COME JOIN US ON OUR NEXT TOUR
Subject: Thanks so much for the tour!
Date: November 11, 2013
HI Steve,
There isn't much in the county that I've not experienced in person, so it was a special thrill to not only visit the garden (and get an excellent history lesson while I was at it), but to discover that Untermyer Gardens is my new favorite place in Westchester! I love the contrast between the restored sections and the ruins, the manicured and the wild, the vision of both the Isadora Duncan dancers and Son of Sam—what a great story!
Thanks so much.
Nancy
Subject: Re: thanks
Date: December 18, 2013
To: Stephen Byrns
Hi Mr. Byrns!
I have been in touch quite often with one of your gardeners Jessica. She may have told you that my Grandmother was Mary McGuirk Combs who worked for Samuel Untermyer as a laundress from 1912-1921 and my Aunt is Anne Nehrbauer who has supplied many original photos from my Grandmothers time on the estate. So Untermyer has a very special place in my heart and I visit anytime I am back in Yonkers. I am thrilled to see the restoration and care that has been going on there. Thank you so much for everything you do. I wish my donation could be more but please know it comes straight from the heart.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann
Sent: Friday, September 27, 2013
Subject: Thank you!
Dear Tim,
Thank you so much for giving our group such a wonderful introduction to Untermyer last Sunday, and a thrilling account of the discoveries and achievements in such a short time!
You had the group enthralled with the place and with your marvelous personality, brimming with excitement and ambition for the Gardens, to which you've contributed so much against daunting odds. You have beaten back Mother Nature and Father Time. A lesser mortal would have admitted defeat long ago, but your perseverance is inspiring.
Thank you so much for last Sunday, and moreover for all you're doing to rehabilitate and share the resources at Untermyer. It was a real treat to be among the group, and on their behalf I thank you!
Best regards,
Waddell
Waddell W. Stillman, President
Historic Hudson Valley
To: sbyrns@untermyergardens.org
Subject: Re: Tours, press and progress
Dear Stephen: After visiting Untermyer Gardens over the summer after reading an article in Westchester Magazine about it's history, I was amazed at the progress that had been made at this amazing place! What an incredible job Tim and Jessica have made in bringing new life back to Untermyer! As I wandered outside the walls of the formal garden, my mind couldn't help thinking of ways to raise money for the rest of the garden's restoration. Although I know that corporate and private donors are probably the best bet for raising funds, I can't help thinking that offering wedding ceremonies (not receptions) held at specific times of the day/weekl on the property would raise an amazing amount of funds over the warmer months of the year within the walled garden. Please consider this as an option moving forward. I'm sure there are many couples who dream of getting married in a place like Untermyer Gardens and would pay to make that dream a reality! I, myself, was so inspired by the garden when I was there, that as I stood between the griffoned columns in the walled garden with my partner of 24 years I asked him to marry me - and he said YES! I just wanted to share with you how people are once again feeling about the garden after so many neglected years and want only the best for your efforts to restore the gardens to their former glory! Although the reconstruction efforts are spread over many years from now, I think they could be hastened by many small donations as opposed to depending on a few large ones on a regular basis! The garden should be enjoyed by everyone to the fullest! And we're so happy with what you've all done so far!
Sincerely,
John
Bronxvile, NY
Date: July 18, 2012
To: <sbyrns@untermyergardens.org>
Subject: Hello Stephen!
Dear Stephen,
We had the honor and pleasure of visiting the garden yesterday! We were thoroughly blown away by the experience. Tim is such an incredible asset-- his enthusiasm is palpable.
I wanted to follow up with you because I asked Tim about the archival resources available on the garden and he said that you were the one to go to for that. I was particularly interested in his relationships with Manship and Stanford White, as I wanted to focus on objects and historical inspiration in my article for Focal Points. First, I wondered if there were any particular questions that you had about the gardens/objects that I might tackle or help you with? We have a number of resources here that could potentially help in solving some mysteries...perhaps?
Meanwhile, Tim mentioned that you were interested in acquiring a bench or benches for the garden and Barbara asked me to let you know that she would be happy to donate 4 of our Hawthorne benches from our Garden Traditions line of reproductions. Our Hawthorne bench is a copy of a period piece by the Galloway Terra Cotta Company of Philadelphia from ca. 1915. The bench we copied was from Andalusia-- the Bucks County, PA estate of Nicholas Biddle-- and I think would be a historically accurate choice for Untermeyer.
We produce the bench in three colors, and I'm thinking Travertine or possibly Limestone would work best for you. Please see attached images.
Many thanks for everything! Sincerely,
Eva
Barbara Israel Garden Antiques
Date: June 5, 2012
To: sbyrns@untermyergardens.org
Subject: Re: Untermyer Gardens Tour Dates posted
Dear Mr. Byrns:
My patrner and I recently toured the gardens over Memorial Day weekend. We were so impressed and delighted with the work you're doing up there in Yonkers. Tim is a great asset to your organization--his tour was informative, entertaining; much more enjoyable than what one normally gets from a trained docent who merely recites a rehearsed list of facts that ofttimes have nothing to do with what one is looking at. Tim's passion and commitment were everywhere apparent. Keep up the good work!
We're very much looking forward to visiting the garden again--it should be very interesting to see it in four seasons. Again, thank you for your efforts. We wish you the best of luck!
Jonathan
PS: as a great devotee of the work of Paul Manship, I would so very much like to see his Diana and Acteon put back in the garden!
From: George
To: ttilghman@untermyergardens.org
Sent: Saturday, December 1, 2012
Subject: thank you
Thanks for taking the time to give us a deeply inspiring tour. I was completely bowled over by the Persian garden and the whole property is really a very special place on many levels. Tell me how to contribute in my small way.
If you are ever in the mood to travel in these parts, it would be a great pleasure to show you around. Besides Hollister House, there are some other very interesting gardens in the neighborhood. You can check out our website at hollisterhousegarden.org. Hollister House could be described as a big garden constructed on a small scale.
Date: July 11, 2012
To: "sbyrns@untermyergardens.org" <sbyrns@untermyergardens.org>
Subject: Thank you for the Park Hill Annual Meeting Presentation
Dear Stephen,
Thank you so much for the wonderful, inspiring presentation at the annual meeting. Untermyer Gardens is truly a treasure, and I'm thrilled to know that it is now under your passionate stewardship. I am sending off a small donation to you in the mail today, but I wanted to reach out to see if there are any other ways I can be helpful to you as you seek to draw attention to the Conservancy. I am a Marketer by background and am currently taking the summer off to work on our house and travel, after 17 years at Saks Fifth Avenue. I'm not sure how I can be helpful to you if you have already have someone doing press releases and publication pitches. Are you already renting the gardens for photo shoots? I'm sorry if the idea of people tromping through the grounds is terrifying to you, but I was there yesterday with my former Creative Director at Saks and she said it would be a wonderful shoot location, which of course made me think of your fundraising needs. I'm sure you get many inquiries from well-intentioned people and I totally understand if, at this point, it's mostly donations you need, but please know that I would be happy to help if I can be useful.
Wishing you all the best, Kimberly
Dear Tim,
My wife and I want to thank you for the most incredibly informative tour of Untermyer Gardens yesterday. We were not prepared to see such beauty and were overwhelmed by it all. Your love of your work and these gardens
was quite evident throughout the tour, and that love is what made your presentation to us so passionate.
Thank you so very much for giving us your valuable time. We all marvel at what you have accomplished in one year and cannot wait to see how you progress from here into the future. That will keep us coming back time after time.
Sincerely,
Tom
Ossining, NY
Date: June 1, 2012
To: sbyrns@untermyergardens.org
Subject: Tour follow-up
Dear Steve,
I wanted to thank you again for sharing Untermyer Gardens two weekends ago. It's a terrific find -- unbelievably intact with such a rich history. You've inspired me to do more reading on Persian gardens. I agree with you that Untermyer Gardens is perhaps the best example of a Persian-inspired walled garden in the western hemisphere.
If you're not familiar with it, North Carolina National Bank (NCNB) Plaza, designed by Dan Kiley in Tampa, Florida, is an interesting contemporary interpretation of the Persian style. I worked on a historic inventory for this property a few years ago, before the City of Tampa undertook a "rehabilitation." You may also find the buildings, designed by Harry Wolf, interesting.
Although I can't make a substantial donation, I'd still like to support the Conservancy. If I can be of any assistance in your research or planning, please let me know. I'd be happy to volunteer my time to help locate additional historic documentation or to help identify potential funding sources.
Thank you again, both for sharing Untermyer Gardens and your own garden, which is a whole other level of glorious.
Best regards,
Chris
Subject: - Wonderful Tour - Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation
Dear Stephen,
My husband and I were on the Victorian Society tour of the Untermyer Garden this past Saturday. It was breathtaking and we, like everyone else, simply could not believe we had not heard of this astonishing garden previously.
When you described the Isadora Duncan dancers having performed on the lawn, we thought immediately that we should put you in touch with the director of the Isadora Duncan Dance Foundation (IDDF), in Manhattan.
At any rate, we first saw the IDDF perform on the grounds of the Alice Austen House on Staten Island, and have since seen a number of other memorable performances.
Perhaps something could be arranged with IDDF as a fundraiser for the Conservancy. I think to see the IDDF troupe perform on the very grounds where the actual dancers performed in 1932 would be thrilling. All best, and hope to be in touch. Many thanks again for a spectacular experience of a spectacular treasure!
Lesley
Hi Timothy,
We wanted send our appreciation for a fully stimulating tour of the gardens last Friday. I think it was much more than any of us had expected, and will have us reminiscing for a long time. Good luck as you write the next chapters of the garden in this important stage, and we are looking forward to help supporting and spreading the word on the journey.
Regards,
Matthew and the ECL Landscape Design team
Matthew Puntigam | Scheduler
Evan C. Lai Landscape Design, Inc.
125 West 85 th Street #GR NY, NY 10024
212- 496- 2513 fax: 212- 769- 0575
www.evanclailandscapedesign.com
Date: May 29, 2012
To: Stephen Byrns
Subject: Thank You!
Stephen,
It was really special and everyone was overcome with how great the garden is and your knowledge. We would like to come every year and follow the progress of the gardens and build a relationship with what I agree is America's best garden.
Thanks again, I can't wait to see how I can help, please let me know if there is anything I can do besides tell everyone to send money...I do a chamber music series in Newburgh and use proceeds for such things so Untermyer will definitely be on my series' radar.
David
Timothy:
I went on the Untermyer Gardens tour two weeks ago, and just wanted to thank you for the great work you are doing there!
As a Yonkers resident and novice gardner, I really appreciate the beauty and possibility the gardens hold. I also enjoyed looking at the old photos on the web site of Untermyer himself there.
Best regards and keep it up!
Abi
Subject: Thank you
Dear Stephen,
Somehow I left without saying a proper thank you for sharing your time and knowledge on the tour Saturday afternoon. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the Untermeyer Gardens and felt so privileged to have the benefit of your expertise. I am not an architect, nor am I a landscape specialist.
However, I know when I see something very special and I appreciate the beauty of such a place.
I was telling my brother about the 2000 year old columns and the Persian influence etc. He finally interrupted me, and said that he would enjoy a visit to the Untermeyer Gardens on his next visit to NYC. I suppose my enthusiasm was rather energetic.
In any case, thank you and the Board members as well as the master gardener, who we met on the tour, for making the Gardens a place that visitors may appreciate.
Happily, Salli
Hi Mr. Tilghman,
Thanks so much for the incredible tour that you gave us "rain or shine" yesterday. I have spent most of the day reading and viewing photos of the Untermeyers and the gardens. The glass lantern slides are just incredible. I hope you have some written records to back up the visuals in your restoration. It seems an endless project, particularly with the maturity of the current forest, but I'm sure that your efforts will continue to be rewarding in your find of new treasurers. I was particularly intrigued by the rock garden and it lack of any remaining "bones" such as old taxus, but I guess the dense shade did them all in. I am chairman of the Manhattan Chapter of the North American Rock Garden society and was serious when I said that the NARGS does make small grants for restoration of such gardens. You undoubtedly have some ground-work to do before you are ready to tackle the rock garden, but if there is any way the local chapter could help, I'm sure we would be interested. There is also a Hudson Valley Chapter whose members might be closer your site.
Anyway ... thanks a million - it was a true adventure and I loved sharing your obvious enthusiasm. Best to you and Marco,
Michael
Date: January 24, 2013
To: ttilghman@untermeyergardens.org
Subject: Wave Hill Talk
Hi Tim:
I just want to thank you and Stephen Byrns for the very professional and illuminating talk you gave last evening to the members of Wave Hill - of which my husband and I are members.
It must be one of the best kept secrets of our time in Garden Heritage. England has produced wonderful stories of rediscovered gardens (Heligan for example) and this one in its magnitude looks as if it will top the lot? I couldn't help thinking that this is the exciting part - putting the puzzle together and then deciding how and how much to put back together again. When it is done - it is maintenance and purpose to retain and that won't have the same excitement I don't think - but will introduce an era of satisfaction.
We will follow this development with interest and hopefully add our support to it at some stage.
Thanks again for a wonderful evening - one of the best lectures we have been to and we have been going to the Wave Hill lectures since they began. How do you get to sleep at night?
Regards and thanks again to you both - a worthy endeavour!
Ruth
Mr. Byrns,
I am looking forward to sharing your exquisite gardens with some of our patrons this summer. As I have told so many people, of the gardens I have visited, Untermyer Gardens has touched me most deeply.
Diane, Horticultural Programming
Deep Cut Gardens
Middletown, NJ
