By Laura Lane
On Mother's Day alone, 500 people came to the hospital's greenhouse to purchase geraniums, hanging baskets, petunias and patio pots. Some of the customers were employees of the hospital, but many had stopped by right off the street.
They were not bargain hunters, because the prices at the hospital's greenhouse are typical. More likely, they were drawn to the old-fashioned attention and care given by the volunteers who work at the greenhouse.
Vinny Piscitelli, 75, a retired Nassau County parks worker, runs the greenhouse. He and a group of other seniors ranging from a retired police officer to an ex-cab driver spend many hours each week volunteering their time to bring a little sunshine to the lives of hospital employees and area residents.
"On Christmas Eve, I sewed 500 geraniums so they could be ready for April 1," Piscitelli said. "Actually I do the bulk of the sewing from December until May, and then I sell the annuals in May."
When entering the greenhouse, located off the beaten path on hospital property, one cannot help but feel at peace. The area is quiet, and even though Piscitelli plays his radio, it's as though you can almost hear the flowers growing.
Piscitelli's floral arrangements are so beautiful, they have been used by the hospital as centerpieces for their dinners and breakfasts. On any given day, employees come by to ask Piscitelli advice on problems they are having with their own gardens, and often he is asked to make custom arrangements in patio pots or hanging planters.
Piscitelli seems to really enjoy this and the people he caters to. He believes gardening is in his blood.
"My father was a butler in the mansions in Westbury, and my grandfather worked at Hicks [Nursery]," Piscitelli said. "I was working at the bank to make some money after I retired from the Parks Department and decided to volunteer here. I got tired of making money, and I decided to stay at the greenhouse instead."
Piscitelli has volunteered for 12 years at the greenhouse. When he began, the Nassau County Grounds Department ran it, selling mostly poinsettias and geraniums. Eventually the hospital made the decision to staff the greenhouse with only volunteers, and Piscitelli slowly changed the operation entirely.
"I wanted to grow different types of plants, which is hard," Piscitelli said. "Usually a greenhouse has one plant. This year I'm going to sell cut flowers too. I even sell orchids."
The hospital sells the flowers in the lobby, and the proceeds go to the auxiliary, hospital volunteers who help fund raise. They, in turn, take the profits to buy equipment for different parts of the hospital or donate it to be used in units such as the Women's Health Care Center and Children's Health Care Center.
"We are making $1,500 a week, and we made over $3,000 on Mother's Day," Piscitelli said. "This year was our biggest increase in revenue."
Tom Giacomaro, 72, also helps in the greenhouse. A former Eisenhower Park Golf Course employee, he said Piscitelli talked him into taking the job.
"I like to learn continuously, and here I get knowledge of plants and see the end product," Giacomaro said. "I always had a garden."
Piscitelli and fellow volunteers are available for any questions a customer may have as they browse, and according to him, there are many.
"The most commonly asked questions are what the difference is between annuals and perennials and also what is good in sun and what is good in shade," Piscitelli said. "I'll give advice to anyone having problems with their plants. I really have a passion for watching things grow."
