An Early Spring Weekend!
Posted in Around the Garden, Programs and Events, The Orchid Show on March 16 2012, by Matt Newman
Have you been following Plant Talk this week? If you have, you’re already well aware that the skies are criss-crossed with soaring hawks, the daffodils are bobbing alongside the paths, and the NYBG‘s tenth annual Orchid Show is proving every bit the belle of the ball we knew it would be. With or without a few hems and haws from departing winter, a welcome spring is here more than two weeks early.
If you’re looking for escapism, the walkways of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory are a sure bet, ringed as they are with thousands of orchids in nearly every color of the spectrum. Better yet, you can start the day with Debbie Becker’s Saturday Bird Walk, then jump into orchid workshops and lectures of all sorts, with terrarium building in Little Landscapes to occupy the kids; there’s something about holding a miniature world unto itself–all in the palm of your hand–that’s infinitely appealing.
I’m telling you now: don’t waste a minute of this weekend’s just-right weather. Before you can say “cherry blossom,” you’ll be running your air conditioner full tilt for yet another city summer.
Saturday, March 17
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 yesterday’s hawk update.
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.
Docent-led Tour with ASL Interpreter – 12:30 p.m.
Meet in the Palms of the World Gallery in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
Expert volunteers serve as guides, providing an in-depth look at some of the rarest and most extraordinary orchid specimens in modern horticulture.
History and Mystery of Orchids Presentation Series — 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
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.
Film–Vanilla: The Sacred Orchid – 1 p.m.
Learn the intriguing life process–from flower to pantry–of one of the world’s favorite flavors. This scenic film examines the full-year cycle of this spice from Veracruz, Mexico, where it is still cultivated by the same indigenous people who have been growing it for centuries. Directed by Curtis Craven, it runs 27 minutes.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Orchid Sense-ations – 3 p.m.
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, March 18
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.
History and Mystery of Orchids Presentation Series — 1 & 3 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
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.
Modern Floral Design with Sustainable Orchids — 1 p.m.
Orchids in floral design evoke the powerful eco-philosophy that “less is more.” Join Trish O’Sullivan, Coordinator of The New York Botanical Garden Floral Design Program, as she demonstrates simple, stylish, and modern orchid designs using sustainable floral practices. Kiri wood and reclaimed containers will set the stage for beautiful orchids and natural materials that explore the color and textures of nature’s beautiful treasures in floral designs for a greener future.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Orchid Sense-ations – 3 p.m.
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.
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.
