A Blooming Great Weekend to Visit!
Posted in Around the Garden on April 20 2012, by Matt Newman
It’s been a whirlwind of excitement for the past two months, but the Orchid Show is soon to bid adieu to another successful year. More than successful, really–the tenth anniversary exhibition is being called one of the most triumphant showings our orchids have had to date, thanks in no small measure to the transcendent designs of botanist Patrick Blanc.
For any of our fans who spent the past few weeks bickering with themselves over the choice to take a day in the Bronx, now is absolutely your last chance to experience the vivid verticality of “The Green Man’s” living walls in person. And I can tell you without the shadow of a doubt that there’s plenty for you to see alongside the exhibition–as if the otherworldly flowers of several thousand orchids weren’t enough to get you on your feet and out the front door.
While you’re in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory for the exhibition, you should keep a look out for our vanilla orchid–this is the first time it’s opened up! Meanwhile, some of the still-flowering crabapples look intense right about now, and the lilacs are coming into their own with clouds of wafting fragrance that will just about knock you into a dream state. Nearby, the bushy green foliage of the tree peonies is peppered with dozens of bowl-sized blossoms in shouty colors of white, pink, and purple. And below the hill, the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden is once again open for business! Stop by to see the very first roses of the season waking to spring.
Oh, and one other thing. It’s a tiny bit important: the Azalea Garden is peaking! I was wandering under the trees there just a day or two ago, sadly failing to capture the sheer breadth of beauty with my smartphone camera. In the end it couldn’t be done.
Here’s what else is going down at the NYBG this April weekend.
Saturday, April 21
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, and a growing family of Red-tailed Hawks patrolling the trees, you’re sure to see something on the wing.
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.
Forest Tour with ASL Interpreter — 12:30 p.m.
Meet at the Reflecting Pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center
Experience the beauty of the Garden’s 50-acre Forest on this one-hour walking tour with an expertly trained Docent. You’ll learn facts about the trees, history, geology, and ecology of this original, uncut woodland.
History and Mystery of Orchids — Vanilla Orchids: Natural History & Cultivation — 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Learn about the ancient and modern history of the world’s number one flavor and fragrance—vanilla. A leading expert on the subject, Dr. Ken Cameron, presents the fascinating story of vanilla, from domestication to production. He will also sign copies of his book, Vanilla Orchids: Natural History & Cultivation, and offer taste tests and tips on cooking with vanilla.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Know and Grow Orchids — 2:30 p.m.
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, during the final weekend of the The Orchid Showto learn the basics of orchid care and how to choose and successfully grow these exotic plants
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 22
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.
The Nature Conservancy’s Picnic for the Planet — 12 to 4 p.m.
At Daffodil Hill
Rain or Shine (rain location TBC)
Join The Nature Conservancy on Daffodil Hill to celebrate the planet we live on and the bounty it provides with fun in the sun, outdoor activities, and more. You’ll be a part of their attempt to break the record for the world’s largest picnic while enjoying the Garden’s spectacular spring color. Find your favorite recipes to prepare, grab your picnic basket, round up your friends and family, and get outside this Earth Day. On this day, Grounds Admission will get you access to Picnic for the Planet activities.
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 — Vanilla Orchids: Natural History & Cultivation — 1 p.m.
In the Ross Hall
Learn about the ancient and modern history of the world’s number one flavor and fragrance—vanilla. A leading expert on the subject, Dr. Ken Cameron, presents the fascinating story of vanilla, from domestication to production. He will also sign copies of his book, Vanilla Orchids: Natural History & Cultivation, and offer taste tests and tips on cooking with vanilla.
Orchid Care Demonstration: Know and Grow Orchids — 2:30 p.m.
Join Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Education, during the final weekend of the The Orchid Show to learn the basics of orchid care and how to choose and successfully grow these exotic plants.
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. through April 22
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.
Hands-On Gardening Activities: Wild, Wiggly Worms
Ruth Rea Howell Family Garden — 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., April 21 through May 18
Learn all about our slimy friends and how they are hard at work in the average garden. Feed the worms in our worm farm, then sift nutritious worm compost to take home for your own plants.
