Archive for March 14th, 2012

And the Winners Are … The Caribbean Garden Photography Contest

Posted in Photography on March 14th, 2012 by Ann Rafalko – 1 Comment

Drum roll please, because after six weeks of gorgeous photographs taken during the Caribbean Garden Photography Contest, we finally have our two Grand Prize winners. So without further ado I give you:

The Sense of Place Grand Prize Winner: Mika Sato’s serene shot of the Aquatic Plants Gallery

NYBG Caribbean Garden

NYBG Caribbean Garden by Mika Sato

The Macro Grand Prize Winner: Barbara Reiner’s technicolor shot of a Passionflower

Passionflower

Passionflower by Barbara Reiner

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Imagining the Green Wall

Posted in The Orchid Show on March 14th, 2012 by Matt Newman – Be the first to comment

In looking at the green walls that Patrick Blanc pulls from his imagination, you might regard each one as something similar to a painting. In a way, they are–they rely on careful color choices and shapes to create (in this case) an abstract flow. But depending on the artist you ask, the process of building a green wall can be far more organization-intensive.

Blanc’s Orchid Show creations–as with those he builds around the world–require planning. A lot of planning. Plants must be picked not only for their visual appeal but for the way they mesh with the rest of the leafy things on the wall. Sturdy, light-thirsty plants may need to sit higher up, while shade-loving species fit in lower on the totem pole to ensure each individual can thrive within the miniature ecosystem. There is nothing haphazard about the selections. And once Dr. Blanc has a solid idea of what he wants to fit into a given wall, he must then sketch out a blueprint using finely-delineated sections for each type of plant. This is how the swooping, soft-edged sections of color and texture come about.
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Morning Eye Candy: Siberian Blue

Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on March 14th, 2012 by Matt Newman – Be the first to comment

Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) doesn’t actually grow in Siberia, oddly enough. But its cool blue petals are still paradoxically warm and welcome as winter nears its sign-off.

Photo by Amy Weiss.