Crews Continue Work After Tropical Storm Isaias

The Garden’s Horticulture staff continues to clean up debris and restore trees after last week’s unusually windy summer storm. Tropical Storm Isaias caused extensive tree damage, not just in the Garden, but throughout the city. Strong winds damaged limbs and destroyed entire trees heavy with wet summer foliage, with gusts continuing for hours, says Ronnit Bendavid-Val, director of Horticulture.

Limbs were broken in multiple locations around the Garden, and many sections have been closed intermittently while crews remove hanging limbs, clean up debris, and secure affected areas.

Sadly, the 40-year-old ‘Elizabeth’ Magnolia along Magnolia Plaza was destroyed in the storm. It was one of the oldest and most beloved specimens in BBG’s Magnolia Collection and was one of the hybrids developed by the Garden’s magnolia breeding programs. A large silverleaf linden tree in the Osborne Garden was also seriously damaged and is being assessed to determine if it can be saved.

Work is still ongoing throughout the Garden.