Beverley Hall has her own “little peaceful oasis” on Lincoln Place, in between Nostrand and New York avenues. Filled with blooming marigolds, hydrangeas, ferns, and more, hers is one of the many green spaces along the block that helped elevate it to the No. 1 spot in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest — for the third time in the competition’s history.
While Hall and her 9-year-old Husky, Brooklyn, enjoy the garden each day, people from across the borough braved the heat Tuesday to celebrate Hall and her neighbors’ victory in the annual match held by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and admire their lush gardens.
Hall, who has lived on the block since 2003, said she has always loved flowers and started modestly transforming her front yard years ago. More recently she delved into the project head first with the encouragement of block garden leaders Althea Joseph and Perri Edwards. Both helped establish the block’s Preserving Lincoln’s Abundant Natural Treasures, aptly shortened to P.L.A.N.T.
Filled with lush greenery and colorful blooms, Hall’s front yard today is the picture of urban gardening — and there are plans still for a rock garden. “Every year I’m doing a little better,” Hall said, smiling.
“I’m in Brooklyn, I’m in the middle of Brooklyn, but I’m still inundated with all of this greenery. We have so many butterflies — and the bees, and the birds.”
A couple of doors down, Kenneth Harper, whose family has lived in their home since 1955, said the competition “wasn’t even on my radar” four years ago. Now, he said, “I can’t even imagine myself going forward in life without being a gardener.”
Through the Greenest Block competition, Harper, his family, and the entire block come together to work towards the one goal. It helped that in the past they’d done very well, he said, laughing. “I think one of the greatest things about it is that it has a way of enriching our lives in many ways. It really, really helps us to inspire others,” he said.
As for gardening, he said it changes perspectives and gives new opportunities for appreciation. “I think it’s something that enriches life, starting here and starting with my family, being able to spread that by way of showing what we’re able to do in front of our home. Just beautifying, that’s another thing too, it beautifies the block. And one block at a time, I think that we can do it throughout Brooklyn.”
And for Edwards and Joseph, the unstoppable pair behind the block’s gardening efforts, that is the goal. On accepting the first place prize, Joseph told the dozens of people gathered that she and Edwards loved mentoring and had done so in many forms, from one-on-one sessions to larger group trainings.
“If you want help, we are here—our friends from Eastern Parkway, Hampton Pace, East 25th Street — we’re all here to mentor newbies, so come on in and join us, we’re so thankful for everyone being here,” she said.
Of the 112 entrants to this year’s competition, 21 were first-timers, something Edwards said is very exciting, adding she looks forward to seeing all their work. Many of those newbies are well aware of P.L.A.N.T and Lincoln Place’s dominance in the urban gardening landscape, and Edwards said it is great they are joining the growing community helping to beautify Brooklyn’s blocks.
Edwards said P.L.A.N.T members and members of two of the other blocks in the competition, Crown Heights Keepers and Hampton Place, have brunch together where they exchange “plants, seeds, and ideas.”
“We go to each other’s blocks and we help. Last year when we weren’t in it, I spent half of my summer on Hampton Place helping them. We share, we don’t keep things to ourselves, you know, we really would like all of Brooklyn to look like this,” she said.
Throughout the history of the almost 30-year-old competition, Lincoln Place between Nostrand and New York avenues had proven its dominance with its three first place gold medals, Brooklyn Botanic Garden President Adrian Benepe said.
All along the block, blooming marigolds, petunias, hydrangeas, sunflowers, sedum, and begonias are interspersed with elephant ears, coleus, heuchera, hostas, caladium, and ferns. A visitor will also spot many upcycled items, including a vintage stove, food cans, and a pair of blue faux snakeskin boots. In one tree pit, 6-year-old Kassidy had created a small fairy garden complete with two resting fairies.
“This is an Olympic quality performance for this block and it exemplifies the spirit the Greenest Block in Brooklyn was founded on: mentoring younger blocks and sharing the skills, that’s what this block has done,” Benepe said.
The competition “brings neighbors together, it encourages sustainable gardening and sustainable neighborhoods…and educates generations of plant lovers throughout this great borough.”
This year, two new categories were introduced: Rookie of the Year, which went to HER/King Atlantic Block Association on Agate Court in Bed Stuy, and Media Darling, judged by the New York Post and awarded to Crown Heights Keepers on Eastern Parkway between Bedford and Franklin avenues.
This year’s runner-up for the Greenest Block was also Crown Heights Keepers and third place went to Bay Ridge’s Ridge Boulevard between 71st Street & Ovington Avenue.
The Greenest Storefront in Brooklyn was awarded to Muse Cafe at 497 6th Avenue in Park Slope, and the Leadership in Sustainability Award was handed to Maple Street Community Garden in Prospect Lefferts Garden.
The full list of winners in all categories can be viewed on the Brooklyn Botanic Garden website.
This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site Brownstoner
