will discuss basic design principles of arrangements and what it takes to exhibit at a qualified rose show. Free. Information: 203-213-4366; http://www.ctrose.org.

Aeroponic Gardening Class

Learn about aeroponic and hydroponic gardening — to grow organic herbs and vegetables in a soil-less medium and in a vertical space, either indoors or out — Sunday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m., at Comstock, Ferre and Co. Dana Platt will explain a technique developed by Tim Blank, a grower at the Epcot Center. Platt will demonstrate seedlings and a tower garden and show a how-to video. Comstock, Ferre and Co. is at 263 Main Street, Wethersfield. Resgitration: 860-571-6590 or sales@comstockferre.com.

Holiday Designs

Kris Urbanik, National Garden Club accredited flower show judge and floral designer, will demonstrate creating easy holiday designs for your Thanksgiving table Tuesday, Nov. 12, 7 p.m., at the Connecticut Horticultural Society Office, 2433 Main St., Rocky Hill. The program will include basic design tips and tricks. The arrangements will be raffled off. Cost is $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. Registration: 860-529-8713.

Western New York Hosta Society will meet at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Town of Aurora Senior Center, 101 King St., East Aurora. Award-winning leading hosta breeder Olga Petryszyn of Valparaiso, Ind., will present “My Hosta Journey.”

…

East Aurora Garden Club will meet at noon Monday in St. Matthias Episcopal Church, 374 Main St., East Aurora, for a Christmas arrangement demonstration. Members are asked to bring greens, containers and ornaments for the workshop. Bev Walsh, master gardener, show judge and garden club design instructor, will be on hand.

…

Kenmore Garden Club will meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Kenmore United Methodist Church, 32 Landers Road, Kenmore. Susan Loughran, a national flower show judge, will present a floral decoration demonstration, creating three holiday designs to be raffled. Guests welcome.

Evans Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Angola Public Library to plan holiday decorations for the Evans Town Hall.

…

Ken-Sheriton Garden Club will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 576 Delaware Road, Kenmore. Bob Bracikowski, of Opportunities Unlimited, will present a workshop, “Christmas is Coming.” Members will make a tabletop tree or centerpiece. Artistic design will be “Giving Thanks.” Business meeting to follow. New members welcome.

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Hamburg Garden Club will meet at noon Wednesday in the Hamburg Community Center for a beekeeping presentation by Barbara Ochterski.

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Amana Garden Club of West Seneca will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Burchfield Nature Art Center, 2001 Union Road, West Seneca, for a coffee social and brief business meeting. For the horticultural exhibit, members will present an everlasting flower. Bring lunch; desserts will be provided. Club member and former National Flower Show judge Terry Skura will demonstrate a functional table setting. All welcome. For further information, call 875-5563.

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Garden Friends of Clarence will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Clarence Town Park Clubhouse, 10405 Main St., Clarence. David Clark from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens will present a “Holiday Green Demo.” Visitors welcome. Email: gardenfriendsofclarence@hotmail.com.

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Lancaster Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in St. John’s Lutheran Hall, 55 Pleasant Ave., Lancaster. Club member Dorothy Julius will present a “Floral Design Workshop” with membership participation. Guests welcome.

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Town and Country Garden Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in Transit Middle School, 8730 Transit Road, East Amherst. Carole Melnik, a member of the Society of American Florists, will demonstrate decorating a floral swag using various plant materials. Guests welcome.

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Judges Council of Eighth District of Federated Garden Clubs of New York State will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday in Brighton Community Church, 1225 Brighton Road, Town of Tonawanda. The business meeting will include a review of the handbook and program suggestions for 2014. Potluck lunch. The horticulture exhibits will include container-grown plants and perennials. The exhibitors for design will be responsible for a creative miniature design.

If you have a submission for Garden Notes, please send it to Susan Martin, Garden Notes, Features Department, The Buffalo News, P.O. Box 100, Buffalo, NY 14240. Fax: 849-3445. Email: smartin@buffnews.com. All items must be received in writing two weeks prior to publication.

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