Inside The New York Botanical Garden
Posted in Around the Garden, Behind the Scenes, Photography, The Orchid Show on February 16 2012, by Matt Newman
A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the ongoing efforts of the Orchid Show staff. Not that I’d give away too much this early on.
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Around the Garden, What's Beautiful Now on February 15 2012, by Joyce Newman
Joyce H. Newman is the editor of Consumer Reports’ GreenerChoices.org, and has been a Garden Tour Guide with The New York Botanical Garden for the past six years.
In the midst of winter’s blustery winds and wicked temperatures, it’s a great relief to see the warm yellow flowers of witch-hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia) brightening up the Garden path behind the Home Gardening Center.
This fragrant hybrid shrub is a relative of the North American native H. virginiana, or common witch-hazel, a plant that is certainly a little magical to some. Lore suggests the common name refers to the forked twigs that were sometimes used in earlier times for “water-witching,” or dowsing to locate underground water. These native plants bloom in the fall rather than the winter, but are just as impressive.
Posted in Window Garden Wednesday on February 15 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s a rare day at the NYBG when I can take a few steps through the halls without seeing a splash of green foliage brightening a workspace. Working alongside some of the world’s most talented and knowledgeable botanists tends to relate directly to the number of office plants that find homes on desks and window sills. Window Garden Wednesday exists to acquaint our readers with some of the folks who are often too busy in the field, lab, or conference room to spend time lurking on social media sites. (That’s our job.)
Posted in Photography on February 15 2012, by Ann Rafalko
The competition is really heating up! We had a record number of entrants last week, and expect even more this week. Do you have what it takes to win a $100 Adult Education gift certificate? Prove it! It’s easy to enter, and fun to boot.
Macro Winner, Week Three
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 15 2012, by Matt Newman
Grays and browns are old hat (almost, anyway). If you’re looking for a refresher on what the color of warmth actually looks like, look no further than the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory come March 3. The 10th annual Orchid Show is nearly here.
Epc. Rene Marques x Epi pseudoepidendrum — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on February 14 2012, by William R. Buck
January 29, 2012; Canal O’Brien, on the way to the Brazo Noroeste of the Beagle Channel, approximately 54º55’S, 70º35’W
The day and a half in Punta Arenas flew by. Upon arriving, our luggage was taken to the hotel while we went to the Universidad de Magallanes where we have left our collections to dry completely while we are on the second half our trip. The humidity in Punta Arenas is so low that all we have to do to is leave all the plant materials spread out in a warm room. The whole next day was spent doing chores, depending on need. Some went shopping, I worked on keying my blog into a laptop, and others were simply tourists. That evening we had a final dinner, in part to say goodbye to Ricardo and Mauricio, but also to see some Spaniards who were in transit to and from Antarctica (including bryologist Francisco “Paco” Lara).
We had hoped to get an early start the next morning, but of course we didn’t. We finally left the dock at around 2:30 p.m. The weather was glorious and the seas calm; patches of blue sky showed through the clouds and the sun shone brightly on the glacier-capped Monte Sarmiento. With such surprisingly good weather, our spirits were running very high.
Posted in Around the Garden, Gardening Tips on February 14 2012, by Sonia Uyterhoeven
Sonia Uyterhoeven is the NYBG’s Gardener for Public Education.
Pruning climbing roses is akin to a good spring cleaning. When things pile up in the home, there is nothing like a quiet winter weekend to dive into the mess and de-clutter. It is precisely what rosarians in the Northeast do with their climbing roses at this time of year.
In order for a magnificent climbing rose to look its best, proper care is necessary. Recently I spent a delightful day with NYBG rosarian Ken Molinari, pruning our climbers and discussing the best techniques and selection of loppers for pruning and sheering of roses in the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden. We have so many roses here that we like to get out early and start pruning. Find a warm day in February or early March to step outside and go to work on your climbers.
Posted in Around the Garden, Photography on February 14 2012, by Matt Newman
Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Posted in Bill Buck, From the Field, Science on February 13 2012, by William R. Buck
January 25, 2012; Isla Darwin, Caleta Virginia, approximately 54º57’S, 70º10’W
Today is the last field day before we return to Punta Arenas for a few days in order to process all of the specimens that we have collected in these first nine days. We are currently anchored at Isla Darwin, but we will be setting off shortly for the long trek home, about 24-hours of travel.
Posted in Programs and Events on February 13 2012, by Matt Newman
Especially because this winter feels like an early springtime, it’s time to get excited for a new season of the Children’s Gardening Program at the two-acre Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden. As of February 1, we opened registration for our popular Crafters and Sprouts for the spring, summer, and fall sessions.
Garden Sprouts introduces three- to five-year-olds and their accompanying parent to garden exploration, from digging for earthworms to planting seeds. Sprouts enjoy seasonal gardening tasks, the opportunity to sample garden-fresh produce grown in their own plots, and activities especially crafted for the young green thumb.