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

Rubus idaeus ‘Raspberry Shortcake’

Most of us like our blueberries served in a bowl. Of course, very few of us imagine growing them in a bowl, but that is precisely what modern hybridizers are allowing us to do. I exaggerate when I say bowl–I hope you understand that. But growing blueberries in a container–and a reasonably sized container, at that–is now a reality.

I have been perusing information from growers on the new introductions for 2013 and have found some truly interesting edibles. Fall Creek Farm & Nurseries of Oregon have a new series coming out this year called the BrazelBerries™ collection. The collection consists of two dwarf blueberries and one thornless raspberry which are small enough to comfortably tuck into a container for your patio garden.
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It’s not ready to make its way into a batch of s’mores just yet, but I’d say our cacao fruit is looking more and more delectable each day. You can catch it now in the rain forest of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

Theobroma cacao — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Don’t think of these weekly reminders as my concentrated effort to tease your appetite, but as a motivation to eat healthier and arrange your food in more colorful combinations. The Greenmarket is, as always, this Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

Who needs tinsel when you’ve got panicles? Happy holidays from all of us at the Garden!

Idesia polycarpa (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)

The Greenmarket is open today until 3 p.m.! Be sure to stop by.

It’s a beautiful day to get out and sample the goods from our fantastic vendors. Grounds admission is free on Wednesdays (there is an additional charge for entrance to the Conservatory and certain gardens), but there’s so much to see on the grounds right now (Waterlilies! Daylilies! Roses!) that a quick trip to pick up beans and blackberriescould easily turn into an all-day affair.

Here’s a look at what’s fresh and delicious today at the Greenmarket:

Plums, peaches and blackberries are in season this week!

Gajeski Produce has beautiful bunches of sunflowers and statice, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, squash, beets, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, new potatoes, scallions, string beans, kale, blueberries, black cherry tomatoes, peppers, shallots, basil, cilantro, lettuce, broccoli, new potatoes, scallions, onions, dill, blackberries, blueberries and eggs.

Migliorelli Farm has peaches, snap peas, lita, zucchini, carrots, beets, radishes, fennel, turnips, dandelion, collards, escarole, fennel, kale, chard, broccoli, broccoli rabe, cilantro, swiss chard, parsley, mustard green, bok choy, arugula, parsley, apples, corn, lettuce, blueberries, basil, dill, cilantro, apples, cucumbers, lettuce, blueberries, tomato juice and sauce.

Local honey can be purchased from The Little Bake Shop. Pies of all sorts-cherry, blueberry, apple, and raspberry in the Linzer tart and chocolate croissants, quiches, and scones

Bread Alone has sourdough, multigrain bread, foccacia breads; raisin nut, Ciabatta, and peasant rolls; as well as muffins, tarts, danishes, cookies, baguettes, scones, tarts, cookies, danishes, muffins are also available.

Red Jacket Orchard has plums, sour cherries, apples, gooseberries, jams, and juice.

Come learn about healthy choices and safe food preparation from the Cornell University Co-operative Extension and get a free blood pressure screening from Montefiore Hospital staff.

You can learn more about Greenmarket, part of the Council on the Environment of New York City and one of the largest open-air farmers market programs in the country their booth. Taste what’s fresh at their weekly cooking demonstrations.