White Plains Beautification Foundation

Jeanne Wilcox
New WPBF VP for Garden & Landscape

Jeanne Wilcox is WPBF’s new Vice-President for Garden
& Landscape with overall responsibility for planting and maintaining the Foundation’s 50 gardens.

Jeanne has been a professional editor and writer for over 30 years, but began a second career in the 1990s while living in London. There she pursued a Certificate in Horticulture from Britain’s Royal Horticultural Society in 1997-98.

Once back in the States, she spent a year of intensive study at the New York Botanical Garden to earn a Certificate in Landscape Design in 2002. That same year, she became a Master Gardener volunteer with Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Westchester County and launched her own garden design business, Jeanne’s Gardens & Landscapes. She has worked at Nabel’s and Kent Countryside nurseries, has been an estate gardener, and has completed multiple homeowner garden-design and installation projects. She is currently employed part-time by Cornell University Cooperative Extension as Master Gardener Coordinator and Media Relations Director.

She is also on the board of the Taconic Gardeners Club where she serves as director of Programs. An avid gardener for decades, Jeanne is delighted and proud to be a part of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. She has lived in White Plains with her husband, Peter, and daughter, Leslie, since 1987, except during their four-year stint in London. “When we left London and returned to White Plains in 1998,” She says, “I was thrilled by the beautiful gateway and downtown gardens in the city. I’m so proud to be part of this group that has brought so much beauty to White Plains.”

Geneva's Garden
Located in the North Broadway medium at Barker Avenue.

The Basket was Beautified
Thanks to a cooperative effort in late August and early September, 2005, The Basket at South Broadway and Armory Place was cleaned free of moss, repaired with several new pieces of wood woven into the sides and edge pieces replaced, hand stained, and newly planted with annual flowers. A White Plains Beautification gift to the city in September 1996, the Basket was conceived by Barbara Vrooman and built by Jack McGrath at Nabel’s Nurseries over a four month period.

As with any piece of wood left outside in the elements, it was time for repair and refinishing, and as luck would have it, the creator was in town. The Department of Public Works staff scrubbed the basket by hand after Commissioner Bud Nicoletti determined power washing could do it harm. Next, the basket was repaired by the volunteer efforts of Jack McGrath, now living in Florida, his grandson Stephen Benson, and White Plains resident Peter Wilcox (husband of V.P. and Garden and Landscape Chair Jeanne Wilcox). Finally the city returned to re-stain the whole basket to preserve the wood and make it gorgeous once again. Plantings for the basket are changed seasonally by Nabel’s Nurseries as part of the Adopt-A-Park Program. The Major Sponsors for this amazing planter are Barbara and Richard Dannenberg. Keep a lookout for the stunning winter and holiday display.

The Basket Restored: Adopt-A-Park Sponsors Barbara and Richard Dannenburg. Pictured at Right: Peter Wilcox, Stephen Benson, Barbara Vrooman, Jack McGrath, and Roland Barnes.

This past summer, the majestic copper beech tree in Malmud Park developed a deadly fungus disease that would surely have killed it had quick action not been taken. The Care of Trees, which adopted and now generously cares for this beloved tree, quickly came to the rescue. With the help of consulting arborist Frank Buddingh', of Buddinghtree Consultancy, LLC, The Care of Trees treated and cured the ailing beech tree. More recently, the tree needed pruning, and workers from The Care of Trees took on the task. Pictured here are, from left to right, Juan Romero, WPBF advisor Patrick Laidman, Domingo Martinez and Gabriel Moreno.