Summer is finally here! This season, come and enjoy a very special horticulture installation in celebration of Madison Square Park’s Moon Tree, an American Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua, a tree that has recently landed in the north end of the park. Moon trees are trees that have grown from seeds that have journeyed deep into space and orbited the moon- making them botanical astronauts.

This year the horticulture team took inspiration from the moon tree’s lunar voyage by focusing on celestial themed plants and plantings. When you visit the gardens, you may see some patterns that might remind you of galaxies, or flowers that remind you of stars and planets. Not only are the plants visually interesting but some are in tune with the changes of the heavens, blooming only at select times. 

 The planting around the Seward monument was inspired by dawn and dusk. The garden features light yellows and oranges with flowers in tune with celestial bodies like Mirabilis jalapa, or Four’o’clocks, that open at dusk and close at dawn. In front of the Conkling monument a starry display of star-shaped flowers like Plumbago auriculata ‘Monott‘  and Pentas lanceolata ‘Starcluster White’ are joined with a sprinkling of Euphorbia hypericifolia ‘White Imp’ to mimic stars in the night sky. 

Around the fountain  the garden mimics the bright drama of the sun and daytime, centered around red, dramatic flowers like Angiozanthos x ‘Big Red’ that stretch out toward the sun, and Acmella oleracea that remind us of mini suns scattered in the garden beds behind benches.

For visitors who are interested in an evening of poetry and reflection, the reflecting pool is designed with the moon in mind, featuring softer colors and flowers that open only at night like Ipomea alba, appropriately named moonflower, and Cestrum nocturnum or night blooming jasmine, that release their soft fragrance for nighttime pollinators to visit. At the center, the aquatic garden features an amazing pure white waterlily that opens only at night, Nymphea ‘Missouri’ and our native waterlily, Nymphea odorata, which is sure to attract dragonflies this summer. Take a moment to watch the reflection of the moon in the pool’s water while surrounded by other aquatic perennials native to New York, like Typha latifolia, known as cat-tails, and Sagitteria latifolia, known as arrowhead because of its pointed leaf shape. 

Whatever area of the park you are visiting this summer, take note that every plant that is planted in Madison Square Park is intentional and thought out. If you stop and take a moment to take in a flower or tree, maybe even to snap a picture, the horticulture team will know their goal was achieved! 

Trees On The Moon

Wouldn’t it be cool, if there were trees on the moon

and you could see right through to their leaves.

Well the grass up there would be blue, flowers unnamed,

that would be all up to you.

Moonpie, alien, and galactical stars,

you could name them after people, or luxury cars.

mine would be named Madison, and she would glow in the dark.

And reside here on earth, at Madison Square Park.

-Poem by Michael Kempf, Horticulture and Turfgrass Associate