Liz Dreeben has worked as a gardener at Untermyer Gardens since 2015, and she cherishes every moment and every aspect of her job.
“This is the best office I could ever ask for,” she says. “I love the Hudson River views, the sounds of nature, the soaring birds, and even the pesky insects. One day, a praying mantis spent the whole day with me, just hanging out on my shoulders!”
A self-taught landscaper, Dreeben once cared for the grass, flowers, trees and other plants at Rainbow Ridge, a pet cemetery in Fishkill that she bought and operated with a friend in 2003. A Yonkers native, Liz raised three daughters who have all have graduated from Yonkers schools. The passion for the earth and what grows from it spans generations: one daughter now owns a 30-acre farm in the Catskills.
Liz’s creative streak is evident in the Tudor trellis she built from Hudson River drift wood for the ornamental vegetable garden.
“I started collecting Hudson River driftwood when I was very young, I’ve built chairs and a bench from driftwood that won third place in an art competition. It takes me about a year of walking the river’s shoreline to find the right wood.”
Asked what advice she would give amateur gardeners, Dreeben doesn’t hesitate: “Weeding your garden is the most important task. And learn how to best maintain your plants once they are established. You also need to adapt your caretaking to the weather. Our climate is changing and bringing new challenges.”
Her passion for Untermyer Gardens—and for gardening itself—is unmistakable.
“I love to give back to people, to our environment. If I can grow a healthy, beautiful plant that makes people smile, it’s worth all the work.”
