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By DIANE S. WILLIAMS

Local 374 members at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden took their annual holiday celebration outdoors. Thinking outside the box, the essential workers at the 53-acre urban garden shook things up to share holiday cheer even as the global COVID-19 pandemic — and the Omicron variant — threatens to dampen seasonal gatherings.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the members couldn’t gather indoors,” said Dan McCabe, DC 37 Council Rep. “They scrapped their annual Christmas potluck and bake off party they usually hold in the Conservatory. Instead, they had an open-air crafting event on Dec. 13. Changing the venue to an outdoor wreath-making party with materials grown at the BBG was really clever, fun, and sweet.”

Shop steward Maeve Turner snapped photos of members assembling holiday wreaths from pine tree boughs, holly and pinecones grown at the popular public garden.

Quasi-Public Employees Local 374 represents Maintainers, Attendant Guards, Instructors, Custodians, Gardeners, Motor Vehicle Operators, Clerical Associates and Secretaries at BBG, New York Botanic Garden, Queens Botanic Garden, the New York Public Library and the Institute for Ecosystems Studies.