Last night Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden brought together a group of civic and corporate leaders for a presentation titled: Making Magic in Our Cities: Parks, Plants and People. The speaker was Lynden Miller, a public garden designer who has made magic in cities across the country, including New York, Chicago, and Charleston, SC.

You can read Karin Kapsidelis’ article about last night’s event in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch or here.

More than 140 people attended and I had the privilege of being one of them. Lynden Miller’s talk interested me on two levels – as a Garden employee certainly, but also as a person who wants the best for her community and family.

Below are a few notes I took, not with any particular rhyme or reason, just points I liked. I encourage you to visit Lynden Miller’s website at www.publicgardendesign.com—the before and after photos of what she has done are amazing.
Here’s the Conservatory Garden in Central Park today:




o People in cities need a connection to nature.

o When you beautify an area, you send a subtle message: “We did this for you. You are worth it.” People respond by picking up trash and returning to visit. Beautification is not a frill; it is essential.

o It is moving to see how people of every kind respond to spaces that have been well-designed and well-maintained for them.

o Gardens and plants bring people together. Perfect strangers will start talking to each other – they want to share.

o Parks are also good for business. When more people visit an area it makes it safer and less likely to have crime.

o What’s needed to succeed: good plants, good soil, money, energy, volunteers, knowledge of what plants will do well and where, and a stubborn conviction that people matter.

So, do you believe in “magic”?

Beth Monroe is public relations director at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden.

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