Efflorescence for Septuagesimo Uno

On the south side of West 71st Street, a quiet, skinny city park hides between the brownstones. Septuagesimo Uno offers a calm place to sit, but not much else. Aside from its 6 benches and overgrown clump of bamboo, a brick walkway is lined with huge barren planters. So I plan to rejuvenate the park by planting lush, colorful flowers that will thrive in its shade and delight its visitors.

In speaking with park visitors about my project, I received total encouragement and support. One visitor even gave me an immediate $20 donation!

Once I have raised enough money, I will purchase shade-appropriate plants from Urban Garden, a new nursery uptown that has the best prices and has offered to deliver my purchase to the park for free. I plan to spend one weekend cleaning up and replanting the park's flower beds.

I have already begun planning for this project by taking measurements and doing some research:

1. The park has about 426 square feet of arable flower beds. Based on observation and calculation, I estimate that I will need about 950 impatiens or mums (depending on the planting time), 27 astilbe plants, and 20 hostas.
2. Urban Garden, a new nursery on 116th street, has the best prices on these shade-loving plants ($990 total), and has offered to deliver them to the park for free.

When the time comes to get my hands dirty, I will take the following steps:

1. Prepare the flower beds: remove old bricks, rocks, refuse; remove weeds; till the existing soil; and incorporate new, nutrient-rich soil.
2. Arrange new flowers in a pleasing design and plant them.
3. Water flower beds.
4. Clean up: sweep up loose dirt/leaves and collect empty pots/cartons.

Septuagesimo Uno is a charming place that deserves some sprucing up and, as a loyal Upper West-sider who longs to restore my green thumb, I am willing to do it!