This morning’s raincoat weather hasn’t had us whistling “White Christmas.” Not yet, anyway. But just in time for the winter solstice, it looks like the clouds should be clearing up ahead of a dipping thermometer through the weekend! While we’re not going to see any snowflakes floating on the breeze just yet, it’s safe to say you should be breaking out the knit hats and scarves for any and all pre-holiday adventures in the NYBG this weekend. It’s time to say goodbye to fall, and transition into something a little frostier by comparison.

Bar Car Nights have once again proven a massive success, and it’s just about time to say goodbye for another year. Saturday, December 22, marks the final party under the lights of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory–at least for the 2012 holiday season. And if you’re quick about it, you’ll still have the opportunity to snag a ticket or two for our last few hours of casual cocktails. Seeing as our guest list has filled to capacity for each of the past evening events, this is your cue to be hasty with registration–don’t dawdle! We expect to have a full house once again, especially with this being the last chance for an adults-only Holiday Train Show viewing before Christmas.
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The Holiday Train Show is just the beginning of the holiday fun at the Botanical Garden.

New this year, a world of buildings from Applied Imagination, the creative force behind the buildings of the Holiday Train Show. In the expanded Artist’s Studio, kids of all ages will have the opportunity to peer inside the inspired artistic process that goes into creating each meticulous miniature, along with the myriad plant-based ingredients that make them up.

In more train-related fun, the classic tale of The Little Engine That Could™ will be told through puppets, and after the New Year, Thomas the Tank Engine™ and friends will be at the Garden to help celebrate the arrival of 2011. (For a full schedule, click here.)

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My apartment’s not exactly the first place anyone would think to have a Christmas tree. It’s the size of a toddler’s shoe box and my daft cats have a sweet tooth for pine needles. However, for thousands of New Yorkers who did decorate trees for the holiday season, this past weekend was an opportunity to not only retire 2011′s evergreens, but grant them a second life.

24,231. That’s the number of trees recycled during this year’s MulchFest. It soundly tops last year’s final count of 17,000, and with good motivations–it’s the best way for New Yorkers to keep their conifers out of the landfill (the compost is probably better used elsewhere). On Saturday and Sunday, thousands of city residents hauled their trees to one of 35 MulchFest collection spots throughout the metropolitan area, handing over their firs and pines for a cup of coffee and a bag of mulch.
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Sure, we realize that these little bell-shaped flowers are purple, but silver really isn’t a color you see terribly frequently in nature. Regardless, it will soon be Christmas day!

Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen

May the joys of the season find you surrounded by those you love. Happy Holidays from Plant Talk!

Ilex opaca (American holly) (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)

Celebrating the longest night of the year with glittering lights. Welcome Winter!

Christmas trees (photo by Ann Rafalko)

Ken Greene, co-founder of the Hudson Valley Seed Library, is one of the most honest plant people we’ve ever met.  Ken cares about plants in a way that is inspiring, moving, and intoxicating. At the Hudson Valley Seed Library he and his band of seedy friends are leading a full-blown local seed revolution. The Seed Library is a throwback to a time when seed sellers put fascinating pictures on their packages and pithy descriptions in their catalogs, to a time when every kitchen gardener saved his or her favorite seeds and passed them down from generation to generation. To that end, the Seed Library sells memberships (ed. note: we think a Seed Library membership makes a great holiday gift!) that offer discounts to those growers who return some of their seeds to the Library in an effort to expand the pool of Hudson Valley-grown varieties. Ken also commissions a group of local artists each year to illustrate beautiful Art Packs for a handful of varieties.

As you can tell, we really like Ken and the Seed Library (And we’re not alone. Check out this great profile from the New York Times). They’re helping preserve local plant diversity and educating a new generation, teaching them that gardening isn’t just a way to eat good food, it’s also a thoughtful act that resonates through generations.  We were delighted when Ken agreed to share his list of “Favorite Things” for holiday giving. As you’ll see, Ken always has seeds on his mind. Who knew seeds could act as inspiration for such beautiful gifts?

See Ken’s picks below

A little afternoon “Eye Candy” for you. It snowed overnight in New York City, and we all woke up to a winter wonderland.

There’s nothing that gets us in the holiday spirit quite like a pretty little snowfall (especially one that doesn’t stick around too long, turning into gray mush).

So if you come for a visit today (the Garden is open until 6 p.m. after all!) wear a nice, warm pair of boots.

And remember the Holiday Train Show and Gingerbread Adventures are both inside!

In addition to being the creator of BronxMama, Nicole Perrino is also a full-time graduate student. Having been in college for the past five years and only working part time, Nicole prides herself on her ”frugalista” skills–throwing birthday parties, holiday gatherings, and decorating her house–all on a small budget. Friends love turning to her for help when it’s their turn to plan an event.

Nicole’s picks are based on the premise that if you really put thought into a gift for someone, you don’t have to spend time worrying if you spent enough on each person. It’s a sentiment evident in Nicole’s thoughtful list of “Favorite Things” for holiday gift giving.

See Nicole’s picks below!

Christmas has always been a DIY holiday. Who hasn’t strung cranberries and popcorn on thread to use as a homemade garland? Or maybe you’ve used an old hanger from they dry cleaner as a frame for a wreath of pine boughs scavenged from the woods or dusted pine cones in sparkling glitter for a pretty candlelit party buffet?

It seems that new ideas for a DIY holiday come around every year, and our instructors here at The New York Botanical Garden have some beautiful ideas for Christmas 2010. On Saturday, December 11, join instructor Diana Conklin as she teaches you to make a beautiful, large evergreen wreath or a five-foot long pine garland in one class, or a gorgeous hydrangea centerpiece that will last for seasons to come. On Tuesday, December 14, Deryck de Matas will teach a class on creating striking table decorations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Know someone who would love to take a class at The New York Botanical Garden? Adult education gift certificates make a fantastic Christmas gift for the gardener or crafter in your life.