Bayside garden center beautifies the U.S. Open

Now that the world's top tennis players have come to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park for the 2006 U.S. Open, spectators are noticing some things off the courts . . . the flowers.
For the past 20 years, Keil Brothers, Inc. has been planning and planting the 55-acre grounds of the Open. However, this year the Bayside-based garden center has outdone itself.
&#8220It's bigger, better and more beautiful than ever,” said Ron Keil, Vice President, who noted that the 2006 Open plantings focus on color.
&#8220We outdid ourselves. We've gotten stellar reviews.”
According to Keil, work begins right after the July 4 holiday and extends right through opening day.
Kieran Darce, in conjunction with Keil and officials from the park and the United States Tennis Association (USTA), designs the layout - which changes from year to year - beginning as early as January, and then a full crew plants tens of thousands of flowers outside - from annuals to perennials to shrubs.
&#8220Two very talented young ladies -Lynne Buckley and Kathie Kosky” also spruce up the President's Gate, the Media Center, and the Players Operations area.
The begonias, impatiens, petunias and scores of other plants are all locally grown months in advance, &#8220so everything is in its prime.”
When asked what next year's design will feature, Keil told The Queens Courier, &#8220We'll do our best to make it even better.”