Updated posts August 2026
LongHouse Reserve Honors Abra Lee at Its Biannual Landscape Luncheon
LongHouse Reserve celebrated their biannual Landscape Luncheon with an award presented to horticulturalist and historian Abra Lee. In her remarkable talk on the contributions of Black women, spanning antebellum history to the present day, she explained, “A beautiful thing about Black garden history is that it can’t be separated from Black history, and it can’t be separated from American history.”
The day began with Lee’s lecture, followed by a ceremony and luncheon. From a stage erected in front of LongHouse Reserve’s Fly’s Eye Dome by Buckminster Fuller, Director Carrie Rebora Barratt presented the award to Ms. Lee, declaring, “Abra’s research, documenting the invisible women of color who conquered the soil, breaks new ground in garden history. Her poignant stories, personal narrative, and deep expertise bring honor to LongHouse. She is deserving of this award and much more.”
Joining them on stage was the New York Botanical Garden’s Richard Smith. Both were clearly moved by the moment.
A Gathering Rooted in History and Nature
Guests were seated at four very long tables, spread with Larsen fabrics and fall flowers. In attendance were LongHouse Reserve Board of Trustees and Garden Committee members, including Dianne Benson, Louis Bradbury, Ernie Cavallo, Emma Clurman, Sherri Donghia, Anne and Nick Erni, Nina Gillman, Elizabeth Lear, Deborah Nevins, Geoffrey Nimmer, Peter Olsen, Tony Piazza, Gael Towey, Linda Willett, and Jim Zajac, as well as Chantal Bacon, Nina Bransfield, Ronne Fisher, Lee Fryd, Cate Halsey, Alice Hope, and Laurie Lambrecht.
Why Lee’s Work Matters Beyond a Single Luncheon
What made this year’s recognition especially resonant was how directly Lee’s scholarship fills a documented gap in horticultural history. Garden history has long celebrated its most famous cultivators and designers while overlooking the labor and expertise of Black women whose knowledge shaped American landscapes for generations. By centering those overlooked contributions, Lee’s work doesn’t just add names to the historical record, it reframes how the entire field understands who built American gardening traditions in the first place.
In conclusion, the LongHouse Reserve Landscape Luncheon offers a unique opportunity to dine amid the serene beauty of nature. This event not only satisfies the palate but also nourishes the soul with its stunning surroundings. It’s a perfect blend of culinary delight and natural wonder, making it an experience to remember.
Coming soon, Abra Lee’s book, Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers.
