Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Photography on February 10 2011, by Plant Talk
No, not the one that was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. This hanging garden is of a more modest, but nonetheless impressive scale.
The Hanging Baskets House of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on February 9 2011, by William R. Buck
Ed. note: NYBG scientist and Mary Flagler Cary Curator of Botany, Bill Buck is currently on expedition to the islands off Cape Horn, the southernmost point in South America, to study mosses and lichens. Follow his journeys on Plant Talk.
January 31, 2011; canal between Isla Georgiana and Isla Clementina, 54°41’S, 71°45’W
The engines started early and we only traveled about 1 1/2 hours before they stopped again. Because of the short time I assumed that we must have just headed north to the Brecknock Peninsula. However, much to my delight we were actually in a small sound on the northwest side of Isla Sidney. The gods must have been smiling on us, because for one of these barrier islands, the weather was great. The sun came and went, and only an occasional shower passed. This was particularly surprising because as we were getting into our rain gear before leaving the ship it had been sleeting.
We split into three groups and headed off in different directions. I went alone to a beautiful southern beech gallery forest along a small, rocky steam. As I worked up the stream it eventually opened up and the rocks in the stream changed from being liverwort-covered in the shade, to moss-covered in the sun. As much as I am enjoying the company of my colleagues, it was nice to be alone for a few hours, especially in such a beautiful place. When we returned to our pick-up point in the early afternoon, everyone was very pleased both with what they had found, as well as with the weather (especially after the previous day).
Posted in Photography on February 9 2011, by Plant Talk
Like a chorus of laughing faces, the Arpophyllum spicatum, is covered in miniscule, nearly-neon pink flowers.
Arpophyllum spicatum in the Conservatory (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on February 8 2011, by William R. Buck
Ed. note: NYBG scientist and Mary Flagler Cary Curator of Botany, Bill Buck is currently on expedition to the islands off Cape Horn, the southernmost point in South America, to study mosses and lichens. Follow his journeys on Plant Talk.
January 30, 2011; Unnamed sound on south side of Brecknock Peninsula, NW of Isla Georgiana, 54°36’S, 71°49’W
Early in the morning the crew moved the ship to a harbor on the northeast side of Isla London, one of the islands in direct contact with the weather from Antarctica. After two days of glorious weather, Matt was beginning to wonder if the weather I had told him to prepare for was just a myth. He soon found out how true my warnings had been. The morning started out a bit windy and overcast, but without rain. 
One group set out to with the intention of ascending Horatio Peak, while Blanka and I headed to a rocky outcrop in the opposite direction. As the zodiac neared the shore the wind started to pick up, and soon became a strong steady wind came out of the southwest, gusting so hard at times to literally blow me off my feet. Fortunately, as we worked up the slope the wind was at our backs and helped propel us as we scrambled over the vegetation, walking on top of the canopy of dwarf beeches as on the previous morning.
In short order, though, a heavy, horizontal, rain began. I had become separated from Blanka, all I could do was hope that she was able to find shelter. (I later discovered she had also tried to find me to let me know she was fine). On the side of a ridge I plopped down and sank into the shrubs; I was completely below the surface of the dwarf tree canopy, but could see out. The rain blew in sheets as spray from the sea was whipped up and blown ashore. The water dripping down my face tasted salty. Because of the high winds, it was too dangerous to walk around. For about a half an hour I remained immersed in the shrubs and watched as the rain and wind blasted the island. I was glad I was not up on an exposed ridge like the other group, and hoped they had found shelter. After some time, the winds became less gusty and died down, and the rain softened so that it no longer felt like pellets as it hit my skin.
Posted in Gardening Tips on February 8 2011, by Plant Talk
One of the new stars in the world of native plants these days is Uvularia perfoliata ‘Jingle Bells’. This woodland spring wildflower is indigenous to the East Coast west to the Mississippi. It generally has soft green leaves, yellow bell flowers and an arching demeanor. This new introduction has light green leaves with large white streaks around its border and into its interior. You can find this at Plant Delight Nurseries.
Another native that will attract the attention of homeowners is Amsonia ciliata ‘Spring Sky’. This sturdy native can be found from North Carolina down to Florida and west to Missouri. Blue star (its common name) has won the hearts of many by being a low-maintenance perennial that can grow in sun or part-shade and has the added benefit of being deer and rabbit resistant.
This new cultivar is a compact version of the native – reaching only 2 feet tall by 2 feet wide. It has pale blue flowers in the spring that are slightly larger than the native and fine, feathery foliage that turns a beautiful yellow hue in the fall. This new introduction comes from North Creek Nurseries.
For those of you looking for a splash of color later in the season, there is a new goldenrod on the market named Solidago ‘Solar Cascade’. ‘Solar Cascade’ size falls somewhere in between the compact ‘Golden Fleece’ and the majestic ‘Fireworks’. ‘Solar Cascade’ is a clump forming perennial that is drought tolerant once established.
‘Solar Cascade’ has glossy green foliage and arching sprays of golden flowers late in the summer. It will pair beautifully with many of your late season staples – ornamental grasses, New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), medium sized dahlias and annual late season salvias.
A new cultivar of an ornamental grass that is indigenous to the dry plains of central North America is hitting the market by storm this year. Sometimes referred to as mosquito or blue grama grass, the new cultivar is named Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’.
Posted in Photography on February 8 2011, by Plant Talk
What a tongue-twister of a name for such a dainty flower.
Rosenbergiodendron longiflorum in the Conservatory (Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on February 7 2011, by William R. Buck
Ed. note: NYBG scientist and Mary Flagler Cary Curator of Botany, Bill Buck is currently on expedition to the islands off Cape Horn, the southernmost point in South America, to study mosses and lichens. Follow his journeys on Plant Talk.
January 29, 2011; Isla Aguirre, Seno Quo Vadis, 54°34’S, 71°59’W
Our two days in Punta Arenas seemed to drag on after such a great first part of our expedition. However, it did mean we were able to pick up Matt and buy a few things to tweak the moss dryers. On the morning of January 28 we returned to the port to board our trusty ship. Going out onto the dock, the ship, which was sandwiched between a large naval vessel and a massive cruise ship, looked even smaller. A number of the passengers disembarking from the cruise ship stopped and asked what we were doing. As soon as I hear an American accent I tell them “Your tax dollars at work!” and briefly explain the project. I think it is important for them to know that their taxes pay for something more than war.
Shortly after we untied from the dock and headed south, once again motoring through the Straits of Magellan, a pod of at least ten dolphins joined our ship. They criss-crossed in front of our ship for over an hour, seemingly doomed to a collision which never came. The same time the sea was remarkably calm; even in canals where we had previously encountered violent water, the ship hardly rocked. The captain chose to take an inland passage rather than the more commonly used Cockburn Canal. We seemed, time and again, to enter into a dead end sound, only at the last minute to watch it turn into a previously invisible sound. A short time later the passage we had just come from had similarly disappeared. Going down these narrow waterways, as opposed to wide canals, gave us a better view of the incredible forests that march up the shores. Although continuously overcast, the evening light was almost luminescent and navigating through a veritable maze of islands was a special experience. Once again I delighted in Matt’s reaction to the astounding landscapes, as I had with the others in our group the previous week.
Before going to bed I spoke with the captain and explained the area we wished to cover and told him that it was his decision, based on navigability and weather, as to where we started. If we had relatively good weather, we would stop at the westernmost islands south of the Brecknock Peninsula; or if the weather looked bad, we would go to the eastern end of the area where sheltered sounds would allow us to still work. The far western islands have proven tricky in previous trips where it rained hard and incessantly with fog drifting across the area making it unsafe to get far from the ship. These islands have no land between them and Antarctica. However, it is this very climate–as harsh as it may seem when we are out collecting–that may well be encouraging the growth of mosses that we do not otherwise see in our region. During the night, most of us awoke as the ship hit rough waters and was buffeted about as we rounded the Brecknock Peninsula in seas open to Antarctic winds and storms. In the middle of the night, it almost seemed dreamlike.
Bill Buck and his colleagues find themselves in a world of miniature trees. Read more below.
Posted in Wildlife on February 7 2011, by Plant Talk
Garden Member and avid amateur wildlife photographer Patricia Gonzalez sent over this picture of a female Ruddy Duck that she snapped at the Garden this weekend.
The Garden is home to a large population of both native and migrating birds in all seasons and learning about them is easy when you join one of the Garden’s free, weekly Saturday bird walks. Or if you live far away and can’t make it to the Garden, you can follow Patricia’s photostream on Flickr. Thanks for sharing Patricia!
Posted in Photography on February 7 2011, by Plant Talk
These Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera) branches look like they’re all lit up for a scene.
Icy Branches (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)
Posted in Photography on February 6 2011, by Plant Talk
Chinese witch-hazel, Hamamelis mollis, provides a rare touch of color to the winter garden.
Yellow Streamers (photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen)