Inside The New York Botanical Garden

Archive: October 2011

Historic October Storm Hits NYBG

Posted in Around the Garden on October 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Storm-Damaged Trees at The New York Botanical GardenApproximately 15% of the 15,000 trees in the Garden’s Thain Family Forest have sustained at least some damage.

Many of the historic trees in the Garden’s beautiful magnolia collection have been damaged, even destroyed.

In the new Azalea Garden huge branches fell on new plantings and an ancient tree was lost.

The entire 250-acres of the Garden is littered with branches and tree limbs.

Our initial assessment shows that thousands of trees have been damaged and many destroyed. A complete appraisal will take weeks as much of the damage is high in the canopies of trees 100 feet tall or more.

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Storm Damage at the Garden

Posted in Around the Garden on October 31 2011, by Ann Rafalko

This weekend’s historic storm caused a large amount of severe damage to the Garden’s vast collection of trees and celebrated woodlands.

Blizzard-Damaged Trees at The New York Botanical Garden

Our crews are hard at work cleaning up the damage and working to save every tree they can. Simultaneously, we are busy getting ready for the beloved seasonal tradition of the Holiday Train Show. We hope that we will see you soon under the glittering dome of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

 

IGPOTY: Deadline for Entries Looms

Posted in Photography on October 28 2011, by Ann Rafalko

Competition 5, 4 Seasons ''Weather Eye'' First Place - Alan Price ''Oak Seedling''
Competition 5, 4 Seasons ''Weather Eye'' First Place - Alan Price ''Oak Seedling''

Fall is a gorgeous time to take pictures at The New York Botanical Garden. In the Thain Family Forest, the trees are slowly but surely changing colors. Through this weekend, the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory is full of mesmerizing, gargantuan kiku. Pumpkins galore adorn the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. And everywhere you turn, our feathery, fuzzy, and furry friends are scurrying about getting ready for the impending winter. There’s beauty at every turn, and by entering your photos of the Garden into the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest, you could even earn some global acclaim for your shots!

The fifth-annual competition of the International Garden Photographer of the Year contest closes to entries on November 30, 2011. The entry fee is 10£ or around $16, but if one of your photographs wins, you could make that fee back in spades. The grand prize award is around $8,000!

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This Just In – Breaking Giant Pumpkin Spider News!

Posted in Around the Garden, People on October 27 2011, by Rustin Dwyer

Breaking developments in the world of giant pumpkin spiders! — How often do you get to write a sentence like that in all seriousness?

Artist Michael Natiello will be here this weekend carving up one of the world’s largest pumpkins. (You might know him as the man behind the Great Jack ‘O Lantern Blaze as well as the Haunted Pumpkin Garden here in the Children’s Adventure Garden).

That’s not the breaking news, though.

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Great Gruesome Gourds – More Spooky Carvings to Come!

Posted in Around the Garden, Exhibitions, Video on October 26 2011, by Rustin Dwyer

Ray Villafane, Michael Natiello and ZombiesWe’re still basking the freakish glow of superstar sculptor Ray Villafane’s (on the right in this photo) wild zombie sculpture he constructed at the Garden using two of the world’s largest pumpkins. But by no means are the creepy carvings over with! This weekend will feature the supremely talented artist Michael Natiello (under the zombie’s hand)–the brains behind the spectacular Great Jack ‘O Lantern Blaze as well as our Haunted Pumpkin Garden here in the Children’s Adventure Garden.

Weather permitting however, Villafane’s pumpkin creation will only be on display for as long at it stays presentable and also as long as we can keep the wily Bronx wildlife from having their own pumpkin feasts.

For those of you who couldn’t be here last weekend, we put together a short video of Ray in his own words describing his process. All the gory, gourdy goodness is below!

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