By Connor Adams Sheets
The Queens Botanical Garden has long depended on relationships with the community to keep its operation blooming.
The Flushing institution honored its long-lasting connection Tuesday to the sizable Korean-American population that has long supported it with donations, volunteer work and attention.
Dr. Joon J. Bang led a charter group of 10 members to form the Korean-American Friends of the Queens Botanical Garden group, which adopted and sponsored the lovely Circle Garden built in a converted fountain on May 21, 2002.
Tuesday’s event was a celebration of the group’s decade-long partnership with and commitment to QBG and the enduring beauty of the Circle Garden.
“For 10 years there’s been a Korean-American friends group. Dr. Bang approached me 10 years ago and said he wanted to help create a Korean focal point, to introduce people to one another and teach them about the garden,” QBG Executive Director Susan Lacerte said. “The Circle Garden gives a beautiful picture to the relationship between this group and the Korean community.”
The fete was also the official unveiling of the Circle Garden’s new signage, which was installed recently with state funds secured by former state Sen. Frank Padavan. The Circle Garden features a range of beautiful flora, including plants native to Korea such as the cosmo, mandina and the country’s national flower, the Rose-of-Sharon.
Now it features a bronze plaque made to inform visitors and done in a uniform manner to match other signs at the botanical garden, at 43-50 Main St.
“Look at the schoolchildren walking by the garden, enjoying nature. They are the future and that’s why we must contribute what we have. We’re supporting our public institutions because that’s our future,” Bang said. “We are one when we come to the garden or nature, when the children are walking by.”
Bang came to America from Korea in 1973 and said the “American spirit” of volunteering, philanthropy and community service has inspired him to do good works such as that which he has done to help the QBG.
For more information about QBG and its events or to plan a visit to its grounds, go to queensbotanical.org.
Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.
