Join Our Garden Teams…
Learn about HIGHLAND PARK’s unusual tree and shrub collections while removing invasive perennials and vines, pruning and deadheading. We work in concert with the Highland Park staff caring for this unique Olmsted park. We will hold periodic demonstrations throughout the season. All levels of experience welcome.
We have three weekly time slots to choose from with opportunities for select individual projects. We also participate in short-term projects such as fall bulb potting with the Park staff. In 2023 our fabulous Garden Stewards logged approximately 1500 hours from April through early November. Several Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners accrued their volunteer hours working alongside the HPC Park Teams. Please submit the volunteer form (bottom of page) and you’ll receive an email with details. Volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows!
Check out a few of our ‘Most Wanted’ invasive plants in the Park. Invasives are aggressive–they crowd out and/or cover desirable plants. First image is Pale Swallow-wort (Cynanchum rossicum) seedheads; the shallow, dense root systems must be dug out before the seedheads ripen and split. Second picture is Swallow-wort growing in a stand of young Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). Third picture is one of the tallest Pokeweeds (Phytolacca americana) we’ve found! Last picture–Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) that has covered a small shrub in less than one season. We also tackle unwanted vines - Wild Grape (Vitis spp.) and Porcelain Berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata)–the birds eat the fruit and disperse the seeds throughout the Park. We NEVER run out of projects.
If you’re interested in more traditional gardening, join us in Highland’s non-traditional WARNER CASTLE ESTATE GARDENS. We maintain the mixed borders, the DeForest Sunken Garden and, in addition, we are now rehabilitating the Rock Garden.
We meet once a week at Warner Castle. In 2022 our marvelous Garden Stewards logged approximately 700 hours from April through early November. The Castle has been under renovation for the last two years–this season we will be able to replant the Courtyard Garden. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will also be able to accrue their required hours in the Castle Gardens. Submit the volunteer form (bottom of page) and you’ll receive an email with details. Volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows.
