When people think of New York City, wildflower meadows and wildlife sanctuaries are rarely the first things that come to mind. It’s not typically a destination for those seeking a natural escape, a diverse forest, or a community of naturalists. Instead, most envision yellow taxis, the smell of trash, and concrete…. everywhere. However, the annual Plant-O-Rama symposium at Brooklyn Botanic Garden serves as a powerful reminder that nature is not only present in the Big Apple but is also thriving – stewarded by some of the most motivated, inspiring, and fascinating people you have ever met.
Coming off 5 years gardening in New York City myself, I can personally attest to all the exciting and rewarding circumstances that come with it. From installing a meadow garden on the roof of an Upper West Side building to designing and managing native habitats on Governors Island in New York Harbor, I have had my fair share of remarkable opportunities – ones surprisingly possible in the largest city in the continental United States.
Plant-O-Rama, hosted by Metro Hort Group, is an annual gathering that brings together a diverse community of plant enthusiasts – seasoned horticulturists, young professionals, students, and emerging gardeners. It’s a space for connection, idea-sharing, and reflection on the vital role of our work, especially in such uncertain times.
The day started off with keynote speaker Edwina Von Gal, founder of Perfect Earth Project, whose influential work has helped shape the horticultural world. Her talk explored different aspects of gardening ecologically and how we can motivate the average person (or client), all while directly healing our Earth. It was a call-to-action of sorts, asking all of us in the industry to reflect on our own practices and giving us tools on how to be advocates for better ones. An inspiring moment was when she stated our landscapes are “processes not products” while explaining the importance of leaving a dead tree to rot where it stands, allowing the myriad of natural systems to run their course as the tree decomposes. This approach to gardening is familiar to many of us. However, Edwina went further, emphasizing her goal of equipping attendees with stronger language to navigate challenging topics – such as pesticides, client relationships, and advocating for responsible land stewardship – which she did beautifully, earning a massive round of applause.
The day continued with a panel discussion of gardeners from multiple city parks and green spaces. Under the title of “Managing Naturalistic Gardens & Landscapes: Tactics & Techniques”, each panelist discussed how the spaces they steward are embracing “naturalism” to support biodiversity and bring about larger social change within the public sphere. Jessica Kaplan, Director of Horticulture at Riverside Park Conservancy and a friend of mine, began with a description of one of the largest contiguous green spaces within the city. Riverside Park is made up of 400 acres along the west side of Manhattan, spanning from 59th St to 181st St. Historically, the park has been dominated by formal lawns and manicured spaces, but that is beginning to change. With the help from her team of 27 gardeners, Jessica has introduced “pocket meadows” throughout the park, using dense planting strategies and diverse plant lists to maximize a small space for the benefit of both wildlife and people. It was inspiring to see her team transform historically overlooked areas into thriving, biodiverse habitats. These pocket meadows embody the sentiment coined by Dr. Steven Handel of Rutgers University: “Every parcel has promise” in supporting biodiversity. By converting monocultures – whether turfgrass or invasive plants – into dynamic, ecologically rich landscapes, their work is making a tangible difference.
One of the most intriguing projects Jessica and her team have undertaken is using solarization (a tactic that LWLA has used before with great success) to combat the relentless Japanese Knotweed along the bike path at 143rd St. Despite skepticism from many, she remained unfazed and instead adopted a creative, multifaceted approach. To prepare the site, her team employed scalp-mowing and installed a ¼-inch wire mesh stapled into the ground to suppress regrowth from any lingering rhizomes and shoots. The solarization plastic remained in place throughout the summer, reaching temperatures exceeding 100°F—sufficient to kill roots and seeds within the soil. Removed for the winter, the plastic will be reapplied in June, continuing this process over three consecutive seasons. This project is one to watch—offering valuable insights for those tackling invasive species management.
Marni Majorelle, founder of Alive Structures, presented on the Kingsland Wildflower Meadows – a rooftop project planted with regionally native plants born from an oil spill and a lawsuit aimed at bringing publicly accessible environmental initiatives to Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This is a project in which LWLA played a key role in the initial design, including the creation of the original plant list, seed mix, and planting design. Marni highlighted the stark contrast between the contaminated industrial worksite where the meadow now thrives and the many positive impacts it has had on the community, including educational programs for schools (facilitated by Newtown Creek Alliance), introducing kids to the importance of biodiversity and an annual festival that draws over 1,000 people each year.
Pawel Pieluszynski, a gardener at Brooklyn Bridge Park (and another friend of mine), delivered an inspiring talk on how integrating natural spaces within public parks can aid in the conservation of plant species that have been extirpated from our region. One striking example is the reintroduction of Bog Bean (Menyanthes trifoliata), a wetland plant native to the area but absent from Brooklyn since the 1800s, into the Pier 1 Wetlands. As stated by him, this work embodies the principles of reconciliation ecology— “the branch of ecology that explores ways to promote biodiversity within human-dominated ecosystems”—helping to restore ecological balance in urban landscapes and mitigate the impact of urbanization on native plant communities.
This panel discussion concluded with Sarma Ozols, Horticulture Supervisor at the Trust for Governors Island, a non-profit dedicated to turning the island into a sanctuary for all. And yes, Sarma is another great friend and former colleague of mine. Her talk about the importance of ecological horticulture in such a time as this tied together many of the themes explored during the entire symposium.
For those unfamiliar, Governors Island is a hidden gem with a rich and dynamic history. Once a military base, the 172-acre island has undergone countless transformations, changing hands repeatedly—from its original Lenape inhabitants, who called it Paggank (“Nut Island”) due to its abundant oak, chestnut, and hickory trees, to Dutch and then English control, where it gained its current name. Despite these shifts, one thing has remained constant: its ecological significance. Positioned in the heart of New York Harbor and legally protected from overdevelopment, the island serves as a critical stopover for migrating birds, a wildlife refuge amid a sea of concrete, and a much-needed escape for New Yorkers.
In 2012, an exciting new vision for the island was set in motion with the creation of an 43-acre climate-resilient park, designed to replace abandoned military structures. The landscape was carefully bermed above the 100-year flood line, forming a system of upland nature reserves, including a six-acre urban forest and a series of four man-made hills. Sarma oversees the stewardship of the largest, Outlook Hill, which rises 70 feet above sea level and encompasses 2.5 acres of planted area, with some slopes reaching a daunting 40-degree incline. The Hills, planted with 40,000 native shrubs and trees, boast remarkable species diversity.
Due to an incredible lack of stewardship following The Hills opening in 2016, invasive species, primarily mugwort, completely dominated most of the landscape. When the horticulture team was finally brought on in 2019, the job ahead of them was seemingly impossible. Yet, through dedication and a deep commitment to habitat restoration, they have successfully reclaimed large portions of the Hills for biodiversity. Using non-herbicidal management techniques like solarization, they have transformed monocultures into thriving meadows. Sarma herself converted 3,500 square feet of mugwort-dominated land into a rich grassland, introducing 55 new species—including vibrant bursts of Liatris sp. and milkweed—creating a sanctuary for monarchs, birds, and pollinators alike.
I may be slightly biased when it comes to the Governors Island story—after all, I’ve spent the past three years there, immersed in my passion for ecological horticulture. But listening to Sarma share the team’s journey, highlighting just how unique and special this project is—man-made berms on an island in the middle of the busiest harbor in the U.S., supporting an incredible array of threatened biodiversity—never gets old.
She closed her presentation by reinforcing the importance of integrating naturalistic plantings into public spaces, emphasizing that they “sustain biodiversity and our connection to it.” Her words served as a powerful reminder that land stewardship, when done for the greater good of all living beings, is among the most rewarding work one can pursue in a lifetime.
The symposium portion of the day concluded with another panel discussion featuring three renowned artists, titled “Cultivating Creativity: A Conversation with Artists & Horticulturists.” Among the presentations, artist and horticulturist Patrick Costello’s talk resonated with me in the best way possible. Committed to creating work that evolves alongside nature while actively giving back to the ecosystem—much like composting, a theme he returned to repeatedly—his approach to art felt both profound and deeply relevant.
His project, “And Eat it Too,” beautifully embodies this philosophy. The sculpture, constructed entirely from natural materials, featured a multi-tiered, 14-foot-tall cake-like structure built from coir logs and planted with native species. Throughout the 2023 season, it actively participated in the surrounding ecosystem, gradually breaking down and returning to the land. A testament to the beauty of ecological processes and decay, it was invigorating to see this concept explored so creatively.
Plant-O-Rama has remained a constant through the evolution of the horticulture world, and as the industry shifts further toward ecological-focused practices, this year’s symposium reflected that momentum in every presentation. At a time when our world faces multiple crises, this gathering of passionate naturalists and gardeners continues to be a beacon of hope.