Perennial Border

Along the east side of Lily Pool Terrace is a diverse collection of more than a hundred kinds of herbaceous plants and summer-flowering shrubs.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden's mixed perennial border exemplifies an "American style" that is just as exuberant and exciting as any found in England. Original designer Conni Cross combined trees and shrubs with a diverse palette of herbaceous perennials and bulbs suited to our climate.

The border stretches approximately 300 feet along the facades of the education greenhouses, Palm House, and Garden Gift Shop—the entire length of Lily Pool Terrace. A hedge of upright, columnar yews (Taxus baccata 'Hibernica') forms a dark evergreen backdrop.

On closer inspection, the border is divided into 12 small plots. Bricks laid in sand in a herringbone pattern form walkways that permit viewing each bed from all sides.

The 12 small mini-borders average 25 to 30 feet long by 15 feet deep. The topsoil (a sandy loam) is amended with leaf mold and other composted organic matter from the Garden's own composting program to create a well-drained but fertile growing medium for perennials.

Cayleb Long

Cayleb Long is the CuratorGardener of the Annual & Perennial Borders, Lily Pool Terrace, and Magnolia Collections at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. As a native Oregonian, Cayleb developed a passion for Northwestern wild flowers and native plants while living and traveling in the region. Upon moving to New York in 2001, Cayleb began a successful business designing and installing gardens in NYC. Transitioning to public horticulture in 2006, Cayleb joined the staff at Brooklyn Botanic Garden as Horticulture Intern, received a Certificate in Horticulture from BBG, and worked as Assistant Gardener before taking his current position in 2008. Cayleb has studied at BBG, NYBG and around the country and has developed gardens in New York, Oregon, Michigan, and Florida. He has interests in organic gardening, sustainable ecologies, and the Farm to Fork movement. Cayleb also teaches the Herbaceous Plant Identification course for BBG's Horticulture Certificate Program.