A Weekend Under the Cherry Blossoms
Posted in Around the Garden on March 30 2012, by Matt Newman
What an offbeat week it’s been. Having caught word that we were making fun of it, the “long-gone” winter suddenly came knocking with frosty, clear afternoons and frigid nights; there was some worry in the northeast that confused plants with early flowers would take a hit. But spring isn’t bowing out. Stop by the NYBG and you’ll find yourself surrounded by thousands of airy plum and cherry blossoms flooding branches across the Garden. The apple blossoms, the last of the magnolias–all come together to create a pink and white snowfall of petals.
Having just come back from a stroll across the grounds, checking in on the daffodils and shy hellebores, I can tell you that the new season is doing its job admirably. Ignoring the comical midair collision between a mallard and what I believe was a nearsighted osprey (neither party was hurt, though I can’t speak for egos), the peaceful atmosphere was almost tangible. We could wax poetic about how the Garden has the incipient makings of a landscape painting, but I’ll sideline the compulsion–we’ve got Bird Walks, cabaret, and cocktail evenings to talk about. And, of course, the second month of our 10th annual Orchid Show. If you haven’t been to see the vertical gardens of Patrick Blanc just yet, this is an unmissable opportunity.
Saturday, March 31
Bird Walk — 11 a.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Search for the many songbirds, raptors, waterfowl and other avian creatures that call the NYBG home. Bring your binoculars and walk the Garden grounds with our seasoned bird expert, Debbie Becker, looking for the species that live here year-round as well as those migrating through. With the owls out and about for diurnal hunting, and a growing family of Red-tailed Hawks patrolling the trees, you’re sure to see something on the wing. Be sure to have a look at some of the NYBG birding classes outlined by Joyce Newman in her hawk update. I can tell you that the birds have been especially chatty of late, and the hawks and owls are alert and on the prowl; they’re enjoying the weather about as much as we are.
Orchid Q&A
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden — 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.
French Cabaret — 12 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Expanding on the French roots of The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens, the final four weekends of the exhibition will feature French Cabaret. Popular singer Cate Cox returns to the Garden with a sultry style that evokes the nightclub performances of a bygone Paris, and perfectly complements the elegance and sophistication of this year’s orchid extravaganza.
History and Mystery of Orchids: Orchids in Ecuador — 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Hear stories of adventure and travel in Ecuador and learn about 50 orchid taxa from its southern region. View photographs of the orchids and other Andean alpine wildflowers in their natural habitats through the lens of orchid enthusiast Leon Glicenstein.
With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Orchid Sense-ations — 2:30 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a discussion of some of the best orchids to grow for both color and fragrance. Learn basic orchid care and experience the scents of many orchid varieties.
Orchid Evening — 6:30 to 9 p.m.
In the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Enjoy a signature cocktail while viewing the Orchid Show and its thousands of spectacular flowers. Elegant beauty and the excitement of live DJs combine to create one of New York City’s most romantic date destinations. Your Orchid Evenings ticket includes a complimentary cocktail and special offers from our outstanding partners, including some of New York’s best restaurants. Shop in the Garden will be open throughout the evening, offering a variety of exotic orchids, so you can take home a piece of the magic!
Non-Member $30/Member $20 (Adults 21 and over) Includes one complimentary cocktail. Advance tickets recommended. Choice of 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. entrance times.
Support provided by: Dylan’s Candy Bar
Sunday, April 1
Orchid Q&A
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Shop in the Garden — 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ask away! Roaming Garden docents and orchid experts are available to answer all of your orchid questions and to help you choose the right plant for your home. Peruse our large collection of exotic orchids in the Shop in the Garden–you might just end up catching the obsession yourself.
French Cabaret — 12 & 3 p.m.
Expanding on the French roots of The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens, the final four weekends of the exhibition will feature French Cabaret. Popular singer Cate Cox returns to the Garden with a sultry style that evokes the nightclub performances of a bygone Paris, and perfectly complements the elegance and sophistication of this year’s orchid extravaganza.
History and Mystery of Orchids: A Costa Rican Odyssey – 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Take a photographic journey through orchid-rich Costa Rica. This Central American country is a naturalist’s paradise and a must-see for orchid lovers. More than 1,500 species of orchids have been recorded in this country that is the size of West Virginia—by comparison, the entire United States has only approximately 200 species! Presenter Leon Glicenstein lived and worked in Costa Rica as a plant breeder for a major international company. As he explored the country’s jungles and coasts, he collected photographs and stories of plants, animals, scenery, and especially the native orchids in their natural habitat.
With more than 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture. This series of presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home. Visit the jungles of Costa Rica, the vanilla farms of Mexico, and other exotic locales–all without the need for a passport.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Orchid Sense-ations — 2:30 p.m.
In the Conservatory GreenSchool
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, for a discussion of some of the best orchids to grow for both color and fragrance. Learn basic orchid care and experience the scents of many orchid varieties.
One Day Only — Special Film Screening: Adaptation – 4 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
In this popular 2002 feature film inspired by Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief, Nicolas Cage plays Charlie Kaufman, a lovelorn L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, self-loathing, and the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother, Donald (also Cage). While struggling to adapt The Orchid Thief by Orlean (Meryl Streep), Kaufman’s life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman, Orlean, and John Laroche (Chris Cooper), the orchid poacher and subject of the book, become strangely intertwined as each one’s obsession collides with those of the others. (114 minutes, Rated R)
Ongoing Children’s Programs
Outdoor Nature Explorations: Little Landscapes
Everett Children’s Adventure Garden — Weekdays 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Weekends 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Growing tiny worlds in a jar is the latest craze in the gardening world, though terrariums have been around for ages. Look closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums, and create your own rocky, mossy, or floral world in a jar to take home. Use a microscope to take a closer look at some of the featured terrarium specimens such as moss, lichens, and rocks.
