Mayor Steve Gold Plants Cucumber Magnolia at the Opening Ceramonies for the Sargent & Downing Gardens and Nursery In Beacon, NY
On May 14, 2011 children, moms, dads, seniors and young people came from Beacon, Fishkill, Wappingers Falls, Newburgh, NYC and N.J. to volunteer for the tree, shrub and plant installation at the new Sargent -Downing Gardens and Nursery in Beacon located at the University Settlement Camp.Everyone watched as Beacon's Mayor Steve Gold planted the first Cucumber Magnolia to return from NYC, where it was propagated at the Citywide Nursery as part of a joint project between Beacon & NYC Sargent Downing in an effort to preserve some of the historic plantings by Henry Winthrop Sargent, the son of Wodenethe in Beacon. The Cucumber Magnolia was grown from the fruit of the original mother tree, located at the Craig House in Beacon where Henry Winthrop Sargent was the horticulturist taking care of the property. The Cucumber Magnolia tree was one of the favorite trees of Sargent's teacher and friend Andrew Jackson Downing, the master of early American horticulture.
The Cucumber Magnolia mother tree's flower is where for me the search for the history began and now the Sargent - Downing Gardens and Nursery will grow the trees, plants and history for children and generations of the future to enjoy plant and tree specimens from the past, and those of today. At the opening there was live music, a sculptor and children games. Volunteers came to pitch in with the planting of vegetable gardens, herb gardens, culinary herbs, flower gardens and trees donated that will carry a child's name so children can follow the trees growth through their lifetime.
Now we will grow the trees and plants and bring children's and educational programming to teach about horticulture, sustainability and eco-friendly organic ways to manage the garden. We will work towards establishing cottage for seminars with an attached greenhouse for propagation.
Thank you to all the great people who have worked together to make this garden a reality. Many thanks to local artist Elia Gurna, who donated a sign for the Garden. We also want to thank the community that came out to show that the history of our trees, plants and nature are worth taking care of for our children's future.
Thank you, Richie Cabo
