Double Fisting Rose Bushes

Every weekend is an adventure, and this weekend was spent with the Junior League in Thompkins Square Park, as part of the Playground Improvement Project. (I do it every year. Last year I was laying sod up in the Cloisters.) My crew of 13 ladies planted about 60 rose bushes all over the park. The weather could not have been more glorious.

Next weekend: A nine-mile hike in the Hudson Valley!

Laying Sod Is The New Black

One of the New York Junior League's signature projects is the Playground Improvement Project, in which they adopt a New York City playground for a year and use their volunteer manpower to improve it. During my five years in the League I've worked on four different New York City playgrounds. This weekend's, up at Fort Tryon park by The Cloisters, was probably my favorite. Myself and about 20 other women -- most of whom are in their early 20s -- sodded an enormous lawn.

Working with sod is hard work. It's heavy and the pieces have to fit perfectly against each other, like a giant game of tetris. It's preferable to sod in the fall, but when you have 20, very able-bodied young women on hand, you roll out the sod.

Sod is serious business. And heavy.


Gettin' it done...


Favorite photo from the day: my spring provisional group re-enacts American Gothic.


Sod is sexy!


Me with a giant knife. Possible Christmas card selection?


Almost there...


Finished product! The ladies are totally having a moment.