Archive for November 16th, 2011

Poetic Inspiration in the Forest

Posted in People, Video on November 16th, 2011 by Rustin Dwyer – Be the first to comment

In recent weeks, we’ve been telling you about the addition of a literary element to our collection of audio tours. We’ve also been working hard to recover from October’s unseasonably early snowstorm in time for the dedication of our 50-acre Forest.

In the spirit of this drive, here’s a video of author Camille Rankine‘s poem, “Instructions on the Forest,” which was filmed in and inspired by our recently rededicated Forest.
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Rare Specimens: The Ross Conifer Collection

Posted in Around the Garden, Gardens and Collections on November 16th, 2011 by Joyce Newman – Be the first to comment
Tanyosho Pines

Tanyosho pines (Pinus densiflora 'Umbraculifera')

The Arthur and Janet Ross Conifer Arboretum at The New York Botanical Garden covers nearly 40 acres of rolling landscape in the heart of the garden. It became the first collection of living plants at the Garden with plantings started in 1901, and now boasts more than 250 mature conifers, some of which are more than 100 years old.

Some of the earliest conifers to arrive at the garden–planted in 1908–are the Tanyosho pines, conifers that display a beautiful, orange-red bark with branches that can often be seen spreading in an umbrella shape. Our grove of five mature specimens is a very unique example of the species in the U.S., especially when considering that each tree is more than a century old.

Did you know that globally, boreal conifer forests cover more land mass than any other type of forest on the planet? In fact, they take up more space than all of the tropical rain forests combined. This makes conifers an extremely important family of trees, not to mention record-holders for the world’s oldest, tallest, and most massive trees.
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Morning Eye Candy: Trolley, Track, Caboose

Posted in Holiday Train Show, Photography on November 16th, 2011 by Ann Rafalko – Be the first to comment

The tracks are laid, and the trains are out. Just two more days until the Holiday Train Show!

Freshly laid tracks in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

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