Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Archive: July 2008
Posted in Darwin's Garden, Exhibitions, People on July 3 2008, by Plant Talk
Jane Dorfman is Reference Librarian/Exhibitions Coordinator in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library.
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| © English Heritage Photo Library |
I just returned from a short visit to the United Kingdom where a colleague from the Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library arranged for a private tour of Down House, the home of Charles Darwin. He lived there with his family for the last 40 years of his life, experimenting with plants.
The tour of the house and garden was led by author and conservationist Randal Keynes, a great, great grandson of Charles Darwin. Erudite and charming, Mr. Keynes offered insights and details about the life and work of his extraordinary relative that enlivened and inspired the experience.
Come and be inspired, as well, by the work of Charles Darwin in the Mertz Library’s Rondina Gallery exhibit, Darwin’s Garden: An Evolutionary Adventure, which continues until July 20.
Posted in Programs and Events on July 2 2008, by Kate
Kate Murphy, a junior at Fordham University, and Genna Federico, a senior at St. John’s University, are interns working in the Communications Department this summer.
The Farmers Market is in full swing at NYBG. Every Wednesday through October 29, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., regional venders sell everything from fresh produce to fresh bread and other baked goods. So, naturally, we decided to check it out!
First we tried some delicious sugar snap peas, fresh from Migliorelli Farms of Tivoli, NY. They were crisp and sweet and would make for a tasty side dish for a summertime meal.
Joseph Bases, from the Little Bake Shop of Valley Cottage, NY, gave us suggestions as to which of their many all-natural and organic pies we should try first. While the apple pie is everyone’s favorite staple, Bases suggests the peach blueberry pie for a summertime treat. Bases explained that he loves selling here, calling it “a day at the park.”
The helpful people from Gajeski Farms of Riverhead, Long Island, helped us navigate through their overwhelming selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. They suggested we try the sweet corn—it’s the first of the season!
Bread Alone, from Boiceville, NY, had a wide selection of baked goods and breads. Suggestions include the “Whole Grain Health” bread, which includes five whole grains, honey, and sunflower seeds, and the mild “Whole Wheat Sourdough” bread. Both are organic.
We noticed a few people walking around munching on cherries, and we found the source at the Mead Orchards booth. These fresh fruits and veggies were brought to NYBG also from Tivoli, NY, and everyone seemed to be raving about the tart cherries. When one woman asked how they should be eaten, the vender simply replied “One after another!”
It can’t get much better than eating some healthy, natural treats and supporting local farms. So come out to NYBG’s Farmers Market.
Posted in Gardening Tips on July 1 2008, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Slugging It Out
Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education at The New York Botanical Garden.
I love hostas. Since they are so overused they have the potential for being an exceptionally boring plant, yet they are saved by the fact that they excel in shade, are wonderful foliage plants, and come in so many different shades, textures, and sizes.
The only problem is that by midsummer they are full of holes. Hostas are a staple of the slug’s diet, so often a little extra care from the gardener is needed to keep them from an “unholy” state.
Commercial products that prevent slugs from devouring hostas contain iron phosphate and are safe and easy to use. There are also many home remedies. The classic one is to set out a bowl of beer, leading to the slugs drowning to their delight. Rumor has it that slugs will travel up to two miles for a good drink.
Another simple alternative is to surround your hostas with a small barrier of used coffee grounds: caffeine kills slugs. You can also surround your hostas with diatomaceous earth or trap them with grapefruit rinds (you are then left to clean up the mess). Hostas that have thick, puckered leaves are less susceptible to attack.
