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Plant Talk

Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Yellowhorn and Red Horse Chestnut

Posted in Gardening Tips on May 28 2014, by Sonia Uyterhoeven

Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG’s Gardener for Public Education.

Flowers of Aesculus × carnea 'Briotii'
Flowers of Aesculus × carnea ‘Briotii’

When I was a kid, I used to collect buckeyes or horse chestnuts, shine them and keep them in my pocket for good luck. The large, shiny nuts were a perfect treasure for a kid, and there is a centuries-old tradition that a buckeye in your pocket is a sign that good luck is on its way. The nickname “buckeye” comes from the Native Americans who thought the nut resembled a deer’s eye. My mother went to college in Ohio and my grandparents were from western Pennsylvania, so the common name buckeye was used in my household instead of horse chestnut.

Horse chestnuts are delightful in autumn, when the large nuts litter the ground beneath the trees after the prickly, globe-like husks split open to reveal the treasure inside. Equally intoxicating are the statuesque flowers of the horse chestnut in spring. These great spires of red, pink, or white flowers appear in late spring and liven up the landscape.

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Wildlife Photographer’s Notebook: Great-Horned Owls 2014

Posted in Wildlife on May 27 2014, by Patricia Gonzalez

Patricia Gonzalez is an NYBG Visitor Services Attendant and avid wildlife photographer.

The Great-horned Owl nest of 2009
The Great-horned Owl nest of 2009

I have had the pleasure of taking thousands of photos of wildlife at The New York Botanical Garden since my first treks here in 2008. Among the birds of prey that I enjoy photographing are the Great-horned Owls. My first encounter with these winged hunters was back in March of 2009.

It was a little after 4:00 p.m. as I was walking down Azalea Way that I heard hooting coming from the Forest. I looked through the trees only to be surprised by the outline of an owl. Back then, I was shooting with a small point-and-shoot that had nowhere near the zoom range of my current camera. But it didn’t matter. What was important was that I got to see an amazing member of the animal kingdom for the first time, and I got a photo!

Later that month I spotted the female owl and one of her two hatchlings in the nest, which was located in a snag overlooking a trail near the edge of the Forest. I’ll never forget the day when a fluffy little head popped up and looked right into my camera. It’s still one of my all-time favorite photographs.

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Morning Eye Candy: Last Firecrackers

Posted in Photography on May 24 2014, by Matt Newman

The daydreamy colors of the Azalea Garden’s spring bloom have peaked and are on their way back down. The last of the fireworks aren’t at all quiet, of course.

Rhododendron 'Hinomayo'

Rhododendron ‘Hinomayo’ – Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Fox Tails Flourish Along the Seasonal Walk

Posted in Horticulture on May 23 2014, by Kristin Schleiter

Kristin Schleiter is the NYBG’s Associate Vice President of Outdoor Gardens and Senior Curator. She oversees the wonderful gardening team that keeps our flowering gardens looking top notch, curates the herbaceous gardens and collections, and manages the curator of woody plants. She lives and gardens in Fairfield, CT.

Himalayan fox tail lily
Himalayan fox tail lily
(Eremerus himalaicus)

One of my favorite plants on our new Seasonal Walk so far is the Himalayan fox tail lily, Eremerus himalaicus. Re-designed by renowned designer Piet Oudolf and planted late last fall, it has been a thrill to watch the garden unfold. After a very cold winter filled with lots of nail-biting, the plants have emerged healthy, happy, and simply glorious. As all the best gardens do, this one changes magically from week to week. The leading characters now are our native columbine Aquilegia canadensis (complete with hummingbirds darting around enjoying the red and yellow flowers) and the magical Himalayan fox tail lily. Elegant spires of white star-shaped flowers dance gracefully down the length of the double border. They are four feet tall this year, but hold the promise of more height in years to come as they settle in.

Fox tail lilies are easy to plant. Their tubers look much like a sea star with a whole mess of legs wearing a dunce cap. Dig a hole wide enough to spread out their roots but not too deep—their noses should be just a few inches underground. They don’t enjoy wet soil and love the sun.

The Seasonal Walk is only just beginning to seduce with its tapestry of plants. I love the fox tail lilies now, but I’m sure there is something else that will start blooming next month that will steal my fickle heart.

This Weekend: A Poetry Reading & Memorial Day Family Fun

Posted in Programs and Events on May 23 2014, by Lansing Moore

peonyHappy Friday! It’s a particularly happy one because it’s almost Memorial Day. That means we have three days of exciting activities for all ages lined up to help you celebrate the official beginning of summer at the Garden with a well-deserved long weekend.

This weekend is the time to revel in the lyricism of past masters with this Saturday’s Groundbreakers Poetry Reading, an enlightening journey to a past century through the words of Edna St. Vincent Millay—words you can also see adorning the grounds in our Groundbreakers Poetry Walk. None other than renowned feminist poet Eavan Boland will be in attendance to recite these classic poems. Meanwhile, the little ones can celebrate Memorial Day with the uplifting music of John Philip Sousa and make some tunes of their own during SousaKazooza! It’s just one of a whole roster of new family programs we have lined up for summer—and it all begins this weekend at the Garden!

Click through for more details on all the ways you can enjoy the world of Groundbreakers, and explore a glittering era of America’s past this Memorial Day Weekend.

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