'Milo's Garden' In Carroll Park Gets Certified As Wildlife Habitat

"Milo's Garden', a small blooming border in Carroll Park, was just certified as a wildlife habitat by the World Wildlife Federation thanks to Carroll Gardener Laura Shippey. For the last few years, Laura has lovingly tended to the patch at the corner of Smith and Carroll Streets as a volunteer for Friends Of Carroll Park, turning it into a wonderful butterfly garden, filled with native plants.

This spring, Laura applied to the World Wildlife Federation to have this little oasis considered as a wildlife habitat. In order to get certification, the garden needed the four major habitat elements needed for wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover and places to raise young. Three of the elements were already provided by the plantings. In order to satisfy the fourth element, water, Laura turned to Brooklyn Sculptor Adam Distenfeld of Brooklyn Rockwerks. Adam takes slabs of gneiss dating from the glacial period, unearthed locally during excavations, and recycles them into beautiful pieces of art. Adam made a special bird bath for Milo's Garden, which was installed in May.

The World Wildlife Federation just sent Laura a certification plaque, which is now proudly displayed on the gate to the garden.

Thanks, Laura, for your dedication to Carroll Park, to the community and to wildlife. I happily go out of my way to walk past Milo's Garden to admire the blooms.

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'Milo's Garden' In Carroll Park Gets A Special Bird Bath

Simon and Laura Shippey with son Noah

Artist Adam Distenfeld with the new stone bird bath he sculpted for Milo's Garden

Installation of the bird bath

Noah in Milo's Garden

Over the last few years, Laura Shippey, one of the volunteers of Friends of Carroll Park, has turned the planting area at the corner of Carroll Street and Smith Street into a wonderful butterfly garden, filled with native plants. Recently, Laura has started the process of having this flower border of the park certified as a wildlife garden by the National Wildlife Federation.

One of the elements needed for the certification is a birdbath.

Laura turned to Brooklyn Sculptor Adam Distenfeld of Brooklyn Rockwerks. Adam takes slabs of gneiss dating from the glacial period, unearthed locally during excavations, and recycles them into beautiful pieces of art and water fountains.

On Thursday morning, Laura, her husband Simon and son Noah gathered in 'Milo's Garden' as Distenfeld carefully placed the new bird bath into place. Amidst the flowering irises, it looks lovely. I am sure everyone will enjoy the addition.

It is Laura's hope that the garden will become an oasis for the community.

Related Reading:

With Your Help, A Corner Of Carroll Park Can Be Transformed Into A Butterfly Garden

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