Westhampton Garden Club's Garden of Remembrance Earns National Recognition

As part of the National Garden Clubs’ yearlong “Plant America” initiative, three recipients of Plant America Community Project Grants, including the Westhampton Garden Club, were selected to present their projects to club members across the country, via Zoom, on April 11. Former Westhampton Garden Club President Inger Mejean described the design, development and installation of the Quogue Garden of Remembrance at the Quogue Firehouse, which opened as a place of peace and solace on the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001.

Mejean gave an overview of the project she directed, which was designed as an extension of the Battery Park Conservancy’s Garden of Remembrance established in memory of those who sheltered there. The purpose was to enhance the existing memorial at the Quogue Firehouse with its centerpiece 6-foot I-Beam given to the Quogue Fire Department in recognition of their members’ brave service at the 9/11 site.

The plan received a $1,000 Plant America Community Project grant from the National Garden Club and engaged the Quogue Fire Department, the Battery Park Conservancy and its president Warrie Price, Dragonfly Landscape Design LTD, Quogue Village Mayor Peter Sartorius and Trustee Jeannette Obser as partners in the project.

Westhampton Garden Club members helped with spring planting at the Conservancy and, in exchange, over 68 plants from the Battery Park Conservancy, designed by Piet Oudolf, were donated and transported to Quogue by firemen volunteers. Oudolf, who designed the New York City Highline landscapes, is known for the “New Perennials Movement” and many of his pollinator-friendly choices are among those donated. In turn, the Quogue Fire Department refurbished the existing memorial with enhanced lighting and waterfall.

Dragonfly prepared the beds and installed the plants as a gift to the community. Westhampton Garden Club members monitored and watered the plantings as they took root and now maintain the garden.

Under President Mary Warshauer, National Garden Clubs’ singularly focused initiative, Plant America, has increased recognition of the important role that gardens play in serving and educating communities. For those who love gardening a list of the Oudolf’s perennials used can be found at westhamptongardenclub.org.