Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in NYBG in the News on December 17 2010, by Plant Talk
We’re sorry it’s not the best picture, but we’re just so excited to share this image of first lady Michelle Obama speaking at the presentation ceremony of the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Representatives from The New York Botanical Garden were in attendance to accept the award.
We’ll post better pictures once we get them. And here’s a link to the Mrs. Obama’s remarks.
Posted in Photography on December 17 2010, by Plant Talk
The Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden is closed until spring, but some roses persist–like this beauty in the Home Gardening Center–despite the snow and frost.
Rosa ‘All the Rage’ (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in NYBG in the News on December 16 2010, by Plant Talk
On Friday, New York Botanical Garden President Gregory Long; Carrie Laney, the Garden’s Vice President for Government and Community Relations; and Karen Washington, a community activist who, in partnership with the Botanical Garden’s Bronx Green-Up program turned empty lots into beautiful gardens, will accept the 2010 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from none other than First Lady Michelle Obama!
Posted in Shop/Book Reviews on December 16 2010, by Plant Talk
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?
Posted in Photography on December 16 2010, by Plant Talk
In the mornings, when we’re all exiting the train at Botanical Garden Station, this stand of pampas grass is all atwitter with a flock of sparrows that call it home.
Pampas Grass (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Photography on December 15 2010, by Plant Talk
Not Christmas lights. Sunlight.
In the Ross Conifer Arboretum (Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Photography on December 14 2010, by Plant Talk
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!
Posted in Holiday Train Show on December 14 2010, by Plant Talk
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On Sunday, as promised a month ago, I was finally able to bring my nephews, ages 2 and 5, up to the Holiday Train Show. They were blown away by the experience and were predictably thrilled to see their good buddy Thomas in attendance.
What surprised me was when my older nephew, Jasper, grabbed my hand while I was snapping a picture. Jasper pulled me down to his level and said “Annie, you’re not taking the right pictures. Can I try?” And so, with a slight hesitation, I turned over my trusty G9 to the tiny hands of my nephew.
Posted in Photography on December 14 2010, by Plant Talk
Many a Garden worker and visitor begins their trip to Botanical Garden Station at the grande dame of American train terminals under the watchful eye of Pegasus.
The Great Hall at Grand Central Terminal (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Gardening Tips on December 13 2010, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
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Sonia Uyterhoeven is Gardener for Public Education. |
Let’s look at simple ways to dress up our homes for those of us who have great aspirations and little time.
Around the holiday times we like to brighten up our homes with flowers. If you buy a nice bouquet of roses you can gussy them up for the holidays with a few simple tricks. An easy way is to hide the stems with a cranberry frog. Take a bag of cranberries (hard ones) and wash them clean. Remove any that are soft. Pour the bag into your vase and fill with water. The cranberries will keep the stems in place and create a pretty effect in a clear vase. They will float a bit at first but then settle down. The cranberries last for about a week. This is best done in a nice wide clear vase to show off the cranberries.
When filling your vase think beyond flowers. Often people embellish our floral arrangements with ferns or magnolia leaves. At this time of year substitute holiday greens in for the traditional greenery. White pine, incense cedar and hollies make three good options.
You can also place holiday ornaments into the mix. In craft stores you will find wired stakes of different sizes. Wire the ornament to the stake and stagger the ornaments throughout the greenery.
Last year, I decided to fix some lady apples onto small green stakes and add then to the arrangement. While I was breaking the rules for good arrangements (fruit and flowers don’t mix well because the ethylene gas emitted by fruits will cut down on the life span of the flowers) it certainly looked nice and lasted long enough to make me happy.
Here are a few tips to make your life easier. Search the florists, craft stores and supermarkets for interesting decorative supplies. Pine sap can easily be removed from clothing with rubbing alcohol. For your tools and hands try hand sanitizer, baby oil, WD-40 or anything oily.
Roses are wonderful but so many times you bring them home and they droop within the first few days. Cut the roses at a 45° angle with either your pruners or a sharp knife. Place immediately into lukewarm water. Floral preservative increases the longevity of flowers by up to 75% so it is worth the small investment. If you don’t have floral preservative handy there are many homemade recipes. Here is just one:
Take 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of bleach and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 quart of lukewarm water. The bleach keeps the mixture clean and free from bacteria, the sugar feeds the flowers and the citrus helps the flowers to take up water by making it slightly acidic.
There are many methods for reviving drooping flowers. One that works effectively for roses is to heat water up so that it is very hot (almost but not quite boiling). Dip the stems of the drooping roses into the hot water for 30 seconds keeping the flowers away from the steam. Re-cut the stems and place them back in a clean vase. They should revive within 15 to 30 minutes.